Ask SD Tracy Harper #9
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Q: SD, I have an idea
for a story, but I don’t know where to begin. Any advice?
A: I know this may sound a bit off, but it really doesn’t
matter where you start. You can start at the beginning, the end, or any place
in the middle. The thing is to start. Here’s the skinny. There are stages when
it comes to writing any story. First you must realize that it is a living
document. In other words, it will grow and one day, if you are lucky, you are
going to let it leave the safety of home for all in the world to see it for
what it is that is something that only you could do because you are the only
you. just remember the fisherman’s story. A fisherman worked hard to catch a
fish. He was so proud of himself that he told one friend after another. what
makes this story so astonishing is that at each telling the fish got bigger and
bigger. As with your story, it may start small, but soon it will be a big…
Success. SD
Q: SD, What is the
best way to describe a character?
A: For me (and I do
mean me), I like to use as few words as possible, but I have been known to use
comparisons. I.e.: She was tall for a woman. Next to the average size man, she
could easily see over his head without standing on her toes. His eyes were devilishly
blue as if they were related to the sky, but had caused many a woman to fall
into them as if they were as deep blue as the sea. This is quite wordy, but it
sparks the imagination and that is what’s most important when (I) give
description to a character. The other style is less poetic is simply saying
that the character was about some number of feet or centimeters tall, had
[length and color] hair, and point out a third feature that describes a common
attribute for men and women (shoulders, arms, legs, and chest – feet if it’s
comedy or as comedic relief). SD
Q: SD, Is there such
thing as comedic timing in writing?
A: Well, let me think about it. Something like that will
take… Yup! Everything has an ebb and flow, a give and take, a Ying and that
thang… I mean Yang. Slow or fast really doesn’t matter. But, what does is to
disrupt the flow abruptly when it is least expected. Here Comes a Shameless Plug!
In one of the
books in the VOTE 4 YOUR CHOICE Readers’ Poll, I had described a woman being
proposed to. You think this would be a simple situation and you would be right.
the guy gets down on one knee, opens a box with a ring inside, and ask the
woman to marry him. I want you also to imagine that this proposal was known by
both parties, was agreed upon when and where, and was a totally staged event.
And, before you ask, yes it was clearly stated in earlier chapters and more
than once. There are no surprises there, right? There is no romance there,
right? There is no comedy there, right? SPOILER ALERT! All three reared its
ugly head and was one of the most romantic, comedic, and surprising scenes that
was commented on by my test readers (some were laughing, in tears, and very
pissed at me for turning the tables on them.) Timing is everything, even in
writing. SD
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