tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post7271482627608276604..comments2024-03-18T08:33:25.907-04:00Comments on Inkwell Inspirations: Exorcising "The Rules"Lisa Karon Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02175430876079208723noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-89351091427073694332011-03-17T00:25:23.826-04:002011-03-17T00:25:23.826-04:00Anita, I like adverbs (especially -ly ones). There...Anita, I like adverbs (especially -ly ones). There is a liveliness they bring to narrative.<br /><br />Excellent point about leaving it up to an editor to change.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-39156062726330918722011-03-17T00:20:58.602-04:002011-03-17T00:20:58.602-04:00Christine, Lisa gave you some excellent advice.
G...Christine, Lisa gave you some excellent advice.<br /><br />Get a copy of your favorite book in the genre you are writing. Now get some highlighters. Lots of different colors. It's time to mark up the book.<br /><br />Pick a color and for an entire scene, highlight, say, dialogue all in blue. Next highlight setting/sensory/chracter details in pink. Next highlight inner thougths or Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-75030676503196142482011-03-17T00:14:34.745-04:002011-03-17T00:14:34.745-04:00Lisa, I think you're totally right about how t...Lisa, I think you're totally right about how the internet has given birth to the rule obsession among writers.<br /><br />Dina, I wasn't mocking your rules. :-) I was merely pointing out how a person like me will see loopholes in your rules. And not stay there??!? Does Dani not think he can handle Gina and Dina together?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-61939890820712890212011-03-16T22:02:02.851-04:002011-03-16T22:02:02.851-04:00Christine, you're in good company. We've a...Christine, you're in good company. We've all been there. I learned one thing at a time with the craft. Never mastered any of it. Eventually you'll know what seems right.<br /><br />What do you like to read? And is that the genre you're writing in?Debra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-48599118640822816572011-03-16T21:54:30.951-04:002011-03-16T21:54:30.951-04:00Christine, I'd say that the best way to get a ...Christine, I'd say that the best way to get a feel for what really works is to read widely. If the writing is a confusing, muddled chore at the moment, then set aside, just for a little while, and use that time to read. Both in your chosen genre and outside it. IF you can get things that are recent either form the library, beg borrow and steal. But read. <br /><br />Then when you come back toLisa Karon Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02175430876079208723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-11048100527957208772011-03-16T20:54:27.693-04:002011-03-16T20:54:27.693-04:00Christine, my "rules about the rules" we...Christine, my "rules about the rules" were mostly tongue in cheek, which is why Gina felt so free to mock them ;) But, I did intend them to put the whole "rule" issue into perspective.<br /><br />Gina, Dani was afraid you wouldn't be staying here after all after reading that post. And we're not sticking you on a couch by the way.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-78199366334675178562011-03-16T20:43:31.398-04:002011-03-16T20:43:31.398-04:00I have to be honest and say I don't understand...I have to be honest and say I don't understand the rules. It seems as if there are rules for the rules, rules for breaking the rules, rules that rule the breaking of the rules....<br /><br />I've had several critiques and a paid-for edit of my first few pages. They all make different changes or different comments. What one changes, another wants changed back. What one says is good, Christine Longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03486689943654395534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-34907955462551587982011-03-16T20:36:24.130-04:002011-03-16T20:36:24.130-04:00You know, Gina. I think the explosion of "rul...You know, Gina. I think the explosion of "rules" occurred with the internet making information so much more accessible than it used to be. <br /><br />Problem is that things go viral, and people very new to writing take tips or guidelines promulgated by professionals and turn them into holy edicts not to be violated. All that information circulates and circulates ad nauseum among the Lisa Karon Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02175430876079208723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-82977444412709340052011-03-16T19:00:09.886-04:002011-03-16T19:00:09.886-04:00Good post, Gina! I never paid attention to adverbs...Good post, Gina! I never paid attention to adverbs until one of the Seeker gals posted a checklist to follow before submitting. It listed adverbs. As a story teller vice grammar type person, I had to look up the word 'adverb'. Sure go ahead and look askance. Heh<br /><br />Since then, I've tried to eliminate most 'ly' words from my writing and only use 2 or 3 per chapter. You&Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-40574610964157741192011-03-16T18:40:43.089-04:002011-03-16T18:40:43.089-04:00Oh, and by the way. That's also an example of ...Oh, and by the way. That's also an example of how over adherence to one rule will cause you to break another. If you try to write around "nearly dead," you'll basically be left with cliches like on his last legs, close to death's door, or about to kick the bucket.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-68767932652815111002011-03-16T18:01:53.250-04:002011-03-16T18:01:53.250-04:00Or mostly dead.
