Comments on: The Novelist: Common Pitfalls of the Beginning Writer—Part 2: Language http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/ The Writing Life Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:39:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: sfgirl http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1457 sfgirl Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:55:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1457 Ah, yes.... the great novel... LOL! I certainly hope so, Jean-luc! Thanks. And welcome back from your holiday! How was it? Ah, yes…. the great novel… LOL! I certainly hope so, Jean-luc! Thanks. And welcome back from your holiday! How was it?

]]> By: Jean-Luc Picard http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1456 Jean-Luc Picard Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:49:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1456 More excellent tips!<br/><br/>I can feel the Great Novel coming! More excellent tips!

I can feel the Great Novel coming!

]]> By: sfgirl http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1454 sfgirl Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:04:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1454 Yes, it's so tempting to say more...to inform the reader. I really think that's the hardest part: to trust that the reader will figure it out, through metaphor and allusion and suggestion. The best way to think of it is to see it as one big tease... :) Essentially, as storyteller you are a "trickster magician", stringing them along. Yes, it’s so tempting to say more…to inform the reader. I really think that’s the hardest part: to trust that the reader will figure it out, through metaphor and allusion and suggestion. The best way to think of it is to see it as one big tease… :) Essentially, as storyteller you are a “trickster magician”, stringing them along.

]]> By: blackburn1 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 blackburn1 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:32:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1453 Great points- this is inspiration for me. It's so motivating to read articles such as yours and get hyped for the work ahead. I wish the same level of motivation could remain a constant when I'm sitting down! <br/><br/>I particularly relate to your thoughts about Exposition. It's so tempting to flesh out the things I know about what lies ahead, as one of the characters, particularly in the more action-oriented sequences. Not to mention my tendency to over-explain. <br/><br/>I'll probably be looking at this a few times as I prepare this week's post. Thanks! Great points- this is inspiration for me. It’s so motivating to read articles such as yours and get hyped for the work ahead. I wish the same level of motivation could remain a constant when I’m sitting down!

I particularly relate to your thoughts about Exposition. It’s so tempting to flesh out the things I know about what lies ahead, as one of the characters, particularly in the more action-oriented sequences. Not to mention my tendency to over-explain.

I’ll probably be looking at this a few times as I prepare this week’s post. Thanks!

]]> By: sfgirl http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1452 sfgirl Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:53:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1452 p.s. Yes, first person narrative--apart from its own limiting nature (everything is described by the one main protagonist, hence limited to THEIR take on things) the first person is an incredibly compelling and endearing AND revealing perspective. But it only works in certain stories... p.s. Yes, first person narrative–apart from its own limiting nature (everything is described by the one main protagonist, hence limited to THEIR take on things) the first person is an incredibly compelling and endearing AND revealing perspective. But it only works in certain stories…

]]> By: sfgirl http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1451 sfgirl Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:51:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1451 Yes, I've heard of other writers having their story totally change on them--usually revitalized--by changing the POV from third person to first person, or vice versa... Very neat! Cool about your story. Yes, I’ve heard of other writers having their story totally change on them–usually revitalized–by changing the POV from third person to first person, or vice versa… Very neat! Cool about your story.

]]> By: billgbg@gmail.com http://www.ninamunteanu.com/225/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language/comment-page-1/#comment-1450 billgbg@gmail.com Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:03:00 +0000 http://www.ninamunteanu.com/the-novelist-common-pitfalls-of-the-beginning-writer%e2%80%94part-2-language#comment-1450 I agree with lots of this only because I experienced a break through by using first person narration in one short story.<br/><br/>If you think about it, the first person narrator is part of the strongest stories in literature. Anyone remember Holden Caulfield, Huck Finn, or that Doctor Watson who faithfully transribed the doings of his young, intelligent friend, oh...what was HIS name?<br/><br/>My story's narrator was a girl not yet 20 years old who hadn't experienced sex any deeper than the party makeout phase. So everything she said was consistent with stuff that she didn't know, which made me get all caught up in the story intstead of the reverse.<br/><br/>Now I am a big believer in first person narrative stories! I agree with lots of this only because I experienced a break through by using first person narration in one short story.

If you think about it, the first person narrator is part of the strongest stories in literature. Anyone remember Holden Caulfield, Huck Finn, or that Doctor Watson who faithfully transribed the doings of his young, intelligent friend, oh…what was HIS name?

My story’s narrator was a girl not yet 20 years old who hadn’t experienced sex any deeper than the party makeout phase. So everything she said was consistent with stuff that she didn’t know, which made me get all caught up in the story intstead of the reverse.

Now I am a big believer in first person narrative stories!

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