tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post6822082127042341227..comments2024-03-22T23:59:37.332-07:00Comments on Les Edgerton on Writing: CHARACTER ACTIONSLes Edgertonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-66169897226533391302012-03-29T11:56:29.950-07:002012-03-29T11:56:29.950-07:00Thanks, Debbie. Is the tournament still going on? ...Thanks, Debbie. Is the tournament still going on? I figured once my Hoosiers were out of it they'd call it on lack of interest... Maybe that's just around here... :)<br /><br />Although, without the Indiana kid, Teague, how far would they go?Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-23814828944469435732012-03-29T11:56:11.887-07:002012-03-29T11:56:11.887-07:00Thanks, Debbie. Is the tournament still going on? ...Thanks, Debbie. Is the tournament still going on? I figured once my Hoosiers were out of it they'd call it on lack of interest... Maybe that's just around here... :)<br /><br />Although, without the Indiana kid, Teague, how far would they go?Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-91300079238917988252012-03-29T11:35:18.581-07:002012-03-29T11:35:18.581-07:00I enjoyed your post. I developed an intro. to fil...I enjoyed your post. I developed an intro. to film course for our local community college years ago and just pulled out my old material with the idea of creating a workshop based on film analysis, so it was very interesting to read your posting. (BTW, the community college was part of the U.K. system, so I'll be thinking of you during the big game this weekend when my Wildcats ruffle Louisville's feathers.)Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10592313782672085208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-68387195086011650942012-03-26T12:56:53.750-07:002012-03-26T12:56:53.750-07:00Les,
The Writers' Workshoppe bookstore is in P...Les,<br />The Writers' Workshoppe bookstore is in Port Townsend, WA. We're a small store in a large writing community with Herbert,Carver,Wiggs,Hannah, Wells,Guterson,and Egan(many more) on our "Local Authors" shelves. Love to have you visit, read,sign books. We also have 2-3 workshops a day,if you want to try out your new material. Website is www.writersworkshoppe.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00013129459685335821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-77000882550466981422012-03-26T12:03:26.188-07:002012-03-26T12:03:26.188-07:00Anna, that was music to my ears! (To use a cliche,...Anna, that was music to my ears! (To use a cliche, I, for one, scarcely ever get tired of hearing...) Where is your bookstore? Reason I'm asking, if I'm in the area any time, I'd love to stop in and sign books or just chat and get to know you.<br /><br />We're also bringing out an ebook version of FINDING YOUR VOICE and may possibly do a print version also. Please send me your store info so I can communicate with you if that happens, okay? <br /><br />My email address is (all lower case) butchedgerton at comcast dot net.<br /><br />Thanks for making my day!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-31013522296862377002012-03-26T11:43:19.090-07:002012-03-26T11:43:19.090-07:00This is great. Love the specific examples. We carr...This is great. Love the specific examples. We carry your book "Hooked" in our bookstore-The Writers'Workshoppe, and it is a bestseller. Let us know when this one is done and we'll get it on the shelf. Thanks!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00013129459685335821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-60529139762585715342012-03-26T09:17:39.241-07:002012-03-26T09:17:39.241-07:00Debbie--I love it! If I don't use it for the t...Debbie--I love it! If I don't use it for the title, I can for the subtitle! Thanks for a terrific suggestion. (Note to self: Make sure you spell Debbie's name correctly in the Acknowledgements...)<br /><br />Seriously, I really like that as either a title or subtitle.Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-18266977187977533852012-03-26T09:05:32.785-07:002012-03-26T09:05:32.785-07:00Loved this chapter. It has me re-examining my WIP ...Loved this chapter. It has me re-examining my WIP to notice my character actions. Maybe your new book should be "What Writers Can Learn from Thelma and Louise"! I'll point my readers your way. I know they'll love it.<br /><br />~DebbieDebbie Maxwell Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02533418585502995994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-60286847637360012992012-03-21T06:18:37.997-07:002012-03-21T06:18:37.997-07:00Elle, your letter really rocked my boat! Thank you...Elle, your letter really rocked my boat! Thank you so very much. It's so gratifying when you encounter someone who "gets" what you're trying to do. Your comment about repetition was one of the things that really meant a lot to me. I do repeat things and it's for that very reason. I've had a couple of reviews of books like Hooked in which the reviewer complained that I repeated things and they resented that, even though they liked the message. It's just gratifying to know that there are those who get what I'm trying to do. Everything you said meant a lot to me. Thank you.<br /><br />Sorry about the Wildcats. You guys had a great season and shouldn't feel too bad when the Hoosiers beat you... AGAIN! :)Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-34428910238347781052012-03-21T06:18:10.606-07:002012-03-21T06:18:10.606-07:00Elle, your letter really rocked my boat! Thank you...Elle, your letter really rocked my boat! Thank you so very much. It's so gratifying when you encounter someone who "gets" what you're trying to do. Your comment about repetition was one of the things that really meant a lot to me. I do repeat things and it's for that very reason. I've had a couple of reviews of books like Hooked in which the reviewer complained that I repeated things and they resented that, even though they liked the message. It's just gratifying to know that there are those who get what I'm trying to do. Everything you said meant a lot to me. Thank you.