tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post6291531582464468877..comments2024-03-09T00:06:57.552-05:00Comments on Liz Blocker's Blog: Insecure Writers: Let Me Inside Your Head!Liz Blockerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-11024871336706605892013-11-16T14:06:42.082-05:002013-11-16T14:06:42.082-05:00Thanks! I hope so, too :)Thanks! I hope so, too :)Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-30274467575060340762013-11-16T03:52:36.823-05:002013-11-16T03:52:36.823-05:00Good luck with first person, Liz! It's my favo...Good luck with first person, Liz! It's my favorite. Maybe you'll grow to love it, too! :)Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-44180767870217353452013-11-13T10:40:51.703-05:002013-11-13T10:40:51.703-05:00Thanks! It IS a challenge, but as you said, there ...Thanks! It IS a challenge, but as you said, there are so many interesting ideas around this that I want to try it.Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-21886122162131241382013-11-13T10:36:54.369-05:002013-11-13T10:36:54.369-05:00Interesting premise. Whether the soul has gender (...Interesting premise. Whether the soul has gender (is it tied to one's embodiment) has been argued pro and con for a few millennia, so there's some interesting philosphical (and religious and biological) stuff out there on the topic. Having to dispense with pronouns is going to be tough though. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-1508593023361316242013-11-10T21:58:08.594-05:002013-11-10T21:58:08.594-05:00It's good advice, and I'll try it! Thanks!...It's good advice, and I'll try it! Thanks!Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-48666286532123793462013-11-10T10:10:03.235-05:002013-11-10T10:10:03.235-05:00First person + pantsing can definitely be challeng...First person + pantsing can definitely be challenging. My only advice: BE your character. Pull a Daniel Day-Lewis and seriously live as your character. See what happens!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-55182049529225306002013-11-07T13:23:20.340-05:002013-11-07T13:23:20.340-05:00Haha, sorry!
YES! Isn't crossing stuff off t...Haha, sorry! <br /><br />YES! Isn't crossing stuff off the best feeling EVER?? I love it, too. <br /><br />Thanks so much for the encouragement! AND thank you for the offer to beta read. Be warned, I might just take you up on that!! It'll just be a loooooong time from now :)Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-83467127721302353772013-11-07T13:22:12.822-05:002013-11-07T13:22:12.822-05:00Haha, thanks pantser! I'm reverting back to my...Haha, thanks pantser! I'm reverting back to my old ways and working on my character analyses, which make me feel better about not having an outline ;)<br /><br />I don't think I can do two people in first person, because the person who IS gendered, the woman, would have to refer to the other person's gender. There's no way to avoid those dumb he/she pronouns, unless I go to 'you'... and that feels even more challenging!!Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-33564012272339451062013-11-07T13:20:16.444-05:002013-11-07T13:20:16.444-05:00Haha, thanks!! I know, that's what I keep tell...Haha, thanks!! I know, that's what I keep telling myself - practice makes perfect. Just keep going. No one has to read this. Thank goodness ;)Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-12098344767101919092013-11-07T13:19:41.742-05:002013-11-07T13:19:41.742-05:00Wow - that's a long time to get used to a POV!...Wow - that's a long time to get used to a POV! I've never heard of Between You and Me - I think I need to find it. Thanks for the rec!Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-88598560302524737132013-11-07T13:18:41.364-05:002013-11-07T13:18:41.364-05:00Now THAT is encouraging. Thank you!!Now THAT is encouraging. Thank you!!Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-41021523862884553562013-11-07T13:18:16.494-05:002013-11-07T13:18:16.494-05:00Thanks, Mike! It's good to hear a success stor...Thanks, Mike! It's good to hear a success story - I appreciate it!! Right now I'm missing my familiar old friend, third person limited, but I'm trying to get to know some new friends ;)<br /><br />Congrats on conquering the terrible two-space rule! That stuff is way harder to change than it feels like it should be.Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-33368092115537878042013-11-07T12:51:30.230-05:002013-11-07T12:51:30.230-05:00That first paragraph certainly was a tease!
