How to use this Page

You are sooooo good!

Awesome Angela! Way to highlight a tool that maybe a lot of writers are afraid of!

GREAT POST!!! I've been practicing working metaphors into my writing--they really punch up the emotional factor. It's tough to get them in my character's voice, tho. ;)

Great reminder about metaphors. I always try to make sure they fit my character's personality and world-experience when I write in first person.

When I taught fifth-grade, I'd say it was an analogy without using "like" or "as". Similes are much easier for fifth-graders and for me.

I love the way you inspire your readers to actually give it a try!

I'm glad this is helpful to everyone. Metaphor usage is something that I myself strive to improve upon, and so this post is as much a reminder for me as it is to share with everyone else. :)

There is one absolute truth I think we can all agree on: Metaphors done right = powerful writing.

Happy monday all!

awesome post! I find I use similes quite easily, but remembering to use metaphors is MUCH harder.

thank for the lesson - it was very helpful.

I love metaphors. Sometimes it's a pain in the neck to think of the perfect one for a given passage, but I think it's always worth it in the long run.

(And I've used a lot more metaphors in my writing after coming here -- you've definitely been an influence!)

Okay, this is a new favorite! I am definitely sending my students to visit you tomorrow. This is the best info for using metaphors I've ever seen, Angela. Thanks again. :-)

This is how goofy I am. I get similes and metaphors mixed up all the time. I'm worse than a 10 year old!

Thanks for the amazing tips.

hi miss angela! wow this is good stuff for writing. im gonna copy it and put it in my folder of stuff i got off blogs thats helping me be a better writer. that like stuff is lots easer but you really gotta think about metaphors.
...hugs from lenny

Thanks Angela, that's a great tool you came up with for creating metaphores.

Wonderful tips, I love metaphors.

You're my hero, Angela. I suck at writing metaphors.

I'm not good with metaphors. Thanks for sharing this information about them.

So well done! Thank you for this, Angela!

Oh, I love this!

So happy to hear others will get use from this one. It really helped me to map it all out like this. :)

You put the craft back into writing :)

Great post Angela!

beth-project52.blogspot.com

Holy cow. Excellent! :)

Excellent post! Thanks, Angela!

For the most part I try to steer clear of metaphors because it's really hard to do them right. Thanks for the tips though. You have given me the courage and know how to try out a few!

I don't always post to tell you how brilliant you are, but you are!

I think the best metaphors are the ones that come up unconsciously. Wow! I did that?

The book I read recently that did this very well was Justina Chen Headley's North of Beautiful. It's full of cartography metaphors.

This is fantastic, thank you! It's a really effective way of thinking about crafting better metaphors. A good one can be so powerful, a bad one... well, really bad!

I love a good metaphor! I write them pretty decent. :)

Your blog is a treasure chest filled with gems of knowledge.

How's that? :)
Excellent post!

Oh Angela, you're singing my song.

I just got a rejection that was so nice and hopeful that I almost felt bad about consoling myself with a pint of pistachio ice cream.

I've always led a rejection averse live and I have a lot of nothing to show for it. But writing has forced me to deal with rejection in a more healthy way. Hopefully this will touch all area of my life.

Really want I needed to hear right now. Recasting a rejection as a challenge for your next submission is a great strategy. Thanks!

Landing a rejection on my full was the best thing that could have happened to my wip. That and the feedback (as little as it was) that the agent gave me. She suggested I hone my skill some more, so I spent months doing that and heavily editing the novel. And now, thank's to a brilliant critter, the story is better than it's ever been--and very different to the original version.

Of course, once I've finished the revisions (and my beta readers have read it), I have to find the courage to query it again. But when the time is right, I know I'll be ready to jump into the game again. It helps, though, that I have two new stories dying to be written. :)

Have a great trip, Angela. :D

Wonderful thoughts, Angela.

If I can suggest another positive to add to the list without appearing too presumptuous :-) ...

A rejection is a battle scar, to be displayed proudly to proclaim to the world "I am a writer". I didn't feel entitled to lay claim to that title in polite company until my first rejection.

Excellent advice. I should put this list somewhere handy when I finally query.

Great post, Angela! :D

What a wonderful and uplifting post, Angela! I think we all need to hear stuff like this more often - at least I do. Thanks for the encouragement. :-)

I do struggle with rejections. I guess until you get accepted you see your work as "not good enough!"
Wonderful post. It's nice to know that others are so positive and you showed us all how to look at something most find rejecting, as something important and good.