<br /><br />Sorry about the Wildcats. You guys had a great season and shouldn't feel too bad when the Hoosiers beat you... AGAIN! :)Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-35385949185596032582012-03-21T05:50:58.400-07:002012-03-21T05:50:58.400-07:00First, i have to point out your readability. Not o...First, i have to point out your readability. Not only the novels and short stories but Hooked and this upcoming book. It's more than conversational, it's a pull-up-a-stool-and-have-a-beer lecture. Something you read and don't feel scolded and shamed. It's more of a literary pep talk.<br />I also applaud your repetition of important points. Consumers have to hear something twice in relatively quick succession to remember it. Something to learn from advertisers. And aren't we all eager to consume everything that will lead to publication. <br />The Thelma and Louis focus is also perfect. Everyone knows the characters. You read this excerpt (or Hooked) then re-watch and give yourself a mental head slap and say omigod. The best entertainment is extremely complex up close but smooth and simple to digest. Readers want complex characters without complication, you are one of the best at delivering this. If anyone needs another example of show and not tell, read an Edgerton. You're a minimalist and that's one of my favorite qualities in a writer. I hate being at war with what my mind creates and what an author tries to hand feed me. <br />If this book is anything like Hooked it will be noted, highlighted and dog-eared until i have to buy a kindle edition to read it unobstructed.<br /><br />I know empathy is an essential quality of any great writer but it's not conducive to fandom. Your hoosiers plug smacked my cheek red. Lexington (Ky) is too close for such an unfortunate geographical oversight; i just plain forgot. Hopefully, IU plays great...and still gets beat. I love a good game almost as much as a good novel.elle m hamlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02347881763205665770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-42168928174101209022012-03-20T23:01:05.026-07:002012-03-20T23:01:05.026-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.elle m hamlethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02347881763205665770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-17349291901299342232012-03-20T17:22:22.730-07:002012-03-20T17:22:22.730-07:00Thanks, Graham! And, it's good to know I'm...Thanks, Graham! And, it's good to know I'm not the only one with writer insecurities! Happens to all of us.Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-12366266310441760632012-03-20T16:54:32.732-07:002012-03-20T16:54:32.732-07:00Great post Les. Made a hell of a lot of sense whil...Great post Les. Made a hell of a lot of sense while raising some serious insecurities about my own writing.Graham Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15561493204302079903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-57277182567193079382012-03-20T15:30:11.265-07:002012-03-20T15:30:11.265-07:00Thanks, Maria. The casual viewer isn't suppose...Thanks, Maria. The casual viewer isn't supposed to notice the art, but the writer should. This movie has more teaching moments in it than any other movie or even novel that I can think of. There's not a single frame that doesn't have a great craft principle involved. I haven't even scratched the surface here for just the actions involved. Haven't even gotten started in how the structure works, the inciting incident, protagonist & antagonist, etc. For instance, the non-writer often thinks Darryl is the antagonist and he's not. The antagonist is Hal, the Arkansas cop. It's just brilliantly-written. No wonder she won the Oscar for it!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-68351840986463786472012-03-20T15:02:44.567-07:002012-03-20T15:02:44.567-07:00I saw that movie years ago and I just didn't g...I saw that movie years ago and I just didn't get it. You've explained it so beauti fully that I'm eager to see it again and view it on a different level. Hopefully, a sign of maturity! Great craft post too.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977676093756206414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-84855495874022598972012-03-20T13:05:41.138-07:002012-03-20T13:05:41.138-07:00Thanks, Helen! That means a lot!Thanks, Helen! That means a lot!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-88870578014393930092012-03-20T13:05:29.222-07:002012-03-20T13:05:29.222-07:00Thanks, Helen! That means a lot!Thanks, Helen! That means a lot!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-42078758383419360402012-03-20T11:36:48.862-07:002012-03-20T11:36:48.862-07:00Very good breakdown of the movie. First off, it ma...Very good breakdown of the movie. First off, it makes me want to go back and re-watch it. Second off (is there such a thing as second off?), I would buy your book.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-75724492356776135662012-03-20T11:13:43.204-07:002012-03-20T11:13:43.204-07:00Thanks, Liz. I'm glad you enjoyed it!Thanks, Liz. I'm glad you enjoyed it!Les Edgertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17997858985904932554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5918800617954487311.post-60901212416514077052012-03-20T10:42:05.568-07:002012-03-20T10:42:05.568-07:00Excellent! Thanks for sharing that.Excellent! Thanks for sharing that.Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.com