I'...That first paragraph certainly was a tease!<br /><br />I'm definitely not a pantser. I like outlines because I get a ridiculous amount of satisfaction (like I've finished a marathon or saved Earth or something) when I get to cross through each bullet point.<br /><br />Your story sounds so unique and fantastic. What a cool idea about never revealing gender. I'd beta read the heck out of that! *hint hint*<br /><br />:)Samantha Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09370961661054617338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-86615335728094408772013-11-07T12:39:37.547-05:002013-11-07T12:39:37.547-05:00I really hope you do because it sounds fan-freakin...I really hope you do because it sounds fan-freaking-tastic! Can you do two first person pov's? One for each soul? <br /><br />And as for no outline, maybe you could use a time line for this one instead. Or a Three Act Structure? Says the total panster. lol<br /><br />Good luck!Ava Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09404716744982870650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-56367488204879757482013-11-06T23:29:43.989-05:002013-11-06T23:29:43.989-05:00What a cool idea for a story! I'd love to off...What a cool idea for a story! I'd love to offer words of wisdom, but I'm not great with first person POV either. However, I do know that the more you do something, the better you get at it, so there's that silver lining... :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700737187405826842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-12488555056690287122013-11-06T22:49:15.556-05:002013-11-06T22:49:15.556-05:00I haven't written first-person in over 20 year...I haven't written first-person in over 20 years, apart from short interludes like letters or personal essays within a book, and amn't even sure if I still remember how to do it. I've written exclusively third-person omniscient for about 20 years, and find it the most deeply personal, creative, flexible POV.<br /><br />I recently read Marisa Calin's Between You and Me, where the narrator's best friend is addressed as You throughout. It's written in screenplay format, and we never find out if You is a boy or girl. You could always use a gender-neutral name if you really want third-person.Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-7299183748403573402013-11-06T20:51:46.137-05:002013-11-06T20:51:46.137-05:00Picking a point of view is tough. I started my ch...Picking a point of view is tough. I started my chapter book series in a third person point of view. But the feedback from publishers was that the characters weren't personable enough to have kids want to follow a series with them. So I switched to a first person point of view - alternating between a six year old boy and a 10 year old girl. I got an agent shortly thereafter. So you might find stepping out of your comfort zone will improve your writing. Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844837212122243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-8741952959554968372013-11-06T17:19:48.694-05:002013-11-06T17:19:48.694-05:00Hey Liz,
Great post and here's to getting out...Hey Liz,<br /><br />Great post and here's to getting out of our comfort zones.<br /><br />I used to always write in third/past/omniscient. Love that person and tense. And there's nothing wrong with that (Rowling did it all in HP), but I wanted to involve the reader more, so lately, I've switched to first/present.<br /><br />It took awhile to get the hang of it (I kept automatically slipping into past tense), but once I did, it's been great (and easier than I thought). It's just a matter of doing it. Like telling a story yourself. It's tricky to avoid using "I" too much, though. But it can be done. NaNo is the perfect opportunity to practice this POV. Last year I conquered the two-space rule after a period (and colon) and changed to the one-space rule. It was tough, as I have been typing with two spaces for many decades now, but achieved.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><a title="My Writer's Blog" href="http://mlswift.me/blog" rel="nofollow">M.L. Swift, Writer</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17064990883097071040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-87257333273115956482013-11-06T15:29:26.810-05:002013-11-06T15:29:26.810-05:00LOL, that's good to know! Maybe I can make the...LOL, that's good to know! Maybe I can make the switch someday, too.Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-52211464435795393492013-11-06T15:28:37.601-05:002013-11-06T15:28:37.601-05:00Thanks. I hope so!! I'm going to keep trucking...Thanks. I hope so!! I'm going to keep trucking along, and maybe it will get easier :)Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-23098013687773626342013-11-06T15:26:04.452-05:002013-11-06T15:26:04.452-05:00Thanks, Isis. That's sound advice, and I'l...Thanks, Isis. That's sound advice, and I'll take it! Thanks for coming by :)Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-80885418408292961692013-11-06T15:25:43.775-05:002013-11-06T15:25:43.775-05:00Thanks so much! I was just searching on line for g...Thanks so much! I was just searching on line for gender neutral names, actually :) I think I might go with Sam for now. Good for you for finishing your novel in the first person - that's inspiring!Liz Blockerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160510626027597666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-52658575134694920302013-11-06T15:15:03.017-05:002013-11-06T15:15:03.017-05:00I used to outline as well. It was difficult when t...I used to outline as well. It was difficult when transitioning to writing by the seat of my pants, but now I can't write WITH an outline! I just let the creative side of my brain take over completely when 1st drafting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-75030524162442755642013-11-06T14:59:17.688-05:002013-11-06T14:59:17.688-05:00Go for it! It sounds like a great idea! You can do...Go for it! It sounds like a great idea! You can do it!Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1264371747287044302.post-90963048495186172992013-11-06T14:53:54.585-05:002013-11-06T14:53:54.585-05:00Like others have already said, that sounds like an...Like others have already said, that sounds like an amazing set up for a novel. I love the concept.<br /><br />And I love writing in the first person. It can be tricky, though, but I think you'll find it gets easier.<br /><br />Best of luck to you!M.J. Fifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626475963328519693noreply@blogger.com