tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post1418068325831899842..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: But They Don't DO Anything!Elspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-22117700580480362312009-10-11T11:28:19.352-07:002009-10-11T11:28:19.352-07:00"You'll pay for the whole seat, you'l..."You'll pay for the whole seat, you'll only need the edge" books -- That's cute, Elspeth.<br /><br />HelenHelen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-8095910997078118162009-10-10T17:59:40.300-07:002009-10-10T17:59:40.300-07:00Both. Ya gotta have both. It's all about timin...Both. Ya gotta have both. It's all about timing and rythmn, just like life. Ebbs and flows. My opinion.<br /><br /><a href="http://theoldsilly.com" rel="nofollow">The Old Silly</a>The Old Sillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661188622348794193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-51201575837584945312009-10-10T10:10:27.304-07:002009-10-10T10:10:27.304-07:00I think the TV show "Medium" is a good m...I think the TV show "Medium" is a good mix of tension and real life. The husband and kids bring in the breakfast scenes and squabbling kid situations even while the bigger evil is swirling throughout the story line. Makes the story so much more real than a book where it appears the main characters have no life outside the immediate plot.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-22425807392767620962009-10-09T21:16:18.265-07:002009-10-09T21:16:18.265-07:00It all depends on what sort of book or story you&#...It all depends on what sort of book or story you're writing. I don't read all that many action-packed books, so I don't write action-packed books. But stuff happens, you better believe it. Without conflict there is no story. Have you read the bestseller, The Help? There's a reason why that book is so popular, it's chock full of tension, but the characters do stop to take timeElizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-36217381441087546072009-10-09T20:48:20.982-07:002009-10-09T20:48:20.982-07:00Carol; That's it exactly! I'm not advocat...Carol; That's it exactly! I'm not advocating the plot comes to a screaming halt; just that pace can slow from time to time.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-4052605832474253592009-10-09T20:04:06.479-07:002009-10-09T20:04:06.479-07:00I have these same questions, Elspeth. When my char...I have these same questions, Elspeth. When my characters stop to munch on Aunt Mabel's chicken, I try to make sure the interlude advances characterization or plot in some way, even if it's a small way.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-57918471421890668512009-10-09T17:18:31.554-07:002009-10-09T17:18:31.554-07:00Elizabeth: I love "mild conflict"! Is ...Elizabeth: I love "mild conflict"! Is it from the same dictionary as "casually well-dressed"?<br /><br />Dorte: Nothing wrong with thrillers, they make great reads. I'm just suggesting that the hero has a moment to think every now and again. Thanks for dropping by!<br /><br />Carolyn; Chicken (even as wonderful as Aunt Mabel's) doesn't take that long to eat.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-59763662655828901692009-10-09T16:30:20.258-07:002009-10-09T16:30:20.258-07:00I like fast-paced books, but I find that too much ...I like fast-paced books, but I find that too much action just leaves me exhausted as a reader - I've stopped reading books where the characters were just doing way too much all the time. I think (I hope, I mean!) I have a balance in my writing between lots of action and lots of exposition.Belle Wonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112894169429729531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-60841256483531390442009-10-09T14:45:32.143-07:002009-10-09T14:45:32.143-07:00I try to walk that line between the 2 extremes as ...I try to walk that line between the 2 extremes as well -- kind of how I live my life :)<br /><br />I love action, but I also love Aunt Mabel and her culinary delights, so I think the middle is a good place to be.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-22117489128496570782009-10-09T13:46:53.377-07:002009-10-09T13:46:53.377-07:00What was that workshop I attended...? Something ab...What was that workshop I attended...? Something about action/reaction? Scene and Sequel, I think it was called. You have some action, then the next scene you read the characters' reaction to that action. Then more action, then more reaction. If it's all action, you never get a chance to take a breath and get to know the characters.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-24825950160671729742009-10-09T13:26:28.222-07:002009-10-09T13:26:28.222-07:00My characters interact in a leisurely way every so...My characters interact in a leisurely way every so often. Usually, however it’s to explain some plot point, or develop and issue that is ill developed through action. Maybe what we’re talking about it the difference between plot driven and character driven books. Dunno, but maybe.<br /><br />Best Regards, Galen<br /><br /><a href="http://www.galenkindley.com/blog.htm" rel="nofollow">joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-50049453215812339462009-10-09T12:37:02.656-07:002009-10-09T12:37:02.656-07:00The ones I'm reading now are filled with fast ...The ones I'm reading now are filled with fast action, lots of guns, and folks in danger. Very little time for eating or strolling. <br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-29529465316594272532009-10-09T11:42:50.057-07:002009-10-09T11:42:50.057-07:00Elspeth - What an important question for a writer ...Elspeth - What an important question for a writer to ask! You're absolutely right that too much action isn't real. In real life, people do eat, sleep, talk, get dressed and pay the bills. The most compelling mysteries are stories where suspenseful things happen to people who are living ordinary lives. That means the author has to talk about their ordinary lives, too. <br /> I think a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-10527736118084030472009-10-09T11:40:36.557-07:002009-10-09T11:40:36.557-07:00My character's will enjoy Aunt Mabel's chi...My character's will enjoy Aunt Mabel's chicken, but not for long. I need happy moment intermixed within the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-18008056694645324132009-10-09T11:15:37.938-07:002009-10-09T11:15:37.938-07:00"You may be saving the world, but did you rem..."You may be saving the world, but did you remember to buy milk?" A nice & practical (female?) approach to writing. <br /><br />I just finished reading a thriller yesterday. A fine plot etc, but I think they spend amazingly much time shooting at each other. Well, I did like it, but now I am ready for Aunt Mabel´s chicken ;DDorte Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14535044092722418173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-73058828862581346282009-10-09T10:48:09.370-07:002009-10-09T10:48:09.370-07:00Yes, they take little breathers. But their breathe...Yes, they take little breathers. But their breathers usually somehow end up influencing the plot outcome, too (they have a useful conversation with someone, etc.). My books aren't all that fast-paced, though. And, since they're only 65,000-75,000 words, I'm cramming in the breaks with some mild conflict. :) 'Mild conflict'--can't believe I even said that! But I guess Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com