Comments on: Banter, aka Romance Writer’s Crack

By: Deb

Deb — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:02:16 +0000

Mmmmmmmmmmmm…

By: lee

lee — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:13:53 +0000

I read your blog because I love your voice, and since your books don’t come out fast enough (because you work on them so hard, to perfect them) it is wonderful to have pieces like this, along with the rest of your commentary on things.

By: Absolute Cherry

Absolute Cherry — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:16:38 +0000

Full quote is: “I never said I love you, I don’t care about I love you! I read The Second Sex, I read The Cinderella Complex, I’m responsible for my own orgasm, I don’t care! I just don’t like to be lied to!”

Speaking of wonderful banter, you’ve gotta love the writing in that movie.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:15:56 +0000

Darnit, now I really want a hot fudge sundae (on “shit, I see my mom in a week” pre-thanksgiving diet).

By: Bethany

Bethany — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:14:08 +0000

Yay! I’m really weird about books/movies/shows having people drive after several beers (I know it’s common in real life, but it pisses me off even more in real life when I look at a friend and have to say “I know it was only 4, but I am not getting in that car with you”).

Also, I had to close my office door I was laughing so loudly.

How do you move past dialogue to action? Dialogue is the only thing I seem any good at (according to people who’ve read the little I actually write “the conversation is great and then it got really boring” tends to be the line). Or have I missed the post where you talked about that?

By: CrankyOtter

CrankyOtter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:05:19 +0000

per person. So 5 traveling shows, a couple of characters being ghost written about? easily enough to kill 3 beers and still be a functional driver. Enough inhibitions lifted to kiss the cop, not enough to fall into it and keep going – she did stop, after all. (yeah, not the only test of sobriety, but that’s how I saw it.)

By: CrankyOtter

CrankyOtter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:59:39 +0000

If she’s been out for 3 hours or so, then she’s probably good to go. There were a couple “they talked about their current projects” in there and as someone who just caught up with an old friend at breakfast saturday (flew back to the old hometown), something like “how’s work going these days” can easily run to an hour or more, by my calculations.

By: CrankyOtter

CrankyOtter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:56:23 +0000

and as the someone not ok with too many “just hell” exclamations, this phrase is so firmly in popular culture (really, did anyone not see Tootsie?) that it can be used by multiple characters with no compunction as more than one of them would be familiar with it. And this time it comes from a guy.

apropos only of my own situation—why do so many feel the need to slam their seat back several times on the airplane, as if it will miraculously go back to a comfortable recline if they just hit it a little bit harder next time?

By: CrankyOtter

CrankyOtter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:49:38 +0000

I think the other people on the plane might be wondering why my whole row of seats is shaking. Well, they would be if they were awake. I’m LMAO. That is so much fun!

You had plenty of action in there! Molly getting greeted cheerfully, her ease of getting out of the way, Vince leaving a hot option to go protect and serve while off duty, Liz leaning in for a kiss, etc… Subtle action, but action. Besides, while I do like “show don’t tell”, i don’t think you need so much help there and women often sit around and gab, so it’s a realistic scene. Men get together and watch a game; women get together and gab. Gabbing over beer is action

Thanks for sharing yet again. this is hilarious. I love it.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:54:19 +0000

I loathe that I’ll have to wait 2-3 years or whatever to read more of this. YAY BANTER!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:49:15 +0000

It might be a small town thing. There aren’t enough men where I live to not sleep with somone your friend either dated, slept with, or had a crazy crush on in high school. I think we’re just more up front about it.

By: Merry the CB

Merry the CB — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:02:06 +0000

Suddenly having a movie flashback:

Evelyn: Look, I… I may not be an explorer, or an adventurer, or a treasure-seeker, or a gunfighter, Mr. O’Connell, but I am proud of what I am.
Rick: And what is that?
Evelyn: I… am a librarian.
- The Mummy

By: Beki

Beki — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:30:32 +0000

Lord, Jenny, it doesn’t even feel different when I’m reading it. It’s still all your voice. Terrific.

By: Beki

Beki — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:24:16 +0000

Keeper

By: Mary Stella

Mary Stella — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:22:59 +0000

When you’re a Crusie fan gutting through the months between Agnes and the Hit Man and Wild Ride, getting these scenes from NaNo or AKMG is like someone serving you a hot fudge sundae after months of dieting. Delicious, rich, and oh so worth it.

Banter is so freaking sexy, too.

By: Shari

Shari — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:45:12 +0000

These peeks are like an early Christmas present. Thanks

By: inkgrrl

inkgrrl — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:01:32 +0000

You are The Queen of good banter babe. I quite literally snorted coffee out my nose and scared the dogs when I read the “buying on Amazon” comment – you are amazing. And brilliant. Keep NaNo-ing – it’s so much fun to read what you’re doing, and I greatly appreciate your willingness to share it with us. (And IF ONLY there were such reviews available LOL!)

PS – I also use straight dialogue to get into scenes a la the above. It’s doubly-awesome and extra guilt-free during NaNo because then I can go back and add in all the dialogue tags, description, action, etc., before starting the next bit, and I get another 35-45% wordcount easypeasy. Plus my characters always end up talking about things I had no were going on if I just shut up and let them talk. It’s fun again

By: CatScott

CatScott — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:57:45 +0000

Your disclaimer kinda tricked me. I didn’t skim once and was never bored. I LOVED IT! I was shocked when I came to the end because I wanted more!! I’m with the everyone else….please don’t cut it up.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:13:47 +0000

You are the bravest writer I know, inviting all of us to climb inside your process so we can see it from the inside out. When I got stuck in my own NaNo quagmire this morning, I decided to see how you’re faring–so many wonderful lines others have pointed out, yet I see exactly how you’re analyzing what moves a scene and what doesn’t. Probably you’re going to prune lines that made me choke on my coffee and laugh out loud, but right now there’s an inchoate blob at the back of my mind that might turn into a deeper understanding of craft. Thanks.

By: Terrio

Terrio — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:50:26 +0000

This made my weekend. Thanks!!!