Hello and Welcome to Sitting in Silence. I’m your stalwart guide to writing, craft, worry, and joy. We made it past the Ides of March and are streaking toward tax season. I hope you have a fat refund check coming. Announcements: next month I’m teaching an online class called
“You would have thought I was Gordon Lish editing a Raymond Carver story. ” Lolol. This post is hitting hard, in somewhat of an uncomfortable way for me. I’ve been wrestling with a draft and seeing LOTS of those moments of choice. I need to hide some pin cushions in some seats, make my protagonist get out of her chair more. So much work, haha! Thanks for the reminder.
huh...it seems such a simple but effective way to fix turgid pacing. but even aside from pacing, what it opens up is deeper complexity. appreciate this useful tip!
Wow, thank you for this! My protagonist is supposed to be stuck, and sometimes in real life that emotional stuckness can cause us to be physically more still, so it’s been challenging to find a balance. But like you did with your character needing money for their son, it always goes back to motivation and what they want/need, huh? Lots to think about for Sylvie and me. 😂 thanks again. 💜
Sure thing! I think people mistake being stuck for not doing anything. Plenty of characters are stuck, but they act out constantly. And that acting out causes their life to react.✨️
My WIP isn't fiction, but thinking about action in this way was an important nudge!
Very happy to hear that, Jodi-Ann! 🤎
“You would have thought I was Gordon Lish editing a Raymond Carver story. ” Lolol. This post is hitting hard, in somewhat of an uncomfortable way for me. I’ve been wrestling with a draft and seeing LOTS of those moments of choice. I need to hide some pin cushions in some seats, make my protagonist get out of her chair more. So much work, haha! Thanks for the reminder.
PS early feedback for some of my fiction: “does not maneuver characters through time or space well.” Lol!! Killin it.
Haha! Good luck, Kara.💞
huh...it seems such a simple but effective way to fix turgid pacing. but even aside from pacing, what it opens up is deeper complexity. appreciate this useful tip!
You're welcome, Chin-Sun!🌺
Wow, thank you for this! My protagonist is supposed to be stuck, and sometimes in real life that emotional stuckness can cause us to be physically more still, so it’s been challenging to find a balance. But like you did with your character needing money for their son, it always goes back to motivation and what they want/need, huh? Lots to think about for Sylvie and me. 😂 thanks again. 💜
Sure thing! I think people mistake being stuck for not doing anything. Plenty of characters are stuck, but they act out constantly. And that acting out causes their life to react.✨️
Thank you! I'm just beginning my journey and these insights are wonderful!