I'm sorry, dad. You know I would never have tried to save River's life if I had known there was a dinner party at risk.

Simon ,'Safe'


The Great Write Way  

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


deborah grabien - Nov 21, 2004 5:56:37 pm PST #8215 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

Heh. Lyra likes it spare; generally, so do I. In fact, erika will tell you that I'm usually the voice saying "no, that's you, not that character, in that little bit over there! No parentheticals in fiction! Lose it lose it!"

There are times, though, when the really fast clap of metaphors is precisely what's needed.


Lyra Jane - Nov 21, 2004 6:06:59 pm PST #8216 of 10001
Up with the sun

Yeah, I plead guilty to the charge of needing it spare. And I even agree with Deb that sometimes, breakneck metaphors exactly what you need. I just think keeping that pace up for more than a paragraph or two will almost always burn the reader out. (or, at least, it burns me out -- I can't read with anyone else's mind.)

But then, it's proportional, too, and having that pace for the first page of a 20-page story that also slows down later on, might feel very different from seeing that page as a world onto itself.


Brynn - Nov 21, 2004 6:07:02 pm PST #8217 of 10001
"I'd rather discuss the permutations of swordplay, with an undertone of definite allusion to sex." Beverly, offering an example of when your characters give you 'tude.

*loves this thread...* I need to relearn the zen art of multitasking/prioritizing so I can actually keep up with the things wrap me up rather than wring me out.


deborah grabien - Nov 21, 2004 6:14:28 pm PST #8218 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

it's proportional

Yes, this exactly. Normally, I am iron-fisted on the "stop futzing with stuff and tell the story!" In this particular piece - voter fraud pornography, written for a very specific purpose - there was nothing in there to burn me out at all, or to distract me: problem puzzle and crime and sex, with the only real deal being the humanity of these people. And as a mystery writer, and one who likes the buzz of the invisible world? The metaphors here just danced for me, once she gave it closure.


erikaj - Nov 21, 2004 6:40:10 pm PST #8219 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!

That's funny because it was almost just "He Said/She said" dialogue...no description whatever. But I figured I might Hear about that, despite it being my dialogue fiend's first instinct. Maybe I overcompensated because I wrote Naked People.


deborah grabien - Nov 21, 2004 7:03:37 pm PST #8220 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

Nah. I want the story, the nice balance between dialogue and action, the mood...


Nilly - Nov 22, 2004 1:42:42 am PST #8221 of 10001
Swouncing

t Poking head We had a network crash here, and therefore I owe apologies to both Kristin and deb, because the files with the comments on their stuff were lost, and I have to start all over again. I'm not sure I'll be able to re-do it until at least tomorrow, though. Sorry!


Topic!Cindy - Nov 22, 2004 2:01:46 am PST #8222 of 10001
What is even happening?

Oh victor, I'm crying.
Err, I'm sorry? I REALLY didn't mean to make you cry.
Yeah, but because your reasoning is sound. I can't explain it any more, but you don't need to be sorry, unless you caused all this in the first place.


victor infante - Nov 22, 2004 5:42:13 am PST #8223 of 10001
To understand what happened at the diner, we shall use Mr. Papaya! This is upsetting because he's the friendliest of fruits.

Yeah, but because your reasoning is sound.

Thank you.

you don't need to be sorry, unless you caused all this in the first place.

I didn't touch it, I was nowhere near the place.


Pix - Nov 22, 2004 5:47:10 am PST #8224 of 10001
We're all getting played with, babe. -Weird Barbie

Insent to betas...and I'm getting on my plane. Thanks all!