tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post6932658089229650181..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: C. Lee McKenzie on The Seven Don'ts of StorytellingMisha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-333540685736178782014-08-30T10:25:15.388+02:002014-08-30T10:25:15.388+02:00Hi Lee - if it reads well, then all should be fine...Hi Lee - if it reads well, then all should be fine for readers when the book is published ... love the sagging middle thought - lost one's way half way through the plot ... <br /><br />Reading out loud throws up so many wobblies ... and things that just don't make sense ... cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-25467427248506902122014-08-29T12:37:45.958+02:002014-08-29T12:37:45.958+02:00C.Lee, Great writing tips!! Loved Double Negative!...C.Lee, Great writing tips!! Loved Double Negative!!Cathrina Constantinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960849263181625782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-73524141028748010082014-08-28T18:49:38.085+02:002014-08-28T18:49:38.085+02:00Sounds like that's a grumpy teacher. :)
I rea...Sounds like that's a grumpy teacher. :)<br /><br />I really enjoyed the list. I wonder how many I'll recognize in my own writing. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-64534463419781240282014-08-28T02:21:56.047+02:002014-08-28T02:21:56.047+02:00I all. I've read each of your comments and wan...I all. I've read each of your comments and wanted to respond to them, but the REPLY hates me today. Anyway, I really do appreciate your comments. Thanks for taking the time to read and remark.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-49842615732364911242014-08-28T02:16:34.295+02:002014-08-28T02:16:34.295+02:00My style. . . unless I have some kind of word jam ...My style. . . unless I have some kind of word jam that suddenly opens up and I can't stop the flow. Then I'm in trouble.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-72065374582426801612014-08-27T15:16:39.466+02:002014-08-27T15:16:39.466+02:00Great list of don'ts! Bookmarking this post.Great list of don'ts! Bookmarking this post.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-63436888580055185402014-08-27T09:21:02.965+02:002014-08-27T09:21:02.965+02:00All good advice.All good advice.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-68162567382006040392014-08-26T19:28:15.958+02:002014-08-26T19:28:15.958+02:00All excellent tips. I know I have been guilty of a...All excellent tips. I know I have been guilty of a few, but I try to learn and weed out those issues/Elizabeth Seckmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00045076826326574984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82889010946115499322014-08-26T15:28:02.632+02:002014-08-26T15:28:02.632+02:00I kept reading and thinking, Yes! This one is my f...I kept reading and thinking, Yes! This one is my favorite. No, this one. Wait, this one! I agree with all of them, especially the 'and then' trap. I find that a lot in my first drafts, but those are supposed to be terrible and I fix it later.<br /><br />Anyway, fabulous post. Great reminders!KChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924028116296474975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-76996557344330741412014-08-26T08:37:08.304+02:002014-08-26T08:37:08.304+02:00Excellent list!
I'll add:
During dialog, be s...Excellent list! <br />I'll add:<br />During dialog, be sure to show some facial expressions and posture shifts.<br /><br />Look for the goal of each scene and make sure someone/something is in the way.<br /><br />The sentence most overused is ""S/he turned to look/and looked at him/her."J Lenni Dornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07961335286982498158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-19299829052939684812014-08-26T04:22:21.445+02:002014-08-26T04:22:21.445+02:00Great tips Lee. I have a hard time with #3.Great tips Lee. I have a hard time with #3.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-16319661454660589052014-08-26T04:01:33.650+02:002014-08-26T04:01:33.650+02:00I especially agree with the tip about dressing for...I especially agree with the tip about dressing for a night out; I read a lot of chick lit, and I've noticed that many (though not all) authors spend too much time describing the characters' clothes so that it's like reading a fashion magazine instead of a novel. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-10844878881735142642014-08-26T00:43:06.922+02:002014-08-26T00:43:06.922+02:00A great list.
No 1 is the best!
Nothing beats lea...A great list.<br />No 1 is the best! <br />Nothing beats lean and tight writing.Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-68299727054128302002014-08-25T21:55:05.920+02:002014-08-25T21:55:05.920+02:00I like checklists when I'm editing. They keep ...I like checklists when I'm editing. They keep me focused on the job of cleaning up my messy ms.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-2142016672087111952014-08-25T21:54:22.947+02:002014-08-25T21:54:22.947+02:00Right. Cut to the chase, for heaven sakes. Don'...Right. Cut to the chase, for heaven sakes. Don't get me wrong I love beautiful prose, but it has to serve a purpose other than just show up and be beautiful.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-3607943680623623772014-08-25T21:53:28.980+02:002014-08-25T21:53:28.980+02:00Yep. Dialogue is not conversation. I wish my conve...Yep. Dialogue is not conversation. I wish my conversations could be more like my carefully crafted and clever dialogue.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-58898969764199350952014-08-25T21:52:43.063+02:002014-08-25T21:52:43.063+02:00Agree. Readers are a smart lot. After all they'...Agree. Readers are a smart lot. After all they're reading your book, right?cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-77571683104544057772014-08-25T21:52:09.686+02:002014-08-25T21:52:09.686+02:00Those first drafts are precious. So glad no one re...Those first drafts are precious. So glad no one reads them but me.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-61070795106420064872014-08-25T21:51:30.396+02:002014-08-25T21:51:30.396+02:00When I read my mss. and I'm blanking, I know I...When I read my mss. and I'm blanking, I know I've got some clinkers in there. Love rewriting!cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-26201479218276174882014-08-25T21:50:49.377+02:002014-08-25T21:50:49.377+02:00Back at you! So great to see you here. Back at you! So great to see you here. cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-47015736500379802962014-08-25T21:50:23.959+02:002014-08-25T21:50:23.959+02:00Guess how I learned not to do them? I love trial a...Guess how I learned not to do them? I love trial and error.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-53236410864581918842014-08-25T21:20:54.053+02:002014-08-25T21:20:54.053+02:00This is a helpful list! I agree with everything, a...This is a helpful list! I agree with everything, and have to remind myself of some of these sometimes. Keep things simple and to the point.Shelley Slyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981620646634240160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-62158199602487238932014-08-25T19:55:15.832+02:002014-08-25T19:55:15.832+02:00Excellent list! There are authors I've stopped...Excellent list! There are authors I've stopped reading Because they've insisted on using 20 (or 200) words when 10 would have done. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-21670207277929876702014-08-25T16:26:30.967+02:002014-08-25T16:26:30.967+02:00Dialogue can't be just causal conversation. Th...Dialogue can't be just causal conversation. That's boring and drags the story.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-80652879860015988462014-08-25T16:12:06.599+02:002014-08-25T16:12:06.599+02:00Yes, to all, especially #2. My MFA writing prof us...Yes, to all, especially #2. My MFA writing prof used to say, "Nothing is lost to clarity." Translation: don't try to be overly mysterious and couched because you might just totally confuse your reader!Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.com