tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post2366544460843160467..comments2023-10-25T08:47:36.436-07:00Comments on L: The Three Biggest Mistakes Fiction Writers MakeLiv Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171029958375171223noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-4141631656595745682012-06-23T19:57:07.844-07:002012-06-23T19:57:07.844-07:00This is a great interview by two great writer'...This is a great interview by two great writer's writers. Get their easy-to-read book and get editing.<br /><br />Bonnie is a teacher extraordinaire who has shared this book chapter by chapter with her students.<br /><br />Writing a novel can feel daunting. But she and Chris show how mistakes don't have to stop the process.Jocelyn Kasperhttp://www.kaspermusic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-75635999464368856172012-06-20T09:19:35.166-07:002012-06-20T09:19:35.166-07:00We need to pick a winner for the free book. Chris,...We need to pick a winner for the free book. Chris, I'll let you do that.Bonnie Hearn Hillhttp://www.digitalinkbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-10295646806018414042012-06-19T11:00:38.922-07:002012-06-19T11:00:38.922-07:00Great blog and yes it is true. I cannot tell you h...Great blog and yes it is true. I cannot tell you how many times I've mention this to my critique partners. Don't start with a back story, which prologues are mostly, leave this for later in the book where it's going to pack some emotional punch. Here, it's just a load of info dump. I don't see what drives your antagonist to this, he has no rhyme or reason, in another words, what does he want? Other than kill your hero, but why? Recently, I noticed a trend in writing in first person narrative and present tense. I think it's the popularity of Hunger Games that caused this. Just because it worked for some, doesn't mean everyone can pull that off. Also, writing for mainstream, I can't tell you how many stories I've critiqued on vampires, demons, faeries ... they are starting to blend. Maybe a fresh take on these subjects would make them stand out.Firetuliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10657031771377559033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-83634408549323040722012-06-19T10:07:21.756-07:002012-06-19T10:07:21.756-07:00Good points, all! I think editing is a huuuuuuge d...Good points, all! I think editing is a huuuuuuge deal. My mind boggles when writers say they don't have the money to hire an editor. Sell plasma if you have to! No one is close enough to their work to see all their mistakes. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-19502560401127291802012-06-18T18:12:17.483-07:002012-06-18T18:12:17.483-07:00I would say the part I struggle with most would be...I would say the part I struggle with most would be the first chapter and finding just the right hook to grab the readers interested. <br />Great interview, thanks for the advice!Loni Flowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14344335568817293345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-12574944960550545712012-06-18T17:27:58.056-07:002012-06-18T17:27:58.056-07:00Sorry I wasn't clear. That's the first rul...Sorry I wasn't clear. That's the first rule of writing: be clear!<br /><br />You said in the interview that you shouldn't use yourself as the protagonist. But, obviously, in a memoir you are the protagonist. I've seen books called "fictional memoirs," and memoirs where the author admits to have taken quite a bit of license with the materials.Cheryl Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17917181390845024789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-40330611019478285232012-06-18T14:59:56.038-07:002012-06-18T14:59:56.038-07:00Cheryl:
I'm not sure what you mean by okay. Do...Cheryl:<br />I'm not sure what you mean by okay. Do you mean are they not following the rules of fiction? Or are you talking about people who write a "memoir" that is untrue?Bonnie Hearn Hillhttp://www.bonniehhill.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-41244140553746360142012-06-18T14:54:45.385-07:002012-06-18T14:54:45.385-07:00Great interview! Thanks for sharing!Great interview! Thanks for sharing!Fran Hodgkinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-87435357181030281132012-06-18T14:37:08.893-07:002012-06-18T14:37:08.893-07:00Great interview and all great points! If everyone ...Great interview and all great points! If everyone would follow your advice we'd all be better off. <br /><br />I do have a question, though. What about memoirs that have been fictionalized? Are those okay?Cheryl Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17917181390845024789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-90388402838664606882012-06-18T13:05:56.490-07:002012-06-18T13:05:56.490-07:00All great points. I especially liked this line: &q...All great points. I especially liked this line: "The good have flaws, and the bad have reasons." Such a succinct way to sum up the protagonist's and antagonist's driving forces.Tami Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13270751386180642544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-53024795127841055542012-06-18T11:12:17.472-07:002012-06-18T11:12:17.472-07:00I have thought before about making a sci-fi book b...I have thought before about making a sci-fi book based on my (work) life as a cook, but I dont think a space station mega-restaurant would be very good. Maybe if I add ninjas. Ninjas make everything better. Especially Viking Ninja Space Pirates. To be honest, my life definitely isnt interesting enough to make into a fiction story. It's not even interesting enough for real life. The only thing I've ever had published was based on my views of the world from a metaphysical standpoint. But, somehow, I don't think faeries would stand up against vampires in the literary world. Maybe if I add Ninjas...David A. Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526200019422755691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-33302802363542636432012-06-18T10:43:11.233-07:002012-06-18T10:43:11.233-07:00Hi, Leslie,
In our book, we warn against informati...Hi, Leslie,<br />In our book, we warn against information-dump descriptions. You are in a character's head--just the way you are in your own head in real life. You notice only what the character would.<br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />Thomas,<br />Excellent advice. It does the trick for me too, but only after I have created a living, breathing character.<br />Thanks for your comments.Bonnie Hearn Hillhttp://www.bonniehhill.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-78792344426469524972012-06-18T10:08:46.851-07:002012-06-18T10:08:46.851-07:00Great tips, though I'm chagrined to say I'...Great tips, though I'm chagrined to say I've failed at all of them! <i>In medias res</i> (literally) seems do the trick for me.Thomas Derryhttp://www.coloradodead.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152710377778718003.post-42634139369992276712012-06-18T10:01:49.492-07:002012-06-18T10:01:49.492-07:00Great interview! Being a debut author myself, I w...Great interview! Being a debut author myself, I was so surprised at all the mistakes I made. I had a hard time with my first chapter. I didn't want to give away too much, but I didn't want it to be bare bones either. I have a question - should an author automatically describe every character detail (physical traits)? I like to leave certain things to the imagination, but I've heard this is not the way to go.Elle Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05626936638602799514noreply@blogger.com