Barny

Is anyone else getting bogged down with some of the examples in Burroway? I read them and just can’t make the connection to what she’s trying to portray. Beginning to think that it’s me at fault – that I haven’t got the ability to understand the more subtle nuances of the techniques. And if I did understand them, would it make me write any…[Read more]

About to spend all day travelling so hopefully should be able to read it today!!

I haven’t started the chapter so very relieved we have an extension! Same as you @janeshuff.

Two would be great. Somehow Christmas ate up so much time… Plus I haven’t even started my Winter Competition Story.

I haven’t even got around to reading the chapter yet. Can we have two?

Yep. Of course.

I figured I’d check as it is scheduled for tomorrow, but no posts have been made on Class 3, and I wondered if that meant people had been too busy with Christmas things etc.

Is a week longer enough time?

No. Can we have an extension?

Are people ready for the next class?

@katemachon. The questions come from Andrew Wille’s questionnaire but there are lots of others about. Personally, I don’t find the What is their favourite colour sort of question very helpful. I think the best ones work a bit like writing prompts, sparking ideas off or pulling ideas together. Anyway I’m glad it was interesting!

@janeshuff Heavens, what a hugely impressive amount of insight. I’m not sure I know that much about my main characters who have been around for four books (but it would be interesting to see what I DO know, so I’ll spend some time with this – thank you, really enlightening.

Thanks @JaneShuff. It’s really fascinating the amount of detail you’ve gone into, and you’re asking all sorts of questions that would never have occurred to me. I’ll have to ponder this for a while and try and apply it to a character. Many thanks.

Hi @katemachon. Here’s the character questionnaire I did for Dipsy. You’ll see that I ignored some of the questions – basically if nothing comes to mind, I don’t beat myself up about it. I also don’t worry about the answers being particaulrly interesting, so some of it is pretty dull. But I do find them helpful for clarifying and focussing…[Read more]

Thanks Sea! Maybe the bony restless fingers aren’t right… And she is named after a Teletubbies character!

Just skimmed this, Jane, but I love Dipsy!
Yep, I also found the ‘bony, restless fingers’ at odds with her large hips, (although possibly also influenced by her having the same name as a teletubby :))

Thanks @katemachon and @sandradavies. I realise that I should have given some context to this as it’s actually an excerpt from my WIP and, although this is the first time Dipsy actually appears, the reader would know her age and her relationship to the narrator. So sorry.

I will tidy up Dipsy’s character questionnaire and post it if you’d like,…[Read more]

Good stuff, Jane. I am a ‘surface reader, accept what I’m given and expect to be further enlightened as the tale goes on, but also need to be enticed in the first place. Although Dipsy doesn’t sound like someone I’d warm to/would actively avoid for her lack of off button, her situation and the narrator have my sympathy.

Describing what she was…[Read more]

Hi @JaneShuff – two brilliant characters here. One bursting off the page, and the other grinding their teeth in the background.

I’ve concentrated on the distinguishing features, and these are the impressions I got as I read:

The initial description of Dipsy’s (great name) clothes – ‘capacious’ and big pleated skirts’, made me think of someone on…[Read more]

Thanks WB. those writing exercises look like great fun.

Thank you @woolleybeans! You’re the best x

Oh WB I’m sorry. I’m sending you big squishy hugs too xx