tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post7585982618313422811..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: 12 Dos and Don'ts for Introducing your ProtagonistAnne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-84914974996036110532014-11-05T16:08:00.815-08:002014-11-05T16:08:00.815-08:00Dark--I'm so glad this old post still has &quo...Dark--I'm so glad this old post still has "legs" and can help you avoid the pitfalls almost all new writers run into. Backstory and point of view are two of the hardest things to learn. We can't offer free critiquing or editing--we have both put in our time doing that professionally--and it's hard work. But we wish you the best of luck with your stories! I'll be writing more on learning writing craft this month. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-59306224981550200372014-11-05T15:59:55.296-08:002014-11-05T15:59:55.296-08:00DO dribble in your MC’s backstory in thoughts, con...DO dribble in your MC’s backstory in thoughts, conversations and mini-flashbacks--AFTER you’ve got us hooked by your MC and her story.<br /><br />Thank you that sentance is going to help me alot. As I at first had a dreem seen (it's own chapter the first time yikes!) Then I broke up up finding just the right spot to sprinkle it in through the chapters. Now to see if it can be broken up again and turned into what you suggested. Whew! writing is hard work. If you haven't already should say something about, head hooping expecually doing it three times in one chapter.That was "fun" to fix. Doh.<br /><br />I would love some feedback on my story Soul Tear you can find it on wattpad.com If you don't want to post a comment in my story sending a pm is fine to. All feedback and help is greatly appreciated. Now to try and figure out what to do with that dream sequence. XPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-81422054277158266842011-10-12T16:05:02.414-07:002011-10-12T16:05:02.414-07:00This is a great post! I breathed a sigh of relief ...This is a great post! I breathed a sigh of relief when my main character opens in an awkward situation with another person! Thanks for the tips...glad Hope Clark linked this today!Kristinehttp://www.kristinemeldrumdenholm.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-9903697820907851992011-06-23T12:31:58.689-07:002011-06-23T12:31:58.689-07:00Many thanks to Publitariat and Passive Guy for rev...Many thanks to Publitariat and Passive Guy for reviving this post from last year.<br /><br />Lee--you're so right about the mirror thing. Some things aren't "wrong" so much as they're simply done to death. <br /><br />Claire--I'm glad you agree. A lot of people--like Anon above--don't.<br /><br />So Anon: I wrote this when the indie revolution was in its infancy. These rules are based on what publishers and agents want. There's no "book police" who will come and fine you for being a Henry James in an Elmore Leonard world. <br /><br />One of the great things about the indie revolution is that people don't have to follow rules any more. If you want to write a stream of consciousness, plot-free, Kerouac-Joycean 10-volume-novel about your belly button lint--you can do it. The marketplace will decide if anybody wants to read it. If they don't, that may not matter to you one bit--and that's OK, too.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-39032352301810791022011-06-23T12:18:08.424-07:002011-06-23T12:18:08.424-07:00YES!
Finally. I agree with everything here, and i...YES!<br /><br />Finally. I agree with everything here, and in addition I agree with some of the posters above, especially the one who mentioned mirrors - I personally think a character 'musing' in a mirror AT ANY STAGE is a killer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-11496167090333412982011-06-22T10:24:46.362-07:002011-06-22T10:24:46.362-07:00I have another "Don't" to add: Don&...I have another "Don't" to add: Don't <br />introduce your protagonist by having him or her looking into a mirror, describing or analyzing her/himself for the sole benefit of the reader. That's one horse that's been beaten way too often. :)<br /><br />-Ms. Lee WardlawLee Wardlawhttp://www.leewardlaw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-43187478598776865352011-04-19T20:43:45.305-07:002011-04-19T20:43:45.305-07:00New to your blog. Reading all with interest and y...New to your blog. Reading all with interest and you have some great advice about blogging. I am still trying to decide if I want to continue to have a blog.<br /><br />I just must disagree with you about Don't start with dialoque. I love action and the quicker a writer can get me into it is great and I feel dialoque is an important tool to hook the reader. I get a feel for how the characters will react in a situation with conversation. A book with a lot of telling me about a character, what he/she is thinking or what happened to them without conversation to me is telling me and not showing me....as the old adage goes, "show, don't tell!" I get turned off quicker on a book that doesn't have much conversation or none at all in the first chapter.<br /><br />Again, thank you for your blog. I intend to keep following it.Jacquelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037261003957874781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-63793619149321245912011-02-23T10:22:47.115-08:002011-02-23T10:22:47.115-08:00I know this is an older post, but my good friend S...I know this is an older post, but my good friend Susan Kay Quinn just guided me to it. It' perfect for me, right now. I've had some really encouraging movement with my YA novel, yet something is holding the agents back. I think it's my opener. I think I need to have her interact with her surroundings a bit more. I love this post. Thank you.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-15613580318651188522011-02-09T12:56:11.959-08:002011-02-09T12:56:11.959-08:00This is a really helpful post. I found you via th...This is a really helpful post. I found you via the link on Amie Kaufman's blog, and I'll be reading more. Thanks!