tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post4007037604435669697..comments2024-03-26T11:32:56.196-07:00Comments on Revising & Editing: Conflict in Romance by Amalie BerlinNas http://www.blogger.com/profile/08341843048288374472noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-21384689419054883352015-10-28T12:31:05.784-07:002015-10-28T12:31:05.784-07:00I hear you. All of us have to grow into our art. I hear you. All of us have to grow into our art. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-41633460194025059002015-10-28T12:18:46.178-07:002015-10-28T12:18:46.178-07:00It was a hard lesson for me to learn, so if I can ...It was a hard lesson for me to learn, so if I can help someone else avoid all those future rewrites, the post was well worth it :)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-70953114214320358112015-10-28T12:13:31.075-07:002015-10-28T12:13:31.075-07:00Glad it was helpful :) And thank you!Glad it was helpful :) And thank you!Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-50442658056119172772015-10-27T18:31:52.419-07:002015-10-27T18:31:52.419-07:00I always think about conflict in general, but this...I always think about conflict in general, but this really opened up my eyes to the idea of romantic conflict. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-44738082886983104112015-10-26T15:56:11.143-07:002015-10-26T15:56:11.143-07:00Loved seeing the chart and for learning about the ...Loved seeing the chart and for learning about the best things that Amalie has learned. :) Wishing her all the best!<br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-70567722199909409032015-10-26T14:57:49.576-07:002015-10-26T14:57:49.576-07:00Welcome, Squidy! And thanks for having a fun ID......Welcome, Squidy! And thanks for having a fun ID... so I can call someone Squidy today :)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-90233700235688874282015-10-26T14:51:10.912-07:002015-10-26T14:51:10.912-07:00Goal Motivation Conflict! There are different ways...Goal Motivation Conflict! There are different ways to get that necessary foundation into stories, but this one is the easiest for me to remember. Michael Hague's conflict structure does the same thing, though he doesn't focus on romance... but you can find a summary of the idea here: http://blog.janicehardy.com/2012/08/the-inner-struggle-guides-for-using.htmlAmalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-39342969462365648142015-10-26T14:43:06.203-07:002015-10-26T14:43:06.203-07:00If I don't write stuff down and make myself pu...If I don't write stuff down and make myself put it into words, nothing is ever straight in my head. <br /><br />I really envy people who can just flow with the story, but at least this lets me claim multi-colored pens and index cards as legit business supplies... not just me buying pens and index cards because I like to buy pens and paper products... :) Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-90590001419807919102015-10-26T14:41:42.569-07:002015-10-26T14:41:42.569-07:00Thank you and you're welcome! :)
I had a grea...Thank you and you're welcome! :)<br /><br />I had a great weekend, went to an all day writing workshop with a great friend. (And bought more craft books so I can learn stuff!). Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-26841947598571719372015-10-26T14:40:09.839-07:002015-10-26T14:40:09.839-07:00The other aspect of the chart that I love? I print...The other aspect of the chart that I love? I print them out on huge index cards and write on them with multi-colored ink and it makes me feel like I'm in some 80s movie-montage about being organized and doing work... in the library, with a bunch of books piled up alll around... and a typewriter... even though I don't have a typewriter, and I don't like to work with people around... And with Solsbury Hill playing in the background :) <br /><br />You know... because if you imagine the work in montage-form, it's way less scary to start a new book.<br /><br />(I know I'm weird.)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-64019916428382803162015-10-26T14:37:12.281-07:002015-10-26T14:37:12.281-07:00Thank you and you're welcome :)Thank you and you're welcome :)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-67589502577345566832015-10-26T14:36:53.005-07:002015-10-26T14:36:53.005-07:00Not just conflict, but romantic conflict! I swear ...Not just conflict, but romantic conflict! I swear I had really really conflict-riddled characters before I sold... I just took forever to figure out how to spiral those internal issues into romantic roadblocks.Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-79439034644513156162015-10-26T14:35:43.687-07:002015-10-26T14:35:43.687-07:00That's why I have so many craft books I should...That's why I have so many craft books I should really start donating them to the library... And why I love conferences and workshops. And the RWA national recordings... <br /><br />I probably need a 12-step program for this fixation, actually.Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-570556920491849872015-10-26T14:33:22.299-07:002015-10-26T14:33:22.299-07:00I love seeing other people's processes too. Ev...I love seeing other people's processes too. Every time I make a tweak to my process(usually by stealing something from someone else), I'm convinced that it will make writing easier. Which is my ultimate goal, and ultimate lie to myself. It gets a little easier over time, I think, but I like to tell myself it will be SO MUCH EASIER THIS TIME :) <br /><br />I live in a state of professional denial :)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-92130806855774938992015-10-26T14:31:50.561-07:002015-10-26T14:31:50.561-07:00Not me! I want to read about people who are more m...Not me! I want to read about people who are more messed up than I am--which is kind of a tall order, so I usually read books where the characters are a bit more together than I am... but the ones I dearly love are the hot messes :)<br /><br />And thank you. My Sleepy Sheikh is my new favorite book. Surpassed even my debut in terms of favorite-child-status now. Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-55798345472212849992015-10-26T14:29:47.269-07:002015-10-26T14:29:47.269-07:00Totally agree. Be mean to your story people :) You...Totally agree. Be mean to your story people :) Your readers will thank you! (And your editor won't have to shake you...)<br /><br />Thanks :) Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-85861228462289390602015-10-26T14:29:07.508-07:002015-10-26T14:29:07.508-07:00Thank you! I didn't show the rest of my plotti...Thank you! I didn't show the rest of my plotting, but I have loads more charts. It is way too much to put into a single post, and when my pantser friends see my process... it's almost seizure-inducing for them :)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-57093516049898650512015-10-26T14:27:37.113-07:002015-10-26T14:27:37.113-07:00It is on Amazon! In fact, you can get it in e-form...It is on Amazon! In fact, you can get it in e-format now, within the past year or two that changed. When I bought my copy in like... 2011... it was only in hardback still. And it's great, but I still have trouble separating out all the bits. If you look at my chart, everything is there that I need, but it's not necessarily in the right header ... not neat and clean within it's box, it all sprawls out all over. I don't think that's because of the book--the book explained everything--I just have trouble categorizing stuff. I blame the dyslexia :)Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-1864454675731828872015-10-26T14:24:17.404-07:002015-10-26T14:24:17.404-07:00It really shows when it's not there, though wh...It really shows when it's not there, though when you're just starting out it's not necessarily something you realize. My first editor had to practically beat me over the head to get some romantic conflict out of me :) Well that, and other emotions besides snarky humor. Amalie Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346563294446609770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-81370037054104185362015-10-23T19:39:56.396-07:002015-10-23T19:39:56.396-07:00Hello, Amalie! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.Hello, Amalie! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.The Armchair Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10739833215220853127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-119072492420777482015-10-23T18:54:39.114-07:002015-10-23T18:54:39.114-07:00So glad you put the chart in as I had no idea what...So glad you put the chart in as I had no idea what a GMC was (other than the car brand). Thanks for all the tips that worked for you. Wishing you much success!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-41945582842141408472015-10-23T11:02:40.061-07:002015-10-23T11:02:40.061-07:00That chart looks really helpful to keep everything...That chart looks really helpful to keep everything straight. Thanks for sharing.Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844837212122243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-70963748761758220052015-10-23T06:36:18.712-07:002015-10-23T06:36:18.712-07:00Thanks so much for the advice, Amalie! I read some...Thanks so much for the advice, Amalie! I read something years ago that said, "No conflict, no story." That stuck with me, and I appreciate the additional insight you offered here. Happy weekend! Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-56423871739028453202015-10-22T20:42:14.154-07:002015-10-22T20:42:14.154-07:00That was definitely a helpful chart, and gave me s...That was definitely a helpful chart, and gave me some good things to think about!Meradeth Houstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741790047121063893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015025502147924207.post-55825918174654967212015-10-22T18:37:21.708-07:002015-10-22T18:37:21.708-07:00Thanks for sharing how you chart out your story. V...Thanks for sharing how you chart out your story. Very helpful.<br />Your book sounds like a great read.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.com