Great Post Angela. I totally agree, if you're not getting rejected you're not in the game. You're probably sitting at home watching re-runs of Sienfeld episodes (not that there's anything wrong with that). ;-j

I'll try and keep these in mind. Need some motivation to start a third manny. Perhaps I should hire someone to put a gun to my head.

Works for Stephen King, I think.

theBrad (verla tag)
bradmouth.com

Rejections only bother me when the editor/publisher is rude. I actually had someone say my short story "sucked"! *shock* Regardless if it sucked or not, a professional publishing press should NEVER say that to their submitters.

That same story he said that "sucked" later got published somewhere else. So boo on them! :D

I'll read this again, the next time I get rejected. Thanks, Angela.

Awesome post, Angela! Def will be sharing this one:)
Thanks for posting.

Yes...a great way to view rejection. Love this post.

Brilliant post, Angela. Very uplifting! I'm going to print it out and stick it up on my whiteboard to read when the rejections come in. Thank you! :)

Great perspective, Angela! Thanks.

I love this, as you already know, and with your permission, I'm stealing it for my HVRWA chapter newsletter!

Most of us have been there, done that, and it bears repeating. Some of my writing pals are going through particularly hard times right now, and I'm hoping this will, if not exactly lift their spirits, at least let them focus their perspective.

Thanks again!

Writers are fighters, despite our shy, retiring ways, at least here in the backcountry. Thanks for the great post Angela. I'm happy to be a new subscriber.

Love your POV, Angela!

Excellent points! I'm especially fond of #3 and #4. There is always something we can learn and always ways to improve. Each rejection is just fuel to the fire for me.

Aww, I love this. Excellent post!!! :-)

I can add a few suggestions for the rejections, Angela.
1. Crinkle them up into balls for the puppy to chase and tear up. It saves wear and tear on furniture and shoes.

2. Take them on your dog walks to use as potty papers. Saves the money you would spend at the pet store for the colorful poop baggies.

3. Paper the guest room with them, particularly before those you'd prefer to not come, arrive. They'll be so discouraged by reading all of them, they won't want to stay for long in the home of such a loser.

4. Use them to light up the barbeque, or the gas lamps when the electricity goes out.

5. Clip them with clothes pins to the bars of your parrot's cage. They love to shred them, particularly if you turn a fan on so they flutter. ( My parrots can't wait until I get another one.)

Just some ideas to relieve that old file drawer of some of its burden. :)

I have, unfortunatelly, learned more from rejection than I have from success.

Terrific post! - Like the NY Lottery ads say, "You gotta be in it to win it" - so if you've sent out a query/submission, even if it gets rejected, you are that much closer to the ultimate prize, publication.
~Chelle
http://ChelleCordero.com

That's the perfect perspective. Rejection is tough but you can’t be rejected if you never put yourself out there (which means you’ll never be accepted either).

Great post! The power of positive thinking can not be underestimated. Way to turn around what all writers think of as a negative thing to a positive one. YAY!
Nelsa

WOW! Great to see this post resonates with so many people. Rejection is a really tough part of this business, but I really do think that all things have positives to them, and everything that happens to us, good or bad is just another opportunity to learn.

Keep your chin up and those shoulders straight, because as others have said, rejection is the badge of the writer. Wear it with pride!

Angela

Excellent post! Exactly what I needed today. :) Thanks!

Great post!

I've been really noticing in books that I read how the sensory details are what makes the story come alive for me. As writers, I think we need to hear something atleast 100 times before it sinks in. :)

In my book, I have half a chapter where my character is forced to wear blackout goggle, soundproof earphones, thick mitts on his hands and is shackled. He is marched this way through several different environments, and I had to think how to describe it with only smell and some touch, like vibrations when he was in a vehicle, the texture of the floor/ground, the smell of jet fuel, and his ears

Great stuff! I need to tap into this...certain smells, songs, and sounds take me right back to high school and before...Thanks for sharing this.<br />Have a great week,<br />Karen

I literally have a note on my desk that says, &quot;Write with all five senses.&quot;

Excellent post Angela!

Writing with the senses is excellent advice and I totally agree with you on that. <br /><br />But I think that, to evoke emotion, it&#39;s also needful to use a lot of the tricks that a poet uses. Writers shouldn&#39;t forget the words themselves are your tool, not just what you say with them. <br /><br />By using the right words you can evoke emotion like good poetry does, with evocative

Thanks so much for this! Description is always a challenge for me. Appreciate all your hard work.

Great post! I have been paying closer attention to settings and descriptions when I read lately. Perfect timing. :-)

Hope you don&#39;t mind that I have put a link to you from my blog. You have such great posts!

