tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post5964693167216833419..comments2023-11-03T05:49:10.841-04:00Comments on Storytelling Rules: The Wait...Maureen McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-58505098393350131342009-10-15T20:07:27.013-04:002009-10-15T20:07:27.013-04:00Hehe no worries!
Three weeks ago is old school th...Hehe no worries!<br /><br />Three weeks ago is old school these days. <br /><br />I've been around a little longer than that. <br /><br />But I froze myself at 35 (with sunscreen!)Laura Kinsalehttp://www.laurakinsale.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-48898594496707232142009-10-15T15:27:33.934-04:002009-10-15T15:27:33.934-04:00Laura, your heroes are amazing, no one, writing to...Laura, your heroes are amazing, no one, writing today, writes better heroes. <br />There is nothing outdated about your stories, or your characters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-3058930388054220702009-10-15T14:02:05.198-04:002009-10-15T14:02:05.198-04:00Laura - if you ever check these comments again ple...Laura - if you ever check these comments again please know I did NOT mean to call you "old school". And I agree with Molly. I miss the days when character ruled in romance. <br /><br />When you talk about Degas or Manet - you don't expect them to talk back. But it was really terrific to have your insight.<br /><br />And thanks again for a book and a character that is still with me.<br /><br />StephStephanie Doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448686465587131952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-68829030186444646782009-10-15T12:37:51.051-04:002009-10-15T12:37:51.051-04:00Wow - I'm a bit a flutter.
Laura I would not ...Wow - I'm a bit a flutter.<br /><br />Laura I would not say your approach is out dated at all - it's something I wish our genre had more of. The problem is the amount of skill required to pull it off. <br /><br />I mean...you're pretty good at this writing stuff....<br /><br />But I like your point about the types readers -Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-5833322524792948062009-10-15T11:46:33.026-04:002009-10-15T11:46:33.026-04:00I think it's because I'm interested in my ...I think it's because I'm interested in my characters. I'm not so interested in the plot (does it show?? ;)) <br /><br />I think there are different types of writers (plot vs char) and different types of readers in the same vein. <br /><br />Of course when you hit both, then you have a real blockbuster, but it's hard hard hard. <br /><br />Well, I'm not exactly profound this morning but interesting topic. I would not like to think of my sort of approach as out-dated. Hope not.Laura Kinsalehttp://www.laurakinsale.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-58457989513288272962009-09-19T19:13:56.361-04:002009-09-19T19:13:56.361-04:00A slow build up. Anticipation is everything.A slow build up. Anticipation is everything.*https://www.blogger.com/profile/06484208765656281917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-4069123970144393652009-09-18T16:06:41.779-04:002009-09-18T16:06:41.779-04:00I was thinking the same thing Molly... Hey, if she...I was thinking the same thing Molly... Hey, if she's born today, she'll have the same b-day as my older sister. Trying to decide if that's good or bad. ;-)Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-22890350500359464252009-09-18T15:27:03.206-04:002009-09-18T15:27:03.206-04:00Hey - maybe Sinead is having a baby!!!!Hey - maybe Sinead is having a baby!!!!Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-46063314043604950312009-09-18T15:20:17.967-04:002009-09-18T15:20:17.967-04:00Eileen! yes - those story lines like last night Pe...Eileen! yes - those story lines like last night Peter goes to old Lt from the Wire with that Atari looking piece of equipment and says "this tech isn't from here and if we don't stay on this aliens will come and take over our bodies."<br /><br />It's like connecting points A and Z without worry about the pesky points in the middle. <br /><br />But it's worth it for that beginning scene of her coming out of the windshield hours after the crash...fun.Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-62835058596179540662009-09-18T12:29:45.563-04:002009-09-18T12:29:45.563-04:00Ooh. We're watching Fringe, too. It's got ...Ooh. We're watching Fringe, too. It's got to be the characters because the story lines irritate me a little. :-)Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803986849921870941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-38579317679183762072009-09-18T08:58:16.802-04:002009-09-18T08:58:16.802-04:00I was thinking about this long slow build-up, vs r...I was thinking about this long slow build-up, vs right in the action and television. The Wire and Mad Men vs. True Blood or even Dexter - and they're two very different animals. I think it comes down to what Maureen wrote - for the long slow build - we have to feel like we're in very good hands. Like the wait will be rewarded - The Wire did that even though it took five episodes before the through-plots started to show up. <br />And those shows, much like the books are so rare because they are so hard to write - it takes the freaking MAd Men PhD writers to do it -- and I think while all those books and shows are critically accalimed, they're not raking in the big bucks - particularly off the bat. <br /><br />On a side note - I can't stop watching The Fringe. Is it Joshua Jackson? Maybe. The crazy father. Sure. The x-files-ness of it all - probably. Either way - I like that show.Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-22335565089029669942009-09-17T13:32:29.553-04:002009-09-17T13:32:29.553-04:00For me, it's the story. A story that revolves ...For me, it's the story. A story that revolves around character mystery and the reveal surrounding it, builds slowly, whereas, a story that's plot driven with a lot of action cannot afford the slow build. <br />those old amazing historicals were all character driven, they could afford the slow build, because the fascination with Samuel dragged us along and kept us enthralled. <br />Same with Prince of Midnight(my fav Kinsale) <br /><br />But you need unforgettable characters to pull it off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-5915252973822766032009-09-17T13:13:59.768-04:002009-09-17T13:13:59.768-04:00"c" words on the first page is diving in..."c" words on the first page is diving into the action... but you've been reading Blazes, right, Kathy?Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-11248917363114424992009-09-17T13:12:05.425-04:002009-09-17T13:12:05.425-04:00C words on the first page? That's really divin...C words on the first page? That's really diving into the action.<br /><br />I have to admit, I've become an action action action girl. Also, I'm a prologue hater. I know. I know. I have one book that starts with a prologue. I regret it. I should have woven that stuff into the book. I just didn't have the skill yet.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803986849921870941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-70471220392100213112009-09-17T12:11:38.199-04:002009-09-17T12:11:38.199-04:00But have you read "Sweet, Savage Love?" ...But have you read "Sweet, Savage Love?" LOL!<br /><br />I noticed some category romances I've picked up lately mention the "c" word (the hero's) on the very first page, and is talked about on every other page. I think if that body part is mentioned so fast and so often, the author should give it a first name. :)<br /><br />That's just TMI right off the bat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-70245258791677128172009-09-17T12:02:38.486-04:002009-09-17T12:02:38.486-04:00Samuel by far was probably one of the best "b...Samuel by far was probably one of the best "broken" heroes I've ever read. He was broken. He didn't really understand all that was broken about him - which was fascinating. <br /><br />And I wasn't left with... Yeah he's fixed now! at the end. Which a person that broken wouldn't be.<br /><br />I could go on for hours about that book!<br /><br />So Maureen... for all your tyranny... thank you!Stephanie Doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448686465587131952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-84007047029168240382009-09-17T11:46:06.240-04:002009-09-17T11:46:06.240-04:00I like the hero and heroine to meet right away, th...I like the hero and heroine to meet right away, there to be some conflict, oh, and unanswered questions, but it doesn't have to be big action.<br /><br />I'm a historical romance freak (my preferred genre to read) but Kinsale never really did it for me. But then, I was reading them as a reader at that time, not a writer.Kimber Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13658012405712901099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-33211500393968021932009-09-17T11:43:08.719-04:002009-09-17T11:43:08.719-04:00I'm trying to think of my answer now, and I th...I'm trying to think of my answer now, and I think for me it depends. <br /><br />If I'm not tossed into the action, then the writing had better be excellent. If it isn't the story that's keeping the pages turning, then it has to be excellent writing. I think that's why Kinsale, and SEP and Crusie pull it off (have yet to read a McNaught -- Maureen braces to be hit by Molly and Sinead) while other writers bore us if they don't dive into the action.<br /><br />It needs to be mysterious, or lyrical, or funny, or something to hold my interest if there are chapters doing nothing by develop character at the start.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-61006614895423951342009-09-17T11:37:58.220-04:002009-09-17T11:37:58.220-04:00LMAO While I do have a mean streak ;-) I have no m...LMAO While I do have a mean streak ;-) I have no memory of this conversation. ;-)<br />I must've been excited by the fact I had, as Molly says in her comment, finally seen the light about Kinsale and why Molly and Sinead were go gaga about her.Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-67182126675203858732009-09-17T10:37:16.121-04:002009-09-17T10:37:16.121-04:00Action, for sure. I like being dumped in the middl...Action, for sure. I like being dumped in the middle and then the pieces unravelling throughout the story. I like not knowing a character's secrets or traits straight up - I prefer to guess along the way and then find out if I am right about their motivations, etc. So I guess it's a little like a reverse sizzle. :-)Alli Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363202163419352155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-2269875996909639172009-09-17T10:22:44.990-04:002009-09-17T10:22:44.990-04:00That's hilarious because we werejust joking th...That's hilarious because we werejust joking that Sinead and I talked about Kinsale for about eight years before Maureen finally read one. And I agree the suspence stuff at the end...WTF? But despite that, the book is still my favorite romance of all time. Romance. <br /><br />Kinsale, the old Judith McNaught's, SEP and even Cruise - they all did the slow wait, the big long sizzle and I think it comes down to character. You can do the big long build up if you are doling out pieces of your character like they are mysteries. Samuel in The Shadow and The Star is the best hero ever and it's not due to any reveal - we know his big secret, what's interesting is watching him unravel all the pieces of himself he'd created because of the secret. But this is so damn hard and it's why the creme de le creme of the industry are the only people you can think of that do it.<br /><br />I think that revealing character through big action is exciting and a hell of a lot easier than reealing character through tiny bits of action. So as readers we like it and as writers we're glad to have a reason to plot.Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.com