tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post3909922832643864462..comments2024-03-28T05:05:30.116-04:00Comments on mainewords: the boring bits and how to make them interestingmshatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-36074476286147767622012-05-16T13:30:12.378-04:002012-05-16T13:30:12.378-04:00Oh yes! It's all about voice. And not going on...Oh yes! It's all about voice. And not going on and on--length is key, too. I love your example excerpt! The book sounds intriguing.Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-62718333203610377722012-05-15T22:32:57.270-04:002012-05-15T22:32:57.270-04:00I agree. It's hard to do description right in ...I agree. It's hard to do description right in adult fantasy because on the one hand you need to draw the world for the reader but you also have to be careful not to bore her with it.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-13148163010163789682012-05-15T22:28:58.588-04:002012-05-15T22:28:58.588-04:00Loved that book. Loved.Loved that book. Loved.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-81423435887999922352012-05-15T22:26:49.628-04:002012-05-15T22:26:49.628-04:00I think it is. A good voice can carry a story.I think it is. A good voice can carry a story.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-74928374212317621632012-05-15T22:23:41.095-04:002012-05-15T22:23:41.095-04:00That's an excellent idea and a good way to bri...That's an excellent idea and a good way to bring the reader into the picture without inundating him.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-88549770023746081792012-05-15T22:22:40.457-04:002012-05-15T22:22:40.457-04:00It's a beautiful book, probably my favorite si...It's a beautiful book, probably my favorite since DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND SMOKE.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-24730609246699635032012-05-15T22:17:24.533-04:002012-05-15T22:17:24.533-04:00I like dean Koontz, too. Twilight Eyes was one of ...I like dean Koontz, too. Twilight Eyes was one of my faves.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-54312273441858817802012-05-15T22:11:42.266-04:002012-05-15T22:11:42.266-04:00thanks for stopping by :)thanks for stopping by :)mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-35084563740725105422012-05-15T22:08:24.661-04:002012-05-15T22:08:24.661-04:00so true! And THE NIGHT CIRCUS was definitely a ple...so true! And THE NIGHT CIRCUS was definitely a pleasure to read though I must admit it was hard not to admire at the same time!mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-86066376623212479222012-05-15T19:31:45.579-04:002012-05-15T19:31:45.579-04:00Reading writers whose writing you admire with an a...Reading writers whose writing you admire with an analytical eye, after you have read them for pleasure is helpful.loverofwordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05763349886822924646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-60130916467482694812012-05-15T00:34:31.628-04:002012-05-15T00:34:31.628-04:00I like the concrete images, paper, pages of books ...I like the concrete images, paper, pages of books and bits of blueprint, etc. Details like that really ground me in the story.'<br /><br />I came over from Dianne's blog to say congrats on being blitzed! :)Miriam Forsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08773194271144793485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-29785274470639976942012-05-14T20:08:23.224-04:002012-05-14T20:08:23.224-04:00Thanks for the heads up!...:)JPThanks for the heads up!...:)JPjp@A Green Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15217268829093983376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-43062155132731567102012-05-14T12:30:24.717-04:002012-05-14T12:30:24.717-04:00Descriptions are tricky to write well. I think tha...Descriptions are tricky to write well. I think that's why I have tendency to either them to the reader's imagination or write them later.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-91998224805115014842012-05-14T12:29:04.171-04:002012-05-14T12:29:04.171-04:00A great post. I agree. Dean Koontz can hook me wit...A great post. I agree. Dean Koontz can hook me with his discriptive passages because they leak with tension and foreboding. They have voice.E. Arroyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634213563563094173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-81250329383746424092012-05-14T11:53:38.458-04:002012-05-14T11:53:38.458-04:00Gosh - I don't have any tricks except to learn...Gosh - I don't have any tricks except to learn from such gorgeous examples as this one here! Thank you! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-42438994167523757732012-05-14T10:28:40.975-04:002012-05-14T10:28:40.975-04:00I don't think my comment took. Just saying I ...I don't think my comment took. Just saying I find description difficult as well.Libbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14323538213636795216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-31180129365135465382012-05-14T10:26:40.831-04:002012-05-14T10:26:40.831-04:00Night Circus is on my bookshelf begging to be read...Night Circus is on my bookshelf begging to be read. I'm working on descriptions as well. My background is in playwriting and screenwriting and we have to entertain no one really with the descriptions, just get them out fast. Transitioning into fiction has been a little difficult.Libbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14323538213636795216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-77290764455563700642012-05-14T09:47:45.937-04:002012-05-14T09:47:45.937-04:00For me, it's to take what's most memorable...For me, it's to take what's most memorable about a scene and focus on that--odd painting, odd characteristic, odd habit. Love that excerpt.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-65685627077186096122012-05-14T09:40:48.244-04:002012-05-14T09:40:48.244-04:00This is a very good tip. It's all about the v...This is a very good tip. It's all about the voice, huh? Thx for sharing. :)Mina Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14483363743530076604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-9773985190301928422012-05-14T09:36:09.993-04:002012-05-14T09:36:09.993-04:00I was going to say that I think it's voice tha...I was going to say that I think it's voice that carries the day when it comes to interesting description, and then you already said it. :D<br /><br />That book is on my TBR pile too. I hear so many good things about it.Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-33470664170059537392012-05-14T07:38:02.549-04:002012-05-14T07:38:02.549-04:00I think there's a risk in fantasy especially o...I think there's a risk in fantasy especially of making descriptions too flowery, which bogs down the text and makes for boring reading.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548680159204361401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-5796635050806319782012-05-14T06:56:31.340-04:002012-05-14T06:56:31.340-04:00I agree with you. Voice is where it's at, when...I agree with you. Voice is where it's at, when adding a chunk of description to your story. Making it personal helps the reader to continue on the flow you've already created and hopefully gives them a more intimate stake in the story.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-81627896063776624972012-05-14T06:54:20.409-04:002012-05-14T06:54:20.409-04:00I'm about to go on sub with a ms that contains...I'm about to go on sub with a ms that contains more description than I've ever written into a story before. I'm not even sure why it turned out that way--it wasn't intentional. I suppose it was the POV character, and how she processed her world. If it gets acquired, maybe *then* I'll feel confident about offering tips :) And ... it sounds like I should head on over to Dianne's blog!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636585111057799728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733289016000331233.post-23729662291069448912012-05-14T06:45:22.714-04:002012-05-14T06:45:22.714-04:00I agree -- descriptions should be full of voice an...I agree -- descriptions should be full of voice and pertain directly to the action. And if I'm the reader, they have to be brief or I'll skip 'em.<br /><br />Marcy, be sure to pop over to my blog today. Fans of Marcy might want to stop by, too!Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.com