tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post295842826486376811..comments2024-03-17T12:00:55.617-06:00Comments on Donna K. Weaver: Stretching the MomentDonna K. Weaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-47333946067745710672011-03-25T06:56:50.976-06:002011-03-25T06:56:50.976-06:00Thanks for linking to my blog! That was so sweet o...Thanks for linking to my blog! That was so sweet of you. And there is so much to keep track of, but we can only concentrate on one thing at a time. And everything I post about is stuff I'm learning and learning to apply to my work!Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-20879391198910891832011-03-23T16:20:04.339-06:002011-03-23T16:20:04.339-06:00Ian, I like that first image of a gardener and the...Ian, I like that first image of a gardener and the pruning. But the studio editor works, too. Cut this and move it here. Stretch this scene and shorten that one.<br /><br />Dianne, I know exactly what you're talking about. In Karate we always called it muscle memory. That's what I'm hoping for.<br /><br />Now if I can just figure out muscle memory for description. O_oDonna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17158114738303231773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-62520696080495458922011-03-23T15:06:43.388-06:002011-03-23T15:06:43.388-06:00First of all, I have to say that I only know the g...First of all, I have to say that I only know the gas from the brake if I *don't* think about it and leave it to physical memory. If I actually stop to remember which is which, I'm in trouble!!<br /><br />I think those writing skills work the same way. Eventually, they become automatic. Or, at the very least, you get good at cleaning them up in revision.<br /><br />Tell your story! Let your characters live and your plot develop in ways you weren't expecting! Technically competent writing doesn't get you anywhere without a good story to tell. Put the story first, and the rest will come along later!Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-34232015768432685202011-03-23T14:58:49.178-06:002011-03-23T14:58:49.178-06:00Like Melissa, I underwrite my first drafts, then o...Like Melissa, I underwrite my first drafts, then overwrite my seconds, but I then spend drafts 3+ pruning and shaping.<br /><br />Must admit, I feel less like a conductor and more like one of those studio editors: tweaking this, adding that, and all the while making sure that the bass is booming :)IanBontemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13942749761260327580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-32226262809892895052011-03-23T12:43:54.646-06:002011-03-23T12:43:54.646-06:00Amber, I can understand that. I usually want to wr...Amber, I can understand that. I usually want to write, but I find myself easily distracted and can't focus. It makes me think of that spell they have so muggles won't see Hogwarts. I sit down to write and I feel a compelling need to be somewhere else. =D Time to read a book or see some movies, maybe?<br /><br />Donea, the more we sprinkle in, the more we're telling. Sometimes. Right? I felt a little better when I read that Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games) has a hard time with description, too. As a screenwriter, it wasn't a skill she had to develop.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17158114738303231773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-80037307137102525372011-03-23T12:33:37.790-06:002011-03-23T12:33:37.790-06:00Hi Donna! I actually struggle with description, s...Hi Donna! I actually struggle with description, sometimes - when to sprinkle in the right kinds and when it's just over-kill of something non-essential to the story. My strength, or so I've been told, is dialogue. <br /><br />There's so much wonderful advice out there, I've been meaning to put together a 3-ring binder or something...printing out the pieces I like the best and categorizing them for reference when I hit a block. As usual, however, I procrastinate... :)Donea Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15393184831994368021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-79751554222083018352011-03-23T10:58:37.117-06:002011-03-23T10:58:37.117-06:00Right now, I'm struggling with even wanting to...Right now, I'm struggling with even wanting to write. Which isn't like me at all.amberargylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058327741777322247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-81982359650126447002011-03-23T08:33:35.319-06:002011-03-23T08:33:35.319-06:00Melissa, my oldest son is a wiz with description. ...Melissa, my oldest son is a wiz with description. His visual imagery astounded me even when he was in 7th grade. I was jealous. For me, it's like going into a flower store to select a variety of flowers to make an arrangement. If I go in without a sample, I'll leave empty handed. I just don't see it. Let me take something in to copy and I'm okay. I'm hoping that copying will eventually rub off and come more naturally. haha If I live long enough.<br /><br />Laura, you're so right about sometimes being so deeply involved with our stories that we can't look at it objectively. My betas have helped me a lot.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17158114738303231773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-52732654961340521032011-03-23T08:07:25.904-06:002011-03-23T08:07:25.904-06:00I just read Laura Pauling's post and it made m...I just read Laura Pauling's post and it made me think, too. I tend to have different struggles with different books, and my struggle with my WIP has been, "Am I being too boring? Are people going to care about these character interactions or are they going to get exasperated that there's no action right now?" There's such a balance of working this out--especially since I'm also world-building and creating imaginary technology from scratch. I think, too, that sometimes we're so close to our stories that it can be difficult to see it objectively. (Which is one of the many reasons having test readers you trust is so important.)Laura Josephsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04239501665574945313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281599665527326905.post-68124682700156843632011-03-23T07:07:15.448-06:002011-03-23T07:07:15.448-06:00Great post!
I struggle with underwriting and when...Great post!<br /><br />I struggle with underwriting and when I try to make up for that, overwriting.<br /><br />I'm really good with characterization and voice though.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.com