Emphasis, Critique Groups, the Novel

In today’s Journal

* How Not to Indicate Emphasis
* Offering Critiques
* The Novel
* Of Interest

How Not to Indicate Emphasis

Re Sue Colletta’s post (linked in “Of Interest”) on how not to emphasize words and phrases in fiction, I left a comment and thought I would share it here just in case any of you might find it useful.

I learned in an Aldus PageMaker design class about a jillion years ago, if you HAVE  TO  USE  ALL  CAPS (headlines, etc.) it’s a good idea to hit the spacebar twice between every pair of words, as I did in the example. That keeps the words from running together. (To create the same effect in WordPress, as I did above, shift to your Text screen (vs. your Visual screen) and then type a space and then   between each two words. That little bit of code will add an extra “non-breaking space.”)

 

Anyway, I’ve never used all caps or bold in a short story or novel. In fact, I stopped reading a Stephen King book (The Dome) because of the typesetter’s use of bold. It was annoying, and each use actually jerked me out of the story.

The best rule of thumb I’ve found is this: Never put anything on the page that distracts the reader from the story. It’s one of those very few absolutes.

Offering Critiques

Just in iase anyone needs or wants it, I’ve added a link in “Of Interest” to “Critiquing 101: Ten Do’s and Don’ts for Giving Helpful Critiques.”

I didn’t read it. You know my opinion: Defend your work. Don’t allow any critical minds (even your own) to alter the content of your characters’ story.

All of that said, a very long time ago (2013, before I started writing novels) I did write a post regarding how to start a good, helpful critique group (i.e., one that wasn’t merely a mutual admiration society). I updated that post and reposted it again in 2017. I’ve linked to that one in today’s “Of Interest” too.

And by the way, I apologize to anyone to whom I offered a critique of the content of their story or novel way back in the day. I was displaying the arrogance of ignorance. Because seriously, what the hell did/do I know about the content of a story that’s taking place in your characters’ world?

Even in my role as a mentor, I don’t critique story content. I can tell you whether a story opening needs more depth and how to achieve that, and I can advise you all day long on specific craft techniques. But nothing about content. Don’t ask me about the content of your story because the only honest and not self-centered answer is “How should I know? I’m not living it.”

The Novel

Still working to weed out bits of the critical mind insertion with occasional spurts of new activity from the characters, which of course I dutifully and happily record. (grin) I’ve already cut over 3000 words, and there’s more to cut. When the weeding-out is finished—maybe today, maybe tomorrow—I expect the book to break wide open. From there it should be a race to the finish. Anyway, I’m not recording numbers below until the smoke clears.

It’s a weird feeling. I reallly like some of the characters, but I’ve lived with this story far too long so I’ll be glad to see it end. I could drop it right now and not look back, but the characters deserve to have it recorded.

Talk with you again soon.

Of Interest

See “Emphasized Words in Fiction” at https://killzoneblog.com/2022/11/emphasized-words-in-fiction.html.

See “Critiquing 101: Ten Do’s and Don’ts for Giving Helpful Critiques” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/critiquing-101-ten-dos-and-donts-for-giving-helpful-critiques/.

See “12 Ways to Make That Critique Group Work (Revised and Updated)” at https://harveystanbrough.com/pro-writers/12-ways-critique-group/.

See “In Written Opinion, Judge Florence Pan Delivers Knockout Blow to PRH, S&S Merger” at https://www.thepassivevoice.com/in-written-opinion-judge-florence-pan-delivers-knockout-blow-to-prh-ss-merger/. Great stuff, smart judge.

See “8 billion and counting” at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-13/earths-population-reaches-eight-billion-people/101643854. And now we’re in decline. Story ideas.

The Numbers

The Journal…………………………………… 660 words

Writing of The Stirchians (novel, tentative title)

Day 11… 2337 words. Total words to date…… 30836
Day 12… 2115 words. Total words to date…… 32951
Day 13… 2242 words. Total words to date…… 35193
Day 14… 1325 words. Total words to date…… 36518
Day 15… 1006 words. Total words to date…… 37524
Day 16… 2532 words. Total words to date…… 40056
Day 17… 2759 words. Total words to date…… 42815
Day 18… 1740 words. Total words to date…… 44555

Total fiction words for November……… 11604
Total fiction words for the year………… 173129
Total nonfiction words for November… 10510
Total nonfiction words for the year…… 186140
Total words for the year (fiction and this blog)…… 359269

Calendar Year 2022 Novels to Date…………………… 2
Calendar Year 2022 Novellas to Date……………… 0
Calendar Year 2022 Short Stories to Date… 0
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………………………………… 68
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)………………………………… 8
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)………………… 217
Short story collections……………………………………………… 31

Disclaimer: Because It Makes Sense, I preach trusting your characters to tell the story that they, not you, are living. Duh. This practice greatly increases your productivity and provides a rapid ascension along the learning curve of Craft because you get a great deal more practice at actually writing. This is not opinion. It is all numbers and facts.