tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318840210070768346.post6373751621438402866..comments2023-12-10T19:04:26.773-08:00Comments on Author2Author: How Many Obstacles Are Too Many Obstacles?Emily Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07073350248209507278noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318840210070768346.post-53018604123816098542011-09-14T15:30:23.173-07:002011-09-14T15:30:23.173-07:00"150 pages for the hobbits to make it to the ..."150 pages for the hobbits to make it to the tavern to meet the wizard, and then the wizard wasn't even at the fracking tavern."<br />LOL!!<br /><br />I wish I could remember who said this originally, but a while ago, I read some great writing advice about how we shouldn't just throw annoyances at our characters, like flat tires, to keep them from their goals and drag things out. Whatever stands in their way should be a true consequence of their own flaws and/or the villain's actions, so it will be essential to the story and interesting in its own right.Jennifer R. Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408588432492354248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318840210070768346.post-78950368956370317262011-09-13T07:32:47.728-07:002011-09-13T07:32:47.728-07:00Yes, the magic of revision. That's what has me...Yes, the magic of revision. That's what has me nervous about this one, too. Are some of these problems being resolved too quickly because I'm impatient to get to Point B already? I know I've gotten feedback that one problem was solved too easily, so to fix it, I'd need even more word count to get to Point B.Kate Fallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12856887940900664692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318840210070768346.post-59256824603674347742011-09-12T17:30:01.813-07:002011-09-12T17:30:01.813-07:00Kate, what you said about the Lord of the Rings ma...Kate, what you said about the Lord of the Rings made me laugh. I have read it all, but I confess I skimmed alot of the boring (overly descriptive parts).<br /><br />I also immediately thought of how, the more struggle there is, the better Point B has to be, to keep it in balance. I find that when I revise, I often end up cutting out some of the obstacles and stretching out some of the ones I've left, to give them a stronger impact.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318840210070768346.post-23586239352538675432011-09-12T16:08:45.672-07:002011-09-12T16:08:45.672-07:00Yes, actually that makes a lot of sense. If my cha...Yes, actually that makes a lot of sense. If my character isn't getting any more personal growth out of additional obstacles, it's probably time to stop.Kate Fallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12856887940900664692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318840210070768346.post-20402063347235883982011-09-12T14:27:57.069-07:002011-09-12T14:27:57.069-07:00THAT is a very good question. I suppose that each ...THAT is a very good question. I suppose that each event should lead the character closer to the goal, while developing that character's inner conflict as well. Isn't there something about 3's? I don't know. I just usually hit them until I've completed my character's inner struggle. Does that make any sense?Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.com