tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post777061943340130733..comments2024-01-11T00:58:01.513-08:00Comments on Dina Sleiman ~ Stories of Passion and Grace: Crafting for Structure - Writing Series Week 4Dina Sleimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-78622025326658257132011-06-23T16:16:34.212-07:002011-06-23T16:16:34.212-07:00Pretty much any book written in the last ten years...Pretty much any book written in the last ten years should do a good job keeping point of view straight. Category romance like Love Inspired novels provide a great example of this. They're always from male and female perspective. And if you feel a need to switch point of view, all you need to do is give a scene break. You can switch point of view several times in a chapter. Just make sure you orient us at the beginning of the scene so we know which point of view you're in right away. It's hard to do this editing for the first time, but from now on you'll know to limit to one point of view the first time you write, which is much easier.<br /><br />As for a book that teaches this well, The Art and Craft of Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke does a really good job teaching point of view. However he says you should stay in one point of view for the first 50 pages of a novel, which I absolutely disagree with. Maybe its helpful for the action type stories he writes, but not for books that focus on relationship and character.<br /><br />Also, Allison, about your genre, did you look into the definition of "speculative"? Sometimes when you have a book already written it's hard to figure out the genre and you need to tweak in one direction or the other. My first novel was borderline between historical and historical romance, but my publisher tweaked it to bring out the romance more. <br /><br />Think long term for your career. What genre will you want to write the next 10 books in, not just this one, and then tweak in that direction.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-11962953934925426562011-06-23T14:18:02.759-07:002011-06-23T14:18:02.759-07:00Dina,
My novel has two main characters, male and ...Dina,<br /><br />My novel has two main characters, male and female, and I'm going through this edit and really trying to make each chapter from only one of their perspectives like you mentioned at the BRMCWC. They have the same goal, so it's really difficult to make it one or the other's perspective. I need both. Is it okay to switch perspectives after a chapter break as well? And do you know of any books that do this really well that I could refer to as an example?Allison Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06276075632035543101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-76477703655181300172011-03-27T12:29:09.848-07:002011-03-27T12:29:09.848-07:00I remember the delight of discovering the 'int...I remember the delight of discovering the 'introduction, exposition, recapitulation' scheme in essays and sonatas. Also the plot scheme you outlined here which is found in stories AND musical forms. It was pure magic to me, a lover of systems.Henrietta Frankenseenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-30481661146616407622010-08-04T13:42:08.501-07:002010-08-04T13:42:08.501-07:00Rob, I think this could really help give a power p...Rob, I think this could really help give a power punch to the stories you use for your sermons as well. Giving that strong climax and resolution is what gives the story its effectiveness.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-66360298986749191602010-08-04T12:23:11.543-07:002010-08-04T12:23:11.543-07:00The climax seems to be where I stumble around some...The climax seems to be where I stumble around some, but I didn't realize that until I started reading this info. Looking forward to tonight.Pastor Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11726557899418018178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-59037066142480741062010-08-01T11:29:14.183-07:002010-08-01T11:29:14.183-07:00@Dina, I think the lightbulbs are actually startin...@Dina, I think the lightbulbs are actually starting to click and I will check out the blog on Post-Modern Era this week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-50791982759643539052010-07-30T15:50:13.094-07:002010-07-30T15:50:13.094-07:00Well, Deb, I definitely identify with the postmode...Well, Deb, I definitely identify with the postmodern gerenation although I'm a few years too old. Really, I think this comes into play more with nonfiction, and is the reason narrative nonfiction works so well with the 20 somethings. Fiction writers have been using story all along. But I think as writers, it's good to understand the needs of the upcoming generation.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-17121948600734067372010-07-30T14:17:45.326-07:002010-07-30T14:17:45.326-07:00I'm enjoying your 'class' and the comm...I'm enjoying your 'class' and the comments.<br />And a sneak peak into Jewel of Persis!<br /><br />Oh, well, I have to say that the under 35 thing threw me. Of course, that doesn't include me but does include my next generation. Lots to think about.<br /><br />thanks Dina!Debra E. Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17853387871623424853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-56519740938459918382010-07-30T11:14:41.998-07:002010-07-30T11:14:41.998-07:00Excellent thoughts Dina (and ha ha on you posting ...Excellent thoughts Dina (and ha ha on you posting longer comments on it than I did). As I'm reading through it these next few weeks, I'll definitely do that. Hopefully as I delete the fluff, that'll come forward more anyway. I like the idea of using it in the blurbs and marketing stuff. We'll have to work it into the tagline somehow. =) (Notice I say "we." I stink at taglines, LOL.)Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-71923652567871159952010-07-30T06:56:02.974-07:002010-07-30T06:56:02.974-07:00Sorry to ramble, but I'm still thinking more a...Sorry to ramble, but I'm still thinking more about Roseanna's book which I've had the privelege of critiquing as she's writing it, although she is by far the more experienced novelist. <br /><br />Roseanna, I think a major theme you could pull out even more would be about how we should love. Parsisa and Artayante use love as a weapon. Ruana's love is purely selfish. Xerxes, Darius, and Xerxes brother don't know how to love properly because they've been worshipped and pampered all their lives. Kasia and Esther would represent true Godly love, yet Kasia continually struggles to love properly while still maintaining boundaries with the powerful Xerxes. No wonder this book is so interesting. <br /><br />But pull it out even more. Put more attention and focus on it. This inner conflict is way below the surface right now. You don't want to be too obvious, but bring it up closer so we don't have to struggle to find it. <br /><br />Oh, and definitely weave it into your blurbs and marketing info. This is where the book moves from straight historical to something that really touches our lives. That makes it timeless and relevant.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-46974388839195046772010-07-30T06:22:26.056-07:002010-07-30T06:22:26.056-07:00I was thinking about it yesterday, and that's ...I was thinking about it yesterday, and that's pretty much what I came up with. Might be good to look for opportunities to strengthen that. Maybe link it to some internal struggle she's always faced, maybe as a Hebrew in a foreign culture.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-61969944232071415032010-07-30T05:58:55.660-07:002010-07-30T05:58:55.660-07:00If I had to put it into words (which I rarely actu...If I had to put it into words (which I rarely actually do), I'd say it boils down to having to reconcile her love for Xerxes with her love for God. She has to make that choice midway through to stay true to God rather than her husband, but then later (don't know if you've gotten there yet) she has to choose whether or not she'll keep loving Xerxes at all. It's a conflict that has long periods of dormancy (during which there's plenty of external), but the two loves of her life being in such contrast is even what leads her to stoop to intrigue when it comes to getting Esther towards the end.<br /><br />And that's a long enough comment. =)Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-57596341433214595772010-07-29T19:21:38.907-07:002010-07-29T19:21:38.907-07:00Louise, I have a post about postmodernism on Inkwe...Louise, I have a post about postmodernism on Inkwell Inspirations at http://inkwellinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/03/ancient-truths-rediscovered.html<br /><br />You might enjoy it.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-91844924217760853522010-07-29T14:06:56.182-07:002010-07-29T14:06:56.182-07:00You know, Roseanna, JoP is such a conflict-ridden ...You know, Roseanna, JoP is such a conflict-ridden historical saga that its rolling right along and never a boring moment. But I'm trying to name Kasia's inner conflict, and I'm not sure. Outer conflict would probably just be to survive in that crazy court.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-71844432995179260782010-07-29T13:53:56.002-07:002010-07-29T13:53:56.002-07:00After completing a mammoth like I just did, it'...After completing a mammoth like I just did, it's almost funny to see plot boiled back down to the basics. Right on the money as usual, Dina.Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-60665144883436958942010-07-29T13:21:21.731-07:002010-07-29T13:21:21.731-07:00Sherrinda, look into that Plot Skeleton by Angie H...Sherrinda, look into that Plot Skeleton by Angie Hunt. It really helped me a lot. That's when I figured out my inner conflict in my first novel came about 50 pages before my outer conflict. Once I fixed it with a really powerful climax, I found an agent right away.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-15081164568066252522010-07-29T12:57:18.952-07:002010-07-29T12:57:18.952-07:00LOVE this post! As I am beginning to plot my story...LOVE this post! As I am beginning to plot my story idea, this is extremely helpful! Thank you.Sherrinda Ketchersidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07581676437345249386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-42218478124583792192010-07-29T12:53:10.505-07:002010-07-29T12:53:10.505-07:00Glad you enjoyed it Liz. I threw a lot of practica...Glad you enjoyed it Liz. I threw a lot of practical info at you last night. More in the live class than here.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-65739063114889061772010-07-29T12:52:37.822-07:002010-07-29T12:52:37.822-07:00Dani, I never thought of it as science, but you...Dani, I never thought of it as science, but you're right, there is a very left-brained, logical part of the process. That's the hard part for me.Dina Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214446103057806111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-87124337159392610142010-07-29T07:00:35.756-07:002010-07-29T07:00:35.756-07:00Loved this class probably the best thus far that I...Loved this class probably the best thus far that I have enjoyed of your teaching.I found it to be very interesting as I am part of the under 35 Post-Modern Era so yes I have to say that you are dead on with what reaches my generation.I am so glad that I came to the class.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405728521414052211.post-45640942993089186752010-07-29T05:46:34.130-07:002010-07-29T05:46:34.130-07:00Great class last night. It is good to know that a ...Great class last night. It is good to know that a good bit of it is science, structure, practice and more practice. Excellent and very clear presentation.Dani Sleimanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09549010472971558761noreply@blogger.com