tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post8259157969165657673..comments2024-03-28T12:40:14.627+00:00Comments on MOODY WRITING: The Reversalmooderinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-12859297797880192872011-09-22T18:32:19.543+01:002011-09-22T18:32:19.543+01:00Logic and honesty in the telling of the story are ...Logic and honesty in the telling of the story are very important in getting the reader to accept a plot twist. If we trust the author throughout the story, then believing comes with little effort at the end. I like a good plot twist where I slap myself in the forehead and think, "Of course, it was right in front of me and I just didn't put it all together, but now it makes sense". Being manipulated and tricked by gimmickery only leaves a reader with a duh-that-was-stupid bad taste in the mouth. I want the story's outcome to make sense.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-88419151928234542732011-09-22T16:21:07.440+01:002011-09-22T16:21:07.440+01:00Well written advice on this one. Another thing abo...Well written advice on this one. Another thing about plot twist is it is good to build tension and get you through the middle which isn't always easy.<br /><br />Nice to have you back.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-24164024731821878612011-09-22T14:26:52.049+01:002011-09-22T14:26:52.049+01:00I love a good plot twist, but nothing can ruin a b...I love a good plot twist, but nothing can ruin a book faster than a poorly handled oneLisa Pottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11676087488599338569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-89132213591855940052011-09-22T02:28:19.709+01:002011-09-22T02:28:19.709+01:00I love a good reversal. Your posts always get me w...I love a good reversal. Your posts always get me wondering if I should revise my plot...Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-5658945491479346402011-09-21T23:48:06.400+01:002011-09-21T23:48:06.400+01:00This is what makes a story great. We recently saw ...This is what makes a story great. We recently saw the movie Contagion and there were no real twists or turns in the plot. Just a very linear story being told as it unfolds. I was kinda disappointed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-79382755083065101502011-09-21T17:28:09.612+01:002011-09-21T17:28:09.612+01:00I've got to work on my technique for this. I a...I've got to work on my technique for this. I am so obvious that in my drafts you can see that reversal for miles. I hope to practice more and get it right.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-43739751398940232932011-09-21T16:42:39.890+01:002011-09-21T16:42:39.890+01:00Good points! Who likes to read a predictable book?...Good points! Who likes to read a predictable book? Not many people--or at least not all the time (women who read formulaic romance novels being an exception!). :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-7073743290827928002011-09-21T14:22:49.201+01:002011-09-21T14:22:49.201+01:00I love reading something that subverts my expectat...I love reading something that subverts my expectations without feeling like I've been betrayed. Pleasantly surprised, I guess is the phrase. What I don't like is to be forced into guessing something and then find out I'm wrong at the end (i.e. mysteries)so I tend to steer clear of that type of writing. great post!Sarah Wedgbrowhttp://foldingfields.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-25993209484641844992011-09-20T23:22:41.458+01:002011-09-20T23:22:41.458+01:00@Suze-I think of it a craft more than an art and l...@Suze-I think of it a craft more than an art and learning teh tools is important, alhtough how you use the tools is down to personal choice.<br /><br />@Michael-yes, i think the one at the end is what everyone keeps in mind, and readers almost expect. The otheres are more about making themiddle fun to read (and hopefully write).<br /><br />@Crystal-good luck with it.<br /><br />@Lorena-cheers.<br /><br />@Laura-I think so, and even more so if you can pull it off more than once.<br /><br />@sandwiched-thanks for the award. Two awards in the same post, that's a first for me.<br /><br />cheers all.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-26797166954787104912011-09-20T23:14:11.979+01:002011-09-20T23:14:11.979+01:00@Jennifer-the big finale reversal is a pretty comm...@Jennifer-the big finale reversal is a pretty common device, the smaller, more subtle ones along teh way tend to make for a better reading experience.<br /><br />@Donna-I think it's not just planning,it's also awareness. If you look at an event and consider if it feels obvious or exectly how things seemed like they were going to turn out, I think that's enough to get the cogs turning.<br /><br />@jon-hi, welcome.<br /><br />@AA-it's worth looking for smaller reversals leading up to the big one.<br /><br />@cheryl-I hope so too, good luck with it.<br /><br />@LD-thanks for the award, alwys nice to get one.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-61755711276054473602011-09-20T22:10:38.456+01:002011-09-20T22:10:38.456+01:00So much info on this blog! I've tagged you fo...So much info on this blog! I've tagged you for the Versatile Blogger Award. If you'd like to participate, check out my current post.Sandwiched Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01679848449871735266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-47559929168154396012011-09-20T19:57:55.387+01:002011-09-20T19:57:55.387+01:00You're right about it being a lot of effort to...You're right about it being a lot of effort to pull this off--but if it can be done successfully, it's so worth it!Laura Josephsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04239501665574945313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-11487350409592080422011-09-20T19:31:10.828+01:002011-09-20T19:31:10.828+01:00This is what I aim to do in my writing (but I'...This is what I aim to do in my writing (but I'm not sure I always achieve it.)