tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post6267523480277697236..comments2024-03-17T21:35:22.730+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: Substance vs Bling in Story WritingLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-31531199592251091322011-08-29T10:45:26.623+10:002011-08-29T10:45:26.623+10:00As someone who likes phones and all sorts of smart...As someone who likes phones and all sorts of smart gizmos, I can relate to this and so it is in writing. I struggle to remember that I should simplify my writing. Going through on ms now and getting rid of all the stuff that don't belong in there.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-71710860733302130732011-08-29T10:09:18.798+10:002011-08-29T10:09:18.798+10:00Oh my, serves me right for taking a mini break. I ...Oh my, serves me right for taking a mini break. I have much catching up to do.<br /><br />Thanks so much for all your comments. I'm surprised and heartened by how many people like the occasional bling. <br /><br />I will visit all of your blogs as soon as I canLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-14352244419569257832011-08-29T07:25:46.601+10:002011-08-29T07:25:46.601+10:00I love shiny new things and technology? I love emb...I love shiny new things and technology? I love embracing new gadgets and learning about them!Nashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984530648140460594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-86176106991124421962011-08-29T06:11:08.310+10:002011-08-29T06:11:08.310+10:00I love shiny new things. Love them. I didn't r...I love shiny new things. Love them. I didn't realize I could love an inanimate object until I got my Kindle, and then I got an iPhone. You are right though, eventually the shiny part wears off a little and you discover the true value - or not. <br /><br />What pulls me out of a book or movie the most if a vividly captured element that isn't carried through. If you are going to take the time to make me fall in love with something, it should have it's own story within the story.KM Nallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06714392426676743868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-73194345953234828022011-08-29T03:06:10.223+10:002011-08-29T03:06:10.223+10:00The "shiny" that can make a story or a m...The "shiny" that can make a story or a movie either fantastic or painful is an atypical narrative style, POV, etc.<br /><br />Memento is a great film example of where an atypical approach worked to great effect.<br /><br />In fiction, things like writing in second person, or having the story be entirely composed of text messages, or some other unusual approach can either destroy a story or give it extra glow.Michael Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653617216453974106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-54989715969073241462011-08-28T17:39:00.790+10:002011-08-28T17:39:00.790+10:00I love my iPhone3 - except the silent doesn't ...I love my iPhone3 - except the silent doesn't work properly (and this seems common amongst this version). I didn't go blingy - I got a clear cover and printed up a picture of Snoopy typing to put underneath.<br />I am keen to upgrade, I love the tech, but I'm hanging out for the iPhone5 :)<br /><a href="http://clancytales.blogspot.com>Wagging Tales - Blog for Writers</a>Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18059559142070140041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-53082606000570173292011-08-28T09:07:00.891+10:002011-08-28T09:07:00.891+10:00I love to elaborate, and that’s not always good… b...I love to elaborate, and that’s not always good… but, I can revise out too much info: rather than trying to add it later. It works best for me that way, at least it lets me see it clearly and be in my world more fully; hopefully that equates to deeper feel for the reader.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-3686286410635750732011-08-28T02:27:31.187+10:002011-08-28T02:27:31.187+10:00Great post!
For me over-description is a no-no. W...Great post!<br /><br />For me over-description is a no-no. Why take 25 words to describe something when you can do it in 15? Why describe every little thing in exquisite detail? Just get on with the story!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.elliegarratt.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Ellie Garratt</a>Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-21658762112115864472011-08-28T02:27:29.341+10:002011-08-28T02:27:29.341+10:00Psst... there's something for you on my blog t...Psst... there's something for you on my blog today. ;)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-31008841718319143712011-08-28T01:22:41.739+10:002011-08-28T01:22:41.739+10:00This is why I follow and always come back to your ...This is why I follow and always come back to your blog! Great, incisive, informative posts! Hmmm, I wonder if I add enough bling. Sometimes I feel I come up a little short on the descriptive. Definitely a work in progress for me.Maeve Frazierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00788413883600771145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-52956884760445111042011-08-27T15:25:01.297+10:002011-08-27T15:25:01.297+10:00Usually when I write, I write flat, comeback trim ...Usually when I write, I write flat, comeback trim it more,and file it down, then I go back and add the bling. But then bling is what I do. Maybe too much? I'm new at blogging and other than a couple mag articles never tried commercial. I'm not even sure that my bling is what you are describing.grinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03916101406698502578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-68793031480299770722011-08-27T03:29:10.020+10:002011-08-27T03:29:10.020+10:00I've never been the flashy type. I do love atm...I've never been the flashy type. I do love atmosphere in a story though. Anything that alters the focus away from the story isn't good.