tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post8573385603274639330..comments2023-09-05T12:51:25.656-05:00Comments on edittorrent: Define "Ordinary"Edittorrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-22313693783530186592010-12-11T14:46:31.841-06:002010-12-11T14:46:31.841-06:00I'm missing characters who are orginary for th...I'm missing characters who are orginary for their world from the listing. Depending on the genre, the world _can_ be scary... but not necessarily (when the focus is on the character's internal journey). <br /><br />The more accessible the ordinary world is, the less you need to show of it in order to give readers an idea of what it's like. If it's corporate America, a couple of sentences about 'another day at the office' is probably enough. If your protagonist is an ultra-marathon runner, there's more need for the ordinary.<br /><br />Also, in a lot of stories - at least initially - the protagonist wants to restore the safe, comfortable, ordinary world, so it's important for readers to understand what the protagonist is homesick for, what they are defending, or - if it's a call to adventure - what they stand to lose by taking up a challenge. <br /><br />(Having just started the Wizard of Oz, I really don't understand why Dorothy would want to go back to Kansas.)green_knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16499896006012152260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-78203003668365688622010-12-09T13:33:39.789-06:002010-12-09T13:33:39.789-06:00I'm always amazed at what are hot-button issue...I'm always amazed at what are hot-button issues for writers. (Let's not say the word "prologue!")<br /><br />I think of the Ordinary World rather as "the before picture", showing what life is like for this character before the events of the plot change everything. That can be setting, but is as much this person and what conflicts she/he has before the events start. A point of comparison, I guess.<br />AliciaEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-53897348232953538332010-12-09T11:32:54.054-06:002010-12-09T11:32:54.054-06:00Also, I think an ordinary character won't bore...Also, I think an ordinary character won't bore the reader as you've described it, because in today's world that type of ordinary is extraordinary. It really is almost a super power to remain kind in a challenging environment.<br /><br />As for ordinary action - we need some of it to ground the reader. Take Lost for example. For every "oh my gosh it's a polar bear!" scene, there's a scene about deciding who's going to look for water or Kate trying to keep Jack and Sawyer from bickering. The viewer/reader needs a hook. So, a "yes of course the character is brushing their teeth before bed. I'm right there with them thinking about how much I hate it when I accidentally use the kids toothpaste and *then* they hear that knock at the door, and wonder who it could be at this time of night..."Robin Lemkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12254896327174187893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-53503087155293742682010-12-08T23:04:58.641-06:002010-12-08T23:04:58.641-06:00Man, I've missed you guys... I hate being so ...Man, I've missed you guys... I hate being so busy that I don't get over here. *grumble* Stupid busy life.<br /><br />Anyway, yes, no one wants to read about someone brushing their teeth, so the action within a scene must always reflect some sense of the extraordinary, some sense that even if the situation is currently ordinary, it won't remain so for long. I found this post fascinating because it explains why I need a prologue for my story. My character doesn't know she's extraordinary (she resembles someone important) and doesn't know she's in a threatening world when the story opens. So I <i>had</i> to do a prologue from the villain's POV to kick off the tension.<br /><br />Yep, that's me, always being difficult. :)Jami Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957122956518765455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-87275133765693036942010-12-08T21:02:43.671-06:002010-12-08T21:02:43.671-06:00Yeah, I think you guys are onto it. Ordinary actio...Yeah, I think you guys are onto it. Ordinary action will bore the reader, but ordinary world or character won't because we understand change will come.<br /><br />Or something like that. <br /><br />Anyone care to argue that ordinary action is a good thing? I'm open to ideas here.<br /><br />TheresaEdittorrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14295505709568570553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-31527759645916002772010-12-08T19:02:20.516-06:002010-12-08T19:02:20.516-06:00Ordinary action is boring. No one wants to read ab...Ordinary action is boring. No one wants to read about that :) But that's the simple answer (my brain doesn't want to work now that it's officially Christmas break).<br /><br />The really weird part is that I subconsciously tried BOTH structures for the beginning of my WiP. Now I've moved away from both, although some elements are still there. <br /><br />Insightful post :) Now I'm going to pay attention to whether my character is in an ordinary world or a threatening world...<br /><br />Basically, since Harry Potter moved out of his ordinary world, does that mean he was put into a threatening world or just the world in which he 'belonged'?Jessica Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405267450788581689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6824896765631412903.post-38917090013385612332010-12-08T16:51:51.002-06:002010-12-08T16:51:51.002-06:00I will try a teeny bit. The idea is glimmering in ...I will try a teeny bit. The idea is glimmering in my brain, so let's try.<br /><br />Ordinary is how I think of as "the standard" whether it is in the world around the H/h, or in the people themselves, h/h or secondary characters, or in their actions.<br /><br />The action in our stories need to be extra-ordinary. There needs to be a reason, something MORE than the ordinary.<br /><br />Are they acting out of character? If so, why? Are they having to overcome something in their nature, "the ordinary," in order to succeed? Examples of things they may need to overcome is fear, possible disapproval, stepping outside their comfort zones, and the like.<br /><br />For me, it is what is changing, how the character is growing because of X. Therefore the action cannot be ordinary...<br /><br />So, did that help muddy the waters any? :PLeonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11786326364037397675noreply@blogger.com