Great post! I&#39;m working on description right now.

I just found your site, Angela, and it is flat-out fabulous. Like the Governator of CA said, &quot;I&#39;ll be back.)

Fabulous post! What a great way to put it ;o) Thanks for your insight!

Thanks everyone for the great comments. I think sensory information is so important to create compelling description, and it&#39;s something we all need reminders of. I know whenever a detail stands out to me in a book I read, it&#39;s always because it&#39;s a piece of sensory writing, or the most perfect comparison that immediately makes me see exactly what the writer is saying, but in a new

These are great and SO true. Thanks for sharing them. I especially like #9. I've found several Simon's when it comes to my writing, but they usually help the most.

I'm so posting this by my computer. Thanks, Shelli! It's just what I needed.

I totally agree. And, speaking from someone who's a failure from Aussie Idol, you definitely have to take rejection like a grain of salt and decide which comments to take seriously (but not personally).

This is some of the best advice I've read in a long time! Thanks Shelli! :)

So true! Love it!

You are made of awesome! This is a great list. Thank you. :)

Most excellent list, Shelli! Thanks for making it so clear. It's easy to get lost in our own heads and forget that all we can do is keep writing, keep improving and remember what we do and don't have control over. A great reminder.

What a great comparison!

I need to print this list out and read it every day!

All of these are so true, but I especially liked #4. I think when you believe in yourself, that confidence shines through in your work.

Great list and so very true! It's nice to watch some of the kids on that show listen and improve and really grow. Hopefully the same goes for us!

Loved this post! Every one of those things is true and it was a great reminder. (It also reminded me that I've been missing out this season. Ah well...)

Loved this post! Every one of those things is true and it was a great reminder. (It also reminded me that I've been missing out this season. Ah well...)

Love the comparison. Great reminders. And I should be watching more Idol . . . ;)

Ugh, I MISS American Idol. *grumbles about husbands remote control control*

Great list :-)

You make very fun comparisons! Love it! It wasn't pitchy at all, dawg.

I especially like #7: know thyself.

So true! Great post Shelli.

Oh boy a Simon in every crowd! We are in trouble now lol!

I love these Shelli - thanks!

I can't stand the show, but the concepts are true enough. What I don't like is the public execution of it all, but I guess they all ask to be on there... I'm re-working my opening after my first couple rejections right now, so your post is dead on for me. I liked the suggestions they offered a lot. Then I can see if the changes appeal to the next few agents. :)

Okay, it's official. You now have a stalker-girl fan. Yeah, it's me. This is the best list ever! My DH and I watched last night and I liked one guy and he didn't. We were hearing the same thing. The panel was mixed. It's so subjective.

And writing is the exact same way.

Awesome post!

It's always good to be reminded of these things--even when we KNOW them in our hearts, our heads tend to forget. Thanks. I'm putting these where I can quickly refer to them.

I absolutely LOVE this list. It's so true!!! I want to copy this and post it on my blog. Please tell me that I have your permission?!!

I especially like the last one. I need to have more faith in myself. I'm a little lacking in that area at the moment. Thanks for giving me permission to have faith in myself.

I love this! I really, really love this! Thanks, Shelli! :-)

That list is fantastic and completely spot on. Great reminders.

Great list, and I'd also add:
Sometimes you'll get contradictory advice.

OR

If you think the judges are always right:
Sometimes advice that sounds contradictory, isn't.

But seriously, watching AI, either the person changes the song too much or not at all. But in previous seasons "drastic" changes have been met with standing ovations.

And this is why I love/hate AI.

You are the best at these lists!!!!

Love this post. I need to think hard about #7.

Love the, "If you don't believe in yourself, how can your agent or editor?"

Thanks Shelli

Love this! It's so true for writing and other artistic endeavors. I watch the show with my daughter - a young, aspiring singer - and we've been processing some of these same lessons for her to store up. We also talk about developing a bit of a thick skin to take the criticism in, but not be hurt so much inside - which I think is a particular challenge for all of us artistic types.

Oh, and Donna, I totally agree with you about the drastic changes to songs being good or bad, depending on how it turns out to the judges ears. The contradictory advice is beginning to get to me this season, and I think it's because there is more of it. I feel like the judges are talking to the singers much more than they did in past seasons, and I suspect that they are half making stuff up to have enough to say when before they would have just said "Not feeling it, dog."

Great post, Shelli, and great advice for life as well as for writing!

I watched my VERY FIRST (this season) AI episode last night, and I have to say I liked all the contestants the judges did not. Subjective? Yes!

Nothing beats a good American Idol post!

