| An exercise in descriptions |    |
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Sue Sunshine
Four Star Member
Age : 58
Joined : 16 Jan 2008
Posts : 632
Location : Midwest, USA
 |  Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions  Sat May 17, 2008 4:46 pm | |
| Okay Folks, my two cents. Again, I feel as though I am low man on the totem pole but I have to stick my nose in.
I like Allllllll the discussions!!!!!! We need to be lighthearted at times and get away from the serious side so that we can go back to it. I think laughing and joking helps us clear our minds for the serious side of writing.
Brenda, Please, please post!!!!!!!! I need all the help I can get!!!!!! If I have something to add to help out I will. It seems though that most of you have things covered already.
I do agree about the arguing though. I almost gave up because of the negativity I felt a while back. I am trying to learn not to take it personally.
I haven't done the exercises because I haven't had, or taken, the time to do them. Finding time to write is a big issue for me. I feel guilty sometimes even being here when I know I should be doing something else. BUT!!!! I LOVE this group!!!!!!! And I can't stay away. I have left most all my other groups but come to this one more than once a day. (You can tell by the times on the postings.)
So, in conclusion.... you are all probably saying it's about time.... I want it all, the exercises, the posts on help for writers (and publishers), the laughs, the cries.
Thank you for being here for me! I hope someday to be able to be there for you.
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http://www.weavingdreamspublishing.com
http://suesunshine.blogspot.com/
http://suesunshine.wordpress.com/ |
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Sue Sunshine
Four Star Member
Age : 58
Joined : 16 Jan 2008
Posts : 632
Location : Midwest, USA
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sat May 17, 2008 4:52 pm | |
| Pam,
Could you elaborate more, please, on your statement that you write all day. Is this for your books? Do you set times? How do you keep out the distractions? I have a hubby who won't leave me alone.
Charlene Baumbich, author of the Dearest Dorothy series, stated she leaves home for 2 weeks to write. She goes to a motel or bed and breakfast and just writes because there are too many distractions at home. I have threatened my husband with this. However, I don't have the money to do it, "yet". *grin*
So, Pam, I am looking forward to your input. Also any of the rest of you that would like to share your schedule with us.
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http://www.weavingdreamspublishing.com
http://suesunshine.blogspot.com/
http://suesunshine.wordpress.com/ |
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Shelagh
Admin
Joined : 11 Jan 2008
Posts : 2069
Location : UK
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sat May 17, 2008 5:06 pm | |
| | Abe F. March wrote: | | Oh! Oh! Oh! Ahhhhhh. |
Almost as good as Meg Ryan. Now, Pam, let us all see what you can do. 
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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/ |
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Shelagh
Admin
Joined : 11 Jan 2008
Posts : 2069
Location : UK
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sat May 17, 2008 5:09 pm | |
|  I would like to address the issue about negative posting but this is not the right place. I've started a new thread on the Chatter Box board to explain about moderators (or lack of!) on the forum.
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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/ |
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Pam
Five Star Member
Age : 42
Joined : 02 Feb 2008
Posts : 1358
Location : Nova Scotia, Canada
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sat May 17, 2008 5:17 pm | |
| | Abe F. March wrote: | | Oh! Oh! Oh! Ahhhhhh. |
Abe you hit the mark on that one (oh the puns will never quit now, I can tell). I think that there are two ways to write about sex...first person (the inside of a character's mind) or third person. For me, when it comes to sex there is only one way to do it...
Oh get your minds out of the gutter you lot! This is a (semi) serious comment on my part. I mean that I enjoy sex scenes that are written in the third person because there is a lot more in them for me than the ones that I have read in the first person. Think Diana Gabaldon. Rich, sexy and full of, um, action.
Besides, as a single (again) woman, I need the third person aspect to bring the scene to life in my imagination. 
I would write a sample on here but I know that we have one or two members who are pretty young, and so will defer to keeping things at a G-rating.
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Pam Robertson 
http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com |
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Pam
Five Star Member
Age : 42
Joined : 02 Feb 2008
Posts : 1358
Location : Nova Scotia, Canada
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sat May 17, 2008 5:19 pm | |
| | Sue Sunshine wrote: | Pam,
Could you elaborate more, please, on your statement that you write all day. Is this for your books? Do you set times? How do you keep out the distractions? I have a hubby who won't leave me alone.
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Sue I'll start a new thread to reply, to avoid taking away from Abe's great thread. IT's right here... http://www.publishedauthors.org/authors-f6/writing-day-t537.htm. 
