tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post7732975865160179445..comments2023-12-09T00:33:24.572-08:00Comments on Novel Matters: Does This Novel Seem Crowded to You?Bonnie Grovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-2847562398249693782013-03-29T14:28:08.349-07:002013-03-29T14:28:08.349-07:00Josey me too! I had to look at a whole bunch of ch...Josey me too! I had to look at a whole bunch of character information just recently and try not to panic. I realised I didn't have to think about it all. I could just make up people. Then I could go and rewrite, and make them stronger, better, truer. And then I could combine characters that I didn't like so much, or cut them. <br />I work very intuitively. I plan my plot, but planning everything else just scares me. Megan Sayerhttp://www.megansayer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-83197099078907829032013-03-28T17:33:10.464-07:002013-03-28T17:33:10.464-07:00What do I think? Ugh! This scares me. Having to pl...What do I think? Ugh! This scares me. Having to plan out the characters just seems overwhelming and frightening and makes me feel completely inadequate and uncapable.Josey Bozzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01726048506211545721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-67614889827167687542013-03-27T20:13:26.776-07:002013-03-27T20:13:26.776-07:00Henrietta: Thanks for sharing this. The essence of...Henrietta: Thanks for sharing this. The essence of what makes a story great hasn't changed. Sure, the 21st century reader lives a different reality than an 18th or 19th or even 20th century reader, but what makes a story great seems mapped into our psyches. Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210807015376289703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-1876403041871384572013-03-27T16:32:06.102-07:002013-03-27T16:32:06.102-07:00This applies more to Monday's post than today,...This applies more to Monday's post than today, but I came to it late and just last night I read something from the introduction to Boswell's Life of Johnson, written by Max Herzberg in 1929 that applies. <br />On page xii of the introduction: <br />Quoting Boswell on writing:<br />"Whenever narrative is necessary to explain, connect and supply, I furnish it to the best of my abilities, but in the chronological series of Johnson's life, which I trace as distinctly as I can, year by year, I produce, whenever it is in my power, his own minutes, letters or conversation, being convinced that this mode is more lively, and will make my readers better acquainted with him, than even most of those were who actually knew him ...."<br />This is good to remember when writing fiction too. Henrietta Frankenseenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-29128649446967232252013-03-27T11:12:56.100-07:002013-03-27T11:12:56.100-07:00Sharon: Thanks. Once you know this concept, you st...Sharon: Thanks. Once you know this concept, you start looking for what roles characters play. I'm ruined!<br /><br />Jennifer: So glad you won't be exorcising any Freds.<br /><br />Bonnie: Yes, I should have given that generality that lovers are antagonist, but Grant is even more complex because he works to expand her language and her ability to connect, the way an ally would help her. Maybe that's what makes this story so complex, real. Or maybe I'm not remembering the story correctly. That's totally a possibility.Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210807015376289703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-56277220942447704022013-03-27T08:57:37.776-07:002013-03-27T08:57:37.776-07:00want not what.
I'm going back to bed.want not what.<br /><br />I'm going back to bed.Bonnie Grovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-9327185181556285332013-03-27T08:57:12.982-07:002013-03-27T08:57:12.982-07:00In love stories, the lovers are always protagonist...In love stories, the lovers are always protagonist and antagonist --meaning Grant is an antagonist in this novel.<br /><br />Opposition means that both the protag and the antag what the same thing but go after it in different ways.<br /><br />It's a nice complex structure the author set up for Language of Flowers.Bonnie Grovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-1504081180196722622013-03-27T08:27:33.676-07:002013-03-27T08:27:33.676-07:00Great post!! I went through this and am happy to r...Great post!! I went through this and am happy to report that each of my main characters passed muster.<br />Even the sub-plot characters and one line wonders serve a purpose.<br /><br />Thanks for this, Patti.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jennifer Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12696261499182486196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-82456788546833730792013-03-27T08:22:53.635-07:002013-03-27T08:22:53.635-07:00Patti, this is an excellent post. I'm printing...Patti, this is an excellent post. I'm printing it out and will study it in depth as I begin to populate my new WIP. You're a master at taking a complex subject and laying it out so it's understandable and useful. Thank you.Sharon K. Souzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02526862677417370076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-46157082088512890002013-03-27T07:01:46.823-07:002013-03-27T07:01:46.823-07:00Karen: Be sure to get all the Freds out now!
Mari...Karen: Be sure to get all the Freds out now!<br /><br />Marian: Characterization IS challenging. Keep looking for ways that fit the way you think to grow in the craft. Feel free to tweak or toss. You're doing great.<br /><br />Cherry: Cherry, honestly, why haven't we gotten together for tea? That needs to happen soon.<br /><br />Susie: Good for you! Irrelevant characters muddy the waters. My Fred created a story line that didn't support my premise. Perhaps I'll introduce him to the NM readers at some point. Patti Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01210807015376289703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-80148418944633917492013-03-27T06:38:24.295-07:002013-03-27T06:38:24.295-07:00I actually just cleaned out three characters who d...I actually just cleaned out three characters who did little to move the plot forward. In fact, the held it back. In my planning, these characters seemed so promising. But, in the writing, they weren't relevant. <br /><br />Susie Finkbeinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02134090068018561836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-85325298160388401882013-03-27T06:00:14.557-07:002013-03-27T06:00:14.557-07:00Wow, Patti; this is hugely helpful, in terms of wr...Wow, Patti; this is hugely helpful, in terms of writing and craft.<br /><br />Yet, suddenly, I want to sit down with you and talk philosophically about the nuances in "The Language of Flowers."<br /><br />Elizabeth hurts Victoria? (Yes, I get Victoria's perceived hurt, but thought it a product of her dysfunction). Wait, maybe it is Bonnie I need to engage in conversation. Could you both come over for tea, please?<br />Cherry Odelberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18129695440875981426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-75238575098937829912013-03-27T05:45:40.595-07:002013-03-27T05:45:40.595-07:00I tried this. I got to know all my characters and ...I tried this. I got to know all my characters and their roles before I began writing. It was tedious and not at all exciting. I learned a lot, but I don't think I'll ever finish that novel. I'm classifying it as exercise.Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990101542996298555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-57619992089035328302013-03-27T04:10:24.609-07:002013-03-27T04:10:24.609-07:00This is great, Patti. Very helpful - it made me lo...This is great, Patti. Very helpful - it made me look very analytically at my novel. Karen @ a house full of sunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17787916466155321686noreply@blogger.com