tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post7422854001107026139..comments2023-09-05T08:36:25.033-07:00Comments on Author Lisa Gail Green: Resist the Rescue!Lisa Gail Greenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-7892054713695375942011-07-15T22:06:27.833-07:002011-07-15T22:06:27.833-07:00True of writing . . . and also of parenting. Grant...True of writing . . . and also of parenting. Granted, the levels of suffering a writer permits her MC and her toddler to experience should probably not be similar! ;)Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06036505968642985025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-64023694037620167382011-07-15T09:15:26.050-07:002011-07-15T09:15:26.050-07:00Yep. Gotta drag out the pain and suffering or the ...Yep. Gotta drag out the pain and suffering or the reader starts yawning. It always pleases me when my readers tell me they cried for my characters. YES! That's exactly what I wanted. <br /><br />Super post as usual.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-8232661922114104392011-07-15T06:37:14.700-07:002011-07-15T06:37:14.700-07:00Such excellent points. And why can't the heroi...Such excellent points. And why can't the heroine save the day every once in a while?? It's the "suffering" part that creates the tension and suspense. SO much more fun that way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-82744525692392024212011-07-15T06:30:05.779-07:002011-07-15T06:30:05.779-07:00I read this before and realized I didn't leave...I read this before and realized I didn't leave a comment - how strange! Anyway, I love this making-the-MC-suffer thing. I strive to do it, but really? There can never be too much (as long as it ends well). :)Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-64763689217670429032011-07-15T06:14:12.199-07:002011-07-15T06:14:12.199-07:00There will be plenty of time for bandages after th...There will be plenty of time for bandages after the last page is written. Excellent points and advice Lisa!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-74611991410627330822011-07-14T23:54:46.014-07:002011-07-14T23:54:46.014-07:00You're so right, and the reader wants to squir...You're so right, and the reader wants to squirm and sweat it out along with the MC! Keeps us reading and staying up all night!LynNerdKelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04167392990015741278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-12180446231600398812011-07-14T20:17:14.497-07:002011-07-14T20:17:14.497-07:00Thanks for this wise advice, Lisa. It's someth...Thanks for this wise advice, Lisa. It's something that's very much on my mind these days as I throw my protagonist into difficult situations. It's hard to wean her, but she must learn to stand on her own two feet (what a horrible mixed metaphor). Anyway, you know what I mean.Megan Frances Abrahamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02259684930983493989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-55829077327725524682011-07-14T19:04:44.949-07:002011-07-14T19:04:44.949-07:00Yes, yes, yes,
I'm all in favour of making my...Yes, yes, yes, <br />I'm all in favour of making my MCs suffer. It really is for their own good.<br /><br />Even better if the suffering is a result of something they did, a choice they made. They brought it all on themselves!<br /><br />Oh yeah!Ebony McKenna.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02724727996270658767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-91168613764269616302011-07-14T17:30:30.499-07:002011-07-14T17:30:30.499-07:00Such a great reminder! I think this is easier said...Such a great reminder! I think this is easier said than done. I'm constantly reminding myself to make things worse for my main character!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-82856532168056617322011-07-14T17:03:16.033-07:002011-07-14T17:03:16.033-07:00What torture - you Lisa? How uncharacteristic of y...What torture - you Lisa? How uncharacteristic of your happily ever after self. Kidding. I can always count on you to mess with your MC in a diabolical way.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-40026265419738730252011-07-14T16:38:05.522-07:002011-07-14T16:38:05.522-07:00My newest MC is having a hell of a time. She's...My newest MC is having a hell of a time. She's suffering, and there's no one to save her. But she's tough. :)Bethany Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12829932931010851406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-41449372555957518532011-07-14T09:32:47.877-07:002011-07-14T09:32:47.877-07:00Yep. I've been protecting my MC. But now that ...Yep. I've been protecting my MC. But now that I've thrown her out to fend for herself -- it's quite interesting! You'll be surprised what your MC can do when left to her own devices. :)Karen Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697785820907711723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-89464367245819970912011-07-14T08:27:33.531-07:002011-07-14T08:27:33.531-07:00This is awesome. It also helps us see our own suf...This is awesome. It also helps us see our own suffering as an oppotunity to grow.