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Pam Robertson
http://andthebandplayedonmylawn.blogspot.com
Last edited by Pam on Sat May 17, 2008 6:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Shelagh
Admin
Joined : 11 Jan 2008
Posts : 2069
Location : UK
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Sue Sunshine
Four Star Member
Age : 58
Joined : 16 Jan 2008
Posts : 632
Location : Midwest, USA
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Abe F. March
Five Star Member
Age : 69
Joined : 26 Jan 2008
Posts : 1229
Location : Germany
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sun May 18, 2008 8:53 am | |
| PAM,
I have yet to read any description that can truly describe the ecstasy one feels.
For someone who had never experienced an "orgasm,"  (I've said that word)
how can you possibly describe that feeling in writing?
_________________
"To Beirut and Back"
http://www.freewebs.com/abemarch |
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Shelagh
Admin
Joined : 11 Jan 2008
Posts : 2069
Location : UK
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sun May 18, 2008 9:27 am | |
| Meg Ryan was supposed to be a clue. The scene in the film "When Harry met Sally" is memorable because it was so over the top and topped by the comment, "I'll have what she's having."
Sex is personal and enjoyed on many levels. Sex for gratification is either masturbation or paid for sex. The pleasurable side of sex is the motivator to do something that people wouldn't take the time and effort to do if it wasn't pleasurable. In some African countries, women are still denied this enjoyment to keep them faithful to their husbands. The irony is that men are the cause of the enormous AIDS problem across Africa...
I digress. Sex described in books is about the sensual side of sex and the loving side of sex. Very rarely is it about procreation or gratification.
What you are trying to describe is a sensation, not a feeling. How would you describe suffering from hypothermia to someone who had never experienced the sensation of feeling cold? How would you explain the sound of a musical instrument to someone born deaf?
There are words to describe feelings but it is very difficult to describe a sensation to anyone who has never experienced that sensation.
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Shelagh Watkins
http://shelaghwatkins.co.uk/ |
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Forest Elf
Four Star Member
Joined : 09 May 2008
Posts : 444
Location : Happily Wandering
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sun May 18, 2008 2:59 pm | |
| | Abe F. March wrote: | PAM,
I have yet to read any description that can truly describe the ecstasy one feels.
For someone who had never experienced an "orgasm," (I've said that word)
how can you possibly describe that feeling in writing? |
For that matter, each time isn't necessarily the same as previous times.
Is it even the same with a different partner? Is it different it you are deeply in love and it isn't just attraction?
Is it different for the man than it is for the woman?
Funny you should ask the question, Abe.
As you know, I write romance. There is a big difference, for me, in writing to indicate the atttraction between the characters and then writing the more intimate scenes. And I agree, I don't think I could even write those things in a convincing manner had I not experienced them for myself.
There are feelings and sensations that are so personal, deep, and meaningful that trying to put them into words just doesn't quite do it. Not just an orgasm, but other things as well.
As you go through life and experience things, both good and bad, beautiful and ugly. Some of them just can not be properly conveyed by mere words.
And yes, I've read romance novels where those 'intimate' scenes are 'convincing' ... and I've read romance novels that leave me wondering if the writer has ever been 'there'. No, I didn't wonder very long. 
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~ JoElle ~
http://www.joellemartin.com
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lin
Four Star Member
Joined : 20 Mar 2008
Posts : 803
Location : Mexico
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Brenda Hill
Four Star Member
Joined : 16 Feb 2008
Posts : 576
Location : Southern CA
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sun May 18, 2008 5:12 pm | |
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Abe, if I may hijack your post for a moment, I just want to say that
I've received emails from a couple of people asking if I'm okay. They
said my comments sounded different from my normal and asked if I were
depressed.
Thanks, guys, for your concern. It's truly wonderful to know someone cares.
And yes, I guess I was feeling pretty low about some news I'd received
and should've hid in the closet instead of browsing a forum. No deaths
or anything that horrible, thank goodness.
So thanks again, and maybe I'll be back in a few days.
Thanks Abe!
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www.brendahill.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cu6YeS9_Ro |
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Abe F. March
Five Star Member
Age : 69
Joined : 26 Jan 2008
Posts : 1229
Location : Germany
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sun May 18, 2008 5:22 pm | |
| Brenda,
don't stay away too long. I enjoy your insights about writing and especially your determination to do it your way. Perhaps the CD, "My Way" made popular by Frank Sinatra, would help. That song started ringing in my head on numerous occasions. It was such satisfaction to have a song to express my feelings.
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"To Beirut and Back"
http://www.freewebs.com/abemarch |
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Brenda Hill
Four Star Member
Joined : 16 Feb 2008
Posts : 576
Location : Southern CA
| | Subject: Re: An exercise in descriptions Sun May 18, 2008 5:26 pm | |
| Oh, Abe, that's a wonderful idea. Your concern makes me cry. Thanks.
Going now for a bit.
Of course a wonderful experience like hiking to a castle might help. Think I could borrow yours?
_________________
www.brendahill.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cu6YeS9_Ro |
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| An exercise in descriptions | |
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