tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post7296608204253880698..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: Resisting the Urge to ExplainChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-71837577196534913142015-05-03T20:36:55.357-04:002015-05-03T20:36:55.357-04:00Oh, I agree with you about the listening vs readin...Oh, I agree with you about the listening vs reading thing! I started reading The Martian a few weeks back, then stopped reading and bought the audio version because I thought my husband would enjoy this too and we could listen to it on an upcoming car trip to Vermont. Lo and behold, hubs complained about the extensive amount of explaining. "Oh," I said ruefully. "I just skimmed those parts when I was reading."<br /><br />That said, sometimes you MUST explain, recap, summarize. Hitting the sweet spot of doing it at just the right time, in just the right amount, is a matter of trial and error and experience. And then, if you sell the book, your editor will have his/her own ideas. So be prepared to change!Dianne K. Salernihttp://diannesalerni.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-23363788840676203932015-05-01T21:22:35.528-04:002015-05-01T21:22:35.528-04:00Believe it or not, I never ran into RUE either. Bu...Believe it or not, I never ran into RUE either. But I'm in the "want more detail" camp even when i don't need it. It's definitely a personality thing because I get aggravated when time jumps forward without the author explaining how the characters got from point A to B. But I usually find some inconsistency that wouldn't have been there if the author had thought through the intervening time. Since sometimes the devil is in those missing details, it pays to account for them if only in your head. Speaking of details, I just finished round 1 of editing, so I'm ready for your next chapters.. Sher A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067955594103356768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-12179457776146455182015-04-30T18:45:44.524-04:002015-04-30T18:45:44.524-04:00There are lots of authors who stray from the plot ...There are lots of authors who stray from the plot with focused narrative. Michener, Clancy, O'Brian. That becomes their signature--worthwhile knowledge on a subject. It doesn't bother me, though--like you--I do flip through it at times. <br /><br />RUE--I've never heard that, but I like it. Maybe I'd replace 'explain' with 'over-explain', which of course is subjective!Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-55705143799012882972015-04-30T10:00:57.355-04:002015-04-30T10:00:57.355-04:00I often get the comment of, "I need more,&quo...I often get the comment of, "I need more," from my critique group. I've pegged those people who need all the details of setting explained to them in order to visualize something (since I am not one of those people), and those people who are easily confused by fantasy powers (also since I'm not one of those people). I will typically try to revise to include just barely enough to help those who don't get it. I've found that including too much information either bores my critique partners or creates more questions that I'm not typically willing to answer (such as why Rin feels obligated to help Cera's father). <br /><br />But I feel you on the OSC thing. My eyes glaze when it comes to technical explanations that I don't particularly care about. :)Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-61064504028373830552015-04-30T02:08:34.446-04:002015-04-30T02:08:34.446-04:00I think authors like OSC can get away with breakin...I think authors like OSC can get away with breaking the rules because they are the juggernauts of fiction writing. They can write any garbage and pretty much sell it to somebody because they have a name that sells it for them. <br /><br />People who advise against certain "errors" are talking to the new and learning authors, the ones who have yet to even break into publishing, in order to help them out when doing so. It's those pesky lit agents who will throw away your MS if you explain things in too great detail, among other reasons. That's probably why these rules are freaking you out so much. Lit agents are literally NEUROTIC in every sense of the word, and to get anything past them, it has to be pretty much "perfect."<br /><br />The solution to this problem = self-publishing. Otherwise, just keep getting more "perfect."Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-11457152092950057252015-04-29T13:56:36.971-04:002015-04-29T13:56:36.971-04:00I'd say you've already hit that sweet spot...I'd say you've already hit that sweet spot if the complaints are split. Maybe it's more a matter of how they are done.<br />It seems unfair when successful authors get to throw out the rules, doesn't it?Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com