Oddly, dead has degrees. Pregnanc...Or mostly dead.<br /><br />Oddly, dead has degrees. Pregnancy doesn't. Ever been mostly virtually pregnant or nearly pregnant?<br /><br />Excellent guideline, Dina!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-73903549731048391612011-03-16T17:13:09.078-04:002011-03-16T17:13:09.078-04:00Okay, still on adverbs. Here's when you can us...Okay, still on adverbs. Here's when you can use them. When they actually change the meaning of the verb, and there's not a verb that can replace the two together. <br /><br />Like virtually dead, or nearly dead, is very different than actually dead, for which you can just say dead without the adverb :)Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-57756097404853682412011-03-16T16:25:51.835-04:002011-03-16T16:25:51.835-04:00One of my favorite ABA romance authors back in the...One of my favorite ABA romance authors back in the 1990s was Jude Devereaux. Well, a few years ago, I decided to re-read the books of hers that I loved. Oh my stars. <br /><br />Head-hopping galore.<br />Telling, telling, more telling.<br />Leads not meeting for several chapters.<br />Unlikeable heroes (or heroines).<br />He said crisply, charmingly, roughly, hatefully, lovingly, fill in Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-6368185558634581722011-03-16T15:35:24.729-04:002011-03-16T15:35:24.729-04:00Oh, I love adverbs! Sometimes you really need one,...Oh, I love adverbs! Sometimes you really need one, IMHO. But I'm trying to be obedient and be selective so they pack a punch.<br /><br />Funny how the rules change. When I go back and re-read ten-yr old romances, the head-hopping is rampant.<br /><br />Thanks, Gina. Fun discussion.Susanne Dietzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710634601407161821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-60943525970743179042011-03-16T14:21:33.418-04:002011-03-16T14:21:33.418-04:00Dina, about counting adverbs...
Years ago one of ...Dina, about counting adverbs...<br /><br />Years ago one of my contest judges circled EVERY -ly word in my entry. She said I needed to get rid of all of them to make my writing stronger.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-76135942112128898812011-03-16T14:17:56.828-04:002011-03-16T14:17:56.828-04:00Deliberately, precisely, sparingly, and artistical...Deliberately, precisely, sparingly, and artistically.<br /><br />Nicely said, CJ!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-24789968245282516722011-03-16T12:18:46.967-04:002011-03-16T12:18:46.967-04:00Oh, and I just want to say, thanks to you guys, I ...Oh, and I just want to say, thanks to you guys, I have this song stuck in my head now:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ch3EyB5P90&feature=relatedC.J. Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026386802434435296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-5940478562311455322011-03-16T12:03:51.378-04:002011-03-16T12:03:51.378-04:00I like adverbs, and I'm not afraid to use them...I like adverbs, and I'm not afraid to use them. The key is that the author should use them deliberately, precisely, and sparingly. <br /><br />Oh, and artistically.C.J. Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026386802434435296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-77323912474859064122011-03-16T11:34:03.655-04:002011-03-16T11:34:03.655-04:00Allow me to explain the adverb thing. After I was ...Allow me to explain the adverb thing. After I was told "not" to use them, I started counting for a while. I'm not saying 3 per page is too many. I'm saying among well-known, published authors 3 is average.<br /><br />I don't count them anymore, even in my own writing, because I know where they do and don't work now. Adverbs are fine if they add to the sentence. <br /><brDina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-25042927208640461472011-03-16T10:54:33.448-04:002011-03-16T10:54:33.448-04:00Lisa, I'm in that recovery stage too.
The Gen...Lisa, I'm in that recovery stage too.<br /><br />The Genesis entrants are going to be blessed to have you and Dina for judges.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-43965130764662314312011-03-16T10:52:47.155-04:002011-03-16T10:52:47.155-04:00Howdy, Dani!!! I'm looking forward to meeting ...Howdy, Dani!!! I'm looking forward to meeting you in person this weekend.<br /><br />When you said this: <br /><i>We have freedom in Christ but (notice the "but" without a comma :) with moral, ethical and physical boundaries. The same should be in writing. </i><br /><br />...I thought "that's godly wisdom, right there."<br /><br />And I'm not just saying this so I Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-61043247027480477532011-03-16T10:49:34.196-04:002011-03-16T10:49:34.196-04:00Oh, Barb!!! You've hit on one of my favorite n...Oh, Barb!!! You've hit on one of my favorite new broken rule. I kinda like it when the author speaks directly to the reader.<br /><br />I love how you said: <br /><br /><i>I still cringe when writers break rules for no apparent purpose. Then I see the wisdom of rules. Often they hurt their own story. But I’ve also learned to appreciate when authors bend rules in a way that makes the story popAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-2971209582929012252011-03-16T10:47:10.946-04:002011-03-16T10:47:10.946-04:00That should have been "adverbs."
Oh, Di...That should have been "adverbs."<br /><br />Oh, Dina, you liked the title? I was trying to come up with a good antonym to exercising but nothing seemed right. Then exorcising popped in my brain. So I tried to mimic the general layout of your post. Took me a few minutes to find a good verse to use.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-84007113135961538522011-03-16T10:45:08.631-04:002011-03-16T10:45:08.631-04:00Dina, you *really* count how many adverbs an autho...Dina, you *really* count how many adverbs an author uses on a page?!<br /><br />Let me pause a moment and ROFLOL.<br /><br />With that done, lemme say I remember reading an ABA romance by Candance C-lastname. I'm drawing a blank. Anyhoo, I swear she had a love-affair with -ly words.<br /><br />You think 3 on an occasional one page is too many?<br /><br />Try 3 on EVERY page.<br /><br />I likeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7502152359497137754.post-76516339188160234312011-03-16T10:41:11.181-04:002011-03-16T10:41:11.181-04:00Deb, you make a great point about not talking abou...Deb, you make a great point about not talking about the "rules." Before you began writing, did you have any idea what (besides grammar) the writing rules were? I know I didn't.<br /><br />However I did (and I think most readers do too) know instinctively when something in the story doesn't work.<br /><br />Reminds me of a Lori Wick historical romance that I read about 11 years Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306070937646453722noreply@blogger.com