Writing goals

[Lacy Duckwing]

I'm jealous! It's hard for me to even hit the 40K minimum for a novel. I might just be more of a novelette writer, or (more likely) I need to practice fleshing things out.

When I first started writing (serious), I struggled with word count. Sometimes, if you fix your craft and add more "color" to your writing, it comes out longer.

I do worry that my stuff will be too "simple" though, because I'm more of a simple minded person. Like those little details that are secretly going to be used later, or even the plot twists themselves can tend to be over me.

I do Shelby's writing prompt from time to time, but I'll pop into this one as well!

We'll love to have you join us!

100%. Anything going to publish, I'll have beta readers.

Hey, if you ever need a Beta... I might not be into your genre and you might not be into mine, but if you were ever interested, I might be willing to give it a go.

I sometimes do this hybrid 3rd person limited that reads more like 1st person. It's kind of a cheat? You can get better glimpses into your POV's head, but not too much (for plot twist purposes).

So, close third person? It's a little complicated because it's so tight, but I think my POV is starting to lean that way some. From everything I've been reading, I'd prefer it.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

So, close third person? It's a little complicated because it's so tight, but I think my POV is starting to lean that way some. From everything I've been reading, I'd prefer it.

Is this how I write Thing? I chose to change from first person but it is still her POV. I struggle to stay consistent with it.

 

[NC_Quail]

Question.

For those of you that use 3rd person close, do you write the thoughts of the character in italics, or do you work it into the text? For example…

NC_Quail looked at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It’s going to rain, she thought.

Vs…

NC_Quail looked up at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It was probably going to rain.

Are you opinionated one way or the other?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Hey, if you ever need a Beta... I might not be into your genre and you might not be into mine, but if you were ever interested, I might be willing to give it a go.

That's really kind of you! I'll let you know if and when I actually finish something!

So, close third person? It's a little complicated because it's so tight, but I think my POV is starting to lean that way some. From everything I've been reading, I'd prefer it.

Is there a difference between close 3rd person and 3rd person limited?

For those of you that use 3rd person close, do you write the thoughts of the character in italics, or do you work it into the text?

That's exactly what I do! So an example of this hybrid:

Beverly walks into the living room and sees her husband zoned out in front of the TV. What a lazy bum! He hasn't trimmed his disgusting, greasy beard in weeks, and the sight of it makes her want to vomit.

So I use the italic trick for internal thoughts, and extra colorful wording that typical 3rd person limited might not have.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Is this how I write Thing? I chose to change from first person but it is still her POV. I struggle to stay consistent with it.

Yes. I've noticed you include a lot of her thoughts too.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Question.

For those of you that use 3rd person close, do you write the thoughts of the character in italics, or do you work it into the text? For example…

NC_Quail looked at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It’s going to rain, she thought.

Vs…

NC_Quail looked up at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It was probably going to rain.

Are you opinionated one way or the other?

I'd say the second more. You're including thoughts as though it were the text itself.

All this talk about third person makes me think I need to freshing up on it some though. I have a couple of books on it, but I'll check later to see if there's a list in one of them that I can take a picture of for you all.

 

[Isabella7Storm5]

Question.

For those of you that use 3rd person close, do you write the thoughts of the character in italics, or do you work it into the text? For example…

NC_Quail looked at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It’s going to rain, she thought.

Vs…

NC_Quail looked up at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It was probably going to rain.

Are you opinionated one way or the other?

For role plays yes

For my writing no

I don’t really know why and I think it depends on how you word the thinking.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Is there a difference between close 3rd person and 3rd person limited?

Yes.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Question.

For those of you that use 3rd person close, do you write the thoughts of the character in italics, or do you work it into the text? For example…

NC_Quail looked at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It’s going to rain, she thought.

Vs…

NC_Quail looked up at the sky. Thick black clouds were approaching. It was probably going to rain.

Are you opinionated one way or the other?

Italics. At least for Thing. When I've been experimenting with a different story I wanted to try doing away with the internal thoughts.

Yes. I've noticed you include a lot of her thoughts too.

If I don't include them she just sits there staring...

 

[Isabella7Storm5]

Yes.

I write much more close but I like reading limited more