tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post6200512141061468875..comments2023-05-04T08:55:45.336-04:00Comments on our stories, ourselves: Below the Surfaceemma d drydenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-91396459026532660512014-04-12T19:04:32.897-04:002014-04-12T19:04:32.897-04:00Thanks for your comment. No, I have not been in an...Thanks for your comment. No, I have not been in any competitions among bloggers.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-44840127314330959992013-01-22T05:31:45.619-05:002013-01-22T05:31:45.619-05:00Good day! I just wanted to tell that you sure have...Good day! I just wanted to tell that you sure have made a magnificent portal. And I have a question for you. Did you take place in any kind of competitions among bloggers?Mr. Troys Bloghttp://setyourownrules.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-85252366986637607462012-07-02T20:05:19.687-04:002012-07-02T20:05:19.687-04:00Emma! Whatever drives us, and/or our characters co...Emma! Whatever drives us, and/or our characters comes from a deeper source, yes. I guess this could even be the unconscious or the place we go in meditation, where our truths reveal themselves. It is interesting, and profoundly revealing to delve beneath surfaces. The constructs that foundationalize our being are beautifully complex, as you described. I shall never look at a tree or iceberg or my characters in quite the same way. Thank you!Janishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11672744598590035947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-19181504824916039662012-06-12T12:25:29.796-04:002012-06-12T12:25:29.796-04:00This is lovely, Melanie. Keep allowing yourself to...This is lovely, Melanie. Keep allowing yourself to experiment, explore, and stretch your writing.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-13488163174293630282012-06-12T12:22:18.266-04:002012-06-12T12:22:18.266-04:00Dear Emma: Thank you for the beautifully written p...Dear Emma: Thank you for the beautifully written post. The key for me is "to know thyself". Life is my teacher. Each experience in my life increases my self-awareness. The foundation for being aware is connectedness. And when I combine compassion and love, the shift within is constant. As a new author my process of evolving, growing has helped me to let go, allow the magic while writing to manifest.<br />Remaining connected to my heart keeps the magic coming! <br />With gratitude,<br />MelanieMelanie C. Joneshttp://www.melaniecjones.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-64181971086893629492012-06-05T18:38:11.602-04:002012-06-05T18:38:11.602-04:00Thanks so much.Thanks so much.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-34526414923329689652012-06-05T18:37:53.261-04:002012-06-05T18:37:53.261-04:00It is astonishing to see some of the old-growth tr...It is astonishing to see some of the old-growth trees in Central Park and along Central Park West or Fifth Avenue and what their root systems have done to survive amidst and among concrete, bricks, cobblestones, and other man-made obstacles. It's remarkable to see the complex pathways root systems will take to grab hold where they can. Ah, just as people can and do...emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-54429244423791282932012-06-05T18:35:56.507-04:002012-06-05T18:35:56.507-04:00Interesting to think about the vulnerable feelings...Interesting to think about the vulnerable feelings being evoked--and it makes me think about how as authors it's our job to allow our characters to show or feel vulnerability as much as it is to allow them to show or feel strength.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-25700733928046986122012-06-05T18:34:28.906-04:002012-06-05T18:34:28.906-04:00Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly right, Susan - i...Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly right, Susan - it's so important for authors to know what courses underneath the surface, which doesn't mean it all makes it into the story -- at least not obviously. As you say, it's in the blood. It's in the emotion. It's in the core.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-84224969324940243672012-06-05T14:26:34.666-04:002012-06-05T14:26:34.666-04:00Great post and comparison, was not expecting that ...Great post and comparison, was not expecting that at all. Also beautiful tree.<br /><br />-Oscar ValenciaTree Service Queenshttp://www.clearviewtree.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-19157212544242627392012-06-05T11:15:30.000-04:002012-06-05T11:15:30.000-04:00We once had a large oak tree removed from our yard...We once had a large oak tree removed from our yard because the acorns were persistently pelting our tender noggins. The arborist explained that the root system mirrors the branch canopy of the tree almost exactly, weaving around boulders and other unseen obstacles. Another factor to ponder, as we imagine what our characters have come to accomodate as they grow.Cathy Mealeyhttp://bildebok.