<br /><br />Excellent post, Mood.Lorenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17848249911635132594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-8146371527522191642011-09-20T13:44:31.544+01:002011-09-20T13:44:31.544+01:00This is a tiny issue I'm having in my current ...This is a tiny issue I'm having in my current WIP. I'm trying to work in the smaller reversals you talked about to make things more interesting. Hopefully it works out!Crystalhttp://littlebundleofcontradictions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-12769967054389824072011-09-20T06:15:43.159+01:002011-09-20T06:15:43.159+01:00Fantastic advice as always Mood. I did use a lot o...Fantastic advice as always Mood. I did use a lot of this in my latest novel and from the feedback I received it worked well. The reader never knew what was coming next.<br /><br />Any your are right, you can't just put on in at the end, The story needs to be sprinkled with them throughout.Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-44026529165603512652011-09-20T05:02:32.919+01:002011-09-20T05:02:32.919+01:00I've always known how to bead words together i...I've always known how to bead words together in a pleasing way. But I seem to know precious little about how to make a narrator truly grapple. Contrived second acts trouble me in story. I don't like a manufactured sense of urgency just before the denoument or for the actions of characters to fail to ring true just for the sake of that, I guess you could call it a trope? But then I end up with far too little-- strings holding the pieces together where there should be ropes. Nooses, even. :)Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-61073789191697444492011-09-20T02:30:35.433+01:002011-09-20T02:30:35.433+01:00I'm bookmarking this one so I can read it agai...I'm bookmarking this one so I can read it again. But I wanted you let you know you have an award waiting on my blog. Hop over and pick it up when you get the chance.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-16800074322215397742011-09-20T01:47:22.837+01:002011-09-20T01:47:22.837+01:00I have a couple of smaller reversals going on in m...I have a couple of smaller reversals going on in mine, and a pretty big plot reversal close to the end. The latter only came to me as I was writing that particular chapter and decided I didn't want it to end the way I had first envisioned. I think the new way works much better, is less cliched and should get a good reaction. At least I'm hoping so!Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07138682498522090332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-42194753419166705952011-09-20T00:24:04.992+01:002011-09-20T00:24:04.992+01:00I have a HUGE reversal in my currently finished ms...I have a HUGE reversal in my currently finished ms. I was wondering if it was almost *too* big, but it fit with the characters at the end. We'll see what happens. Great post!Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-33178771803223788622011-09-19T22:41:39.831+01:002011-09-19T22:41:39.831+01:00Hey! Thanks for cruising over to my blog and sayin...Hey! Thanks for cruising over to my blog and saying hello. Saying "hi" right back!jonyangorghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12477612124013290363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-62025715440962539972011-09-19T22:40:19.252+01:002011-09-19T22:40:19.252+01:00Nice! It's all the in the planning, I guess. S...Nice! It's all the in the planning, I guess. Some writers are so good with that. I've always loved how Rowling was able to hide things in plain sight and then pull the rug out from under us.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-67964907561450509502011-09-19T21:58:56.612+01:002011-09-19T21:58:56.612+01:00This is a great post. I never knew the technique h...This is a great post. I never knew the technique had a name. You're right about the eggs in one basket, though. If it works, it's fabulous. If it doesn't, it's terrible.Jennifer Hillierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783975547643539868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-49740813748069983782011-09-19T21:13:08.105+01:002011-09-19T21:13:08.105+01:00@Michael-the problem with that kind of approach is...@Michael-the problem with that kind of approach is it's all eggs in one basket, one big twist at the very end. When it works, fine, but mostly it becomes too obvious what you're doing. If the audience is expecting the twist, even if theyhave no idea what it is, then it sucks the power out of it,<br /><br />@JL-the plot twist is just one kind of reversal, it's the snaller, less dramatic reversals I think a lot of writers don't make full use of.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-45465205914183421452011-09-19T20:28:12.161+01:002011-09-19T20:28:12.161+01:00I'm big on plot twists and try work them in su...I'm big on plot twists and try work them in such a way that the reader is swept along with the story. When things become predictable, the reader won't stick around to find out what happens in the end.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-62064282695395918872011-09-19T20:27:11.061+01:002011-09-19T20:27:11.061+01:00I was thinking "M. Night Shyamalan" whil...I was thinking "M. Night Shyamalan" while reading this.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.com