tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post3737177689453969939..comments2023-08-27T04:22:55.468-07:00Comments on The Literary Lab: Sideshadowing and the Battle Against InevitabilityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-29135229459276464092011-01-25T18:49:33.798-08:002011-01-25T18:49:33.798-08:00Fabulous post!Fabulous post!Weronika Janczukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12403751499515726981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-65734692091445583982011-01-25T18:12:02.714-08:002011-01-25T18:12:02.714-08:00You know, thinking about it, did I do this in CIND...You know, thinking about it, did I do this in CINDERS, Scott?Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-47566680997850783562011-01-25T16:00:34.561-08:002011-01-25T16:00:34.561-08:00Ashley: I don't mind readers being annoyed tha...Ashley: I don't mind readers being annoyed that everything isn't wrapped up pretty with a nice bow for them. Though my own novels, I will admit, have pretty solid endings. At least those novels I've written so far. We'll see about the next one. I am sorely tempted by the siren song of indeterminacy. That might be as close as I can come to a happy ending.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-83736651107444048292011-01-25T15:05:21.535-08:002011-01-25T15:05:21.535-08:00I like what you said, Scott--
"I also think ...I like what you said, Scott--<br /><br />"I also think that writers get to put things into their books that even they don't fully understand as long as it feels like it should go in the MS."<br /><br />Because that's SO true. Sometimes, that very thing happens.<br /><br />I can't help but think maybe the TV series LOST was a story that relied heavily on sideshadowing. That show definitely ended on an odd note, with questions unanswered and the audience wondering how the heck to make sense of it. Weeks later, I was still thinking about the ending of the show. It left a lasting impact, for sure. Sideshadowing, if done well, should probably do that--an interesting concept to think about. Chances are, you'll still leave a lot of people angry though. ;-)Ashley Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03117850734221894809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-53536263558444211672011-01-25T13:46:32.398-08:002011-01-25T13:46:32.398-08:00Really, really interesting concept. I think it is ...Really, really interesting concept. I think it is probably best left in the hands of an experienced fiction writer, however.PJ Lincolnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07585994900635456551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-86621977580764081842011-01-25T11:37:09.941-08:002011-01-25T11:37:09.941-08:00Mmmm, I love this kind of stuff, but I know I'...Mmmm, I love this kind of stuff, but I know I'm a far way off from mastering it. I'm like Davin, kind of split in half, and I'm never sure which way to go. So far I haven't done much sideshadowing, but it's something I'd like to work on more now that I'm aware of it and have a name for it. Thanks! :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-65167231305864893742011-01-25T11:12:08.335-08:002011-01-25T11:12:08.335-08:00I've been attracted to these types of ideas ev...I've been attracted to these types of ideas ever since I started writing without ever really having a name for it. I think minimalist writing, which I love to read, also deals with the idea of sideshadowing. For me, I'm often inspired to go in this direction, but then I can't aways escape the conditioning that I have to write ideal stories. That tends to mess things up.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-54311335188973602172011-01-25T10:15:18.259-08:002011-01-25T10:15:18.259-08:00Scott, yeah, I should clarify. When I say I &quo...Scott, yeah, I should clarify. When I say I "accidentally" do a lot of these things, it's not an "oops, forgot about that," but more the sort of, "I'm not sure why, I really feel like it needs to be done this way."<br /><br />This spelling out will help me understand more why I think that way sometimes, and might help me catch some times when it's really not serving a purpose after all.C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-48419583285402187952011-01-25T10:12:16.895-08:002011-01-25T10:12:16.895-08:00I've never actually had a name for it, but I d...I've never actually had a name for it, but I definitely sideshadow in my story. <br /><br />In fact, a lot of things that happen are due to activities and choices made that took place years before, or at the same time, but out of the knowledge of the main characters. <br /><br />Hopefully, the reader will get the feeling that things are moving along even as characters sit and wonder what is happening. <br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-57424889238666063442011-01-25T09:02:46.718-08:002011-01-25T09:02:46.718-08:00Nevets and Rick: You're right. You have to be ...Nevets and Rick: You're right. You have to be in control of the MS or you're just being sloppy. I cry foul to anyone who accidentally leaves plotholes and then calls it sideshadowing out of laziness!<br /><br />But: I also think that writers get to put things into their books that even they don't fully understand as long as it feels like it should go in the MS. Which is a vague enough statement, don't you think?scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-20628400621385511342011-01-25T08:05:21.531-08:002011-01-25T08:05:21.531-08:00Great write-up, and interesting subject. I think ...Great write-up, and interesting subject. I think there's a thin line between a weak or incomplete story and an well-plotted sideshadow. Those who can do this successfully are masters of the craft.Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-85556382672121015732011-01-25T06:51:45.858-08:002011-01-25T06:51:45.858-08:00Scott, thanks for this awesome exploration of side...Scott, thanks for this awesome exploration of side-shadowing. I think this way about my short stories and my novels, and I "accidentally" do a lot of these things, but this really helps me understand and be more intentional about it. Awesome.C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.com