Comments on: A suitably brief guide to conciseness http://www.superheronation.com/2009/11/13/a-suitably-brief-guide-to-conciseness/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Ragged Boy http://www.superheronation.com/2009/11/13/a-suitably-brief-guide-to-conciseness/comment-page-1/#comment-46461 Ragged Boy Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:08:43 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4810#comment-46461 I'm back! I've been missing all you SN people. Time to get back to work. I’m back! I’ve been missing all you SN people. Time to get back to work.

]]> By: Jonny http://www.superheronation.com/2009/11/13/a-suitably-brief-guide-to-conciseness/comment-page-1/#comment-46415 Jonny Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:54:39 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4810#comment-46415 Hmm. All good points. I guess I'll just have to see how the side conversations factor into foreshadowing/character development. They're only ever a couple lines of dialogue so length isn't an issue. And I can always edit them out later. Thanks! Hmm. All good points. I guess I’ll just have to see how the side conversations factor into foreshadowing/character development. They’re only ever a couple lines of dialogue so length isn’t an issue. And I can always edit them out later. Thanks!

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2009/11/13/a-suitably-brief-guide-to-conciseness/comment-page-1/#comment-46406 B. Mac Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:04:18 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4810#comment-46406 If any of the following conditions apply, I'd recommend considering shortening or removing the side-conversations. <br /> --You are over on length. (It's easier to cut filler than details you are strongly attached to). <br /> --The conversations don't help develop the character in an important way. Showing that he's just a real person is probably not sufficient. For example, it probably doesn't matter that a character enjoys fantasy football, but it would matter if he's so freakishly competitive that he cheats at FF. That shows us something useful about him and foreshadows how he will act when the stakes are high. <br /> --The side-conversations distract from the main thrust of the conversation. Is the banter just idle chatting or does it somehow contribute to what the characters are trying to accomplish? For example, an interrogating cop might talk about his family or religion to get a suspect to open up. <br /> --The side-conversations do not introduce something that's important later. (For example, if it's really important that the mystery's murderer is an expert chef, establishing that a character loves talking about cuisine should send red flags to readers and eventually to the detective). <br /> --The side-conversations make the conversation drag. Do you spend too much time on something that doesn't matter? If any of the following conditions apply, I’d recommend considering shortening or removing the side-conversations.

–You are over on length. (It’s easier to cut filler than details you are strongly attached to).

–The conversations don’t help develop the character in an important way. Showing that he’s just a real person is probably not sufficient. For example, it probably doesn’t matter that a character enjoys fantasy football, but it would matter if he’s so freakishly competitive that he cheats at FF. That shows us something useful about him and foreshadows how he will act when the stakes are high.

–The side-conversations distract from the main thrust of the conversation. Is the banter just idle chatting or does it somehow contribute to what the characters are trying to accomplish? For example, an interrogating cop might talk about his family or religion to get a suspect to open up.

–The side-conversations do not introduce something that’s important later. (For example, if it’s really important that the mystery’s murderer is an expert chef, establishing that a character loves talking about cuisine should send red flags to readers and eventually to the detective).

–The side-conversations make the conversation drag. Do you spend too much time on something that doesn’t matter?

]]> By: Jonny http://www.superheronation.com/2009/11/13/a-suitably-brief-guide-to-conciseness/comment-page-1/#comment-46402 Jonny Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:50:20 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/?p=4810#comment-46402 What about those little conversations between characters that don't do anything to advance the story, but give the characters a life outside the plot? Like, a couple lines of shop talk before they segue into plot talk. Or a scuffle over their favorite Star Trek captains before they get down to business, whatever. Added realism or stuff no one cares about? What about those little conversations between characters that don’t do anything to advance the story, but give the characters a life outside the plot? Like, a couple lines of shop talk before they segue into plot talk. Or a scuffle over their favorite Star Trek captains before they get down to business, whatever.

Added realism or stuff no one cares about?

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