Comments on: Active vs Reactive

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:21:44 +0000

Cheers Chris! No reason you can't do all three eh??

Janette, could it be some naughty character not taking action when they should? Takes me a while to see what the problem is, I have to confess. And sometimes I don't at all and someone has to point it out to me!

Rach, collaboration sounds great. What I'd like is someone to write the story for me, while I put my name to it and get all the glory. Heheh.

Thanks Suzanne. This kind of stuff is good to think about, but y'know, sometimes you can take it on board and sometimes you can't. Anyway, I'd get the conflict sorted out first if I was you - that's your story after all.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:09:40 +0000

So much to think about...I'm still trying to get my head around conflict.

Seriously, great post Jackie - you've really got the hang of making us think about our stories.

X

By: Rachael Johns

Rachael Johns — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:47:11 +0000

Hey Janette – I always have the opposite problem. I love the first half but the second half leaves much to be desired! Perhaps we should collaborate… I’ll write the first 25k… you finish! 🙂

By: Janette Radevski

Janette Radevski — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:11:54 +0000

LOL – Chris, I too am a market researcher, more quant than qual, but lets not get into that.

Jackie – Insightful as always, now to see how it applies to my current h&h. Also, I too have the issue that my secind half of my sotry rocks while the first half is somewhat ho hum…

By: chrissmith17a

chrissmith17a — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:47 +0000

Ooh – another thread which I am enjoying and learning from! Thanks for your reply as to your blog motivations, Jackie – it is the market researcher in me who wants to ask everyone WHY they are doing what they do! (I often feel that I’m torn between writing a M&B, doing focus groups with their readers – or rolling up my sleeves to get involved with their global brand identity/ strategy! – multiple identities are funny things…) – Anyway, sounds as if you are going great guns! – Chris

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:09:11 +0000

Yes, definitely the hero has to be active. And that was what was wrong with my scene – hero was not acting and that’s not particularly alpha. The naughty man.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:50:22 +0000

Really interesting post Jackie – I think from what I’ve learnt lately the hero needs to be especially Active, if he’s reactive it lessens his alphaness… And if the heroine is reactive it lessens her sassiness I suppose.
Something else to add to my checklist!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:22:44 +0000

Cheers Rach. Yeah, learning all the time. Writing category sure makes you aware of all this craft stuff.

By: Rachael Johns

Rachael Johns — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:13:59 +0000

Great post Jackie – it’s made me think I need to go back and look at my wips in a whole new light! Never stop learning hey?!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:59:48 +0000

Lacey, at least you knew! I didn’t even realise about this. No wonder my earlier draft was so episodic – it was just characters reacting to other things that drove the plot forward rather than the actions they take themselves.