Kate Flournoy

You know, Sarah… I have no idea. I guess I probably should have ascertained the genre of this tangled novel before I started adding all sorts of weird, freaky things to it, but it was pretty late when I did my last post and I don’t think I was thinking straight. I’ve backed myself into a corner. If one of y’all can’t get me out, I’m stuck for…[Read more]

Uh… thanks. Yeah. Thanks. I appreciate that… I think.

We must have been posting at the same time. Nd yes, feel free to jump in, anyone! The more the merrier. I’m starting to get the impression that I’m going to end up making a mess of this. ;P
I think I see what you’re saying, though. She has to decided whether she’s willing to risk everything she ever wanted for her life for someone she loves. Is…[Read more]

I wish I could say it was original… *gulp* but I will be a very good little girl and dutifully admit that it is not of my own invention.

OW! N-n-no! Bad plot twist, bad plot twist! *starts hyperventilating, biting fingernails with chattering teeth*
NOOOO! HELP!

I suppose I asked for that. So much for theme. So much for good triumphing over evil. So much for everything the hero went through to defeat the villain. SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT!
Okay, I’m done being upset now. The idea is…[Read more]

That’s what I figured you meant. 😉
And… I have absolutely no idea where this going. I’m clueless. Absolutely clueless. I think I went into way too much detail on my last post, and therefore added some very vexing and unneeded little things that need resolving. So… ummm… the cruiser wrecks in the middle of the night just as Karen was about…[Read more]

I don’t think I’d like being normal. By either definition. I like being strange. I like making people laugh insanely and stare at me with that odd look in their eyes that tells me they’re trying to figure out whether I was serious or joking, and all without letting me know that they didn’t get my joke and don’t understand me.

If you can’t be…[Read more]

That would be good suspense and a good way to keep the pages flipping! But I would only do it if I were certain I was going to be writing a sequel, otherwise it’s just like ‘what? I mean, come on! I wanted that to be resolved!’
I like happy endings as well as sad endings, provided both are well done. I myself believe a bit of tragedy and trauma…[Read more]

A witch? I promised myself I’d never write about a witch. Don’t be ridiculous.
Oooh… shivers, Hannah!
At this point our reader is very locked up in the plot and the suspense, but not necessarily connected to Karen emotionally. Besides, in leaving the farm, Karen surmounted and did away with what she was afraid of. So we need emotional struggles…[Read more]

Thanks. I appreciate it. Just for future reference, though.

To the rescue! *Glares* Order in the Court!
Ahem. Now.
Our independent farm girl is afraid of leaving the farm because her older sister did the same thing a long time ago, and our independent farm girl (Karen) doesn’t know what happened to her. She’s afraid it was something awful, because it is only ever discussed in whispers. So she clings to the…[Read more]

Okay you guys… I mean, really.
I’m back, and hopefully some sanity will return to this topic. I’ve a question for you. Either of you. I will assume you like questions. That, I believe, is what you call a logical assumption.
Why are all writers crazy?
Just curious.
Okay. Now for serious. Nice point you made about antagonists, Hannah. I like that…[Read more]

Don’t be afraid to smash me if you don’t agree with something I post, Ezra. I mean, really. I can take a fair amount of criticism. It’s part of being a writer. Just don’t complain if I smash you back. Haha!
You gave the next stage of the argument. I really can’t think of anything to add to it. You took what I gave as ‘guidelines’ and applied it…[Read more]

Thanks!
Okay, I’m back. I wanted to do a more in depth post after Ezra’s post, but I didn’t have time then, and now my computer is about to die, so bear with me if the poor thing kicks the bucket in the middle of this post.
Actually, there was one villain whom you referenced, Ezra, that I am definitely familiar with and have studied in depth. As…[Read more]

No problem! So glad I was able to be of some assistance. One of my very favorite things about writing, if not my most favorite, is designing and filling out my characters. Nothing compares to getting to know all these fantastic different personalities, and talk with them, and have them live inside you. Nothing.

I’m pretty miffed at Melissa for rejecting Manfred, so I’m going to say he finds another girl who will appreciate him.
One thing we forgot to give Manfred was something or someone he’s afraid of. Everyone is afraid of something. Maybe he’s afraid of failure— and yet he allowed his opponent to win the case and sacrificed himself in that way all…[Read more]

A-men!
Wow! That was amazing. I haven’t seen any of the movies or villains you referenced, but all of your points were excellent—thought provoking. Very thought provoking.
Wow. You covered everything else I wanted to say. Thanks for writing my post for me! Now we’re out of a discussion. Ugh. I hope I’m wrong. I like this topic.

And I don’t…[Read more]

Right— there you go. I had a dominant character on paper. You took him to the next level. You found what I didn’t put in my… ahem… lecture above. I had the hard side of him. You brought out the focus more on his soft spot. Ugh. How painful it is to have a soft spot. I have several. Sorry, but prime rib is not one of them.
I like the idea of…[Read more]

Okay… it begins.
Specifically for fantasy and medieval stories: I like what you can do with these characters because of their setting. Think of all the societal issues— all the conflicting interests. The cruel barons who rely upon their serfs to work their land, the serfs who cannot leave him, the king to whom the baron answers, the advisors…[Read more]

Bones? I don’t eat bones.

Depth is perfectly agreeable to me!So… okay. Wow, how do we start? Umm… let’s start with an extremely dominant character. Let’s say this guy has very strong opinions, can be stubborn (usually is stubborn) doesn’t always like other people’s opinions… is… yeah. Dominant.
To make the reader love him, we need to…[Read more]