Funny, I was thinking of writing one today, too. On
contradictory advice." Simon even called HIMSELF on it.

If the contestant is original, they say "Oh, don't change it up so much. It's a great song. Just sing it." And if they just sing it, they say "That was so copycat. You didn't make it your own."

Excellent post! It's so true!!! So people like one thing - others another. And hard work and persistance will pay off. =)

Love this. So motivating and inspiring and true! :)

What a great post! I put it in my favorite rejection articles on my website here: http://www.pamcalvert.com/pam_s_splatlinks

Pam :-)

wow Im so glad you liked my slacker post guys :) i had a hard time coming u with a topic. see reality tv has its benefits! :)

This was awesome Shelli. SO TRUE.

I love this list! I don't feel as though I'm the most talented writer in my writing group and I'm amazed that I'm published. I really think luck is having the right book at the right place at the right time. I liked what you said about how to take criticism. I've learned through this publishing journey to appreciate critics. They help create a stronger book. Though what they say may bite at times. Thanks for the wonderful post!

I love American Idol and your points are perfect. As for Simon, sometimes he can be harsh, but I usually agree with what he's saying :)

I get the feeling from your comments of this drawing you do know the things you've done wrong in the drawing, so a critique from me would just be repeating what you just said. :P

The drawing isn't bad, and I'll bet it would have been a lot better if you had a little more time to work on it (isn't time always the problem?).

I struggle with proportion a lot. Drawing from real people is the best of course, but second best is using some sort of reference. If you don't have it yet get "Drawing the Head and Figure" by Jack Hamm.

I see from your blog that you are super busy, but make sure you save a bit of time to do some drawing every day. Make goals for yourself with deadlines. You wont always make your goals, but you'll get closer to your goals of getting published. You have a lot of talent and I'd like to see you published someday, so keep up the good fight!

Thanks for the encouragement. I actually have that book by Hamm (and I think his animal one as well). But we moved last fall and it's one that is still packed.

I'm starting to rejoin the living now that the baby is almost a year. Sneaking sketchbook time is one of my plans...after finally unpacking the "studio/garage."

ohhhh man... i want a rose so bad!

Shelli, Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

And all super advice. Especially the first impressions. Important suggestions. I shall remember them all, because I have copied and pasted. Uh, that's okay isn't it? =)

Thanks Shelli for having the contest. (^_^)

Ha! I love it. Great advice.

oh wow! thanks so much! I've never read wicked lovely!!!

Great post! :)

haha. The Bachelor! Great comparison!!!

You are so creative!!!! I would never have thought to put publishing lessons together with the Bachelor!!!
So talented :-)

"You will not ride off into the sunset - after reaching one horizon, there will be another."

This.

It's hard to remember that getting an agent is not the end of all your hard work, but the beginning.

Thanks, Shelli!

Great post! Thanks!

Great advise. Thanks for posting.

I don't watch reality television yet I still loved this post -- thanks!

hahahah nice...query lessons from the bachelor?! I would never have thought it possible :)

This is a super list! Fun idea.

I must admit to being a Bachelor junky. In fact, my post tomorrow is going to have some sort of Bachelor tie in. This is a great list of lessons to be learned from the show. Reality TV is so transferable.

Okay, though I've never seen the bachelor, I still think this is a great post!

Great advice, as usual! Love #20. And I have so many to learn from. :D

Fun post--I'm definitely going to read this one again when I'm getting the rejections!

Tip #3: my total fave.

#21 Don't talk badly about the other contestants--it will always backfire ;).

Love this post, Shelli! It's all too true. LOL.

I'm a softie at heart, so I've cried more than once. But that being said ... I've also reworked my query through all those tears. It can only get better from here ... right?

Clever list, Shelli. No. 7 struck a chord. We all know how many of us are doing this and how much talent there is. I'm grateful that so many agents are willing to blog and talk at conferences. That means a lot.

Shelli--You put a smile on my face. I could tell which of the ladies you were talking about on almost all of your points. Great post! I have trouble posting on Tuesday...Biggest Loser and American Idol...

The bachelor = query advice? Who knew?! LOL! You are so fun, Shelli!

Congrats to Robyn and Elizabeth! :-)

What a great list! So true. :)

Congrats to the winners :)

Great list of advice. I think one of family mantras should be "Don't be the crazy one"!

You are SO brilliant.

And man, what a season this is. I can hardly wait for next week - more drama!!!

Great advice that I get even though I've never seen the show. Thanks for all the advice on keeping perspective and remembering you aren't the only one querying this agent.

HA! Great post, Shelli!!!

