tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post1413311303991504364..comments2023-10-25T03:45:03.077-04:00Comments on Confessions of a Watery Tart: JugularHart Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-31991316192439588312010-10-12T19:51:59.992-04:002010-10-12T19:51:59.992-04:00Helena-I cry while I write with some regularity. ...Helena-I cry while I write with some regularity. Then again, I cry at commercials, so I might not be a good meter there... I would definitely have a rough time killing a really nice character (in fact I've intended to and backed off.<br /><br />Aleta-I have very poor tolerance of pants *snicker* (it is the most ME of my list) And yes, an office manager needs a bit of 'mean'<br /><br />Helen-exactly! Too good is ANNOYING (even in real life)<br /><br />Terry *snort* That must be the vein that runs near the funny bone!<br /><br />Lisa-I tend to be a suspense or thriller girl. I can enjoy a chick lit now and again, but prefer the darker end of them (Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood or Poisonwood Bible--both more mainstream but female themed)--Am finishing Secret Life of Bees and that is great--technically historical but abuse/dark racial history stuff. I really just generally prefer damaged people or hard lessons...Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-49437854356677078982010-10-12T19:39:44.126-04:002010-10-12T19:39:44.126-04:00You're rocking those stats! I am really inter...You're rocking those stats! I am really interested to hear what you prefer in the stories you read. I've tried reading chicklit, but I get frustrated with the focus on clothes, designer names, etc. I suppose I'm a little past the age demographic. <br /><br />Also, I just read one of those books where it turns into a slog. I stuck with it because I kept waiting for the story to pick up. It never did. It fits your #1 in the list of things to make you meaner. I think it worked.lisahgoldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158660223296807317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-66739181139958111432010-10-12T19:14:52.504-04:002010-10-12T19:14:52.504-04:00Perfect characters don't work. Didn't we a...Perfect characters don't work. Didn't we all hate the gorgeous cheerleader types? Of course, I was never in that "sosh" crowd.<br /><br />Sometimes it's nice to give your characters what they want, but then let them find out the consequences aren't what they expected.<br /><br />(And I confess I popped into this post because of the title--not long ago I read a book (historical) where the hero had to put an injured horse down, and he did it by slitting its "juggler vein."Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-45820106516963486662010-10-12T16:38:18.835-04:002010-10-12T16:38:18.835-04:00Congratulations on all your blog hits!
Characters...Congratulations on all your blog hits!<br /><br />Characters who are too good to believe are too good to believe and too good to like.<br /><br />Uh-oh. I'm always in pants. Crop pants or jeans, usually.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-22781978677666919572010-10-12T15:57:30.174-04:002010-10-12T15:57:30.174-04:00I liked those "get mean this way" list, ...I liked those "get mean this way" list, except for..<br /><br />"Make yourself wear pants. Pants make EVERYONE mean"<br /><br />Really? I wear pants just about every day for work.. then again, I manage an office staff, so yeah, maybe that's why I'm mean?! Lol.<br /><br />Love the justice part of this blog post!Aletahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05605214202876973830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-39418829476316393802010-10-12T15:38:29.699-04:002010-10-12T15:38:29.699-04:00I created a character knowing that in a future cha...I created a character knowing that in a future chapter I was going to have to kill him off. He was such a decent man that I was almost crying as I wrote his death scene.<br /><br />On the other hand, I also have a MC kill a bad guy, and that felt really good.Helenahttp://www.becominglayla.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-83981904875817881362010-10-12T13:13:21.112-04:002010-10-12T13:13:21.112-04:00Will-it's because we're nice people! *nods...Will-it's because we're nice people! *nods*<br /><br />Ellie-I am not for any long-term caffeine withdrawal (or pants wearing)--just for... you know... the scene.<br /><br />Alex-somehow I would have guessed that about you!<br /><br />Talli-actually--with the romantic comedy stuff you write, I can be really darned rotten there. It is the physical torture and killing off loved ones I have a hard time with.<br /><br />Holly-yeah... I suppose that IS the point... but I mean it in a nice way *shifty* And yeah--I haven't gotten the 'man seekers' since I was about 16 and learned it was a sham. I find it rather a disservice in literature.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-14358099451469410102010-10-12T12:19:40.194-04:002010-10-12T12:19:40.194-04:00Some of your suggestions to make ourselves meaner ...Some of your suggestions to make ourselves meaner just sounds like pure torture – I don’t want to be meaner to myself!<br /><br />“man being the answer to a woman's problems” Huge pet peeve of mine and I hate it when I see women searching for that in real life. It ain’t gonna happen!Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-7295187383054116172010-10-12T12:16:08.685-04:002010-10-12T12:16:08.685-04:00Yay! You're popular tart, with all those hits!...Yay! You're popular tart, with all those hits!<br /><br />I've been accused of being too mean to my little characters. Mwah hahaTalli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-12992018025738803122010-10-12T12:02:28.001-04:002010-10-12T12:02:28.001-04:00Congratulations on all those hits!
