tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post1518979947970595352..comments2024-03-28T12:29:37.129-04:00Comments on alien romances: Dissing the Formula NovelRowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-17680379363304144982009-02-10T17:44:00.000-05:002009-02-10T17:44:00.000-05:00I'm glad you mentioned your sources for techni...I'm glad you mentioned your sources for techniques and I hope anyone looking to duplicate your results will go study them. They're all good sources that didn't exist when I was learning. <BR/><BR/>Email me, please, about the blog where you're discussing SF elements later to be sure I go read it. <BR/><BR/>Juggling and cutting to space available likewise impinges on all the structural factors. That's another reason "length" is almost integral with the genre-signature.<BR/><BR/>I hate Grand Opera -- but I love symphony music. Beethoven is a favorite (OK, I'm low-brow). <BR/><BR/>Symphonies and novels do have a very similar structure and for that "primal" reason I cited. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for alerting me to the genre discussion on goodreads.com <BR/><BR/>http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/104604?utm_medium=email&utm_source=comment_instant <BR/><BR/>I can think of ways to integrate the Romance and SF/Action plots to reduce the wordage and still satisfy both genre-requirements -- but not without alienating some of the readers of the type who participated in the discussion you started. <BR/><BR/>I do admire that balancing act! But I can pick the whole structure of Hope's Folly apart and put the screws to the Worldbuilding behind it all. There's so much room for improvement, I'm glad you're working on another one. <BR/><BR/>Hope's Folly is not flawless, but I think everyone should read it. And I doubt anyone would find that a difficult chore! <BR/><BR/>Jacqueline Lichtenberg<BR/><BR/>http://www.simegen.com/jl/Jacqueline Lichtenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613040740264804278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-22001072812600487602009-02-10T17:20:00.000-05:002009-02-10T17:20:00.000-05:00Jacqueline, first, thanks so much for reading HOPE...Jacqueline, first, thanks so much for reading HOPE'S FOLLY. You know your input means the world...uh, the galaxy to me. ;-)<BR/><BR/>I'm a follower not only of Snyder and his cat ;-), but Swain (as you know) and to some extent, Maass (make it worse, make it worse). I don't want to get into any spoilers at this date, but suffice it to say that I used a couple of Maass' suggestions specifically in FOLLY. In fact, I plotted out some of the conflicts in the book duringn a Maass in-person workshop last year. <BR/><BR/>But chapter two, with Rya, yes, is pure Snyder. But I know you know that.<BR/><BR/>As for failing in some of the SF elements and some of the romance elements, I plead guilty. I'm blogging on that later this week (2/12) at <BR/>www.magicalmusings.com --specifically about writing cross-genre with "limited real estate." As we've often bemoaned, we stil write to word count. And writing cross genre means writing two plot arcs. It's difficult, even in 400 pages, to give full breadth and depth to both genres in that space. So you have to fudge out of necessity. I try very hard to fudge in the least noticeable areas but I don't always succeed. (Sometimes only because I feel so frustrated.) Those are likely the ones you're picking up. <BR/><BR/>As for formula, so is a musical composition. I often liken a novel to Gershwin's RHAPSODY IN BLUE. When I listen to the full piece (15minutes long) I can "hear" a novel--including the mid-point you mention.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure you know the piece. But have you ever listened to it AS a novel, Jacqueline? If not, I invite you to do so and let me/us know what you think! ~LinneaLinnea Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03633057411107208569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-8180583435802049832009-02-10T16:34:00.000-05:002009-02-10T16:34:00.000-05:00I'm all for structure. Without it, I would be los...I'm all for structure. Without it, I would be lost. I don't come by it naturally.<BR/><BR/>However, Trend Hell sends me screaming into the night! The best way to escape that I've found is to read across the decades, thereby finding the best of each trend. The older releases are already thoroughly reviewed. Unfortunately, if new copies can't be bought, the authors don't see a penny of my devotion.Kimber Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982239712083114488noreply@blogger.com