Too funny. Great comparisons, Shelli

Lol, great advice. You gotta love The Bachelor. You can learn so many life lessons from reality tv :)

YES!!!

Great advice all the way around.

sf

Number 17 is a toughie. Kind of like saying when an earthquake hits, enjoy the ride. ;) If anyone can find and bottle that kind of detachment, please send me some.

awesome post! thanks for info

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the obvious. Thanks.

Congrats, especially to my CP, Robyn!!!

I...um...actually don't watch the Bachelor. But I agree--essentially, the best thing for us, as writers, to do is to be the best possible professional.

LOVED #18. That's what I keep reminding myself with every full rejection.

Ha! Ditto on the reality t.v. thing. And love the great advice! :)

Way to put that reality TV to good use!

Yea! Congrats to the winners - especially Miss Robyn!

I love all of these. They're so true. Some of them are hard (moving on, giving yourself 24 hours, etc.), but really, in the end, it's just a new journey.

Ha! LOVE the comparison!

I apologize--I know this is a long post, but there are so many things to cover with information. I wanted to do it justice!

Great post! It&#39;s a lot to keep track of but all very important stuff.

Wonderful post! A great reminder for experienced writers and a fantastic lesson for beginners.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />Susan<br />Author of upcoming Princess and the Pee

Do not apologize for trying to educate us. Excellent job!

Such a fabulous post! Not too much info at all - it&#39;s all helpful information! This 7 deadly sins series has been wonderful! I&#39;ll be checking back to them as reference for what not to do - Thank you :o)

I really struggle with NS--some people say, &quot;Skip the boring stuff,&quot; while others say, &quot;What, are you crazy? You can&#39;t have large passages of unaccountable time!&quot; <br /><br />You are absolutely right about &quot;telling&quot; resulting from writers not trusting ourselves to get the important info across. But, imho, why telling really fails (other than b/c it&#39;s boring)

very thorough and informative!

Another excellent post! I am guilty of the emotional explanation going on and on...and on. I need to work on that a little bit.

Wow! This was incredibly timely for me. I actually came over to check out the emotion thesaurus because I realized I had a scene that was telling rather than showing. Thanks for the reminder to keep things brief and tight at the same time.

I appreciate this info, thanks a bunch!<br />Blessings,<br />Karen

Angela, never apologize. Your posts are always welcomed and used. I actually am guilty of info dumping. So I am copy and pasting this post. Is that okay Angela? <br /><br />And also, I missed the contest. Waaaa, my entire family got the stomach flu. I was the only one that escaped it. But I was so busy with the sick, I didn&#39;t make it for the contest. Great post as usual. I am NEVER

Awesome information! This comes at a great time for us as we&#39;re just about to jump back in with #2!

My early drafts are full of showing and then telling. It took two betas and an agent pointing it out before I finally understood what they meant. I guess I just didn&#39;t trust myself enough as a storyteller!

I&#39;m guilty of so many of those. Thanks for the reminder!

I just love dialogue examples that show too much. They crack me up.<br />They&#39;re one of my favorite things to talk about in writing workshops.

I struggle with pacing the most. Often when I write a first draft, I either race through the story, or get involved with every tiny minutiae of their days, with thoughts and feelings while my characters have tea. Tea is DEADLY.<br /><br />Great post. It&#39;s a lot to think about.

Yeow! This is one comprehensive post. Thanks, I&#39;m taking notes...

Great post! I think those deadly sins are something almost every writer goes through!

This blog is amazing! I&#39;ve added it to my favorites. Thank you for all the time you&#39;ve spent helping us to become better writers!

Never apologize - your posts are worth their weight in gold! Thanks for another great lesson. I know I am guilty of the &quot;too much thinking&quot; problem. :-)

Regarding sin #7, I wrote an article on using backstory correctly some while ago that you and your readers might also find helpful:<br /><br />http://www.plottopunctuation.com/blog/show/25

Thanks for the great reminders, Angela! The Showing and Telling one especially hits home for me as I work on revising.

This post is VERY timely for me too as TMI is my biggest sin, bar none. I&#39;m in the midst of a major rewrite right now and keep finding overwritten passages with obviously labored explanations that weigh the story down. I&#39;ll come back to this.

