tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post5515980067214055999..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: Having Your Character Sound Like An Idiot For The Sake Of Your StoryChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-21832946984301726742016-03-10T01:49:50.966-05:002016-03-10T01:49:50.966-05:00Ask but don't tell....Ask but don't tell....Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-22596731411227513752016-03-09T23:34:51.026-05:002016-03-09T23:34:51.026-05:00My advice is going to be: If this is the first dra...My advice is going to be: If this is the first draft, you are over-thinking it. Get the information in however and whenever you can squeeze it in. It is okay if your CPs complain. I'll repeat that. It's okay if your CPs complain. If this is the first draft, note their complaints and fix them in a later draft.<br /><br />First drafts are supposed to have information in all the wrong places!<br /><br />Now, I'm off to try and follow my own advice ... erg.Dianne K. Salernihttp://diannesalerni.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-19864000146103120052016-03-09T20:05:20.520-05:002016-03-09T20:05:20.520-05:00I know what you mean, and I see M has provided exc...I know what you mean, and I see M has provided excellent tips for helping with this. My stories are usually high action, so characters don't have the time to think about those obvious questions.Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-58387570305615225532016-03-09T19:43:40.947-05:002016-03-09T19:43:40.947-05:00I figure hey, as long as the reader gets caught up...I figure hey, as long as the reader gets caught up in the plot and doesn't question it, it's fine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-29989635489604363862016-03-09T19:02:48.841-05:002016-03-09T19:02:48.841-05:00There are a few things to consider. 1. When someon...There are a few things to consider. 1. When someone has just been through something traumatic or frenetic, they may be in shock and not thinking clearly enough to ask all the questions. They will need to collect their thoughts. Stuff may only occur to them later, at which point they say, "Yeah, but . . .?" and ask it then. 2. They may have internal reasons for not asking. They don't completely trust someone. They don't want to look like an idiot. Whatever. 3. Often they may ask but then be interrupted. Something happens (attack!), or the person answering has reasons to dodge the questions or answer evasively.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13464393340517511305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-40422015919150895462016-03-09T18:19:20.809-05:002016-03-09T18:19:20.809-05:00Idiots! The world is full of them.
I think you hav...Idiots! The world is full of them.<br />I think you have your answer. Have the character ask questions that will give the answers you need to connect the dots, but make a lot of them dumb questions. Could lead to some fun dialogue.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-90793534340019434642016-03-09T17:13:24.320-05:002016-03-09T17:13:24.320-05:00Giggling over your description of railing against ...Giggling over your description of railing against characters that are idiots! I usually try to justify it as the character is in shock. I mean, why else do they ask the alien question?<br />And, like Loni, I don't always give all the information - although I do stop now and then and have characters talking about stuff that feels somewhat obvious. I try to "tighten" the dialogue as much as possible, or have the dialogue take place in the middle of something else - like a fight scene, or a running away scene (hey, even heroes have to realize the odds are a bit against them sometimes) or a serious "we must meet with all of our allies" type of scene in which everyone is trying to argue (and catch each other up). <br />But, as a reader and a movie-goer, I get what you mean - how long could a realistic Lois Lane not make the Clark Kent and Superman connection? At what point does the rescued person turn to his/her hero and freak out or expect answers? It seems like it has to happen sometime.Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-59984601944434134962016-03-09T15:26:01.545-05:002016-03-09T15:26:01.545-05:00I've been accused of not giving enough informa...I've been accused of not giving enough information, thus confusing the heck out of my reader. One of the people in my group actually said she enjoyed the way I just dove in with a "you'll catch up" attitude. Another CP in Taiwan said "I am really impressed. This is usually pillow throwing, head banging, omfg levels of "WHAT IS GOING ON", but you're somehow carrying it through sheer force of personality." I take that as a compliment. :)<br /><br />Maybe between the two of us we can figure out a good balance. Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.com