Comments on: Connecting Secondary Elements

By: Julie Daines

Julie Daines — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:37:12 +0000

This is excellent advice. And in many ways ties in beautifully with your post on objective correlatives.

Did you have a post on that? Or do I just remember you talking about it in a webinar?

By: Christy Luis

Christy Luis — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:54:49 +0000

You said that ideally imagery will gather “new shades of meaning” as we progress through the book. That’s so important to remember! It reminds me of my response to book covers over the time it takes me to read a book.

The first time I encounter a book cover, I get impressions about the book. I try not to hang onto those because they always change. As I read, I periodically glance at the cover and new symbolism jumps out at me. That’s what should happen to characters as they encounter settings, other characters, etc. Similarly, that should happen to the reader as they encounter these things; writers need to make sure this happens in order to engross their readers.

Thanks for this insightful post!

By: Peter Dudley

Peter Dudley — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:43:34 +0000

Yes, yes, and yes. I often find I’ve done this unintentionally in my first draft. Revision is when I go back and add these echoes in intentionally.

By: Shelley Koon

Shelley Koon — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:00:45 +0000

One of the things I have found most fun about the writing process is the “layering” you talk about here. Great advice and a timely post for me personally as I just went back and rewrote an early chapter to add a character in that will be important later in the story!

By: Stella Michel

Stella Michel — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:51:17 +0000

Wise advice. Thanks.