tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post8243056233835686147..comments2024-02-13T08:31:03.541-08:00Comments on Terri Tiffany: Writing Stories You Remember: The next levelTerri Tiffanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-23939728648694006882009-09-23T13:53:18.035-07:002009-09-23T13:53:18.035-07:00Patience is the key, as far a your women's gro...Patience is the key, as far a your women's group is cocerned. Building the continuity and the trust takes time and the longer you al meet togeterh the more and more you will start to open up to each other. <br /><br />One of the things my small group does is a bible study. It is a short study, not in dept, something we can do in our morning devotional time and then we come together and discuss it each week. We have also from time to time done something a simple as sharing each week one good thing that has happen and one bad thing that has happen. <br /><br />Don't give up, even after 7 years of meeting with my small group we still from time to time hit a snag. But it is worth it to have those relationships in your life.<br /><br />Shalom<br />RobinRobin Lambrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408265939620170615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-42916727010878480862009-09-23T08:32:52.098-07:002009-09-23T08:32:52.098-07:00i want them so engaged they forget about me and co...i want them so engaged they forget about me and completely enter the world of my characters, and then when they are close to coming to the end of it, they wish it weren't going to end, and when it does, they say "dang...." and then they can't get the characters out of their minds.Kathryn Magendiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-46395314331767032732009-09-23T07:09:39.867-07:002009-09-23T07:09:39.867-07:00Obviously I have a lot of work to do in keeping my...Obviously I have a lot of work to do in keeping my readers interested. I am working on it though and that is all we can do sometimes. Just keep pushing onward.Greg Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01925817439493420666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-46038585980772614082009-09-23T06:48:17.693-07:002009-09-23T06:48:17.693-07:00Some great comments/tips here!Some great comments/tips here!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-11210481369671767342009-09-23T06:05:52.352-07:002009-09-23T06:05:52.352-07:00I'd like my readers to be so engaged in the bo...I'd like my readers to be so engaged in the book that they lose track of time and want to keep reading even when they do realize how much time they've spent reading. I want them to be rushing from page to page, anxious to find out about the characters and what will happen next. <br /><br />Wouldn't that be wonderful.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-66903115737670174802009-09-22T18:32:00.713-07:002009-09-22T18:32:00.713-07:00When I write about something that grabs me, even i...When I write about something that grabs me, even if it's in fiction, I usually find that it resonates with readers, too.<br />I'm trying something fairly new. I'm adding humor to my writing. What I think is funny, may not be funny to others. But I'd like to branch out. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-46535622155726765492009-09-22T16:41:07.763-07:002009-09-22T16:41:07.763-07:00These are good questions! I want my readers to be ...These are good questions! I want my readers to be involved in what I write, and most importantly, I want them to take something of value away with them. Sometimes I give it more effort than other times, but am working on being more diligent. One thing that helps me is to just relax and trust the Lord to bring it forth. When I do, things flow more easily. Blessings to you and your readers:)Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-68301234698806671242009-09-22T16:27:15.857-07:002009-09-22T16:27:15.857-07:00the books i enjoy the best are the ones when i'...the books i enjoy the best are the ones when i'm so much apart of the story i feel like it originated with me. like i'm the heroine going through everything she's going through: a super bad ex boyfriend, a dreamy current bf, a frugal dad or a quirky coworker....and then i find myself looking for those people! :) perhaps i need therapy myself. :)<br /><br />jeannie<br /><a href="http://charactertherapist.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Character Therapist</a>Jeannie Campbell, LMFThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958943404601029395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-73503991951539349732009-09-22T15:13:45.167-07:002009-09-22T15:13:45.167-07:00I try to spend a lot of time watching my children ...I try to spend a lot of time watching my children interact with their friends(all without being the obnoxious mom)because they give me clues as to how they engage with one another. They've given me lots of great ideas for my dialogue. My hope is that kids will relate with my one or more of my characters, and take the journey with them. That's what I think is so special about books.Clementinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745982305618408952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-5134832043105855472009-09-22T13:48:34.263-07:002009-09-22T13:48:34.263-07:00Well, Terri, I think reader involvement, or evokin...Well, Terri, I think reader involvement, or evoking an emotional reaction from the reader is the gold standard in authoring. I’m never gonna be on the NYT bestseller list, or Oprah, or any other big name thing. But, when I get a reader email, or Amazon comment, or meet a reader at a book club that says, “Such and such in your book really moved me.” Then, I just float around for a bit because that means I connected with that reader in such a visceral way that they were transported to my fictional world and 100 percent absorbed in and by it. It just doesn’t get any better than that.<br /> <br />Best Regards, Galen<br /><a href="http://www.galenkindley.com/blog.htm" rel="nofollow">Imagineering Fiction Blog</a>joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-38297014175305909372009-09-22T13:23:42.356-07:002009-09-22T13:23:42.356-07:00I want my reader to be touched deeply leaving a ch...I want my reader to be touched deeply leaving a change that lasts through eternity. Guess you can say I want a miracle when I write.