Q and A Friday #2
TGIQAAD. (that's Thank God it is Q and A day) You ask the questions and we Noodlers attempt to answer.This week we've learned even more about Conflict. We've learned the difference between External and Internal Conflict from Noodler Theresa Ragan. Anna Campbell shared helpful quotations about Conflict. Susan Gable taught us to write mottos for our characters. And Noodler Charity Tahmaseb taught us to throw our manuscripts on the floor (and to look for conflict on every page).
Surely we have some questions about all this new information.
Or share your difficulties with Conflict in your manuscripts. We'll all try to help!
Remember, if you ask a question or make a comment this month you will have a chance to win an autographed Jo Beverley bookAnd don't forget that Noodler MJ Frederick has a new release. Hot Shot
posted by Diane Gaston @ 6:13 AM
13 Comments:
I don't have a question at the moment but I do want to comment.
I want to say a huge "Thank You" The feedback that I got on my premise and conflict last week was encouraging enough to get me off the fence and start working on the story in earnest. Sometimes one needs a kick in the butt before putting butt in chair.
Thank you all.
Thank YOU, Patricia, for always coming around and giving thoughtful feedback. And I'm so glad you're working on your story because it truly sounds like an inspirational book that will have the potential to help many people deal with their real life problems. Don't stop until you write, THE END! so we can celebrate with you!
how nice of you to tell us that, Patricia. I love your "butt" analogy!
By the way, all, if you are interested in Harlequin Historical, the editors are blogging on Romance Vagabonds today. hurry and they'll answer your questions.
http://www.romancevagabonds.com/
What a great week of informative ideas on conflict!
In response to Charity's blog on Donald Maass' approach to raising the tension on every page, I was wondering what plan of attack you all use. Do you go for weak verbs? Cut long descriptions?
My toughest problem seems to happen when two characters seem to go round and round over an issue. I know the dialogue, just like the events of the story, has to move the plot forward. But I still end up with circular dialogue that has to be cut and tweaked.
Yay, Patricia! We have all been there, trust me. And so often it is talking to other people (or reading something inspiring) that gets us back on track.
Lorelle: I think that happens when our characters have a strong internal conflict and are really well-developed. They just want to growl over that bone of contention! Sometimes I do what Angel Joe and I do -- they realize how stubborn they're being and laugh about it, while still not giving in to the other's point of view. Although that can move the romance forward a bunch, so you have to choose the moment wisely.
Lorelle, I don't have any organized plan of attack to put tension on every page. That's something to worry about when I finish the first draft of wip
My first drafts are usually full of weak verbs, circular dialogue, repetitions (where I tell the reader the conflict over and over and over) I mostly try to keep in mind Showing and not Telling.
Do we have a month on Revision? If not, we should have!
I am a loyal lurker who has never posted, but I had to thank you for the wonderful week of conflict advice. Real conflict has always been difficult for me to create, no matter how many "how to" books I slogged through. I'm not sure why, but the way to dig deeper and find true conflict in my story has suddenly become clear--well, clearer, anyway. As a result, I have lots of new ideas for my current WIP.
It seems I have been sitting on the other side of Patricia's fence. Thanks for shaking me off.
Rebecca! Welcome and thanks for telling us that our conflict posts have been helpful.
Conflict is so hard (Writing is so hard...) But when you have a good conflict, the story is so much more powerful...and easy to write.
There's more to come next week!
Hi Rebecca! What a nice thing to say. Thanks so much.
Glad to know the blog is helping. I know I have learned a lot this week, too.
Hi, Rebecca! Sometimes it takes a while for stuff to click in our brains. I remember hearing that I should put lots of emotion in my sex scenes, but it wasn't until I'd heard it umpteen times and then read some very good examples that I finally understood what people were talking about. Understanding isn't proficiency, of course, but I get closer every book.
The relaxing thing about writing is that no one expects you to be brilliant right off the bat, and people's lives don't depend on it. The hard thing is that you're putting your brain on paper. "This is the way I think." Eek.
All the conflict discussion has been very helpful. I'm starting a new MS, and getting my hero's inner conflict really starts lining up plot points and scenes, since I know he's going to have to deal with them. It also helps me choose my heroine, because she's got to be someone who's a perfect counterpoint to everything he wants.
Thanks for all the conflict advice!
And can I second the "we should have a month on Revisions!" :)
Diane and Gillian,
Yes we do have "Revisions" on the schedule for December 08. Actually, it's editing and revisions.
If anyone has ideas about topics they'd like to see us explore for 2009, let us know!
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