tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post9083350104413976466..comments2024-03-11T13:52:07.302-07:00Comments on Cynthia Chapman Willis' BLOG: When to Ask WhatCynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-45674964044821816682011-12-15T15:21:48.785-08:002011-12-15T15:21:48.785-08:00Fabulous, Lisa! I'm on my way over. ; )Fabulous, Lisa! I'm on my way over. ; )Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-104457275212224492011-12-15T08:13:26.989-08:002011-12-15T08:13:26.989-08:00BTW Elizabeth Craig answers your question on my bl...BTW Elizabeth Craig answers your question on my blog today! :DLisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-18004066138552844122011-12-13T16:23:42.591-08:002011-12-13T16:23:42.591-08:00Not good at all to be thrown out of a novel, Madel...Not good at all to be thrown out of a novel, Madeleine. And it's interesting that you picked up on the film audience that the author was going for. <br /><br />I think that might be the heart of the matter, Susan--that we write what we want to read.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-72446695436333005312011-12-13T05:30:24.347-08:002011-12-13T05:30:24.347-08:00I guess I consider it at all parts, probably mostl...I guess I consider it at all parts, probably mostly during the outlining phase. But I love to read so much, I think it just comes naturally that I write what I want as a reader.Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-76433044232250992762011-12-13T01:34:29.006-08:002011-12-13T01:34:29.006-08:00This had never even crossed my mind as a reader or...This had never even crossed my mind as a reader or an author except when I read 'I am Number Four' and thought "This has been written primarily to catch the film market!" Needless to say it threw me right out of the story, which isn't good for any novel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-55827086764406505282011-12-12T06:04:00.711-08:002011-12-12T06:04:00.711-08:00It seems we're in the majority, Karen. : )
Je...It seems we're in the majority, Karen. : )<br /><br />Jeff, I love that you stop when something seems boring. We do get those inclinations while writing, don't we? <br /><br />Interesting about that book that didn't consider audience, Janet. I'm with you: When I am reading, I usually don't think about whether the author considered the audience while writing. It's sort of a given, unless the story isn't working.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-7479534327470200972011-12-11T18:45:06.812-08:002011-12-11T18:45:06.812-08:00I recently read a book where I felt like the autho...I recently read a book where I felt like the author very much did NOT consider her audience, but instead bent the plot to show her views. But it is rare that I think about that question as a reader. As a writer, I usually only think of that in rewrites and pivotal moments.Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-23802856266046307872011-12-10T05:34:19.431-08:002011-12-10T05:34:19.431-08:00Grr, blogger didn't tell me you put up a new p...Grr, blogger didn't tell me you put up a new post, so I'm a couple days late.<br /><br />During the writing, I'm pretty focused on the story. I'll sometimes stop and say, 'Dang, that's boring, let me redo that' but most of what I'm doing is getting the actual story out of my head. I'm more worried about questions like 'is this character behaving appropriately for him or her?' and 'what happens next?' Once I've finished and read it over myself, and given it to someone else to read, those other questions arise: Is this part OK? Did you think this was boring/believable? etc.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-84886590076278402112011-12-09T13:50:31.031-08:002011-12-09T13:50:31.031-08:00Sometimes I think about the reader from maybe a in...Sometimes I think about the reader from maybe a interest level but I think I'm a lot like you -- the story idea and when I'm writing the story is something I'm interested in and would like to read. I write for myself first.Karen Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697785820907711723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-35404730130438572462011-12-09T06:14:44.612-08:002011-12-09T06:14:44.612-08:00Marcia, I love that you naturally write for a &quo...Marcia, I love that you naturally write for a "bookish twelve-year-old girl." <br /><br />That's exactly it, Christy--too much fussing blocks me, too. Never good.<br /><br />"Vomit words on the screen"--hilarious, Medeia! That sums it up. ; )Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-90283010193593690292011-12-08T17:26:22.867-08:002011-12-08T17:26:22.867-08:00I think most about audience when I'm outlining...I think most about audience when I'm outlining and revising. In between, when I'm writing the draft, I'm too busy organizing my thoughts and exerting the will to vomit words on the screen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-5821776408443111912011-12-08T12:45:03.568-08:002011-12-08T12:45:03.568-08:00I think it totally counts when you're writing ...I think it totally counts when you're writing your outline. I never put much thought into it, but I think that's when I think about the audience too. I need to focus on the story when I'm writing. I can't get caught up in worries or else I get blocked. <br /> <br />Great post.C.R. Evershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09034891037873664976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-65746522034285226532011-12-08T06:21:36.378-08:002011-12-08T06:21:36.378-08:00I hadn't considered the subconscious, Carol, b...I hadn't considered the subconscious, Carol, but of course it whispers to us as we write. Great point!<br />And I'm glad you liked my sentence. Your continuing story idea blog post is such fun!<br /><br />Welcome, Karen! And thank you for following and commenting! : ) <br /><br />Thanks, Lisa! And you're so right--revision time would also be a great time to think about the readers. <br /><br />Interesting, Joanne. I like what you said about making sure the reader isn't taken out by errors or inconsistencies.<br /><br />Good question, Nancy. <br /><br />Bish, you've got me thinking. I wonder if this consideration of the reader while writing is a more modern thing. <br /><br />Thanks, Michelle. : ) <br /><br />Ah, yes, J.L., those readers called critique partners are most helpful in highlighting where we may need to expand or explain.