tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post9066606763074939754..comments2024-03-27T00:31:13.742-07:00Comments on IDEA CITY: C for CONTINUITYCatherine Stinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-66354398445834037862012-04-04T18:02:23.897-07:002012-04-04T18:02:23.897-07:00Every action has a reaction. So whatever one chara...Every action has a reaction. So whatever one character does causes another character to do something in return And I'm not explaining that too well.Beverly Stowe McClurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176195451841801819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-58747520926105242982012-04-04T08:40:16.115-07:002012-04-04T08:40:16.115-07:00It has to make sense. It's frustrating to have...It has to make sense. It's frustrating to have lack of continuity in books and even more so in television or movies. It can completely take you out of the scene.Adrianne Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18108123882094459747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-56438954071269997012012-04-03T21:09:22.091-07:002012-04-03T21:09:22.091-07:00Mina, you made me laugh. Yes, I can see the punk b...Mina, you made me laugh. Yes, I can see the punk band Connective Tissue! They'd wear outfits with painted veins and muscle or something. Stephsco, I have actually seen some flow chart type of outlines. I saw one for Star Wars that looked like a symphonic composition. Thanks, Suze for the kudos. I outline now--too many months down the tubes from pantser wanderings. And yes, Anna, stories without enough woven threads can be boring!Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-61203812996303797142012-04-03T20:25:23.167-07:002012-04-03T20:25:23.167-07:00Wow, that's a great analogy with the body'...Wow, that's a great analogy with the body's connective tissue. I'll keep it in mind when I'm writing and editing. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by my blog. Good luck with the challenge!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15320818402752231412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-18784181808719999222012-04-03T19:45:29.428-07:002012-04-03T19:45:29.428-07:00I love the "give us more connective tissue!&q...I love the "give us more connective tissue!" Connective tissue, amazing stuff. Great post!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03971798802079783209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-66475590250134497072012-04-03T19:27:35.292-07:002012-04-03T19:27:35.292-07:00Wow, this post really resonated with me. That is t...Wow, this post really resonated with me. That is to say, I don't know that I've ever seen this matter addressed so concretely...I've worked with a nebulous sort of "big picture" in mind before, which is perhaps my intuitive way of approaching this "body of work." Also; "Connective Tissue" would make for a great punk rock band name. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://minalobo.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Some Dark Romantic</a>Mina Lobohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-83666287715109112382012-04-03T16:55:01.650-07:002012-04-03T16:55:01.650-07:00An elegant post, Catherine. I feel like I really t...An elegant post, Catherine. I feel like I really took something away from this paragraph, in particular:<br /><br />'"Give us more connective tissue." What do I mean by that? Perhaps a novel is too episodic, and the episodes don't connect enough, or perhaps the characters are each going on their own paths and not bouncing off each other in a tight action/reaction dance. Or the main protag's challenge has little to do with the theme of the story.'<br /><br />Coming to grips with a ton 'in the trenches' with a revision, right now. Good word.Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-43989128665571099182012-04-03T16:30:02.230-07:002012-04-03T16:30:02.230-07:00This is why I outline - to make sure my continuity...This is why I outline - to make sure my continuity is in order. I don't want to alienate someone because I screwed up the details. Great post!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.jayceedelorenzo.com" rel="nofollow">My C</a>Jaycee DeLorenzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08796587039929398655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-83151352897082243102012-04-03T14:45:18.975-07:002012-04-03T14:45:18.975-07:00Connection is key. If the story line strays and do...Connection is key. If the story line strays and doesn't resolve issues in the end or leaves the reader thinking to me it doesn't work. Catherine I live in the NYC area too, about 20 minutes outside of NYC.<br /><br /><br />Visiting and now GFC follower through the A to Z Challenge. Lovely blog! <br /><br />Best regards,<br />Donna <br />Award-winning Children’s Author<br /><a href="http://donna-mcdine.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Write What Inspires You Blog</a><br /><a href="http://thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Golden Pathway story book Blog</a>Donna McDinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00959673932828354020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-65408534188325541822012-04-03T14:29:40.269-07:002012-04-03T14:29:40.269-07:00Great post. If things aren't connected proper...Great post. If things aren't connected properly the reader may find things pointless and they may become bored and annoyed :)<br /><br /><a href="http://universalgibberish.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Universal Gibberish</a>PRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18081495393769749459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-86678788605167319742012-04-03T12:42:00.793-07:002012-04-03T12:42:00.793-07:00I just read a book about time travel and a lot of...I just read a book about time travel and a lot of the exposition detailed the timelienes, which were a little tricky to follow. Continuity must have been difficult for the author, I imagine she had some type of flowchart to keep it straight.Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-56694467673804822382012-04-03T11:53:33.700-07:002012-04-03T11:53:33.700-07:00Beth, I laughed about the "blank stare" ...Beth, I laughed about the "blank stare" response. Unfortunately, that's sometimes true. But a good teacher or crtique partner should be able to explain in a way that the writer will understand. Sarah, so true about that second and third pair of eyes! Cecelia, yes emotion in particular does help pull story together. And Kelly, yes, often it's easier to write the key scenes and then place them in the trajectory. They serve as beacons. I also write the end scene early in most cases, which provides clarity of through-line. The one episodic novel I really love is Jesus' Son, by Denis Johnson. But in most cases, episodic story is best in the TV realm.Catherine Stinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08131569196977321229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-22036539939530443812012-04-03T10:31:46.852-07:002012-04-03T10:31:46.852-07:00I think for some people continuity is one of the h...I think for some people continuity is one of the hardest things to master. Probably, because sometimes it's the voice that isn't consistent and it's hard to show that in a concrete way. I just know it's a hard critique to give, because you almost always receive a blank stare.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-81909027002037703392012-04-03T10:05:38.856-07:002012-04-03T10:05:38.856-07:00yep! well said!
i am having trouble connecting wha...yep! well said!<br />i am having trouble connecting what my cp advised to my own vision...compromise, i guess!Tara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-62340139552759515602012-04-03T09:36:50.422-07:002012-04-03T09:36:50.422-07:00I always think of my stories as containing threads...I always think of my stories as containing threads. They can be weaved into a complex design, but I've got to make sure all threads make it from beginning to end.RaShelle Workmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582252557500502186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-14282935919330506442012-04-03T08:25:54.002-07:002012-04-03T08:25:54.002-07:00Continuity is a great C word for a writer. Nothing...Continuity is a great C word for a writer. Nothing upsets the reader more than being jarred out of the narrative flow for some random bit on information that doesn't even matter-- Grrr!! Great post! <br /><br />Nice to meet you, and welcome to the Challenge!<br /><br />KarenG<br />A to Z Challenge HostKaren Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153821980625034810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-10755909716951982012-04-03T07:54:28.977-07:002012-04-03T07:54:28.977-07:00This is a hard one since there's no ctrl+F fea...This is a hard one since there's no ctrl+F feature for connective tissue. It's also hard to see for the writer since our head contains all the little details that might not have made it into our writing. This is another one of those times when having another pair (or 12) sets of eyes is so helpful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01052604405996474436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-42780120920765880712012-04-03T06:53:56.836-07:002012-04-03T06:53:56.836-07:00Sometimes my longer stuff is episodic, because I&#...Sometimes my longer stuff is episodic, because I'm a short story writer at heart so it's the style that comes naturally. The more I practise, though, the better I'll get - eventually!Annalisa Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943610814274794998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-1411720485679871462012-04-03T06:43:07.187-07:002012-04-03T06:43:07.187-07:00Great Post! :)
I think emotion, and character mot...Great Post! :)<br /><br />I think emotion, and character motivation helps to pull a story together.Cecilia Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416564789369523352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-65490601446849315152012-04-03T06:24:22.782-07:002012-04-03T06:24:22.782-07:00The first book I wrote was episodic, though I didn...The first book I wrote was episodic, though I didn't know that at the time. I thought it was pretty neat but beta readers had trouble connecting with the characters because that connective tissue was missing. after writing another book and starting a third, I think I'm ready to go back to book one and 'connect the dots' Cool post!Alex Villasantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17109677049281615295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-7224097781675382012-04-03T05:42:59.824-07:002012-04-03T05:42:59.824-07:00Just as in real life, it doesn't matter how ma...Just as in real life, it doesn't matter how many threads knit a person together. It's about that person eventually recognizing those threads and allowing the journey. It's the same for stories.S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1082017598352869243.post-51677718301254447492012-04-03T05:19:06.913-07:002012-04-03T05:19:06.913-07:00So true! Everything has to be connected and make s...So true! Everything has to be connected and make sense as a whole for a story to work. This is why I sometimes write out of order. As strange as it sounds, sometimes I have to get to a certain point where my characters are all meshing with the story and write that before I can figure out how to get them there.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.com