tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post5600210232199937000..comments2024-02-21T03:32:15.577-05:00Comments on Jill Kemerer: 3 Ways to Fix a Story Problem: WSG 26Jill Kemererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-45976149877428753722012-10-18T17:31:15.758-04:002012-10-18T17:31:15.758-04:00Susan, thank you so much for coming over! I'm ...Susan, thank you so much for coming over! I'm the same as you--I need plenty of contingency plans for story problems! It's reassuring to know we can fix what needs to be fixed and ignore what doesn't. :)Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-60529911410559459002012-10-18T17:29:53.666-04:002012-10-18T17:29:53.666-04:00Jessi, thanks so much for the encouragement! I'...Jessi, thanks so much for the encouragement! I'm thrilled you stopped by! Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-7199568905462637012012-10-18T11:13:53.903-04:002012-10-18T11:13:53.903-04:00Great post. Having plans to fall back on comforts...Great post. Having plans to fall back on comforts me, so I really like the idea of having a sort of response system for story problems. <br /><br />I found your blog via Jody Hedlund. Glad I did. :) SFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126306619182458823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-5933923289523017632012-10-16T16:36:32.407-04:002012-10-16T16:36:32.407-04:00Let's hear it for CPs! There seems to be conse...Let's hear it for CPs! There seems to be consensus here that CPs are some of the best tools for helping a writer improve. I know that's true for me.<br /><br />These tips are great. I never thought of summarizing the problem into one sentence and brainstorming 10 solutions. That's a great idea! Thanks, Jill.<br /><br />This was my first trip to your blog. I will definitely be back!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-85869406806737788762012-10-16T16:12:26.709-04:002012-10-16T16:12:26.709-04:00Smart! Some books I naturally have less issues, an...Smart! Some books I naturally have less issues, and others I want to smack myself for not seeing major problems! Feedback is soooo important. Good luck!!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-67014320812724512272012-10-16T16:11:29.974-04:002012-10-16T16:11:29.974-04:00It's true, Nancy. If you have a gut-feeling so...It's true, Nancy. If you have a gut-feeling something isn't right, it's smart to brainstorm ways to get it on track. :) Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-85480382093350858372012-10-16T15:17:36.990-04:002012-10-16T15:17:36.990-04:00Right now I'm taking an editorial letter and I...Right now I'm taking an editorial letter and I got and am working it point by point then I'll look at the whole again. Hopefully, in the end my editor will like it and I won't have made a mess of the story.Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-73783213600858830322012-10-16T13:46:12.018-04:002012-10-16T13:46:12.018-04:00I have never gotten as far as feedback on a story ...I have never gotten as far as feedback on a story from an editor. I did get advice about marketing which I followed. I love the ten ways to fix the problem. You could use this on your own self rewrite. You are bound to get something better, as you say.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15163662759281341381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-45293053622438477152012-10-16T07:54:05.997-04:002012-10-16T07:54:05.997-04:00Whining always solves story problems! That...and c...Whining always solves story problems! That...and chocolate. ;)Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-58003597214135358642012-10-15T18:57:15.981-04:002012-10-15T18:57:15.981-04:00When I have a story problem, I whine to my critiqu...When I have a story problem, I whine to my critique partner for help. Her insight helps me narrow in on the story problem, then I can focus on fixing it.Lisa Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16334253815212707025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-19657154455081654892012-10-15T14:39:57.498-04:002012-10-15T14:39:57.498-04:00Oh yeah! I've been there! The opening is so im...Oh yeah! I've been there! The opening is so important--it's smart to take the time to get it right!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-65488865739103388052012-10-15T14:39:14.323-04:002012-10-15T14:39:14.323-04:00I feel the same way! And sometimes it's gives ...I feel the same way! And sometimes it's gives options that never occurred to me. Love that!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-34528214023668523062012-10-15T14:38:38.056-04:002012-10-15T14:38:38.056-04:00Yes! Why not? It might produce something really fr...Yes! Why not? It might produce something really fresh!