Comments on: Finish the Book http://www.routinesforwriters.com/2009/08/28/finish-the-book/ helping writers write more Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:56:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shonna http://www.routinesforwriters.com/2009/08/28/finish-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1145 Shonna Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:22:59 +0000 http://www.routinesforwriters.com/?p=1460#comment-1145 Elizabeth--Ooo, that's a really good, concise list. Gotta print that one out. BTW, loved the picture of the plant on your blog; I have several that look just like it, poor things. Stephanie--interesting insight! Non-fiction it is. Elizabeth–Ooo, that’s a really good, concise list. Gotta print that one out. BTW, loved the picture of the plant on your blog; I have several that look just like it, poor things.

Stephanie–interesting insight! Non-fiction it is.

]]> By: Stephanie Shackelford http://www.routinesforwriters.com/2009/08/28/finish-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1144 Stephanie Shackelford Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:00:40 +0000 http://www.routinesforwriters.com/?p=1460#comment-1144 Good question, Shonna. What would be lost and how would I feel if I didn't finish X? I have to admit my first, knee-jerk reaction was insightful. I thought it would be guilt and disappointment, but my first thought regarding my fiction project was, "Relief!" while my first thought regarding one of my non-fiction projects was, "What a shame and waste! I can't not finish it!" I guess I know which project I need to work on now and which one to lay aside. :) Good question, Shonna. What would be lost and how would I feel if I didn’t finish X? I have to admit my first, knee-jerk reaction was insightful. I thought it would be guilt and disappointment, but my first thought regarding my fiction project was, “Relief!” while my first thought regarding one of my non-fiction projects was, “What a shame and waste! I can’t not finish it!” I guess I know which project I need to work on now and which one to lay aside. :)

]]> By: Elizabeth Spann Craig http://www.routinesforwriters.com/2009/08/28/finish-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Elizabeth Spann Craig Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:05:52 +0000 http://www.routinesforwriters.com/?p=1460#comment-1133 Actually, I wrote a blog post on it a while back (insert plug for me! :) ) Here's the link: http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2009/07/signs-your-project-isn-going-well.html Basically, these are biggies for me: * You can’t logically explain what motivates the protagonist’s behavior. * Along the same lines, your character has completely changed with no reasonable explanation. * You can’t get into the protagonist’s head. They seem flat. You can’t identify with them at all. * The plot limps along with no discernable conflict. * There’s too much conflict and it changes from one thing to another. There’s no primary focus. There’s no theme, just 'the world vs. John Smith.’ * There’s only external conflict and no internal conflict for the main character. * The protagonist is unlikeable. * There’s no readily-identifiable antagonist. There’s just bad stuff that happens. * Your content is a mess with flashbacks, backstory, telling instead of showing, too many dialogue tags, and point of view issues. * Your characters aren’t original. They’re more like stock characters (the alcoholic cop, the snooty society lady, the shy librarian). These can be FIXED....but do we have the time? Elizabeth <a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a> Actually, I wrote a blog post on it a while back (insert plug for me! :) ) Here’s the link: http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2009/07/signs-your-project-isn-going-well.html

Basically, these are biggies for me:
* You can’t logically explain what motivates the protagonist’s behavior.
* Along the same lines, your character has completely changed with no reasonable explanation.
* You can’t get into the protagonist’s head. They seem flat. You can’t identify with them at all.
* The plot limps along with no discernable conflict.
* There’s too much conflict and it changes from one thing to another. There’s no primary focus. There’s no theme, just ‘the world vs. John Smith.’
* There’s only external conflict and no internal conflict for the main character.
* The protagonist is unlikeable.
* There’s no readily-identifiable antagonist. There’s just bad stuff that happens.
* Your content is a mess with flashbacks, backstory, telling instead of showing, too many dialogue tags, and point of view issues.
* Your characters aren’t original. They’re more like stock characters (the alcoholic cop, the snooty society lady, the shy librarian).

These can be FIXED….but do we have the time?

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

]]> By: Shonna http://www.routinesforwriters.com/2009/08/28/finish-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1131 Shonna Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:30:59 +0000 http://www.routinesforwriters.com/?p=1460#comment-1131 Elizabeth, that brings up a whole other discussion! How do you know when the book is a dud? Or can you find the part where it fails and fix it? Elizabeth, that brings up a whole other discussion! How do you know when the book is a dud? Or can you find the part where it fails and fix it?

]]> By: Elizabeth Spann Craig http://www.routinesforwriters.com/2009/08/28/finish-the-book/comment-page-1/#comment-1130 Elizabeth Spann Craig Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:50:30 +0000 http://www.routinesforwriters.com/?p=1460#comment-1130 It's hard to disagree with Maeve! I'd only add that I do have a manuscript graveyard of projects I realized weren't up to snuff before I finished them. But I finish anything viable. Elizabeth <a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a> It’s hard to disagree with Maeve! I’d only add that I do have a manuscript graveyard of projects I realized weren’t up to snuff before I finished them. But I finish anything viable.

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

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