<br /><br />Great point about characters, Lynda and Stina: When the characters take over, enough said.<br /><br />I can understand how too much consideration of audience can make a writer self-conscious, Jenn. That would stop me cold, too.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-2127941603423854462011-12-08T06:04:34.731-08:002011-12-08T06:04:34.731-08:00I tend to ask myself what readers want during the ...I tend to ask myself what readers want during the revision process. As in, "What does a reader need in order to understand this present scene and have I supplied it?" or "What questions can a reader reasonably ask, and am I answering them?" But not during the drafting, and not even really during the pre-planning. However, I should probably point out that my audience is pretty built-in, since I just naturally write for a bookish twelve-year-old girl.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-15630158534786223052011-12-07T16:57:41.907-08:002011-12-07T16:57:41.907-08:00I can't worry about what anyone else will thin...I can't worry about what anyone else will think of the book while I'm writing it. That leads to a self-consciousness that stops me cold.<br /><br />I just try to tell a story that feels true and interesting. I figure if I can do that, readers will like it.Jennifer R. Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408588432492354248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-51478032350930836002011-12-07T16:12:18.132-08:002011-12-07T16:12:18.132-08:00I'm with you. I forget all about the reader wh...I'm with you. I forget all about the reader when I'm writing. It's not their story. It's my character's story. <br /><br />I didn't realize some writers do that. Wow.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-1164273714320896202011-12-07T15:21:39.261-08:002011-12-07T15:21:39.261-08:00I don't think I ask myself these questions exc...I don't think I ask myself these questions except at the very beginning stage when I work out what type of story I want to write. After that, the characters tend to take charge of the plot.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-28898562954747728882011-12-07T15:13:06.273-08:002011-12-07T15:13:06.273-08:00I'm with you, Cynthia, on not being too concer...I'm with you, Cynthia, on not being too concerned about the reader while I'm writing. In flow, I'm thinking about the characters' needs and motivation. When I begin to look at the reader is when I'm posting my novels where my critique partners can see it. That's when I realize that maybe the reader needs me to expand more on this or that thing. I guess to each his own. :)J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-65026593310117313332011-12-07T15:02:58.896-08:002011-12-07T15:02:58.896-08:00I do think about the reader as I plot (my very spa...I do think about the reader as I plot (my very sparse pantsy kind of plot) - and then again as I revise - but while I'm writing that first draft - I'm like you ... don't think about anything but the story. <br />Great post - I'll be thinking about that next book I read.<br />xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-56055294863694394952011-12-07T14:34:13.877-08:002011-12-07T14:34:13.877-08:00I have to agree with Nancy. And I really wonder ju...I have to agree with Nancy. And I really wonder just how many well known authors of old actually thought about their possible readers before writing their stories? Was A. A. Milne thinking of about his readership when he wrote Winnie-the-Pooh? Did Mark Twain give a hoot? I get the feeling that that attitude may be a newer trend.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-76914055247010711762011-12-07T14:10:04.395-08:002011-12-07T14:10:04.395-08:00To be honest, I don't consciously consider my ...To be honest, I don't consciously consider my readers. I just write what I would like to read. I stay within the confines of what's acceptable (or mostly so), but I have to please myself first. Then when that's done, I make sure it's not only plausible, but believable. If you do that, why wouldn't the reader be satisfied?Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-11136673023468586562011-12-07T10:41:06.023-08:002011-12-07T10:41:06.023-08:00I'd have to say that when crafting my novel, I...I'd have to say that when crafting my novel, I wrote the story that was in my heart. As I was writing and revising, I didn't really think what the reader wants, but just finetuned my story. The reader came into play as I did final edits, though, when I made sure that the writing was such that the reader wouldn't be taken out of the story by errors or inconsistencies.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-6459635287484380442011-12-07T09:21:40.502-08:002011-12-07T09:21:40.502-08:00What a great question. I agree with you. It's ...What a great question. I agree with you. It's not something I think of while I'm in the first draft mode. When you plan it's a great consideration, and even looking at it that way when doing a revision pass might be nice.Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-66693934164951942452011-12-07T09:15:39.792-08:002011-12-07T09:15:39.792-08:00So glad you came by my blog and left a comment so ...So glad you came by my blog and left a comment so I could follow you here! I totally identify with this post, I do the very same thing. It's only in the revision stage that I focus on the all important reader. When I'm hammering out the rough draft, it's all about me! It's the story in me that I want to tell. <br /><br />*new follower excited to be here*<br /><br />KarenGKaren Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153821980625034810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-30484586839677540782011-12-07T09:11:37.786-08:002011-12-07T09:11:37.786-08:00I think I'm like you--in the "zone" ...I think I'm like you--in the "zone" when I'm writing. Sometimes I forget someone will even be reading it later. LOL Although sometimes I "feel" like things are slowing to a plodding pace, and that would be yawners to read, so I must have the reader in mind subconsciously. :)<br /><br />Love your continuing sentence on my blog! I like the growl "moving the air." :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.com