tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33682292.post4539518703148414923..comments2024-01-30T06:19:10.591-07:00Comments on The Adventures of Melody Yellowvan: Viruses--of a different sortBecca Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04177698452364502845noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33682292.post-10434948077775242542009-01-20T02:00:00.000-07:002009-01-20T02:00:00.000-07:00How do I handle violence in my novels? Well, for o...How do I handle violence in my novels? <BR/><BR/>Well, for one thing, I don't think in violence, so it doesn't tend to come much into play in my stories, and when it does I am usually uncomfortable and unsure of it.<BR/><BR/>Also, violence (and bad language) can be fully effective story-wise when it happens off-stage reader-wise. It tells you everything you need to know about the character and how they feel about the situation when you say, "She cursed." as when you detail the words she said.<BR/><BR/>In truth, though, I suspect this is a major reason I haven't found an agent yet, despite TONS of positive feedback from agents. My writing tends to have the moral appropriateness for 12-yr-olds but the intellectual level of intelligent adult women. Agents see no market for that--clean, fun, lightweight, good guys win, but makes your brain work, too.Becca Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04177698452364502845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33682292.post-77475661620717377872009-01-19T22:14:00.000-07:002009-01-19T22:14:00.000-07:00Agreed on cultural viruses. Also thought about bad...Agreed on cultural viruses. Also thought about bad seeds, though not so deeply, ie. the excuses. I, too, agree that the violence (and many other things) just become part of the background noise and 'just don't seem that bad anymore.' <BR/><BR/>As I read the Twilight books in the last year, this is the way I felt. "Of good report? Praiseworthy? What am I really reading here? A hormonal teenager with an abnormal obsession with her vampire boyfriend who is always on the edge of wanting to eat her, who is being chased by people who are . . . well, vampires being vampires, and who can only die when . . . well . . ." You see my point?<BR/><BR/>Did it draw me in? Absolutely. But, as much as I 'enjoyed' it, it didn't feel right and appropriate. My spirit was not comfortable with it. So, where do you limit the violence? The sex? The language? When I come to these question-points now, I think of something a GA said, though I can't remember who (Packer?), "If there is any question; don't read it, don't see it, don't participate." That's my mantra now. Learned through some yucky experiences. <BR/><BR/>Watched Iron Man on recommendation. Yuck. DID NOT appreciate the village scene, the callous way it was all dealt with. Boom, oh, whoops, there goes another family. Oh, was that a child watching his family blow up? Op, too bad, there's fodder for an independent film. Sick, it's just sick. I find I have no desire to watch movies I used to think were great. Just can't stomach most of them anymore . . .<BR/><BR/>So, how do you deal with violence in your novels? I am interested to see how you will handle it.morelightthanburdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00797491093201509262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33682292.post-64583128783644627252007-04-23T11:38:00.000-06:002007-04-23T11:38:00.000-06:00Equating "reality" only with negative emotions: se...Equating "reality" only with negative emotions: see the last paragraph of C.S. Lewis's <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/phantom1/books2/c._s._lewis_-_the_screwtape_letters.htm" REL="nofollow">Screwtape Letters</A>, letter XXX.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com