tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post1802805025914855679..comments2023-09-27T03:56:54.678-05:00Comments on As We Were Saying....: Jodie Renner Critiques First Five PagesRuby Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01030839859107760855noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-2037331490362125002012-09-19T15:51:12.713-05:002012-09-19T15:51:12.713-05:00Hi Jeff,
I agree with you about the pauses, but s...Hi Jeff,<br /><br />I agree with you about the pauses, but semicolons are considered a bit too "correct" and maybe a bit stuffy in fiction. If you decide to use them, as some writers do, use them sparingly and not in dialogue, which is considered too casual to be so grammar-conscious and correct. So for dialogue, it's best to choose between a comma, dash or period.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-45336632459014420132012-09-19T15:49:04.813-05:002012-09-19T15:49:04.813-05:00Hi Bethany,
Thoughts can be in regular font for a...Hi Bethany,<br /><br />Thoughts can be in regular font for an indirect thought in third-person, past tense, like: She wondered what he saw in her, or What did he see in her, anyway? or in italics for direct thoughts, in first-person, present tense, like, What does he see in her? or What a loser. (These last two would be in italics.)<br /><br />For more on writing thoughts, see my blog post: Expressing Thought-Reactions in Fiction at http://jodierennerediting.blogspot.com/2012/06/expressing-thought-reactions-in-fiction.html, or my e-book, Style, Pacing & Voice.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-58968147445528513882012-09-19T15:43:40.183-05:002012-09-19T15:43:40.183-05:00"Best to avoid semicolons (;) in fiction, and..."Best to avoid semicolons (;) in fiction, and definitely keep them out of dialogue. Replace with a dash, comma, or period." I was a bit chocked when I read this. I use (;) all the time, and I write fiction. I have always operated under the premise that punctuation could be likened to length of time stoppage desired. (, 1 second, ; 2 seconds, :3 seconds, . 4 seconds.) Any thoughts on this Jodie? Jeff Bacotnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-85827304852289316042012-09-19T15:29:00.111-05:002012-09-19T15:29:00.111-05:00Jodie, thanks, I am wowed by your critique. I am ...Jodie, thanks, I am wowed by your critique. I am going to apply the information you gave to my own work. A question: when and for what purpose are thoughts in italics used? I've used this technique to capture a random thought, but I could be wrong. Also thanks for your statement, "Thoughts in in italics should be in present tense." I learned something.<br /><br />Bethany SpottsBethanyspotts@yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-84429379511034269842012-09-19T13:07:41.013-05:002012-09-19T13:07:41.013-05:00You're welcome, J.A. Glad to be of help. :)You're welcome, J.A. Glad to be of help. :)Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-29003224777135744942012-09-19T13:05:17.783-05:002012-09-19T13:05:17.783-05:00Good stuff Jodie! Reading these always makes me th...Good stuff Jodie! Reading these always makes me think of things I need to clean up in my own writing. Thank you so much for all the detail.J. A. Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954221694368448882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-26120531461997633742012-09-19T12:00:08.899-05:002012-09-19T12:00:08.899-05:00Good to hear, Claire! Keep on writing!Good to hear, Claire! Keep on writing!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-62890540413044936322012-09-19T11:58:57.813-05:002012-09-19T11:58:57.813-05:00Thank you so much Jodie. Your comments and suggest...Thank you so much Jodie. Your comments and suggestions are most helpful. I appreciate it. :)Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18124747935162654513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-78429255531894692882012-09-19T09:46:35.517-05:002012-09-19T09:46:35.517-05:00Thanks for your kind words, Ruby, and thanks for i...Thanks for your kind words, Ruby, and thanks for inviting me to your excellent blog!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-39669585833598164822012-09-19T09:43:53.279-05:002012-09-19T09:43:53.279-05:00Thorne, what makes one thriller stand out from the...Thorne, what makes one thriller stand out from the others? That's easy: Character and voice.<br /><br />Create a strong, likeable, charismatic, courageous, dedicated/tenacious protagonist with some vulnerability and flaws and inner conflict, and give him/her an appealing, authentic voice, and you've got it made.<br /><br />Good luck with that!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-86615433729836877562012-09-19T09:40:54.304-05:002012-09-19T09:40:54.304-05:00My pages didn't get chosen, but I wish they ha...My pages didn't get chosen, but I wish they had. Getting a critique like this would be immensely helpful. I'm keeping your name in my file for the time my manuscript is ready for an editor such as you.Ruby Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01030839859107760855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-78279090633999003282012-09-19T09:36:57.323-05:002012-09-19T09:36:57.323-05:00My but you are thorough. Off topic with a question...My but you are thorough. Off topic with a question, what do you think makes one thriller stand out from others in the same genre? Thornenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543098270794087276.post-21934634124067226502012-09-19T08:16:53.569-05:002012-09-19T08:16:53.569-05:00Thanks, Ruby and Susie, for inviting me to critiqu...Thanks, Ruby and Susie, for inviting me to critique the opening of a story here at Greater Fort Worth Writers!<br /><br />I hope aspiring authors find my comments and suggestions helpful.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.com