tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post4145367786727069087..comments2010-07-13T04:51:06.493-07:00Comments on The Geeky Quill: Character Reaction BelievabilityThe Geeky Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-44791935938881200952009-04-08T12:01:00.000-07:002009-04-08T12:01:00.000-07:00Yeah, I'm a simpleton too. ;)I read because it's f...Yeah, I'm a simpleton too. ;)<BR/><BR/>I read because it's fun and write because it's fun. I was a lit. major because it was fun to read books and write about books and even write about reading books. Maybe even read about reading books. Only recently have I begun reading about writing books. <BR/><BR/>That's good advice, Randy. <BR/><BR/>I hope people have fun reading my work. It seems mostly women like my current project. I guess I write like a chick for chicks.The Geeky Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-42865019889503565122009-04-08T10:22:00.000-07:002009-04-08T10:22:00.000-07:00I just finished reading Nothing To Lose by Lee Chi...I just finished reading Nothing To Lose by Lee Child. I also read an interview where he gave this advice to aspiring writers of thrillers, "Just get it done-finish it. Do not under any circumstances listen to any advice. And write exactly what you want to write, even if you feel everyone will hate it. That is the only way of having a living, breathing manuscript that has a chance of winning". I couldn't agree more.<BR/><BR/>He also said, "I want books to be entertaining, and I want them to be easy reads. It's up to me, not the reader, to do the work. If someone says that my books are well written, I worry a little. I don't want that to be noticed. It should be the invisible undercarriage". <BR/><BR/>Again, I couldn't agree more. I hate when people write, seemingly, for their english professors instead of prospective readers wishing to be entertained. Of course, I'm just a simpleton.randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015460386288676842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-63860029840443375042009-03-30T15:27:00.000-07:002009-03-30T15:27:00.000-07:00Hi Bliss,I didn't ask and they didn't say. I proba...Hi Bliss,<BR/><BR/>I didn't ask and they didn't say. I probably didn't have enough interior monologue. We've only just met the character in question so I was trying to show something about her by the way she reacted.The Geeky Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-32120085203487238742009-03-29T16:00:00.000-07:002009-03-29T16:00:00.000-07:00Did you ask the critiquers why it didn't seem cred...Did you ask the critiquers why it didn't seem credible to them that the young woman didn't absolutely freak out when the guy who stalked her and made a lame attempt to kidnap her bought her a sandwich?<BR/><BR/>Was there a build-up to her reaction, or in this case, non-reaction?<BR/><BR/>Was there interior monologue to explain why she didn't have the reaction that the critiquers might have anticipated (expected)?<BR/><BR/>JOutte Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07560624375349396814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-39198565797088291082009-03-19T08:39:00.000-07:002009-03-19T08:39:00.000-07:00Thanks Nik,I used to take every crit personally. I...Thanks Nik,<BR/>I used to take every crit personally. I rememember the first one I ever got was very unkind and it may as well have said, "Your story's only good for lining the bird cage."<BR/><BR/>Then I started to notice that a lot of it is a matter of opinion because I'd get applause for some element from one critter and a boo about the same element from another critter.The Geeky Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-72566477789312228112009-03-17T21:25:00.000-07:002009-03-17T21:25:00.000-07:00I haven't read your story for a while. I'm way be...I haven't read your story for a while. I'm way behind on critiques, but I don't remember Bea's reaction as sticking out as odd to me. Besides, we're still learning about Bea and her history with at this point. There could be all kinds of reasons she's not in super freak-out moment. I agree with the not falling into the seeking approval trap. That's something I need to work on as I fall into it every time I read a crit... :-/ND_Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06641381503249317673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-55780350232681432122009-03-16T10:29:00.000-07:002009-03-16T10:29:00.000-07:00That is a very good point, Kara. And I think somet...That is a very good point, Kara. And I think sometimes a person goes through a semi-unacceptance about whatever strange and frightening thing is happening. <BR/><BR/>Yes, Dorthy reacts much like Alice. If characters gave a more realistic reaction, they'd never calm down long enough to make friends with scarecrows, cheshire cats, or two headed aliens.The Geeky Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-42550742887001088352009-03-15T22:46:00.000-07:002009-03-15T22:46:00.000-07:00P.S. The girls and I are listening to an audioboo...P.S. The girls and I are listening to an audiobook of "The Wizard of Oz", and I've thought to myself many times as I listen, "Wow, she's taking this all very well."Kara Hartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03036587106896735695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-68409649502777774522009-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:002009-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:00I've only read the one chapter, so I don't know th...I've only read the one chapter, so I don't know the whole story I guess. But in general, I find that people under extreem stress often do strange things that may not seem to make sense at the time. Shock could easily be misinterperted as undereaction, could it not?Kara Hartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03036587106896735695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-52262975445284982372009-03-13T14:59:00.000-07:002009-03-13T14:59:00.000-07:00On a side note, based on this post and some earlie...On a side note, based on this post and some earlier ones, don't look for excuses not to enjoy what you're doing. The desire for validation from others is the root of all misery (soon to be blog post title).randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015460386288676842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-62406629465559048392009-03-13T12:36:00.000-07:002009-03-13T12:36:00.000-07:00Oh, have you been digging a rabbit hole? That may ...Oh, have you been digging a rabbit hole? That may account for the dirt.The Geeky Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-28844225451436971162009-03-13T00:59:00.000-07:002009-03-13T00:59:00.000-07:00He's not an ordinary bad guy three pages into the ...He's not an ordinary bad guy three pages into the story. He brought her lunch (correctly knowing her epicurial proclivities) and then let her leave even though in the previous scene the outward appearance was an apparent kidnapping or mugging.<BR/><BR/>Damn, are my fingernails dirty or what!Rick Bylinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493557860835710721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-37175615208971310302009-03-12T20:17:00.000-07:002009-03-12T20:17:00.000-07:00LOL That's funny you should say that, Rick. I was ...LOL That's funny you should say that, Rick. I was working on a revision tonight that involves Bea picking up the napkin dispenser. <BR/><BR/>"The Human Misconceptions About Whimsicality" ;) will prove to be a story set in a world where strange things do happen. Do you think the problem is that her reaction (or lack of) happens too early in the story so that it looks like Finn's an ordinary bad guy doing ordinary bad guy things?The Geeky Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775423147875674123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3464615890138688829.post-85841942008156493192009-03-12T18:53:00.000-07:002009-03-12T18:53:00.000-07:00With the exception of Sarah in your examples, the ...With the exception of Sarah in your examples, the other characters live in "other" worlds, so their underwhelming reactions could be considered normal.<BR/><BR/>Bea's reaction to Finn in the restaurant is quite subdued considering what had just taken place, but you pull it off nicely. She could, however, raise a straw and point it at him in defense.Rick Bylinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493557860835710721noreply@blogger.com