Thanks everyone for the great comments! I&#39;m glad that this series has been helpful--I think we all have similar writing pitfalls to watch out for. <br /><br /><br />Happy writing!<br /><br />Angela

Great post! I won&#39;t name the book, as I don&#39;t like to cast aspersions, but I did read one not too long ago that was like reading a very bad version of The Secret Garden. The main character was just too sweet for words. She seemed to flit through the story without a care or any kind of emotional upheaval despite the fact she&#39;d been orphaned and sent to an aged uncle far away from

Your series on the seven deadly sins is excellent, Momzilla. Looking forward to seeing what other problems I am standing on the verge of. <br /><br />Twisted

You hit the nail on the head with this post. I&#39;ll put a book down and won&#39;t finish it when I see these problems in characterization. I need to sink into the novel, and that means connecting with realistic characters.

This is a timely post. I have started to write a short story and one of the goals I set for it is to be a character driven story portraying the personalities of the two characters in the plot. Your words of guidance will help me... thanks

First things firsts:<br /><br />Great blog you got here. Found myself opening multiple tabs so I could read all the posts on the first page. Defiantly a must read blog for writers. <br /><br />Second, all good points, especially when talking about too little or too much drama/emotion. <br /><br />Will keep those in mind.

Yes! Especially the accountability one - even when I&#39;m rooting for a character and love the character, I get really annoyed when they&#39;re allowed to &quot;get away&quot; with things. Even Dexter had to face the music.

Wow! Great post. This Seven Deadly Sins of Novel Writing series - is really brilliant! You&#39;re my next Monday Featured Blog, I&#39;d love others to read this. Great stuff here, as always :o)

&quot;NEVER make the sole focus on what a character has or doesn&#39;t have. Instead emphasize what they DO with what they have.&quot; I love this! ;)<br /><br />P.S. You&#39;ve been tagged :)

Great stuff! Thanks:)

<i>9.9 times out of 10, a character cliche crutch means the writer needs to delve deeper to really understand who their character is.</i><br /><br />You are brilliant, you know that? This was a beautiful post. Thank you for making me put on my thinking cap. :D

Bish, thanks. I don&#39;t like to be nagative about books either, but at the same time an example was important and this book is well known enough for people to relate to it. Plus too at the end of the day it&#39;s wildly successful, so its not like pointing out a single flaw will affect that. :-)<br /><br />James, thank you so much. I think we all need to keep these things in mind--I&#39;m

I love these new posts, Angela! I&#39;m all over them!

Excellent post (and reminders)!

What also happens sometimes is that the characters act unmotivated, like the dumb girl in a horror-movie going inside that dark room where the killer hides.

Very informative post!<br /><br />An example of counterfeit, to me, would be the author saying one thing and the character saying another. For instance, if the author (through other characters) comments on how intelligent the heroine is, but the heroine then does something very foolish. The showing is always going to speak louder than the telling.

<i>Even if there is an unbalanced set of circumstances to contend with, NEVER make the sole focus on what a character has or doesn&#39;t have. Instead emphasize what they DO with what they have. A boy can live a perfect, privileged life and still make bad choices. Or a girl can have the odds stacked against her and still succeed through perseverance and the support of those around her. Humanize

Hey this is Silver1 from CC. Great to see you! I can&#39;t agree with your list more. It&#39;s perfect!

&quot;CHARACTERS ARE NOT OUR CHILDREN. Never hesitate to throw them in the path of the bus.&quot; <br /><br />I think this might be my new favorite quote on writing. :-) In my own writing I&#39;ve found that sometimes the stakes for the world/society can be high but the personal stakes for the main character might not be as pressing. I&#39;ve been really trying to find a balance between the

Is it bad that I automatically think which character I can kill off while I write a novel? For some reason at least one must die in each book...

Great idea! So clever. My kids love your photo here with the mouse! I look forward to reading the next 6 sins.

So true.. <br /><br />I love this part of the process.. Sometimes I throw too much in their way.

Great post! I&#39;m having a hard time creating the right stakes in my rewrite, and I know that&#39;s exactly what it needs. <br /><br />This is going to be a great series. : )

Great post, Angela - looking forward to the rest.<br /><br />Your children/bus point reminded me of something John Irving said.<br /><br />Can&#39;t remember the precise words, but it was something like: &quot;I don&#39;t search for characters when I write a novel, I search for victims.&quot;

Excellent post! I look forward to reading about the other deadly sins.

&quot;CHARACTERS ARE NOT OUR CHILDREN. Never hesitate to throw them in the path of a bus.&quot;<br /><br />That&#39;s so very true! I struggle to raise the stakes sometimes in my own writing, but I am pushing at it! Thank you for such an awesome post. :)

Lots to think about, thank you! I like the &quot;Characters are not our children.&quot; I&#39;ll remember that one! Blessings:)

Angela, this is most excellent. Can&#39;t wait for the next post.<br />It is also timely, because I&#39;m facing a moment of truth for the main character of a new novel I&#39;m writing, and I think I have make her do something that will have a disasterous fallout. I didn&#39;t want to do that, but I think it will vastly increase the stakes.<br />Thanks for making me face it, too.

