29 Comments

Off topic: is it a cardinal sin to reveal the big plot twist in dialogue?

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Yes. You can confirm the plot twist or confirm the information delivered in dialog, but only after you've depicted the circumstances that allow 99% of your readers to guess what's taken place. That confirmation -- "Yes, Trevor, I'm having an affair! -- is only a mop-up operation done to appease your slowest 1% of readers.

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The current way its written is that a character is forgotten about for a while, but comes back at the end, and reveals something big that was there, but not obvious.

I knew I would have to show it more heavily in the beginning. Sounds like Im on the right track.

Good grief, Im really good at making things too complicated.

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Figured out how to let them forget about him, but let reader figure it out just before it is shown overtly. Thanks for the input.

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I restarted my book because I had a better idea and I'm giving myself braingasms right now!!!!! If this keeps up.............I may never date again........

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You should date. For future character and story ideas. You can't always rely on Walmart staff to sew the germs of your creativity. 😁

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Great idea thanks!

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Psst. What's up Uber Lady.

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So happy you are here!!!!!!

CHUCK, I found your biggest fan like ever in my Uber and I told Eva where to find you!!!!!!

Welcome to the party!

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Still a little disoriented about the layout here definitely not like other social medias. I started posting notes I'm not sure if that's what I'm supposed to do. They're pretty offensive I'm not sure what the TOs is like here LOL I should probably go and read that.

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Its actually more freer than most social media because we are writers after all.....I wouldn't worry that much lmao....some people complain about notes but then they may be Karen's. ...

Don't worry too much.....and you'll get used to the setup quick.....

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K a r i e, you watch me get out of your Uber while my cock ring fell out from underneath my mini skirt. I'm not sure this place is ready for me lol. I saw you laughing about that and I knew you'd get a kick out of it. We should hang out sometime. No charge for my time wink. LOL anyhow good afternoon Mr a n n e. Later I have to tell you about King Stephanie.

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That's an offer I can't refuse lmao. The cock ring falling out was the best part. I'm so glad you found me. Email me at karieannewatson@gmail.com

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Oh and what's up Chuck. Totally your biggest fan. Coming from the grit of real life your books speak to me on a whole level of reality unlike other authors.

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That section from Consider This always stuck with me.

“You and I never walk into the same room as each other. We each see the room through the lens of our own life. A plumber enters a very different room than a painter enters.”

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Who did I crib that from? Dunn? Hempel?

A funny story. It also applies to what's invisible to you. I toured with Monica Drake and Chelsea Cain at the time both had small babies at home. After a long airplane flight I complained about the crying baby in the cabin. Both Monica and Chelsea said, "There was a baby on the plane?"

It was the equivalent of nose blind.

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founding

As long as a I say it with enough confidence, there's a serious chance it will. happen...and if not, well there's always next time. lol

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I measure distance like I measure the time it takes me to get there through traffic jams.

I was only two car accidents and 1 traffic jam away from getting to workshop on time. Lucky for me I got there just in time to eat a donut. My favorite. Bavarian cream.

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I also live around Seattle. Sometimes my wife and I will say "it's about as far as Southcenter" or "it takes as much time to get there as it takes to get to mount Rainier on a Sunday"

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That is awesome.

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That's the doughnut I wanted. Bastard!

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founding

This is priceless advice. Thank you, Chuck. I applied it to my character in Tantalum (w.i.p.). He measures almost everything in shovel lengths and shovel forces and shovelfuls.

Shameless plug goes here:

https://steveconway.substack.com/s/tantalum

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founding

For threes, use a conjunction between each of the items, not a comma. Noted. Thanks.

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founding

And the main message of course: Measure from your character's lens.

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And the hidden message is "Read Didion." Start with the essays in "The White Album" and "Slouching Toward Bethlehem."

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good post chuck. i learned this stuff from you and uhls. i used this type of meas. in skunk zoo describing head pains. what the guy would do to get it to go away. arc wanted something to smash with it: the louder or more fragile the better. serious ammunition for serious pain. got any reindeer fukrr????

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Never again.

Name drop warning: While fried on RF at a strip club, dressed as a Santa, I phoned Trent Reznor. He's never talked to me since.

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Not sure if it’s the same person, but when I was a kid, the LA Times sports columnist Jim Murray was my favorite sports writer. First time I saw someone use language so effectively.

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Excellent point. Consider that sports writers have to convey the feeling of sports using active verbs. Their audience wants a sense of motion and contest and tension. That's why I'll only watch the sports portion of television news. Notre Dame "trounces" LSU. The Buckeyes "demolish" the Tar Heels. Verbs galore.

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