tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post215030198382263509..comments2023-10-15T04:48:05.528-04:00Comments on Free the Princess: What Technical Manuals Can Teach NovelistsMatthew Delmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-27933321605923145442010-01-19T23:24:28.535-05:002010-01-19T23:24:28.535-05:00I've fallen into the detail trap too- I'm ...I've fallen into the detail trap too- I'm annihilating much of that from Hatshepsut as we speak. It's brutal!Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-91528455166350699342010-01-19T23:22:07.292-05:002010-01-19T23:22:07.292-05:00I fall into the too much detail trap sometimes, bu...I fall into the too much detail trap sometimes, but when my crit partners tell me to pare down, I slide right into too bare.<br /><br />Sometimes, it's hard to know when to add and when to subtract. I like your example though. Very effective.<br /><br />Thanks for the info.<br /><br />..........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-37832191712980230692010-01-19T22:40:19.003-05:002010-01-19T22:40:19.003-05:00Matt,
Did you hear about or know about the Sci-fi...Matt,<br /><br />Did you hear about or know about the Sci-fi / Fantasy convention this past weekend at the Hyatt in <br />Cambridge?Concord Carpenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018520011730719689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-216162027864152982010-01-19T19:11:54.469-05:002010-01-19T19:11:54.469-05:00I use my technical reading skills to read technica...I use my technical reading skills to read technical writing - skipping about 5 out of every 7 words usually gets the job done, without all the pain.<br /><br />It was a revelation to me, as I started writing kidlit, that using <i>fewer</i> words could actually be <i>more</i> descriptive. More work, and you have to vary it with the tempo, but I almost always found less words=more impact (as long as it's not too spare).<br /><br />My favorite of all time: The door dilated.<br /><br />Three words and a whole paragraph of visual and meaning.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-62923633930688471742010-01-19T12:18:31.402-05:002010-01-19T12:18:31.402-05:00Arg, I hate technical writing... whether manuals o...Arg, I hate technical writing... whether manuals or papers, they all suck. <br /><br />Rick's point about adding words to elevate a scene is good, too, but if the ladder's sturdy, just get up it, I say (after all, she's got bullets zipping by her head. Doesn't she have enough stress in her life without shoddy craftsmanship :)<br /><br />Ultimately, it's a fine balancing act to provide enough detail w/o becoming bogged down, or, to use my 7th grade English teacher's mini-skirt analogy -- long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to keep it interesting (he was applying it to stories in general, but I think it applies to description, too).Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-89076116668805571822010-01-19T11:40:38.847-05:002010-01-19T11:40:38.847-05:00I've noticed game walkthroughs do this too.
Y...I've noticed game walkthroughs do this too.<br /><br />Yes, I cheat. I'm not very good at games... I need help, ok?<br /><br />Anyway, word count is an easy way to play with the pace and tension of your scene. More words= slower pace, which is good if you're trying to build tension, but if you're smack in the middle of action you probably want to write "technically" so you don't slow the reader down.L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-81142883747869643922010-01-19T09:22:30.327-05:002010-01-19T09:22:30.327-05:00Yeah, my bachelors is in technical writing, but I ...Yeah, my bachelors is in technical writing, but I still overwrite descriptions :) Thanks for the reminder to go back through my work and be on the lookout for such traps.Stephanie Damorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495050993591963629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-52171187979189103942010-01-19T08:38:11.019-05:002010-01-19T08:38:11.019-05:00Good point. To offer a counter-point, you can add...Good point. To offer a counter-point, you can add words and description to elevate the tension (in this case the potential for the ladder to break):<br /><br />The splintered rungs creaked under her weight, threatening to snap as Moriah climbed the ladder. She squared her feet against the frame of the ladder as she pushed to open the trapdoor above her.Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.com