It sounds like I&#39;m not the only one who absolutely loved this post. As hard as it may be for us, this is critical advice. <br /><br />I think J. K. Rowling has already mastered the best part, though. &quot;CHARACTERS ARE NOT OUR CHILDREN. Never hesitate to throw them in the path of a bus.&quot; Oh, so that&#39;s why Dumbledore had to die! and Hedwig and Lupin and Tonks and...Dobby! *

I also really love the pic!<br /><br />I too, look forward to the other six sins I&#39;m sure to have committed.<br /><br />must make protag suffer, must make protag suffer....

Love the pic!<br /><br />Can&#39;t wait to find out about the other six sins I&#39;m sure to have committed.<br /><br />must make protag suffer, must make protag suffer....

Great post! I struggle but then when I do, I know it means it&#39;s the right thing to do. <br />Kill off the characters. Right?

I read &quot;path of the bus&quot; as &quot;the bath of pus.&quot; Please don&#39;t make me throw my characters into one of those.

Sins capture our interest ... great topic and great post. I look forward to reading them all ... because I&#39;m sure to commit them all. I confess I am too nice to my characters on the first pass.

Great post! Can&#39;t wait to read the other 6!<br />You&#39;ve really covered Sin #1 very well. I don&#39;t really have anything to add :o)<br /><br />I never have any problem pushing mine in front of the proverbial bus, however, I do connect more with the male characters in my novel, so the girls get the brunt of the conflict thrust upon them. They are the MC&#39;s after all :o)<br /><br />

Awesome post! I had to &quot;kill&quot; off a character because of letting him do to much for the main character plus he was stealing the spotlight. He is so darn cute though so I think he will be coming back but I had to get him out of the way for awhile. :)

Am I evil because I love to torture characters?<br /><br />My problem is revealing what exactly the stakes are. My characters are running around, trying not to get killed, but they have no idea why. <br /><br />*has mini light bulb switch on* Aha! (Don&#39;t you just love that word?) I just remembered a lost plot thread. Yes, Precioussss, we will weave it in better during rewrites. Yessss.

This post was an excellent reminder of what to look out for. Sometimes I get a little too complacent and then wondere why something&#39;s not working. And I love the photo!!!!

This is a great, great post. I&#39;m bookmarking it so I can come back to it and remind myself to throw that child under the bus.

Thanks again for your writing Rx. Now in part two of my novel, I need to sharpen my ax. I tend to have characters wage mental wars not physical ones. Too many ploughshares can make a book flatline! Again, thanks.

I personally get a kick out of thinking up all the horrible things that I can do to my characters. Sometimes, I have to stop myself...heeeehaaaa...whaahhaa (sinister laughter).

Fear of crossing into that dangerous territory of melodrama sometimes makes me back off turning up the heat for my characters. I hope you&#39;ll discuss motivation and how that relates to stakes in an upcoming post. It&#39;s a struggle to get it right, so all tips are most urgently sought!

Holy smokes--I guess this post was a hot topic with writers!<br /><br />Anna--I really like your comment about personal stakes VS world stakes. I think this is a key of high stakes--they MUST be personal.<br /><br />Yuna, I think its from hanging with Merc. LOL<br /><br />Terry, Thanks! I thought this was the perfect pic to show stakes and consequences!<br /><br />Keri, I&#39;m like you--

Wow<br /><br />I&#39;m so glad I came across this post and like everyone else I love the children and bus quote. <br />I once heard an author say something similar about violence in a story. It has to really hurt, there&#39;s no use writing in half measures. Look forward to the other six deadly sins.<br /><br />Ray

Angela, thanks for telling it like it is. :-D I am enlightened by the post and already scrutinizing my work, chasing after all the low stakes I can find. I&#39;m smiling at the idea of going over the top the other way around.<br /><br />My question is: can stakes ever be too high?<br /><br />I look forward to learning about the other sins! (Never thought I would write that one day, lol)

Great advice, Angela. Looking forward to the rest.

Ray, I like that--it&#39;s so true.<br /><br />Natalie, yes I think stakes can be too high. The two situations that come to mind would be insurmountable stakes that leave the character with no realistic options, and no hope. There&#39;s no where for the story to go, because the stakes paralyze all action.<br /><br />The second would be when the stakes are too high to be real or tangible to the

Gayle, thanks so much!

