tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post9205513054098422167..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Emotional arcs: the teaspoon problemLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-54929483475245843752013-06-03T11:14:19.406-04:002013-06-03T11:14:19.406-04:00You're welcome. This particular lesson was har...You're welcome. This particular lesson was hard-won for me, requiring numerous rewrites to finally figure out.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-7314014767675186072013-06-03T07:00:39.194-04:002013-06-03T07:00:39.194-04:00Great point! Our starting off can be so important....Great point! Our starting off can be so important. Thanks for sharing!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-76499807709015036322013-06-01T21:28:48.578-04:002013-06-01T21:28:48.578-04:00Thanks Marcia. Sadly so many of the best lessons a...Thanks Marcia. Sadly so many of the best lessons are learned the hard way--after one has made a mistake and has to figure out how to fix it.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-91742308276529442542013-06-01T21:27:59.260-04:002013-06-01T21:27:59.260-04:00Glad you found it useful. Giving characters enough...Glad you found it useful. Giving characters enough range enables much better development over chapters and chapters. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-45765675364158592642013-06-01T21:26:13.518-04:002013-06-01T21:26:13.518-04:00Right. And sometimes our fear of breaking the &quo...Right. And sometimes our fear of breaking the "rule" of not starting with back story means we jump in at the wrong place, either in the plot or in the character's emotional development. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-16716240570231680402013-06-01T21:24:59.062-04:002013-06-01T21:24:59.062-04:00If you love the Ron/Hermione dynamic, you'll l...If you love the Ron/Hermione dynamic, you'll love John Granger's books that look at how they are catalyst characters that act like the prime agents of alchemy--sulfur and mercury--that turn base metals into gold. Great stuff.<br /><br />But I digress...<br /><br />Yes, emotional arc is perhaps THE hardest part to get right. Revising for emotion is something that should be part of every writer's process. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-9251962295767140132013-06-01T17:50:55.801-04:002013-06-01T17:50:55.801-04:00Laurel, that is a fantastic tip!Laurel, that is a fantastic tip!Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-12497713324976736072013-05-31T18:50:44.263-04:002013-05-31T18:50:44.263-04:00This is a great point. I hadn't thought about ...This is a great point. I hadn't thought about this before, but I'll start looking at the start of my manuscripts this way from now on. Thanks, Laurel!A.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-73868002073152742922013-05-31T12:50:58.470-04:002013-05-31T12:50:58.470-04:00Great point. Sometimes it's hard to remember t...Great point. Sometimes it's hard to remember that the reader doesn't know the characters like I do--they only know what's on the page.Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-37432104271308738472013-05-31T12:12:06.019-04:002013-05-31T12:12:06.019-04:00I love that line, too! Hermione and Ron have some ...I love that line, too! Hermione and Ron have some of the best dialogue exchanges in the series.<br /><br />I see what you mean. The emotional arc in a story can be difficult to get right. I agree with Mood; there needs to be a reason in each scene why your character is feeling the way he/she is. You seem like you're on the right track!<br /><br />Happy reading and writing! from <a href="http://lauramarcella.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines</a>Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-47131974013010587992013-05-31T09:53:03.465-04:002013-05-31T09:53:03.465-04:00Excellent point. Jumping conflict is jarring and c...Excellent point. Jumping conflict is jarring and confusing to readers. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-20876077877462745782013-05-31T06:33:09.098-04:002013-05-31T06:33:09.098-04:00I think it also helps to provide specific reasons ...I think it also helps to provide specific reasons for change or escalation in emotions. If the reader can see a cause for the emotion they're more likely to engage with it.<br /><br />moodmooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.com