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-73577726700230329512012-10-15T14:38:12.549-04:002012-10-15T14:38:12.549-04:00You, of all people, know I'm similar! I'm ...You, of all people, know I'm similar! I'm so blessed by your critiques, Cindy. Thank you!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-67743142332422466702012-10-15T14:37:28.373-04:002012-10-15T14:37:28.373-04:00I agree. It's hard to shift directions when we...I agree. It's hard to shift directions when we've already settled on "our" way. Brainstorming really helps with that! Good luck!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-88499519114531282682012-10-15T14:36:39.691-04:002012-10-15T14:36:39.691-04:00Definitely--flexibility and openness are huge! I&#...Definitely--flexibility and openness are huge! I've drafted new scenes too. Even if I don't use them, they've helped clarify the right direction!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-11853330822639460662012-10-15T13:06:15.790-04:002012-10-15T13:06:15.790-04:00I had a story that didn't start in the right p...I had a story that didn't start in the right place. I chewed on it for a few days then did the brainstorming. I found the right answer and fix.<br /><br />Great advice, Jill.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-24103000026239159872012-10-15T12:43:23.350-04:002012-10-15T12:43:23.350-04:00I love making lists of possible fixes! Really help...I love making lists of possible fixes! Really helps to find the best option for the story.Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-6848465385115735392012-10-15T12:22:40.264-04:002012-10-15T12:22:40.264-04:00I do love your idea of brainstorming at least 10 w...I do love your idea of brainstorming at least 10 ways to fix the problem. As a list lover, this would allow me to list 10 ways, try them all, check them off, then rate which one seems to work the best. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-17201690678581488942012-10-15T12:18:41.255-04:002012-10-15T12:18:41.255-04:00Good tips! I definitely ask trusted critique partn...Good tips! I definitely ask trusted critique partners because they have more perspective than I do. I realize (though I still sometimes beat myself up over it) that I can't catch everything, and I'm too close to my manuscript to see it all anyway. It's sooo helpful to have someone else who can see the bigger picture.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-65260647668712280712012-10-15T11:11:59.866-04:002012-10-15T11:11:59.866-04:00I'm right in the midst of this now. I think br...I'm right in the midst of this now. I think brainstorming is such an important part because once the story is real in our minds, it's tough to change it. Brainstorming new ideas is a great tool for thinking outside of the box.Julie Jarnaginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17066689616022777802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-2244193215962636512012-10-15T10:32:18.640-04:002012-10-15T10:32:18.640-04:00Love your tips, Jill! For me, my CP is absolutely ...Love your tips, Jill! For me, my CP is absolutely essential. She helps me figure out what's wrong, and then from there, I fix it. THEN, like you said, I send it back to make sure I got it right. Sometimes it takes several tries, but it's so worth it in the end.<br /><br />I think something that's necessary in all of this is flexibility and willingness to try something new. Sometimes I think a scene really works as it is, but if someone suggests something different, I really consider it. I may even draft a new scene--doesn't mean I have to use it if I like the old one better, but at least I can see which works better. Oftentimes, the new one does.Lindsay Harrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09379628592162011068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-62767109095123753582012-10-15T10:14:51.540-04:002012-10-15T10:14:51.540-04:00Ooo, smart! I hear you. With my last project, my ...Ooo, smart! I hear you. With my last project, my instincts told me the last 2/3 of the book was spot-on, but I just wasn't 100% about the first 1/3. Reviewing what was working DID help! You're right!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-861374180506678742012-10-15T10:13:01.664-04:002012-10-15T10:13:01.664-04:00Good stuff here, Barbara! Thanks! I'll hve to ...Good stuff here, Barbara! Thanks! I'll hve to check out Becky's guide!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8911314544674287828.post-39469483684741614772012-10-15T10:12:17.308-04:002012-10-15T10:12:17.308-04:00I know! Plus, it's smart to attack the problem...I know! Plus, it's smart to attack the problem from more than one angle. It might take several "fixes" to really get a great book!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com