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01681732058311386672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-80193727722824395102011-01-24T05:13:18.127-08:002011-01-24T05:13:18.127-08:00It's too bad that I've broken most of the ...It's too bad that I've broken most of the rules here--in my pursuits to bring out a good book.<br /><br />But I was never much a "crowd pleaser" or someone who was a 'team player' for the mainstream.<br /><br />I create my own guidelines and my own rules.<br /><br />Schuyler ThorpeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-91361984266811779662011-01-24T05:09:03.188-08:002011-01-24T05:09:03.188-08:00what a great blog post! Thanks for taking the time...what a great blog post! Thanks for taking the time to get this up, with all the computer hassle you're having, too. Much appreciated :)JoAnne Kenrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15234275353277804224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-6615989582652561912010-10-04T14:08:40.470-07:002010-10-04T14:08:40.470-07:00A great concise collection of advice! Going to add...A great concise collection of advice! Going to add this one to my list of resources!Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-54112837474881481862010-10-02T08:28:12.731-07:002010-10-02T08:28:12.731-07:00Thanks for the great list of to do's and not t...Thanks for the great list of to do's and not to do's!Valerie Ipsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15958210886138097232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-40713499947621311932010-09-29T16:38:29.171-07:002010-09-29T16:38:29.171-07:00I'm just rewriting my first chapter so this po...I'm just rewriting my first chapter so this post was interesting, thanks.<br /><br />Btw, I can recommend off-site backups :-)<br />I've only used Amazon's S3 service myself (only costs pennies), but there are free services too like Dropbox et al.Marcushttp://writing.wordit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-60776890932640534652010-09-29T12:04:27.881-07:002010-09-29T12:04:27.881-07:00These were great tips; I hope every writer heeds t...These were great tips; I hope every writer heeds them. I've been guilty of a few. :)Megan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06548791853823629555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-7462394978198088542010-09-29T05:57:16.550-07:002010-09-29T05:57:16.550-07:00I had to laugh about not doing a prologue. I had j...I had to laugh about not doing a prologue. I had just finished reading an agent's blog who said prologues were fine as long as they don't go on for pages. Now what is an author to do?Kay Bigelownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-38091492332897467042010-09-29T05:55:31.772-07:002010-09-29T05:55:31.772-07:00I hate it when characters look in a mirror - or wo...I hate it when characters look in a mirror - or worse, they describe their twin - so we can find out what they look like. So much better to drop minimal description throughout!Icy Sedgwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11501193571425442406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-4372312259327202962010-09-27T09:48:36.526-07:002010-09-27T09:48:36.526-07:00I love the bit about the boss and the hooker in 12...I love the bit about the boss and the hooker in 12B and the poor fellow with the run in the hose! I like how your do's and don't's set up descriptive images in my mind! Happy writing!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783350310611096039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-26755813887781558562010-09-27T08:52:55.687-07:002010-09-27T08:52:55.687-07:00Anne - Really good post, thank you. I also attende...Anne - Really good post, thank you. I also attended the CCWC and had face time with Nathan. Isn't he simply the best? Your protagonist pointers above are right-on. Thank you for your timely post. I'll be passing this blog on :) Best wishes from one SLO County resident to another!Sheri Fredrickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17074141702013317937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-77753412849789041582010-09-26T19:12:39.106-07:002010-09-26T19:12:39.106-07:00Such an awesome post!! Thank you. Really great l...Such an awesome post!! Thank you. Really great list to boil it all down.Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-59575538243671490822010-09-25T01:56:11.615-07:002010-09-25T01:56:11.615-07:00Haha I've been going back and forth b/w this p...Haha I've been going back and forth b/w this post and one by your idol about the Happy Writer...nice to meet you!!Sophia Changhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10946233873722107937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-13462749592261750272010-09-24T15:25:30.494-07:002010-09-24T15:25:30.494-07:00No snooze fests or info dumps! Good points!
I...No snooze fests or info dumps! Good points! <br /><br />I'm not a big fan of prologues. If it's important enough to be in the book - put it in the book! But that's just me!Jan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-50169669520997158012010-09-23T09:27:35.279-07:002010-09-23T09:27:35.279-07:00Yes, Florence, I've been a Maassketeer for a w...Yes, Florence, I've been a Maassketeer for a while now. I think we should all read Writing the Breakout Novel at some point. Some of his stuff drives me batty (my books are already too heavy on plot and subplots) and he can be infuriating to literary writers, but most of his advice is useful no matter what your genre.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-47912386367410550822010-09-22T19:02:34.738-07:002010-09-22T19:02:34.738-07:00Hey Anne! So sorry you've been having computer...Hey Anne! So sorry you've been having computer problems!! Great article...thanks for sharing! And you know...it's Comment Like Crazy Wednesday! :)BECKYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15184458949017900541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-51930930969405281382010-09-22T12:49:19.287-07:002010-09-22T12:49:19.287-07:00This is a great list! Thanks for all the tips!This is a great list! Thanks for all the tips!TK Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16785321238280775961noreply@blogger.com