An Author's Life for Me

By MedicineFlower - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in On Writing

Sunday, September 5, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 21

About Point of View - avoiding POV Violation POV filters These are words that glue the reader into the particular POV, generally the word knew - Paul knew that Leslie loved apples. However, when overused, filters become the source of loose writing, so authors need vigilance in their use. POV... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 20

Novels by specie and genus A sword and sandal Traditionally a gladiatorial novel, but now any work that reflects the arena, featured in many SciFi books. A horse opera Traditionally, an American Old West setting, but now has been adopted by fantasy works as well. Slice of Life At one time a popular... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, September 3, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 19

doppelganger a technique of creating cloned or similar characters that either strengthen a view through underscoring or opposition. Usually these characters have a similar look, names and are genetically related. Their use is important for continuity. Generally less important characters, they can... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 18

anti-climax a trail off from the high point in the work, which should be reserved for sequeling and the end of the story. Sometimes the climax is placed to close to a powerful core scene and becomes anti-climatic, usually viewed as a major structural flaw. Edward C. Patterson Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 17

string of pearls this is a technique of developing characters and event in a circular pattern, alternating between at least three sets of story-lines and characters, each time tightening to a climax that stands in the center. Usually all the characters and events come to a head. This structual... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 16

Slipping and Sliding flash-back a scene set out of sequence in the past. flash-foward a scene set out of sequence in the future. slip-back a section that suddenly thrusts the reader into the back-story, sometimes for a paragraph and sometimes for a longer stretch. (In Stephen King's Wizard and... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, August 30, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 15

square dance POV a neat scenic structure, best used for exposition, where a scene or chapter is devided into three parts, beginning in one character's point of view and ending in anothers. The middle section is POV neutral (not an easy thing to master), but the effect is like watching a wave hit the... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 14

Robinsonade a novel where the characters are shipwrecked or marooned on a deserted place (or Island), from Robinson Crusoe. Examples, Swiss Family Robinson, Mysterious Island, Off on a Comet, Typee. Edward C. Patterson Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 13

Tags - you're IT dialog tag or active dialog tag - the he said/she said business.active dialog tag - when the noun or pronoun is the the subject of the clause. Nelson said. Mary said. He said/she said. It is the most commonly used and acceptable dialog tag. passive dialog tag - when the noun or... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, August 27, 2010

A Reader's Guide to Author's Jargon 12

Fragmenting An incomplete sentence (sure to get you a D in Miss Bartlestein's English class), is an encouraged technique in the creative writing world, although it sometimes drives grammarians to drink (hemlock, I hope). This is removing the verb from the sentence, thus making it an incomplete... Sign in to see full entry.

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