I truly love this post. Especially the part &quot;Autumn is about contrast&quot; I think you are correct in saying that we don&#39;t always remember to use seasons as a setting on ordinary days. This post is a good reminder of the great variety of resources we have at our disposal if only we learn how to use them well.

A dissection of our craft I like it. Authors who write well about writing are to be admire. Well done.<br />Claire

Wow, that was so truthfully written and well expressed and I like how connected it is with the theme of Autumn. Again you are right about it being important to capture the moment in a story as it is, and to feel the senses when doing so, as that is as much of an experience as the ones we encounter in everyday. I must admit I don&#39;t use seasons in stories, but you have inspired me to do so. <br

Excellent post. I agree, an effective description of scent is the strongest memory invoker. I love coming across them when I&#39;m reading. Personally I find it the hardest sense to bring to life.

Very nice. In particular I appreciate the point made about sight, as opposed to other senses.

I love fall and I find that many of the stories I write take place in the cooler parts of the year.

Thanks everyone. Sometimes I feel like writing is akin to juggling--it seems there are so many things to take into account, but the end effect is pure mastery.

Excellent post - lots to think about. One of my novels begins just as fall does and as the year closes in, as winter approaches, she opens up and lets the world in, so there is a contrast between seasons and action.

I believe it - about scents and memory. <br /><br />Love this post and love Fall. :)

Wonderful post! I really enjoyed reading it; you connected it well to the theme of Autumn. You&#39;ve inspired me to go and record the look and feel of Autumn.<br /><br />Well done!

You are so right about Fall! I&#39;ll never look at this season the same way. So many facets have gone unexplored. What used to be a simple change of colors and movement into the cold doldrums (sp?) of winter now had so much more potential! :)

How true about fall and senses. Scent is strongly evocative and often missed in writing. So nice to connect with another writer!

Your post makes me want to do two things: <br /><br />First, I want to go through my mostly-finished manuscript draft and add these kinds of details which I know I omitted. Actually, it makes me want to set my story in Fall!!<br /><br />It also makes me want to revisit my lessons (I teach) on writing, and see if I have any mention at all about any of this. I don&#39;t think I do, and I am both

Thanks everyone. Wow I&#39;m so thrilled that this post made such an impact. Thanks everyone for the lovely, kind comments!

Since everyone else has pointed out how right you are, I&#39;ll add my two cents to theirs.<br /><br />You&#39;ve very correct. Not enough writers use the other senses. With your few words about the sound of leaves, I was immediately put on a sidewalk on a brisk morning, with a biting wind, and little skittery leaves getting caught in eddies and crunching underfoot.<br /><br />Brilliant.

OMG - It&#39;s one of my biggest fears. I email myself my manuscripts, but I have to figure out what to do about my pictures.<br /><br />Thanks for the PSA! :) And I&#39;m so glad your hubby could save your stuff!

No! I am so sorry you had to face the Blue Screen of Death, and so happy your hubby is a techie. I&#39;m plugging in the thumb drive NOW.

Angela I&#39;m extremely sorry about losing all your work. Have you got any of it back? That nearly happend to me the other week, somehow nearly deleted all traces of a wip. Not a pleasant picture. <br /><br />I now routinely back up on google docs. And thumb drives...when I locate them.

OH!!!!! You poor thing. I&#39;m in agony for you. This is horrible. Were you able to recover anything? I&#39;m in panic now. Must go back up my files!

Yes I did get everything back. Hubby&#39;s good with technology and managed to revive my hard drive...thanks goodness!<br /><br />Thanks everyone! Back up! Back up!

Yikes! YOu must have been frantic!!!!! Glad your stuff was saved. Whoa...

Can&#39;t talk -- must go back up right now!

Are you and Lisa Yee related, by any chance? ;o)<br /><br />Seriously, here&#39;s her post from Sept. 13:<br /><br />http://lisayee.livejournal.com/114976.html<br /><br />Glad it all turned out ok. My wonderful geek husband forced me to start using googledoc a while back, and i&#39;m glad...

Ha, that&#39;s hillarious! I just read Lisa&#39;s blog post--maybe we are related, lol.

I&#39;m so glad you got your files!<br /><br />I do online backup now. I use Carbonite and back up every day. Also, if I&#39;ve been working on something all day, I&#39;ll back it up right them.

I learned that the hard way! I was able to save my manuscript (THANK GOD) but not my day-job work files.... :(

Thank goodness you have a tech-savvy husband. But still, what a great reminder ... Thank you.

I&#39;m a huge fan of thumb drives. I plug it in, save, and throw it in the pencil basket. And I email.