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ah time is out of joint
Apr. 15th, 2025 11:13 pmHeroine lands in a horrible situation.
It occurs to me that I have to define how long it has lasted.
( Read more... )
It occurs to me that I have to define how long it has lasted.
( Read more... )
two years pass
Mar. 12th, 2025 10:15 pmWell, no, it's not quite that simple. Two years pass, their twins are born, the twins grow to a year old -- and then the story takes up again.
I think we're going to have a scene discussing names, and then the birth, and then perhaps some with the babies crawling -- and then the story will take up again.
I think we're going to have a scene discussing names, and then the birth, and then perhaps some with the babies crawling -- and then the story will take up again.
beginnings and middles
Jan. 6th, 2025 11:14 pmSo, starting a story. Noticing I was using the past perfect, which is not a good sign.
Considered putting in an earlier scene. Then I realized that I could put what I thought of as an earlier scene after my original start. That scene could be compressed down to a few sentences AND used to give the main character an excuse to escape from it.
Befores and afters are sometimes complicated
Considered putting in an earlier scene. Then I realized that I could put what I thought of as an earlier scene after my original start. That scene could be compressed down to a few sentences AND used to give the main character an excuse to escape from it.
Befores and afters are sometimes complicated
story and backstory
Dec. 31st, 2024 07:00 pmDecisions, decisions
Both the hero and the heroine have a considerable story -- or backstory -- before they meet. So when do I begin the story? Which goes first? Should I intertwine them?
Both the hero and the heroine have a considerable story -- or backstory -- before they meet. So when do I begin the story? Which goes first? Should I intertwine them?
time passing
Dec. 26th, 2024 11:48 pmThe five girls are studying hard, and having some amusements, and trying to devise a project. The big project, the one that proves they can do the job they are studying for.
So how much of the other stuff gets depicted as they pound their heads against the wall? It can't obsess them day and night, or they would be discharged from their studies as crazy. But how much of it is relevant?
So how much of the other stuff gets depicted as they pound their heads against the wall? It can't obsess them day and night, or they would be discharged from their studies as crazy. But how much of it is relevant?
whether the weather
Dec. 16th, 2024 11:12 amPlugging along into action. The hero thinks he has rescued the children, not realizing he has fallen into a trap, and he's about to lose them again.
And then I remember I thought the next scenes would be in winter. Which means that they would be winter here, or at least late fall. Furthermore they were outside during the semi-rescue so they would know it.
sigh
I suppose there could be a gap in time between this scene and the next, but not too long because that would reflect badly on the hero. Except, oops, it can't be even that long because of what the villainess will do.
And then I remember I thought the next scenes would be in winter. Which means that they would be winter here, or at least late fall. Furthermore they were outside during the semi-rescue so they would know it.
sigh
I suppose there could be a gap in time between this scene and the next, but not too long because that would reflect badly on the hero. Except, oops, it can't be even that long because of what the villainess will do.
times passes
Nov. 29th, 2024 11:43 pmA character is sitting about when she realizes two others are gone in a way that makes it clear they may be up to something.
The first thing to do is depict her sitting about, so her situation is clear, and them too, so her motive is.
This is less fun than it may sound.
The first thing to do is depict her sitting about, so her situation is clear, and them too, so her motive is.
This is less fun than it may sound.
timing is everything
Nov. 26th, 2024 11:18 pmI am throwing in a scene.
The sole reason to throw in this scene is to separate two other scenes that are illogical back to back. Hmm. Maybe just inharmonious? Infelicitous? Anyway, it's to provide some subtext by dividing the scenes up the way they are divided in the story time. So I have to throw in something.
The heroine started to talk about court. We'll see.
The sole reason to throw in this scene is to separate two other scenes that are illogical back to back. Hmm. Maybe just inharmonious? Infelicitous? Anyway, it's to provide some subtext by dividing the scenes up the way they are divided in the story time. So I have to throw in something.
The heroine started to talk about court. We'll see.
time twisting
Nov. 20th, 2024 11:48 pmSometimes pushing something into a brief mention in the past perfect works perfectly. It condenses down a scene that would have taken up more space than its contents justified.
Not always. Today I took such a scene, dragged it back into its natural order, and plopped it into the story. It's not very dramatic but I was going into the past perfect too often.
Not always. Today I took such a scene, dragged it back into its natural order, and plopped it into the story. It's not very dramatic but I was going into the past perfect too often.
seasons pass
Sep. 10th, 2024 11:22 pmAs they are, indeed, in the habit of doing.
I may need to scatter some more clues even though the heroine's explicitly stated that they have to hurry. Given the distance, to be sure of returning before winter, it's not too late in the fall. But there should be some clues.
I may need to scatter some more clues even though the heroine's explicitly stated that they have to hurry. Given the distance, to be sure of returning before winter, it's not too late in the fall. But there should be some clues.
transition, transition
May. 7th, 2024 11:58 pmFrom scene to scene, the heroine grows up. Well, she has to. It starts with her christening and ends with her wedding. And I have to plant things along the way.
The fun part was having one scene that happens right after another, and realizing it was the only one where the events happened without years between them.
The fun part was having one scene that happens right after another, and realizing it was the only one where the events happened without years between them.
Ah, the adventures in writing
Apr. 25th, 2024 11:51 pmIn one story, I have to put the character on the path where she meets someone.
In other I have to consider whether to change the time of day so the hero does not to worry about where to spend the night before acting.
In a third, I need to develop a custom where people gather to tell stories in a minimal way so that it does not distract from the main story -- it's a plot device of two functions.
sigh
In other I have to consider whether to change the time of day so the hero does not to worry about where to spend the night before acting.
In a third, I need to develop a custom where people gather to tell stories in a minimal way so that it does not distract from the main story -- it's a plot device of two functions.
sigh
times passes
Mar. 21st, 2024 11:01 pmSomething's going to happen.
Time is passing between the heroine's escape and the rescue force arriving, but things have to happen in there. Some have to be dealt with in summary, or suggested, because they are time passing in ordinary ways. It feels a little weak, though. I think there shall be a bit more drama. Now I just have to figure out what it is.
Time is passing between the heroine's escape and the rescue force arriving, but things have to happen in there. Some have to be dealt with in summary, or suggested, because they are time passing in ordinary ways. It feels a little weak, though. I think there shall be a bit more drama. Now I just have to figure out what it is.
as time goes by
Nov. 3rd, 2023 11:28 pmThe hero is years older than he was last chapter.
Now, how to indicate it. He's grown taller and stronger, he's learned things about the village and towns about. . . and it's all in close third-person so that will be hard to infiltrate into the story.
Now, how to indicate it. He's grown taller and stronger, he's learned things about the village and towns about. . . and it's all in close third-person so that will be hard to infiltrate into the story.
the more the merrier
Sep. 28th, 2023 11:51 pmAlways try to get each scene to do as much as it can. Not one thing if it can do two, not two if it can do three, not three if it can do six or seven. . . .
This is more important with minor characters, so the major ones can get most of the screen time.
It can be interesting to juggle
This is more important with minor characters, so the major ones can get most of the screen time.
It can be interesting to juggle