<br /><br />Blessings, andreaAndreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03082891172963869545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-58464805782575278742009-09-22T13:14:00.984-07:002009-09-22T13:14:00.984-07:00What works for me is when I write from my heart an...What works for me is when I write from my heart and from what I know. That's where my passion is. Creating characters and story lines are easier for me than showing not telling. I have a friend who writes so vividly, it's like watching a video clip. I want to write like that.Nikki (Sarah)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13731200601840020130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-49615707115882648912009-09-22T09:54:28.466-07:002009-09-22T09:54:28.466-07:00I'm still learning, hope I am not being a bore...I'm still learning, hope I am not being a bore. Cheerio.Gaiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15069503364553279367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-25568586261430548872009-09-22T09:52:27.357-07:002009-09-22T09:52:27.357-07:00If I'm bored writing it, I know the reader is ...If I'm bored writing it, I know the reader is going to be bored reading it! I usually try to keep this in the back of my mind when I'm writing.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-21246798927790951732009-09-22T09:22:01.875-07:002009-09-22T09:22:01.875-07:00for groups it takes a while to build trust. I find...for groups it takes a while to build trust. I find it helps to teach some concept and then write and share with little criticisms at first just support and encouragement. I definitely want my reader to take some thing away and it's a challenge to get the right title or hook and conclusion to do that.Great Grandma Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791149428495689835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-57698522952551382792009-09-22T09:13:07.069-07:002009-09-22T09:13:07.069-07:00I smell a trick question. ;) We *all* want the rea...I smell a trick question. ;) We *all* want the reader involved up to his neck. We want him to be so deeply involved in the lives of our characters that he starts dreaming about them when he falls asleep!<br /><br />As for methods, it always comes back to plain, simple, solid storytelling. And that, of course, is an ever-evolving journey!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832782604769370695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-1176147736889134662009-09-22T08:20:07.408-07:002009-09-22T08:20:07.408-07:00I want my readers to feel like they are right ther...I want my readers to feel like they are right there in the book with my characters. It is something I continue to work on every day.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-79381307725181944802009-09-22T08:18:45.437-07:002009-09-22T08:18:45.437-07:00I think for the most part if you find the story yo...I think for the most part if you find the story you write interesting you may be on the right path. Do you want to know what happens next in your book. Do you think about it at inappropiate times. When I read a good book, I have to make myself put it down to do the normal stuff. I actually thought of taking one book to church with me to read in the five minutes before church started. I was that hooked on the story.(That book was Tender Graces by the way) So make sure you are enjoying what you are writing and take the risk and go outside the norm. I like to write a character that is not like me at all. Maybe someone I would not like all the time but still facinates me.<br /><br />I hope your bible study gets better. I find the more open I am the more open others are. Sometimes people view spritual leaders as perfect and have a hard time opening up in front of them.Analisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572966946453192369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-42604571146549745512009-09-22T08:11:20.640-07:002009-09-22T08:11:20.640-07:00It is hard work to get our reader involved! Hookin...It is hard work to get our reader involved! Hooking, bringing depth to characters, showing vs. telling, not "giving" everything away. All that helps to involve the reader. Great analogy with your group!Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-45555199448390406262009-09-22T07:45:11.189-07:002009-09-22T07:45:11.189-07:00Engaging the reader is essential. I'm reading ...Engaging the reader is essential. I'm reading up on Donald Maass' workbook, scratching through it in hopes of improving. <br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-77759232960249079572009-09-22T07:31:26.788-07:002009-09-22T07:31:26.788-07:00My dream is for God to use this ministry of writin...My dream is for God to use this ministry of writing to bring healing to broken readers. Perhaps that sounds insane, but it's true. That's always a HUGE focus when I sit down and write.Kristen Torres-Torohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903038121623389560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-14777431824518707382009-09-22T07:13:12.816-07:002009-09-22T07:13:12.816-07:00I want them on the same level I'm on, deep in ...I want them on the same level I'm on, deep in there with connection to the story and the characters' whose lives are involved. I think I understand this better than ever before, and I feel that need provoking me every time I sit to write. I just hope it all unfolds as I'd have it to.<br /><br />Great post, Terri. I appreciate your thoughts on this.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-30822563085529973142009-09-22T06:59:29.445-07:002009-09-22T06:59:29.445-07:00I really would like to do this, but I'm not su...I really would like to do this, but I'm not sure I do. I'm sorry about the work with your group. It's hard to open up sometimes. But kudos to you for holding those meetings. I really think they'll bear some fruit. :-)Jessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-31064092141330576442009-09-22T06:42:32.327-07:002009-09-22T06:42:32.327-07:00Hi Terri -
Even in my non-fiction work, I use fic...Hi Terri -<br /><br />Even in my non-fiction work, I use fictional techniques such as show, don't tell. As a reader, I know if I laugh, cry, or come away from a book wanting to talk about it, the author succeeded.<br /><br />I try to write stories that I would find satisfying as a reader.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Susan :)Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30652620.post-34409416486755875712009-09-22T06:19:25.917-07:002009-09-22T06:19:25.917-07:00I want my readers to smile somewhere in my story a...I want my readers to smile somewhere in my story and then at the end close the book with that warm happily-ever-after fuzzy feeling. :)<br /><br />(Hey, I have high hopes!) LOL!Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.com