tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.comments2014-04-17T09:51:12.574-07:00The Mae ProjectLori Folkmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-36405759145814921802014-04-17T09:51:12.574-07:002014-04-17T09:51:12.574-07:00Thanks Jenna! Glad you enjoyed it!Thanks Jenna! Glad you enjoyed it!Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-67326536550182719292014-04-14T11:29:42.907-07:002014-04-14T11:29:42.907-07:00I can't wait to read your examples! Thanks for...I can't wait to read your examples! Thanks for sharing your checklist formula. That was very interesting, and helpful. Great post!Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-16932837146908666152013-06-29T10:26:57.190-07:002013-06-29T10:26:57.190-07:00Jenna: You get an A+! I fell into the old trap tha...Jenna: You get an A+! I fell into the old trap that was + ing is always passive, but that's not always the case! However, it is a crutch writers use that results in weak writing. This article is one I have bookmarked, and I think it contributes to the confusion of was + ing being passive. I'm passing the blame, because I'm mature like that. :) <br /><br />http://writingonthewallblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/no-one-likes-passive-date.html<br /><br />BUT! 90% of the time, you should eliminate was +ing in your writing. The past tense makes for stronger writing than the past progressive tense. Instead of was sitting or was walking, it livens up the action in your writing to say she sat or she walked. <br />So while I was right to correct that phrase in the manuscript, I was wrong to call it "passive. Thank you!<br /><br />Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-92137960645412131402013-06-28T14:42:23.801-07:002013-06-28T14:42:23.801-07:00The part I liked most about this post is that you ...The part I liked most about this post is that you say I can improve my creativity. I have not had any confidence in trying this, but now maybe I will consider giving it a shot (writing an original fictional plot). I'm more wired for the grammar police jobs, but I'm glad to know I can improve my weaker areas if I want to. Thanks for the confidence boost :).<br /><br />Just wondering about one correction you made in your own writing... You said that "She was standing" is passive. I believe that it's actually active. "She was taken" or "She was pushed" would be passive, but that's different from what you wrote. "She was standing" is just as active as "I am thinking" or "Mom was eating." Perhaps it would be stronger to take the "to be" verb out and say "She stood," but all that's actually doing is changing the verb tense of "to stand." "Was standing" is imperfect past, and "stood" is preterite (another past form). That's how I understand it. Does that sound right to you?Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-48161451625827735832013-06-13T10:16:36.489-07:002013-06-13T10:16:36.489-07:00Jenna: aw, shucks. You are too kind! Sorry that yo...Jenna: aw, shucks. You are too kind! Sorry that you got burned out on research papers, but I understand: there's a huge difference between researching and writing something you WANT to write vs. something you are assigned to write. Maybe you could do a research paper on Hugh Jackman's career and that would cure you of your dislike of research papers. :) Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-61051773751983015502013-06-12T14:13:09.415-07:002013-06-12T14:13:09.415-07:00It's funny--what you said about the UM vs. U o...It's funny--what you said about the UM vs. U of M mistake. The University of Oregon can be called both U of O as well as UO (just not OU, which is a different school in the same state). Maybe she was from Oregon and thought all places used both titles. <br /><br />Your Reign of Trees book was so fantastic, your research really paid off. I don't know any different than what you reported, but one thing's for sure--you had me engrossed in that era without any doubts about its authenticity :). <br /><br />The sad thing is, I quit my minor in college (I got so close) because I couldn't bear to write another research paper. So, if there's one thing I'll never write, it's a historical novel! But now I'll certainly appreciate them more :)!Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-15554299664759608402013-05-29T09:41:44.130-07:002013-05-29T09:41:44.130-07:00A certain teenager at my house CAN and WILL eat an...A certain teenager at my house CAN and WILL eat an entire package of Oreos in one sitting! And he's skinny! I want his metabolism. Funny how teachers in middle school and high school want MORE adjectives and now we have to untrain ourselves from that bad habit. I wonder what else they taught us that was wrong??? :)Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-49457457576933558262013-05-27T18:00:30.037-07:002013-05-27T18:00:30.037-07:00I recently read this advice somewhere else too--th...I recently read this advice somewhere else too--that of using adjectives sparingly, so thanks for fortifying that point for me. I like your depiction of eating a whole package of Oreos all at once. Gag! I'll be looking out for this pitfall in my writing. Thanks!Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-48458629039120739342013-05-23T08:35:41.262-07:002013-05-23T08:35:41.262-07:00Don't let it kill you Jenna! I kinda like you ...Don't let it kill you Jenna! I kinda like you and want you to be around for awhile. :) Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-1451914297767483672013-05-22T07:13:49.320-07:002013-05-22T07:13:49.320-07:00I know I need to watch for hijacking as I read thr...I know I need to watch for hijacking as I read through my first draft of The Falling Part. I'm going to get this "Show don't tell" rule down if it kills me :). It's also helpful for me to keep in mind that different levels of details are needed at different times, so I'll keep an eye out for that. Thanks!Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-40926944161672202682013-05-13T13:46:19.379-07:002013-05-13T13:46:19.379-07:00A.D.: Thank you! You are too kind! Since you love ...A.D.: Thank you! You are too kind! Since you love cross stitching, maybe you would want to complete one for me. I started it over 7 years ago and I've never gotten back to finishing it! :(Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-73170146838625591752013-05-13T04:56:20.703-07:002013-05-13T04:56:20.703-07:00So WELL put Lori...amazing advice, thank you! Abs...So WELL put Lori...amazing advice, thank you! Absolutely, no one wants to be bombarded with too much info. You have an eloquent way of putting it, I love the cross stitch metaphor, maybe b/c I just love cross stitching :0)A.D. Dulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12895813040880939329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-44876923437760735772013-05-10T07:42:54.776-07:002013-05-10T07:42:54.776-07:00Jenna: I think telling comes naturally to everyone...Jenna: I think telling comes naturally to everyone; it's the showing that makes a true writer. I think you do a great job of showing already!<br /><br />Tara: I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't find what I'm looking for. :) If you ever do find that article, forward it to me. I would love to read it. Book reviewers know what they are talking about!Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-10340990168104923732013-05-09T21:36:45.673-07:002013-05-09T21:36:45.673-07:00Not long ago I read a little article by several bo...Not long ago I read a little article by several book reviewers on several ways to turn them off in the very first chapter. This was one of them. I was going to link to the article, but can't seem to find it again. So you're right on track with the book reviewers.TaraChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12945090273028710289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-11036566996288981452013-05-09T18:32:14.476-07:002013-05-09T18:32:14.476-07:00You can't tell me enough to "show rather ...You can't tell me enough to "show rather than tell" because it is so NOT automatic for me yet. This is a good illustration of when and how to do this. Thanks!Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-67286819306799732242013-05-06T21:22:51.024-07:002013-05-06T21:22:51.024-07:00Thanks Jenna, glad it was helpful!Thanks Jenna, glad it was helpful!Lori Folkmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707165102926821045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4583758561446276050.post-54733741622106313692013-05-06T06:09:38.597-07:002013-05-06T06:09:38.597-07:00Lori, that was a lot of helpful information! It g...Lori, that was a lot of helpful information! It gels with a lot of the things I've been learning recently, plus some new stuff. I like the way you summed up the lesson at the end. I now have a better idea of what the omniscient point of view is, and what the risks are. Cool! Thanks for a great first post!Jennifer Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00620872883706842592noreply@blogger.com