Comments on: Oh So Much Boring Whining

By: Susanna

Susanna — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:34:22 +0000

Revision is SO HARD. I don’t think people who haven’t done it realize that it’s physically hard, not to mention vomit-inducing. Good luck.

By: Bonny Holder

Bonny Holder — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 16:29:26 +0000

I wrote a book 30 years ago called “My Erotic Adventures With Billy the Kid,” and one potential agent suggested that I get rid of the Billy character.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 01:16:56 +0000

In reply to Donna Trump. You are the best! Thanks for the Vodoes of wisdom, I really needed it. I'm super stoked for our book tours!

By: Donna Trump

Donna Trump — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:19:58 +0000

OK, so at the risk of being entirely useless and perhaps even insulting in an honest, attempting-to-be-helpful approach to this, I would like to invoke the spirit of Vodo for one way to get to the heart of a character. I remember he gave this matrix:
–not important, not dramatic, CUT;
–important, but not dramatic, SUMMARY;
–important and dramatic, SCENE;
–very dramatic: SLOW IT DOWN.
So when said agent, whom I agree, is confounding in the way in which she asks us to do stuff we know would make this better but wtf are we supposed to do with this mess, this is what I try:
Break out into a scene, or several scenes. Make up a conflict that will showcase some aspects of this beloved character’s heart. Add some action and put the action in slo mo. Do it early in the chapter and do it in the middle and do it late.
And don’t lose hope, because this woman we both have the opportunity to work with is a damn good reader. I’m thankful for her, when she’s not sending me to the pit of despair.
And I’m thankful to know you, too, Jodi, this Thanksgiving and until and after the many book tours we’ll do together.