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point of view, and other problems
An observation: If you don't make it clear in the opening of a scene which point of view it is from, you may not only confuse the reader. You may also confuse yourself so you start revise it under the assumption it's from a different point of view.
Then you have to straighten it out.
Then you have to straighten it out.
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ah revision
Suddenly you realize that you have no idea which point of view this scene is in because it flipflops. . . and all the other scenes are in one point of view alone. . .
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does it stay simple?
No, of course not. That would be simple. The instant the young princess falls asleep, the point of view character meditates on the curse on her, and how she will sleep for a long, long, long time.
At least it fits the theme.
At least it fits the theme.
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wrestling with insignificance
Plugging along with revision and deciding that the baby doesn't get to be fretful when arriving. Asleep, maybe?
The thing is that it is of no importance whatsoever. Therefore, it should not draw attention. Tuck the baby away in her new crib, and then the point of view character can concern herself with more important things.
The thing is that it is of no importance whatsoever. Therefore, it should not draw attention. Tuck the baby away in her new crib, and then the point of view character can concern herself with more important things.
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point of view
Hmmm. . . I don't think I want to go deep in this point of view.
It's the only time I'm going into a necromancer's point of view. They are not appealing folks.
Hmm -- wait, there is the scene from her point of view, so maybe I'm just indicating that it's possible, too. (It's good to not surprise people too much with allowed points of view.)
It's the only time I'm going into a necromancer's point of view. They are not appealing folks.
Hmm -- wait, there is the scene from her point of view, so maybe I'm just indicating that it's possible, too. (It's good to not surprise people too much with allowed points of view.)
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uneasy move the feet that walk in a strange place
There's one easy side to having the hero moving about the castle. (Or house. Or possibly edifice.)
He's finding it all very odd.
This makes it very easy for him to notice all sorts of things in time for me to show them to the reader.
Better yet, it's time limited as he gets used to it, so I don't have to keep remembering how odd he finds it as the story winds on.
He's finding it all very odd.
This makes it very easy for him to notice all sorts of things in time for me to show them to the reader.
Better yet, it's time limited as he gets used to it, so I don't have to keep remembering how odd he finds it as the story winds on.
the game of names
There is a great gap in the story. It's part of the structure.
But I introduced seven characters before the gap, and didn't manage to work in their names. The gap occurred. And now the point of view character already knows all their names. Unsurprisingly, they were all in the castle together, and all the other servants left.
Sometimes it can be interesting to juggle.
But I introduced seven characters before the gap, and didn't manage to work in their names. The gap occurred. And now the point of view character already knows all their names. Unsurprisingly, they were all in the castle together, and all the other servants left.
Sometimes it can be interesting to juggle.
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necromancers nattering
Should I put in a scene of the necromancers nattering about an important justification for certain events? Which also has philosophical implications. . . .
It's the point of view question.
( Read more... )
It's the point of view question.
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a fight breaks out
I know what happens in it. I even have a point of view character whose job in the fight will ensure he gets a good view of what happens.
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( Read more... )
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style and scene
Gotta work on my style.
Because I've got a scene where a child is running, and slaughter's occurring around him. This lends itself to short punchy sentences, and no time to think, and certainly no time to think straight. Still more when the child could barely, given enough time and peace and quiet, realize half the significance of what he sees.
My style works just fine for the scene after, when he's playing dead and hoping the villains don't realize he's still alive. Entirely too much time to think then.
But the scene before still needs work.
Because I've got a scene where a child is running, and slaughter's occurring around him. This lends itself to short punchy sentences, and no time to think, and certainly no time to think straight. Still more when the child could barely, given enough time and peace and quiet, realize half the significance of what he sees.
My style works just fine for the scene after, when he's playing dead and hoping the villains don't realize he's still alive. Entirely too much time to think then.
But the scene before still needs work.
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there's a good villainess
Too many villains spoil the climax. . . .
Fortunately, the villainess I was thinking of as the chief one reveals that she will be taking a number of the others out of the way. And that will make her more dangerous for the climax. How handy!
Meanwhile, some of the others have to vanish by more ordinary means.
Now, I just have to decide whether she does it on stage, or reveals it at the end. The first builds dramatic irony but the second gives a bigger twist, assuming that I can foreshadow it enough.
Fortunately, the villainess I was thinking of as the chief one reveals that she will be taking a number of the others out of the way. And that will make her more dangerous for the climax. How handy!
Meanwhile, some of the others have to vanish by more ordinary means.
Now, I just have to decide whether she does it on stage, or reveals it at the end. The first builds dramatic irony but the second gives a bigger twist, assuming that I can foreshadow it enough.
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Sidewise Advice On How To Develop Style, Part V
Been a while. But Parts I, II, III, and IV still await perusal.
And the impact of point of view, particularly close point of view, has struck me recently.
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And the impact of point of view, particularly close point of view, has struck me recently.
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style and point of view
When telling a story from a character's point of view, it's wise to indicate the limits of his knowledge and judgement by the vocabulary and grammar choices.
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Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight!
Story time can be an issue in the most linear of stories. Time travel, on the other hand --
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plot devices in retelling fairy tales
Nothing is more difficult to deal with in retelling a fairy tale than its plot devices. Because they have the dreadful tendency to drop them like hot potatoes the instant their usefulness is used up, and without a breath of explanation.
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the eyes have it
When writing description in a story, always remember the point of view.
And when NOT writing description in a story, always remember the point of view.
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And when NOT writing description in a story, always remember the point of view.
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