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Writing Clinic: Tackling Writing Problems

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Dancing Word Writers Workshop

with Brandilyn Collins

 February 2, 2001

Hosted by: Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

*This chat has been edited for clarity

Brandilyn Collins:: Dear God thanks for this time together. And I ask for wisdom for all of us as we hear each other's writing issues and work on them. Thanks for this forum, Lord, and for how You are using the internet. Amen.

Okay, who's got a question?

Anne McDonald: What's the best way to get over frustrations with writing?

Brandilyn Collins: What kinds of frustrations?

Anne McDonald: Staring at the screen with the brain revving, but going nowhere

MBananas: Ahh...my clone!

Brandilyn Collins: Ah. A novel?

Anne McDonald: yes

Brandilyn Collins: In the middle or beginning?

Anne McDonald: middle

Brandilyn Collins: That sagging middle. Do you have a solid understanding of where you story's going?

Anne McDonald: I can see the scenes, but cannot write to save my life.

Brandilyn Collins: Give me an example of a scene you have in mind.

Anne McDonald: The heroine walks into her office to discover that someone has trashed it.

Brandilyn Collins: What is the heroine expecting to do when she first enters? Before she knows what's happened?

Anne McDonald: To look for a map that her Uncle had stashed in the safe.

Brandilyn Collins: Is she in a hurry? Relaxed? What?

Anne McDonald: worried

Brandilyn Collins: Must she find the map quickly?

Anne McDonald: Yes. She has to find her way to a watering hole to save the horses.

Brandilyn Collins: Okay, Annie...I'm asking you questions to get you started on the process of discovering your character's inner rhythm. You are used to questioning your characters.

Anne McDonald: yep

Brandilyn Collins: What you need to do is question your character regarding every event in this scene.