Comments on: Yo, New Jersey

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:17:47 +0000

Several solos coming up, thank you very much.
And now I miss collaborating.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:17:50 +0000

Hi Jenny! Longtime fan here — I attended a workshop you did back in … early 2004? (It was right after “Bet Me” came out.) Definitely let us all know if you’ll be doing more workshops (anything that’s in day-tripping distance from DC would be wonderful!). I’d love to learn about your collaging (collage-ing? I think I’m making up a word here … ) — I remember you mentioning it at that workshop, and it seems that you have a very specific method and format that you go with for it, rather than just slapping pictures together any which way. Can’t wait for AKMG — I like the collaborative works, but I miss your solo stories

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:36:29 +0000

Thank you, Ann. And thanks for the next post (g).

By: Ann LaBar

Ann LaBar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:25:04 +0000

Jenny – NJ was the second time I’ve heard you lecture. The first was at National this past summer. Both times I thought “Dang! Wish I’d learn this in Grad school — MFA’s 15 years ago = plot is a dirty word.” You’re info was priceless. Oh and BIGFOOT STOLE MY WIFE is one of my all time favorite stories as well. When you mentioned that I knew you were a brilliant woman

By: Micki

Micki — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:05:32 +0000

Um, I don’t think there’s any need to go Franchise about this, and try and standardize the basic plot for worldwide distribution. Many roads to Oz, right? Some people will feel more comfy with one writing methodology, others with a different one, and some lucky people might even come up with something very original (-:.

That said, if you and Lani work out your differences on-line, I’m sure it’s bound to be very enlightening. Even if you agree to be different . . . .

By: Kiersten

Kiersten — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:22:54 +0000

This has been my mother’s mantra for many years. Also, “live long enough to be a burden to your children”. She’s right on track there.

By: JulieB

JulieB — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:20:08 +0000

I can’t get to it either, and neither could my mom. So, I doubt it’s a Safari problem. The rest of the Nano site seems to be OK.

By: Marta

Marta — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:15:53 +0000

Can’t get this link to work on Safari. Is it just me? It usually is.

By: Slave Driver

Slave Driver — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:18:42 +0000

One of my favorite movie lines, Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatos:
“I’m older and have more insurance.”

By: Marta

Marta — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:15:25 +0000

One of my favorite b-day presents was a t-shirt that said ‘Age and Treachery Will Always Overcome Youth and Skill. I cherish it more every year.

By: Libby

Libby — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:40:52 +0000

Will you post for those of us following you? Thanks!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:27:52 +0000

Yep. Lani has youth and speed on her side, but I have guile and treachery. Also no shame.

By: JulieB

JulieB — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:40:51 +0000

Chick fight. Kewl.

By: JulieB

JulieB — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:33:18 +0000

Inspired by Jenny, our group has had it’s second annual Collage-o-Rama. Thanks Jenny! http://blog.nanowrimo.org/node/311

By: Patrice

Patrice — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:51:22 +0000

Thank you New Jersey! And Jenny!

And it boggles my mind, and explains much about my fiction, to realize that
in my house ‘tp’ is generally a reference to ‘toilet paper.’

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:43:34 +0000

So Lani and I finally sat down after a hectic day and compared notes on our structure theories and they’re not the same at all. We’re going to talk about it more tomorrow and then do dueling blog posts so you can compare our methods. Basically any structure that works is good, and there are a lot of them, so this way you’ll get to see two different approaches. Look for posts probably day after tomorrow.

By: Sure thing

Sure thing — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Off topic but something from Nathan Filiion on Twitter http://img194.yfrog.com/i/jb6z.jpg/

Had nowhere else to post & I figured yáll had to see this.

By: Kieran

Kieran — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:08:57 +0000

The late, great Blake Snyder (RIP, Blake) in his new book coming out soon, talks a lot about the midpoint and its connection to the point of no return. Whatever happens at the midpoint (it’s either going to be a false victory or false defeat), the opposite has to happen at what he calls the All Is Lost moment, which comes right before his turning point into the last act, which he calls Break Into Three. So if it’s an “up” at the midpoint, it’s a “down” at the All Is Lost moment, and vice-versa. He references this on page 104 in Save the Cat. Also, you can read about it much more in depth by going to his website and downloading (for free) Chapter 3 of his new book, to be published posthumously in November, called Save the Cat Strikes Back. He has a visual diagram on page 47 of that excerpt that I love–it ties into this whole discussion about midpoints. I highly recommend it. Also, check out pages 82-84 in the original Save the Cat for a great discussion on midpoints–including the artificial high or low associated with them.

By: TerriO

TerriO — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:22:18 +0000

NJ was my first conference back in ‘07 and I hope to make it back eventually. They really do run a tight ship up there. Hope to someday catch one of these workshops with you, but until then, I’m grateful for all the stuff you post here.

I spent the weekend plotting out my NaNo book using your Turning Points diagram. Came in very handy.

By: Kiersten

Kiersten — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:15:16 +0000

Thanks for joining us for an awesome time in NJ! My laptop kept me from getting writer’s blister during that first three hour tour, the three hour tour (sorry, repetition is obligatory with that phrase), but my fingers were definitely cramping from all the great info. And these charts are great – we here in Jersey just do better with pictures.

Great to see you face to face, Jenny! And Happy Birthday to the little one, Lani.