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-59192480183002596242012-06-05T06:53:08.526-04:002012-06-05T06:53:08.526-04:00Like Joanna I felt rather vulnerable yet stronger ...Like Joanna I felt rather vulnerable yet stronger after reading this reflective post. I know I am moved by stories that can make me sob or laugh out loud, I hope my characters will convey such depth. Thankyou Emma.<br />DianePatientdreamerhttp://thepatientdreamer.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-22565152755953412662012-06-05T01:20:51.589-04:002012-06-05T01:20:51.589-04:00As always, very wise words, Emma. Reading them I a...As always, very wise words, Emma. Reading them I am feeling even more sure that the time I spend meandering with my characters in places that won't necessarily land in the story are often some of the most important pieces of the story. What runs beneath the surface of me, echoes in the blood of my characters.Susan Taylor Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06931432581676140096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-34326905100992957652012-06-04T15:48:10.491-04:002012-06-04T15:48:10.491-04:00Thanks, Jo. I think it's always wise and helpf...Thanks, Jo. I think it's always wise and helpful to evaluate and explore a character's motivations, no matter whether they are human, stick or otherwise! Regardless of the "format" of a character, you want readers to be able to identify with that character - and the very best way is through motivation and all that lies beneath the surface.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-10653802362728981512012-06-04T15:15:51.428-04:002012-06-04T15:15:51.428-04:00Beautifully written, Emma. I'll have to think ...Beautifully written, Emma. I'll have to think about the depth of my characters (stick creatures called Twigs) in relation to your meaning, though. I mean, they already have roots anyway. And their antics on ancient glaciers are already on the tip of an iceberg, sort of. <br /><br />Seriously, I realize my experiences also drive my guys. I do believe I'm going to have to devote more consideration to their motivations for being the stick beings that they are, so thanks for that!<br /><br />Lovely, thoughtful piece with important ideas, even if I'm out of my depth. Oh, and I love the photos! <br /><br />Cheers! JoJo Marshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10216737818741038655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-11260665187114465762012-06-04T13:46:56.663-04:002012-06-04T13:46:56.663-04:00Beverly, these are great questions to ask yourself...Beverly, these are great questions to ask yourself of your characters. I do find that authors can delve deeper into what lies below the surface of their characters by conducting interviews with their characters - and not just posing easy questions, but also the really tough ones. Invariably, I find when authors conduct such interviews, they tell me they've always been surprised by the answers their characters provide!emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-50629711587531910242012-06-04T13:45:27.295-04:002012-06-04T13:45:27.295-04:00Joanna, I do think the discovery of self and chara...Joanna, I do think the discovery of self and character can indeed go hand-in-hand. And it is brave to go on the journey, but necessary.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-2570070294897572372012-06-04T13:37:34.587-04:002012-06-04T13:37:34.587-04:00Lovely post and it really makes me re-examine my c...Lovely post and it really makes me re-examine my characters. Are they one-dimensional with no depth to them? What can I do to help readers connect to them? It's so hard to build a character's backstory and still stay on plot. But the most memorable books for me are those that find a way to present characters who have deep roots and still keep the plot moving.bevjamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-30092901040899776292012-06-04T13:34:44.657-04:002012-06-04T13:34:44.657-04:00This poetic reflection manages to make me feel bot...This poetic reflection manages to make me feel both vulnerable and strong, both exposed and covered, all at the same time! It is lovely. On my very short journey thus far as a writer, I find it hard to know whether self-discovery or character-discovery comes first? Maybe they have to go hand-in-hand as we dare to dig below the surface. Thank you for the challenge, Emma.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00633484787634197878noreply@blogger.com