tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post7514978141571436593..comments2024-03-29T03:28:22.296-05:00Comments on Writing In The Crosshairs: IWSG_ WHEN A SCENE DOESN'T WORKRoland D. Yeomanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-71069866636842540942014-12-05T11:12:23.301-06:002014-12-05T11:12:23.301-06:00Great post, Roland, brimming with fabulous advice....Great post, Roland, brimming with fabulous advice. I've nothing to add so I'll just mention a technique I use. I jot a sentence at the beginning of each scene stating the protag's inner drive, need, or want for that scene. Once I've incorporated it into the scene, I go back and delete the line because I don't need it anymore. <br /><br />If you're evaluating a scene already written and can't come up with that initial sentence, then delete the scene. It's unnecessary.<br /><br /><a href="http://vrbarkowski.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">VR Barkowski</a>VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-92202433552037095062014-12-03T20:46:49.586-06:002014-12-03T20:46:49.586-06:00Murees:
All of us are sentimental when it comes to...Murees:<br />All of us are sentimental when it comes to our characters and scenes! :-)<br /><br />Wendy:<br />I hate that Dixie hurt you. There are some people who walk around wrapped in invisible barb wire. Hard not to come away bleeding when you run into one!<br /><br />And Maukie was quite happy to be played with!!<br /><br />Stephanie:<br />You're right. Going forward doesn't make you any less lost! :-)_Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-69145818618828445722014-12-03T20:03:18.687-06:002014-12-03T20:03:18.687-06:00I once read a saying: "No matter how far you&...I once read a saying: "No matter how far you've gone in the wrong direction, turn back!" I find I think about that saying a lot when I'm writing and things have taken a wrong turn somewhere.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-78003425837205931412014-12-03T18:46:40.557-06:002014-12-03T18:46:40.557-06:00Well, this is going to be an odd comment, but havi...Well, this is going to be an odd comment, but having just read your post, I then went on to play with your virtual pet and then promptly forgot what I was going to say! Mad, I tell you!<br /><br />Oh well :) Oh, and thanks for leaving such a nice comment on my blog, Roland :)Just Wendy https://www.blogger.com/profile/05268645629027109282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-35847730557330595722014-12-03T15:27:45.075-06:002014-12-03T15:27:45.075-06:00Thank you for the helpful advice. I tend to hang o...Thank you for the helpful advice. I tend to hang onto scenes more out of sentimentality than anything else. I have to start looking at my manuscript from a readers point of view. Thanks again. Murees Dupèhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11781339206465690961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-42964909844685484232014-12-03T09:45:47.662-06:002014-12-03T09:45:47.662-06:00Tanya:
Sometimes I highlight and paste in my cache...Tanya:<br />Sometimes I highlight and paste in my cache of great paragraphs that didn't fit the story. My cache often is a treasure mine when I hit a bump in another novel. Thanks for visiting!Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-85277924281346584722014-12-03T09:27:20.138-06:002014-12-03T09:27:20.138-06:00Hi Roland! Great pieces. Just the electric slide.....Hi Roland! Great pieces. Just the electric slide... :-) <br /><br />I would add, in its own section, "Don't be afraid to delete." It's somewhat related to #7. Sometimes the scene doesn't work because it shouldn't be there. Just highlight and delete. <br />Tanya Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993489244795453045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-73093665814668238942014-12-03T09:15:31.015-06:002014-12-03T09:15:31.015-06:00Hilary:
If only I had Stephen's book sales! Ye...Hilary:<br />If only I had Stephen's book sales! Yes, we authors have to tell a tale that draws readers. Now, if only that secret was known!!Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-22553655180336710302014-12-02T08:14:27.436-06:002014-12-02T08:14:27.436-06:00Hi Roland - nearly addressed you as Stephen?! THe...Hi Roland - nearly addressed you as Stephen?! THe story needs to be good, but the readers must want to read it .. Good luck with all the things that are going on in your life ... cheers Hilary Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-26124811388030481742014-12-01T18:26:57.999-06:002014-12-01T18:26:57.999-06:00T.Powell:
I can fantasize doing the Electric Slide...T.Powell:<br />I can fantasize doing the Electric Slide! I'm glad you liked this post!<br /><br />Inger:<br />It is getting increasingly harder to do it all! RETURN OF THE LAST SHAMAN is coming along very slowly. But I am trying.<br /><br />That was so neat to be sent that European Advent Calendar! Pace yourself!Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-50073998338754959892014-12-01T17:07:15.477-06:002014-12-01T17:07:15.477-06:00I swear, I don't know how you do it! All this,...I swear, I don't know how you do it! All this, plus writing books, and working a job. Sleeping? Do you?<br /><br />My calendar is of a yuletide market square somewhere in Europe. There's a lot of stuff there that reminds me of a Swedish Christmas and it is lovely.Ingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02924736131382149056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-47982947137671793622014-12-01T16:28:14.389-06:002014-12-01T16:28:14.389-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-91393403310918359382014-12-01T16:28:13.571-06:002014-12-01T16:28:13.571-06:00This is great stuff! I esp. like #6. With that, I ...This is great stuff! I esp. like #6. With that, I would do the electric slide on my way out, but I'm pretty sure I would injure myself. Great article.<br /><br />TT. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-39174772437651012222014-12-01T15:44:33.025-06:002014-12-01T15:44:33.025-06:00Thanks, Helena:
Neil Gaiman says something similar...Thanks, Helena:<br />Neil Gaiman says something similar: Usually when readers say something doesn't work, they're right. When they tell you how to fix it, usually they're wrong! :-)Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-15629022557737753272014-11-30T23:55:28.994-06:002014-11-30T23:55:28.994-06:00All of these guidelines are very helpful. I can ad...All of these guidelines are very helpful. I can add only one: if a friend or other readers says something doesn't work, or he/she didn't understand a detail, I listen to that person. My reader is objective and I'm not, and I want to make my readers happy.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.com