And I do #7 all...Congratulations on all those hits!<br />And I do #7 all the time.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-45508740700659974832010-10-12T11:22:56.223-04:002010-10-12T11:22:56.223-04:00I love the justice thang, most of all! I want tho...I love the justice thang, most of all! I want those wronged to have the last word! Beauty is<br />blinding, disrupts the story's path. I love your list, caffeine, been there did that...not fun!<br />I felt like I was sleepwalking through life, tried that for a year...it sucked! I acted like my life was sucked out of me. Guess my blood and grey matter, need the black oil, it greases my creative wheel! Pants...you are funny! <br />It is good you are in love, but no splenda, please. I believe you are good, but it wouldn't be your book. You have to have an edge, some grit with Hart!Ellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06070952447277684613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-60701251738857227342010-10-12T10:41:34.470-04:002010-10-12T10:41:34.470-04:00I love your crank-ifying methods! I too am too nic...I love your crank-ifying methods! I too am too nice to my 'babies.'Will Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10158149526658590324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-24252160963739081782010-10-12T10:26:28.452-04:002010-10-12T10:26:28.452-04:00Roland-I have trouble with that socio-path coolbes...Roland-I have trouble with that socio-path coolbess confusion, too. I can only find sympathy for rotten characters if a compelling REASON is shown for their current rottenness. And I snorted about your unnamed Bella hint--EXACTLY who I was thinking about.<br /><br />Leigh--you forgot your foil hat, didn't you? Brain thievery is my specialty!<br /><br />Dawn-a good way to edit! Mark all my spots I'm not rotten enough and ramp them up!<br /><br />MJenks-you're right of course, that a reason is needed--no rotten for rottens sake...Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-50042007097777757502010-10-12T10:00:55.899-04:002010-10-12T10:00:55.899-04:00Working part time in a bookstore...I do number 1. ...Working part time in a bookstore...I do number 1. Often.<br /><br />I have no problem making bad things happen to my characters. The thing I try NOT to do is to do bad things to them simply to do bad things to them. Whenever I write something, I always try to have every action be meaningful for the overall story. I'm hoping that character development and plot progession falls out of the bad things happening to my characters.MJenkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12761003604210840898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-60036202500073456152010-10-12T09:50:45.168-04:002010-10-12T09:50:45.168-04:00I had a problem being mean to my characters once, ...I had a problem being mean to my characters once, and then I studied with Steve Berry, who essentially red penned out all of my "niceness." Though I considered being mean to him (in jest), I realize now what a valuable lesson that was. I'm mean when I need to be now. Especially to the beautiful people :-DDawn Iushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01546425873531022196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-18375026034352199852010-10-12T09:44:43.168-04:002010-10-12T09:44:43.168-04:00da*n, hart! No lie, you totally stole my Thurs pos...da*n, hart! No lie, you totally stole my Thurs post which is already written as a follow up to yesterday's... b/c what happens when you fall in love w/your characters??? Yep, what you just said. <br /><br />It's that psychic connection. I know. ;p <3LTMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05239077455322030275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-69668273710871330142010-10-12T09:32:24.087-04:002010-10-12T09:32:24.087-04:00I cannot identify with perfect heroes. On the othe...I cannot identify with perfect heroes. On the other hand, I am weary of the author who confuses sociopathic characteristics with coolness.<br /><br />I sigh when I read a book or see a series of books about a formal wallflower suddenly becoming beloved of every good-looking undead or fur-sprouting guy she meets. Even Angelina Jolie or Megan Fox occasionally meets a good-looking man who thinks she just looks trashy.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-62160196441592547622010-10-12T09:14:49.790-04:002010-10-12T09:14:49.790-04:00CaH-ACK! A bitter dentist is SURELY made for tort...CaH-ACK! A bitter dentist is SURELY made for torture!<br /><br />Alexandra--yeah--older people are especially hard to be mean to--totally with you there!<br /><br />Jenny- *giggles* Not willing to give up the caffeine to be mean? <br /><br />Kas-I think this is central to some of the characters you really like who bug the heck out of me for READING. You, as a writer, torture your character enough that I can get past the beauty thing *snicker* And for my 'can't be mean' thing... my example is maybe best seen in Aunt Trudy in tOP.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-8686693055175223602010-10-12T08:47:04.355-04:002010-10-12T08:47:04.355-04:00Hmm. The beautiful people thing never bothers me ...Hmm. The beautiful people thing never bothers me because I think SO many people in real life are beautiful. They just have their own unique KIND of beautiful. And I find that it's my OTHER characters who insist that each other are beautiful... mainly because it's part of that whole love and eye of the beholder thing.<br /><br />And somehow I never realized YOU were nice to characters.. I'm certain we've talked before about how much we enjoy tortured characters.. Hmm.Kashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04825319426944810820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-1881424924022716282010-10-12T07:02:43.945-04:002010-10-12T07:02:43.945-04:00Give up caffeine?!?! Jamais!!! It's worth the ...Give up caffeine?!?! Jamais!!! It's worth the price of being, erm.. nice. Well nicer than normal! LOL!!!<br /><br />I would definitely get put off if a blurb of a book starts with "Lucille Fox-Trotty-Sunburn is a socialite married to Handsome Brick and has 2.3 adorable children but one day she finds a nail" by Ghost-writer in the form of a super model. Bleagh. <br /><br />Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-71532024698320610772010-10-12T06:39:32.734-04:002010-10-12T06:39:32.734-04:00I'm with you on the beauty part, it's a li...I'm with you on the beauty part, it's a little too Disney princessy for me:) But I couldn't do anything mean to my MC... He's old and grandfatherly... But there are a couple of others I could do pretty nasty things to, if they continue to annoy me:)Privatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018596012893869692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127677169344207651.post-16285058271908484412010-10-12T05:38:12.412-04:002010-10-12T05:38:12.412-04:00I'm writing some cool torture scenes right now...I'm writing some cool torture scenes right now. One of the bad guys in my story is a dentist, still bitter because he didn't get into brain surgery school. <br /><br />I'm not into computer games, always found it very boring. When I was in high school, I enjoyed programming computer games (they were very simple at that time). But once I finished a program I started making a new one, rather than playing it >:)<br /><br /><a href="http://cold-as-heaven.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Cold As Heaven </a>CA Heavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07558100567878233142noreply@blogger.com