tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post8863074762825016025..comments2024-03-29T00:35:40.557-04:00Comments on Author, Jody Hedlund: The Key to Successful StorytellingJody Hedlundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-60202446146246935432013-03-15T09:47:23.081-04:002013-03-15T09:47:23.081-04:00This web is very good article is very interesting ...This web is very good article is very interesting hopefully more advanced futurehttp://tinyurl.com/aknlbsm obat alami kencing manis obat alami kencing manishttp://tinyurl.com/aknlbsmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-20432787712353296382013-03-13T21:59:37.378-04:002013-03-13T21:59:37.378-04:00Jody, thanks for this informative post. I'll b...Jody, thanks for this informative post. I'll be printing this off and add it to my writing binder. :-)Tracy Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829493307148654507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-32022909685752507002013-03-13T19:16:14.592-04:002013-03-13T19:16:14.592-04:00I know! Feels like yesterday I was querying Book 1...I know! Feels like yesterday I was querying Book 1. <br /><br />Yeah, things are busy, all right. But I'm making time where I can. I'm enjoying every bit of it. :-)Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-74244139526955797732013-03-13T18:57:31.946-04:002013-03-13T18:57:31.946-04:00LOVE that saying by Donald Maass. Perhaps we won&#...LOVE that saying by Donald Maass. Perhaps we won't make things horrendous EVERY moment of the book, but the principle keeps pushing us so that hopefully we truly will keep our readers turning the pages!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-89754364517044080242013-03-13T18:55:48.121-04:002013-03-13T18:55:48.121-04:00Wow! I can't believe you're already on the...Wow! I can't believe you're already on the third book in your series!! My how time flies! And yes, our poor heroes! *Insert evil cackle!* :-) Hope things are going well with your publishing experience Paul. I'm sure things are just a bit busy these days with those new babies and writing!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-62393234424826734012013-03-13T15:00:42.031-04:002013-03-13T15:00:42.031-04:00Jody, Great reminder. Donald Maass is the first on...Jody, Great reminder. Donald Maass is the first one I heard saying, "Think of the worst thing that can happen to your protagonist. Now make it worse."<br />Just finished re-reading Breakout, one of Donald Westlake's "Parker" novels, written under the pseudonym Richard Stark. In it the protagonist (sort of an anti-hero) starts out getting arrested, and from there it's one catastrophe after another. I was worn out when I finished the book, but he kept me turning pages.Richard Mabryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15993592219849830777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-15487993757089069862013-03-13T08:21:31.588-04:002013-03-13T08:21:31.588-04:00Excellent points. Story is conflict. We need to se...Excellent points. Story is conflict. We need to see characters triumph, but in such a way as to still know it was through their own courage or wits or skill. <br /><br />I'm writing the third book of my trilogy at the moment and I'm always looking for ways to ramp up the stakes more for my hero.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-48023256862842340662013-03-13T00:56:43.190-04:002013-03-13T00:56:43.190-04:00Great lessons.....thanx for it..enjoyed your post....Great lessons.....thanx for it..enjoyed your post....Tempa Gyeltshenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17662508653576167693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-91547965792512750772013-03-12T22:12:33.943-04:002013-03-12T22:12:33.943-04:00Great post. Bookmarking it... :)Great post. Bookmarking it... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-68363875763904983402013-03-12T21:39:38.186-04:002013-03-12T21:39:38.186-04:00Great post, Jody! Your poor hero! I feel sorry for...Great post, Jody! Your poor hero! I feel sorry for him already!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />SueSusan Anne Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17258093329143787876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-81429328042302743962013-03-12T20:53:26.021-04:002013-03-12T20:53:26.021-04:00I think I feel inspired after reading this to cont...I think I feel inspired after reading this to continue a piece I have started. This advice is just what I needed to hear. <br />Thanks, Jody!!Mary Koesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09702222033822738268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-34035004709148541852013-03-12T17:14:26.549-04:002013-03-12T17:14:26.549-04:00Absolutely! Even though we want to relate to our c...Absolutely! Even though we want to relate to our characters through their weaknesses, we also want them to be able to handle the problems better than we ever could! :-) We want them to be the kind of people we can look up to and aspire to be!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-38306998737805655472013-03-12T15:45:24.593-04:002013-03-12T15:45:24.593-04:00I especially agree with what you wrote about how t...I especially agree with what you wrote about how the problems shouldn't defeat the character. I admire characters (and people in real life) who are strong enough to resolve their problems and overcome them; I'm much more likely to enjoy a book if I can relate to a character or admire him or her. Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-73470347952419562222013-03-12T11:20:09.214-04:002013-03-12T11:20:09.214-04:00Thanks for commenting, Julie! Without that conflic...Thanks for commenting, Julie! Without that conflict or the problems, I think we have more of a chance of losing our readers' interest. But hopefully we can also figure out unique ways to add in those problems so our stories don't come across as formulaic! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-70083431734796162972013-03-12T11:17:48.251-04:002013-03-12T11:17:48.251-04:00Good morning, Shelly! I think when we hear advice ...Good morning, Shelly! I think when we hear advice like this our tendency can be to go overboard! Making those problems inherent to the story can be tricky and takes some thought, but I think we can increase the problems and keep it believable. We definitely don't want drama just for drama's sake! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-62340534643371089272013-03-12T11:15:28.813-04:002013-03-12T11:15:28.813-04:00I hear you! The middle is often a place where we c...I hear you! The middle is often a place where we can forget to keep adding on the problems, but that's really the time to vamp up the tension and make things even worse for our characters. Glad the post resonated today! :-)Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-70465503677241284282013-03-12T10:40:39.786-04:002013-03-12T10:40:39.786-04:00Donald Maass touts: conflict, conflict, conflict, ...Donald Maass touts: conflict, conflict, conflict, as well. Personally, I like stories that aren't quite so obvious in the formula, but the point is well taken. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00741349796538313075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-29461531317990379382013-03-12T09:03:17.946-04:002013-03-12T09:03:17.946-04:00I think you hit the nail on the head with this one...I think you hit the nail on the head with this one, Jody. I believe the challenge with good storytelling is to make things hard enough on your characters to keep the reader caring but also keeping it believable. It's a fine line in my opinion. If you go overboard it's just drama. If you get it just right it's a great story!Shelly Daumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783105000628699370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539581256374625880.post-76993683059516044892013-03-12T07:42:31.579-04:002013-03-12T07:42:31.579-04:00That's exactly what makes out the best stories...That's exactly what makes out the best stories from the rest. <br />I'm currently stuck in the middle of a story (the greatest danger to tension) and you totally reminded me of what my job is, to ruin the life of my protagonist. ;) Thanks, Jody! Veronica Sicoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03741318844378921184noreply@blogger.com