tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post7784183238495028252..comments2024-03-16T11:38:39.317-04:00Comments on Author Jean Davis: A to Z: IntroductionsJean Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02047709505502621618noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-53111445074830355412017-04-12T11:06:19.840-04:002017-04-12T11:06:19.840-04:00Finding just that right mix of fleshing things out...Finding just that right mix of fleshing things out as the story unfolds can be difficult. Adding that later sounds like one way to work around that issue, though I'm with you on not being wild about it.Jean Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047709505502621618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-39927795339090341772017-04-12T11:04:48.490-04:002017-04-12T11:04:48.490-04:00No, never. :)No, never. :)Jean Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047709505502621618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-91504029627306051262017-04-12T11:04:26.987-04:002017-04-12T11:04:26.987-04:00Many of my first drafts look the same way. There&#...Many of my first drafts look the same way. There's often a lot of editing that goes into the first chapters to make them mesh with everything that came after.Jean Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047709505502621618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-25741708391443196612017-04-12T11:03:04.747-04:002017-04-12T11:03:04.747-04:00Finding just that right spot to start can be hard....Finding just that right spot to start can be hard. Good luck with the novel!Jean Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02047709505502621618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-47786459268861963602017-04-12T03:22:57.598-04:002017-04-12T03:22:57.598-04:00These are excellent points! I don't think i ha...These are excellent points! I don't think i have ever looked at introductions in this light! I will now be looking out.. i can see how these would be a good sign of a well written and edited book.Ishietahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10566675214613287107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-35020809027722027002017-04-12T00:06:43.359-04:002017-04-12T00:06:43.359-04:00"Said" is one of those invisible words. ..."Said" is one of those invisible words. It's often better to just use it, rather than keep trying to find other words. Only use variants like "stated" or "declared" sparingly, and only if that is really what the character does. Rebecca M. Douglasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07260530063164127746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-67528847472604604102017-04-12T00:05:39.373-04:002017-04-12T00:05:39.373-04:00I have a list of my own over-worked words that I s...I have a list of my own over-worked words that I search for late in the editing process. <br /><br />As for openings...lots of books open with the key moment, and then go back and fill in the background. I'm not sure I'm wild about that approach, either. But you do have to start with something compelling. So if the MC is just waking up, it probably had better be an abrupt awakening to something not so fun.<br /><a href="http://www.ninjalibrarian.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-i-is-for-aunt-isabel.html" rel="nofollow">The Ninja Librarian’s Favorite Characters </a>Rebecca M. Douglasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07260530063164127746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-45461465382428211572017-04-11T23:05:28.471-04:002017-04-11T23:05:28.471-04:00Another great post. Lots to think about, I can’t s...Another great post. Lots to think about, I can’t say I have ever noticed starting words or sentence. I have certainly had books that I didn’t enjoy right from the first few paragraphs, I would be curious now if any of the points you mentioned contributed to that.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting my blog.<br /><a href="https://writingiscommunication.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/a-z-blogging-challenge-raising-boys-the-penis-chronicles-presents-the-letter-i-for-is-everything-a-weapon/comment-page-1/#comment-349" rel="nofollow">Is Everything a Weapon</a><br />Shari<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-76175429893543543462017-04-11T22:15:39.893-04:002017-04-11T22:15:39.893-04:00Constantly saying "said" is one thing I ...Constantly saying "said" is one thing I try to avoid, by looking for alternate dialog tags.Jamie Ghionehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06508410672881133235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-23680019209945746552017-04-11T18:31:48.848-04:002017-04-11T18:31:48.848-04:00Great tips. I really have to watch not to start ev...Great tips. I really have to watch not to start every sentence with "he said", "he did", "he went"... it's so easy to do.Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-8678837600036192222017-04-11T15:54:49.190-04:002017-04-11T15:54:49.190-04:00Thanks for the reminders. I constantly edit and ed...Thanks for the reminders. I constantly edit and edit and edit once again. Are we ever really satisfied with our stories... LOL I look forward to checking back here.Jeanne Bryan Insalacohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199669886414029814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-8007421217923893442017-04-11T13:33:12.418-04:002017-04-11T13:33:12.418-04:00Good summary. And no, I don't think it's n...Good summary. And no, I don't think it's nitpicky to address the intro to paragraphs. Often, writers forget the lessons they learned in school about constructing an effective paragraph. Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-28713886655245270812017-04-11T13:11:27.663-04:002017-04-11T13:11:27.663-04:00I'm still struggling with the first chapter of...I'm still struggling with the first chapter of my WIP. Finally had to let it go and will see how it stands up to my initial revisions.<br /><br /><a href="http://dbmcnicol.blogspot.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-I.html" rel="nofollow">I: Isla Mujeres & Indiana</a><br />DB McNicol, author & traveler<br />Theme: Oh, the places we will go!Donna B. McNicolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15209611782116113024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-39281832667944295462017-04-11T09:59:00.134-04:002017-04-11T09:59:00.134-04:00I am used to academic writing, where every paragra...I am used to academic writing, where every paragraph has to begin with a new thought, and then expand on it. This way, when you have to read 500+ books for research, you can just read the first sentence of each paragraph, and get an idea of what the book is about... saves time. :D<br /><br /><a href="http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales</a>A Tarkabarka Hölgyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06719668142192116685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-1791346804627454752017-04-11T09:48:14.156-04:002017-04-11T09:48:14.156-04:00Hi Jean - I'm sure I'd fail at this ... bu...Hi Jean - I'm sure I'd fail at this ... but when I pick up that I'm duplicating words ... I try and amend ... but excellent post to remind us of what to do .. cheers Hilary<br /><br />http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/i-is-for-ice-age-art.html Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-53942809764173425692017-04-11T08:43:34.146-04:002017-04-11T08:43:34.146-04:00Starting a sentence with the same word...usually s...Starting a sentence with the same word...usually she is one of my biggest problems.<br />Great post!Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-18691746500314778902017-04-11T08:41:02.537-04:002017-04-11T08:41:02.537-04:00My first draft is usually a crazy mess and what I ...My first draft is usually a crazy mess and what I start with ends up getting cut. I like stories that take their time and slowly build the world being created...as a writer of supernatural fiction, I spend a lot of time figuring out the "rules" of the magical world I'm creating. http://luanakrausestorymagic.blogspot.com/Luana Krausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940192586072864886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-25794304249205821302017-04-11T08:32:43.713-04:002017-04-11T08:32:43.713-04:00I have a tendency to start each sentence with the ...I have a tendency to start each sentence with the same word. Something that I try to manage. Periodically, it will slip past me as I am focused on the content. Good to have a reminder. <br /><br />Emily | My Life In Ecuador | <a href="https://emilbloo.blogspot.com/2017/04/iguanas-at-our-bedroom-window.html" rel="nofollow">Iguanas at our bedroom window</a>Emily in Ecuadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046387339831440902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4955548665653773708.post-46796213024718655552017-04-11T08:24:45.879-04:002017-04-11T08:24:45.879-04:00Nicely said.
I have one story, which is a novella...Nicely said.<br /><br />I have one story, which is a novella, where I start it right at the point the story pivots for the protagonist, and I've had some people say they loved that it started them right into story, and others say they wanted more intro. I'm converting the novella into a novel, and i am putting more on the front, because the pace of the novel is slightly different.<br /><br />Thanks to my English teacher at primary school, I am intensely aware of the reuse of words in sequential sentences and paragraphs - she drummed it into us :)<br /><br />Sophie<br /><a href="http://sophiesthoughtsandfunmbles.blogspot.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries</a>Sophie Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14768033409563305140noreply@blogger.com