<br /><br />I think the hardest part in writing this is not the difficulty of putting our characters through suffering, but thinking of a way for them to really rise up to the challenge of overcoming it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-35607230395701829912011-07-14T07:41:45.310-07:002011-07-14T07:41:45.310-07:00Spoken from the mistress of torture herself! You&...Spoken from the mistress of torture herself! You've caught me on a couple of these points, at least. The coincidence, and wrapping up too quickly. Yep, I'm still a work in progress!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-51789790217392754992011-07-14T07:12:44.909-07:002011-07-14T07:12:44.909-07:00I'm getting a kick out of your timing with thi...I'm getting a kick out of your timing with this because my first 20 pages got workshopped yesterday here in Iowa, and two of my classmates kept begging me to save my hero from pretty much ANY distress! It was so funny--they are both moms and were basically mothering her. It made me feel like, at least, I'd created a character that people cared about.Kristen Wixtedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270464973842125576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-71595384462904242692011-07-14T07:05:20.573-07:002011-07-14T07:05:20.573-07:00It's true, our characters need to suffer in or...It's true, our characters need to suffer in order to keep the story moving along. In The White Queen, which I'm currently reading, Elizabeth is madly in love with the king and despite how we as the readers want them to admit their feelings for each other we also are able to respect Elizabeth for wanting to keep her honor.<br /><br />Hurting our characters can be difficult, but it is through their suffering and struggles that our readers can develop feelings for them. In real life nothing is perfect, Mr. Darcy doesn't exist, and what happens doesn't just dissolve.<br /><br />Have your character take the pain, find someone who can give them hope, and most importantly keep them alive. Make them feel real.<br /><br />Always,<br />LindseyLindsey Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05479405614100115901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-88602682156875184802011-07-14T07:01:38.979-07:002011-07-14T07:01:38.979-07:00I'll be revising my MS shortly. I know my MC n...I'll be revising my MS shortly. I know my MC needs to suffer more, but... it's so HARD giving them pain!Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-5068233789318240162011-07-14T07:00:55.534-07:002011-07-14T07:00:55.534-07:00Absolutely agree. But can't resist playing dev...Absolutely agree. But can't resist playing devil's advocate too: you could argue that because Edward was always there for her in the first book, that his desertion in the second book made her suffering even worse. :) :)Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-33247938426464447572011-07-14T06:59:45.778-07:002011-07-14T06:59:45.778-07:00Really? Now you are confusing me...that's what...Really? Now you are confusing me...that's what I've been doing in real life, and writing my fiction with butterflies and rainbows because it's fiction. Have I got it backwards? You mean my reality here is about happiness and sunshine and my fiction has tension, danger, sorrow, pain and maybe some recovery? Wow, have I got a lot to learn! *finding therapists phone number...dialing quickly* Note to self...apologize to wife and kids when I get home. I've confused fiction and reality again!!!!Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846624912452227191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-11953451896147258262011-07-14T05:41:59.224-07:002011-07-14T05:41:59.224-07:00I'm reading Janice Hardy's Blue Fire (seco...I'm reading Janice Hardy's Blue Fire (second book in the Healing Wars Trilogy) and she's soooooo good at being mean to her protagonist. It's heartbreaking and frustrating and full of moral decisions that damage the character. Delicious and very strong writing.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6734108232999147338.post-28531738092575115242011-07-14T04:52:58.641-07:002011-07-14T04:52:58.641-07:00You're soooo right, and it's hard to put y...You're soooo right, and it's hard to put your MC through devastating, horrible situations because all you want to do is make every honky-dory for them. But, as you said, honky-dory, sunshine and rainbows do NOT make a thrilling, page-turning, too-good-to-sleep, heartbreaking, come-out-the-other-end-stronger story. :)<br /><br />Great post, Lisa!!!Melinda S. Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05185708322661542646noreply@blogger.com