Sunday, May 12, 2013

Best Writing Advice I've Received: Part 2

For the next few weeks, we're going to talk about some of the great wisdom other people have given me on my writing journey. This week's writing tip came from a freelance editor who provided the content edit for my first published novel, Canyon Walls.

If you're unfamiliar with how the process works, usually a full-time acquisition editor buys your book. Often times your book is then passed onto a different editor or multiple editors to handle things like the content and line edits.

After reading craft books and hearing experts talk about the importance of conflict, I'd crammed my book full of dramatic dialogue and big character reactions. In my content edit, the editor told me that some of my scenes were like "emotional whiplash."

This term turned on a lightbulb in my head. Good conflict should come organically when your character has a goal and another character or force is in the way of that goal. Melodrama is not conflict. It simply makes your characters come across as irrational and immature.

One way to guard against emotional whiplash is to think about what emotion and tone you want to convey at the beginning and at the end of your scene. The journey from the first emotion to the second should be natural and the motivations should make sense. In real life, we may feel angry, hungry, bored, and guilty all at the same time, but in fiction it's too much. Make sure you fully develop one emotion in your character before you throw them into another one.

It's like a singer who sings with too many flowery runs and falsettos. Sometimes it's too much and a stripped down, honest version of the song would make more of an impact.

Have you ever come across "emotional whiplash" in a novel? Have you ever written "emotional whiplash?"


10 comments:

  1. I love the singing analogy, and "melodrama is not conflict"! :)

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    1. Thanks. I've been watching too much of The Voice lately. LOL.

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  2. Excellent writing advice, Julie! I love how you talk about going from one emotion to the next. Stuff to chew on today!

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    1. Thanks, Jessica. It has been fun to write about writing the past few weeks. It reminds me what I need to be focusing on too.

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  3. Love this. Especially the tip about fully developing one emotion before throwing your character into another one.

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    1. Thanks, Susan. It feels like it takes some pressure off me when I'm writing a scene and makes things feel less rushed.

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  4. Great advice, can't wait to read more.

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  5. Hmm...that's really good advice. I think I've been a little guilty of dishing out whiplash.

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  6. I like that, it's actually advice I can use! I think it's all about balance and you have let your characters and your readers have a little bit of calm in the midst of all that angst!

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