Spot on, on all accounts. I might add only that, in blank verse, line (and stanza) breaks often function as a sort of punctuation, both in oral recitation, and in providing the rest that pauses allow, between one unit of thought and the next; when discrete stanzas are present, they might group a unified set of statements. Breaks can also emphasise where words or phrases lend themselves to multiple interpretations, with the next line perhaps modifying the sense of what the previous one said, if that line had left off where it appeared, at first, to end. So a poem may read differently on the page than it would aloud, when the rhythms of natural language are more likely to lead the way.
Thanks so much for putting this up, and with such care.
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RedSonja
Over 90 days ago
United States
Forum
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Speaking with my editor's hat on, and asking others to chime in, I've had to spank writers for using elipses every single time they run out of something to say. Especially in the case of dialogue, because the writer has trailed off, rather than working through what's missing to finish a thought. Sometimes, it should just be a period. Lazy, lazy, lazy! Like choppy non-sentences. Which I use all the time. (:
Rookie Scribe
One of my favourite "new" authors, Michael Gruber (Tropic of Night, The Good Son) deftly moves between FP present narrative, FP present journal (bringing in backstory via accounts of earlier events as seen by an "earlier version" of the pov/main character), and TP omniscient; the latter covering pretty much all that was left out, advancing the plot and introducing new characters. He creates remarkably layered story using this combo of devices/voice. And occasionally throws in some poetry, for the likes of me.
Tricky, and for longer works. I can only imagine the post-its, like feathers linked on a yarn wire-frame wing, on his corkboard outlines...
Tricky, and for longer works. I can only imagine the post-its, like feathers linked on a yarn wire-frame wing, on his corkboard outlines...
Rookie Scribe
Quote by Lisa
I wonder whether, despite their success, well established authors still feel insecurities about their talent and if this has anything to do with the decision to use a pen name for a genre outside their comfort zone?
And I would really love to read a romance novel by Stephen King. If only he'd write one!
I would probably read that too. King has written several very nice books about writing, and I think I remember from one of them that the decision to publish under a pseudonym was partially motivated by the publisher(s), and partly by a desire to test the waters without the known name. Most of the Bachman books are King-ish, in any case. I wonder how he felt about the differential sales on first release versus re-release under the King name. I suppose he could comfort himself all the way to the bank on that question.
Rookie Scribe
Oh, thank you for posting this. I'm always curious about process.
I can also relate to changing horses mid-stream, as I tend to go back and forth between computer and paper (whatever is at hand, and then write on it in the other direction, and then perhaps crossways again, in indelible and darker ink
. And sometimes, even, on the hand itself. Of late, am feeling somewhat hamstrung without my trusty printer, though, having often printed others' work that I found inspiring, making notes on "lightning-struck" responses for later follow up. And relate to tromping to library computers...my library, however, doesn't have a bar, and the librarians give me long, meaningful looks when, not so infrequently, something startles me into a loud brassy laugh.
I can also relate to changing horses mid-stream, as I tend to go back and forth between computer and paper (whatever is at hand, and then write on it in the other direction, and then perhaps crossways again, in indelible and darker ink
. And sometimes, even, on the hand itself. Of late, am feeling somewhat hamstrung without my trusty printer, though, having often printed others' work that I found inspiring, making notes on "lightning-struck" responses for later follow up. And relate to tromping to library computers...my library, however, doesn't have a bar, and the librarians give me long, meaningful looks when, not so infrequently, something startles me into a loud brassy laugh. Rookie Scribe
This is kind of cheating, because it's about errors and serendipity.
I hate typos, tho' they do happen. I try to root out the hasty swaps of possessives, plurals, homonyms and contractions: they're-their-there, sight-site-cite, and so on. When they're mine, I cuss. Another's make me stumble, reading. Count me among the pernickety.
But I have a favourite, on-line typo: FIENDS, as in "to all my dear FIENDS" or "thank you for the FIEND request, but I'm busy now."
Second favourite, seen on a chart, "Patient returns today . . . has run the GAMETE of conservative treatment options." For an ortho complaint. I love transcription errors. At least this one.
Saving my all-time time fav word for later . . . apparently, I don't know how to spell it
I hate typos, tho' they do happen. I try to root out the hasty swaps of possessives, plurals, homonyms and contractions: they're-their-there, sight-site-cite, and so on. When they're mine, I cuss. Another's make me stumble, reading. Count me among the pernickety.
But I have a favourite, on-line typo: FIENDS, as in "to all my dear FIENDS" or "thank you for the FIEND request, but I'm busy now."
Second favourite, seen on a chart, "Patient returns today . . . has run the GAMETE of conservative treatment options." For an ortho complaint. I love transcription errors. At least this one.
Saving my all-time time fav word for later . . . apparently, I don't know how to spell it
Rookie Scribe
First, Who's Who, and now a reading. Kudos!
When a speaker I'd invited to an event in her honour arrived, she found we'd arranged plentiful consignment copies of her book, available for signing (in that case, from the university bookstore). Any chance something could be set up at the library? Maybe the prospect of sales would help disspell the willies.
Really, happy for you. =d>
When a speaker I'd invited to an event in her honour arrived, she found we'd arranged plentiful consignment copies of her book, available for signing (in that case, from the university bookstore). Any chance something could be set up at the library? Maybe the prospect of sales would help disspell the willies.
Really, happy for you. =d>
Rookie Scribe
Quote by gflat
Glenview
responding to the picture in your signature:
driving under these bridges I always marvel at the awesome physics holding them aloft
and my husband would automatically calculate where to place the charges to bring them down
love the pic - soaring - fits with my worldview
and continuing in post,
Ybarra