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-38147539338001752702011-08-27T03:04:10.870+10:002011-08-27T03:04:10.870+10:00Man, do I suffer! When my beta readers nail my &qu...Man, do I suffer! When my beta readers nail my "blingy" parts I just about die while I delete those shiny lines. However, when that wrenching moment has passed, the book is better for it.<br />I <B by readers and since I trust them the "bling" has to go.<br /><br />Great post.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-32512300839100236142011-08-27T02:39:28.233+10:002011-08-27T02:39:28.233+10:00Very nice the way you used the phone metaphor to s...Very nice the way you used the phone metaphor to set up the need for substance after the excitement of the "chrome" wears off.<br />Thank You.anthony stemkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666462157746049139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-85640321168071689432011-08-27T02:29:59.370+10:002011-08-27T02:29:59.370+10:00Yup, I love to put in shinies during my first draf...Yup, I love to put in shinies during my first draft, but usually by the second or third go I've weeded out the non-essentials.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-44168044205361673192011-08-27T01:34:06.461+10:002011-08-27T01:34:06.461+10:00I like shiny new things. In writing too, I enjoy t...I like shiny new things. In writing too, I enjoy the shinies and bling-bling but not to the extent of foregoing the story. It has to have a purpose.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-85329404918630610212011-08-27T01:13:36.869+10:002011-08-27T01:13:36.869+10:00I love the bling, too! And what a great analogy to...I love the bling, too! And what a great analogy to writing. Everything must have purpose. Great to always be reminded. Thanks, Lynda! :o)LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-53115560658556303392011-08-26T23:54:12.038+10:002011-08-26T23:54:12.038+10:00I like sparkles- but that kind that faintly glitte...I like sparkles- but that kind that faintly glitters and you can only really see if you catch it out of the corner of your eye or are really looking for it. In writing I like a few gems but not too much. :)Summer Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122694893668693244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-58673875900252402592011-08-26T23:22:51.451+10:002011-08-26T23:22:51.451+10:00Such a good point! I remember a writing teacher te...Such a good point! I remember a writing teacher telling us that, whatever our characters did, whatever we put in our story, there had to be a reason - we didn't necessarily have to make that reason obvious to the readers, but it had to be there. I've always struggled with having too many adjectives - they're the shiny and I am the magpie! Lol... I'm getting better at trimming the fat, but it is hard.<br /><br />What tends to distract me is lack of clarity, either in the language/words the author uses or in the storyline. That's why I have such a hard time with "classic" authors (think Shakespeare, Dickens, even Tolkien). Even now, I sometimes have to re-read a passage two or three times before things finally click and that gets annoying. The second problem I find more in movies - I'll be watching and then something totally unexpected and inexplicable will come out of the blue and I'll be all: "Huh? Why did THAT happen? What's going on? I don't geddit..."Crystalhttp://littlebundleofcontradictions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-22878088767980254672011-08-26T22:02:31.440+10:002011-08-26T22:02:31.440+10:00For me, I usually don't add the bling until th...For me, I usually don't add the bling until the end. But, I just love you described it in this post. My husband is the same as your husband and wanting the new stuff all the time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-84802247168192700902011-08-26T21:32:56.490+10:002011-08-26T21:32:56.490+10:00When I'm reading it's def. sections that d...When I'm reading it's def. sections that don't seem to directly affect the plot or too-long descriptions. I will skim or eventually put down the book.Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-36574492405258999802011-08-26T20:53:00.422+10:002011-08-26T20:53:00.422+10:00My phone cover has rainbow flowers on it. :) I t...My phone cover has rainbow flowers on it. :) I think what I dislike while reading and writing is wordiness. I often have to make myself elaborate on descriptions because wordiness bothers me so much. Just get to the point already and stop going on and on about the breeze and what it's doing to your hair.Laila Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430076999393883312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-15062671128040242492011-08-26T17:03:16.766+10:002011-08-26T17:03:16.766+10:00I'm sorry, Lynda. I would've read your pos...I'm sorry, Lynda. I would've read your post--really, I would've--but I was distracted by all that shininess...<br /><br />*grins* Okay, I did read it and it was fabulous as always. ;)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-49766021695322267882011-08-26T16:23:01.566+10:002011-08-26T16:23:01.566+10:00Great post. I think each writer will have to creat...Great post. I think each writer will have to create their own balance. I'm still working on blinging up my stories.Mynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07595087387069634003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-8735261733623343322011-08-26T15:53:08.828+10:002011-08-26T15:53:08.828+10:00As a writer, I typically have to go back through t...As a writer, I typically have to go back through to add a bit of bling. As a reader or movie viewer, anything that goes overboard can distract me too much from the story. I like to see or read something different or extra beautiful, but not when more was put into accomplishing that than writing an actual story. <br /><br />As far as technology, my husband is a total tech geek. I joke that he's the same sort of superhero as the techie bad guy in Sky High and I'm his arch-nemesis since I destroy technology just by virtue of being in the room with him.Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.com