Comments on: 3 Action-Reaction Misfires That Flatten Your Writing

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 04:55:42 +0000

In reply to Raymond Walker. Absolutely! The best writers do such a brilliant job of showing that something different from the norm because they already know and can tangibly show readers what that norm is.

By: Raymond Walker

Raymond Walker — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 23:41:36 +0000

I agree with all that you say and in any normal novel what you say is true.
But think for a second of the abnormal novel (which can often be as good and sometimes better than the normal novel).
In Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” the Monster does not respond to normal stimuli except in the beginning but then it is something “Other”. Not born of man and its god is not ours but its own creator, Victor.
Or imagine an alien, why should it respond or react as we would? Perhaps not even a carbon-based lifeform, responses and reactions may be completely different. Or a psychopath scorned may laugh rather than be offended at a normal joke.
So, whilst I agree with you on the normal run of things not everything needs to follow set patterns.
Otherwise, how do you explain, Cixin Liu, Mary Shelly, Alexander Pope, Sir Walter Scott, Peter Straubb and every hard sci-fi writer on the planet?
Lol but ignoring that “super massive black hole” you are right.

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:42:12 +0000

In reply to BECCA PUGLISI. So happy to add this to all your brilliant resources here.

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:41:16 +0000

In reply to Jan Sikes. Thanks for sharing the article, too, Jan!

By: Jan Sikes

Jan Sikes — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:20:38 +0000

This is such a helpful blog post! Without emotions and reactions, writing is just words like in a phone directory. Thank you, Lisa, for sharing these!!

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 13:18:44 +0000

The small things totally add up over a full-length novel. Thanks, Lisa!