On Sat, Aug 11, 2012 at 1:48 PM, Nat Russo <[email protected]> wrote:
> But how do you avoid these types of constructions in internalization? When > a character is internalizing they *know* stuff. They *realize* other > things, and then they *decide* to plow on through to the next scene. On > occasion they even <gasp> see or hear things :) Don't tell me "Joe was thinking about this when he realized that and decided to do this thing." Have Joe review what he knows with a friend, the friend ask him a question that lets him give his "Aha!" moment verbally, and then they can decide together. At least, that's one way to do it. I just read the beginning of another book where the author has to have the inevitable "In case you're just joining us, we're going to review what happened in all the other books of the series, without boring the longtime fans to tears" section. He does a good job - not just recounting the events, but having the character reflect on his feelings about those events and how those feelings are affecting him right NOW. He doesn't have to "realize" anything after that - just look up, and declare the thing he just "realized" as an important truth. Anyway, that's a non-author's perspective. Your mileage may vary, valid at participating retailers only.
