tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post261302947093683151..comments2023-10-26T09:17:01.505-04:00Comments on DNA WRITERS - Writing Is In Our Blood: How to Not Send Your Story Into a Cinderblock Wall- Making Every Scene CountBrenda Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01263237745979525170noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-22482487489974305442011-02-13T21:20:16.857-05:002011-02-13T21:20:16.857-05:00Great post and wonderful advice. Thanks!
AmyGreat post and wonderful advice. Thanks!<br /><br />AmyA.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-14843553098043469392011-02-13T13:44:36.353-05:002011-02-13T13:44:36.353-05:00Thanks Janelle, yes I'm bummed about the firep...Thanks Janelle, yes I'm bummed about the firepit :( We only used it twice!!!!!!! You were there one of the times <3 <br /><br />Brenda, thanks! I know exactly what you mean about cutting like a surgeon, nice analogy!<br /><br />Amanda, yup I couldn't agree more! Distancing myself is sometimes the only to get myself to see the big picture :)<br /><br />xo<br />DiDiana Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04368186068872293410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-48439470200387203842011-02-12T22:59:22.748-05:002011-02-12T22:59:22.748-05:00Fresh eyes are so necessary -- you start seeing th...Fresh eyes are so necessary -- you start seeing things that aren't there, or worse, not seeing the things that need to be changed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-17539813340640782732011-02-12T22:43:20.489-05:002011-02-12T22:43:20.489-05:00Great post, Di. It took me along time to realize I...Great post, Di. It took me along time to realize I needed to ditch the scene blocks weighing down my stories. Now, I cut and remove them like a surgeon repairing damage to a heart. When it's all done and that scene blockage is gone, everything runs smoother. :DBrenda Drakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263237745979525170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-53335984018632413382011-02-12T21:16:19.840-05:002011-02-12T21:16:19.840-05:00I think the chunks I am cutting from my ms would p...I think the chunks I am cutting from my ms would punch holes in your cinderblock wall..... Just sayin'... ;o)<br /><br />And so bummed about the firepit!! Where are we going to roast marshmallows now??? *wails*Janelle Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09856351306821482632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-53624934158998532452011-02-12T12:24:32.736-05:002011-02-12T12:24:32.736-05:00Erica- Thanks :) And you're right, especially ...Erica- Thanks :) And you're right, especially when scenes slow the story down.<br /><br />Jade- LOL yes!!! The joys of pantsing indeed, I'm finding myself wishing I could somehow convert and become a plotter! I also cut quite a bit from the beginnings of my novels. Sometimes I think, but that scene is perfect! But then...it doesn't matter if it's perfect, if it isn't really part of the story.<br /><br />Mary- Thanks for the fire pit sympathy. And yes, you're exactly right about each scene needing to carry us to the next. Each scene needs to reveal something and lead us toward our ending, otherwise our story is standing still.<br /><br />Liza- Thanks, it IS hard letting go of those scenes. As for the fire pit, sadly, the insert doesn't fit anymore. We tried straightening it but it's not going to happen. We're finding out if we can order a new one :/<br /><br />Gina- LOL that's so funny, and I have a critique partner who did that very thing with her first novel. Good job recognizing this and taking care of it :) I suppose it ~could~ work if your main characters had things happening constantly that were relevant to plot, though I imagine they'd become exhausted!<br /><br />DL- Only twice? Hee hee, I delete one of every five scenes I write, I think *cringe!*<br /><br />Patricia- I do the same thing! My "scraps" file for my wip is nearing twenty-thousand words now, but I'd rather know that those deleted scenes and chapters exist somewhere.Diana Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04368186068872293410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-91414903757907863952011-02-12T10:34:58.634-05:002011-02-12T10:34:58.634-05:00If I have to cut something I remind myself I have ...If I have to cut something I remind myself I have the cut part somewhere still so while it's gone from the story I can still enjoy the scene or maybe offer it as a delete scene later (because I love special features and believe books need them too!)Patricia JLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582005500429122486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-11347538513046881252011-02-12T09:49:43.059-05:002011-02-12T09:49:43.059-05:00I've done it a couple of times, both of them a...I've done it a couple of times, both of them against my own judgement, and both times the story was better off for it. It's unsettling to have a blindspot like that. :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-82745827635741231792011-02-12T09:48:47.904-05:002011-02-12T09:48:47.904-05:00When I first started writing, I thought you had to...When I first started writing, I thought you had to account for nearly every minute of the character's time, or it would seem unrealistic. So wrong. Needless to say I've been removing huge chunks of writing that did nothing as far as telling the actual story. Great post.Gina Cioccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024256412233972412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-80216497379925282352011-02-12T08:58:45.820-05:002011-02-12T08:58:45.820-05:00Great analogy. It is hard though, to give some of...Great analogy. It is hard though, to give some of our babies up. Hope your fire pit can be saved.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-60224207825683674922011-02-12T07:15:47.467-05:002011-02-12T07:15:47.467-05:00Nice analogy. So sorry about the fire pit. The lea...Nice analogy. So sorry about the fire pit. The leaves staying is interesting. This is so important for writers to learn. Every scene counts and it needs to carry us a long to the next scene. I've read a some scenes where the writer just didn't get it-- it's like they don't know what to do with their characters-- they just have them meander through and have them doing things just to be doing things. Nice post Di.Mary E Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13119298615414367828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-18962596207053500202011-02-12T04:00:01.248-05:002011-02-12T04:00:01.248-05:00Yes! I'm editing a story at the moment that ev...Yes! I'm editing a story at the moment that evolved a lot as I wrote it (the joys of pantsing!) and a lot of the earlier scenes are no longer relevant. The story may have changed, but at it's core, it's still the same idea I initially fell in love with.<br /><br />Great post!Jadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444920778218867295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-13488464951321047972011-02-12T02:08:36.476-05:002011-02-12T02:08:36.476-05:00Great stuff, Di! Removing a scene often helps me t...Great stuff, Di! Removing a scene often helps me tighten my stories ;o)erica m. chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773306703153110737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-85723290767544010822011-02-12T01:43:17.862-05:002011-02-12T01:43:17.862-05:00Tina- YES! Especially when there's nothing rea...Tina- YES! Especially when there's nothing really wrong with the scene. It just doesn't add anything more to the story.<br /><br />Nat- Thanks! :) And yes, just one job of many!!<br /><br />xo<br />DiDiana Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04368186068872293410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-70392061195331690122011-02-12T01:25:53.767-05:002011-02-12T01:25:53.767-05:00Great tips, love!
I hate killing darlings, but it...Great tips, love!<br /><br />I hate killing darlings, but it must be done. Just part of the job. *sighs*Natalie Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116611923169722657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3629243436135491838.post-61568211031470264062011-02-12T01:20:46.809-05:002011-02-12T01:20:46.809-05:00So, so true. And always hard. I've had to kill...So, so true. And always hard. I've had to kill some darling. It always hurts. But it hurts so good :)Tina Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05914428134837892539noreply@blogger.com