tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post3205003908828371849..comments2024-02-04T04:40:23.122-08:00Comments on Harlequin Heartwarming: Character and Backstory (or “Slow down, Gotham”) by Cheryl HarperPamela Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05834270662017246137noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-66215281769851211872014-10-13T16:01:02.218-07:002014-10-13T16:01:02.218-07:00Thanks, Eleanor!Thanks, Eleanor!Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-62502115662163772192014-10-13T16:00:36.155-07:002014-10-13T16:00:36.155-07:00I've been watching that too (of course, I have...I've been watching that too (of course, I have. Apparently my DVR is on overload) and most of the time my thinking is "What is going on here?" It's not like other shows!Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-51441886588567418622014-10-13T15:59:25.573-07:002014-10-13T15:59:25.573-07:00Thank you! It is hard to figure out just where the...Thank you! It is hard to figure out just where the line is, and every story is different.Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-78857420877436253172014-10-13T15:58:44.844-07:002014-10-13T15:58:44.844-07:00I love Castle! That is a show that I never miss. A...I love Castle! That is a show that I never miss. And I know what you mean about the darkness. That's not entertainment to me.Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-85315150932902250832014-10-13T12:46:52.052-07:002014-10-13T12:46:52.052-07:00Great points Cheryl. We don't get those shows ...Great points Cheryl. We don't get those shows in England but your points make good sense.i guess I need to think things through a bit moreAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06724083584128888235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-29968889196993135572014-10-13T12:27:00.010-07:002014-10-13T12:27:00.010-07:00Great critique, Cheryl! I watch little TV. Not eno...Great critique, Cheryl! I watch little TV. Not enough hours in a day for me. But I totally get what you're saying about overkill sometimes. When there's too much going on and too much backstory you lose what the actual plot is about. Gonna skip Gotham. I am hooked on How to get Away with Murder though. That's a good one!Amy Vastinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10370234907973582544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-18368824923868119742014-10-13T11:30:17.390-07:002014-10-13T11:30:17.390-07:00Love that Teresa Myers quote about back story! Had...Love that Teresa Myers quote about back story! Had a reviewer comment that my last story seemed rushed. A neat juggling act trying to balance required length with what's needed for characters and plot. Great post, Cheryl.Leigh Rikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614965296068207696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-32764074040804828912014-10-13T09:19:41.745-07:002014-10-13T09:19:41.745-07:00Cheryl - I so admire your ability to analyze. I c...Cheryl - I so admire your ability to analyze. I can't see into things to figure out their component parts - I just like or don't and can't always figure out why. I know I don't like unrelieved darkness, so I didn't even try Gotham. I, too, love Madame Secretary - I like the way she works things out in ways I would never had imagined. And I still love Castle - have to know Muriel Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065629068634892645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-14456036573237692072014-10-13T09:16:57.540-07:002014-10-13T09:16:57.540-07:00Oof...hitting me with the truth! :) Right now, I&#...Oof...hitting me with the truth! :) Right now, I'm back at it. In just a minute...Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-55437656767015630332014-10-13T08:57:17.925-07:002014-10-13T08:57:17.925-07:00This is a show that my kids (who love Batman) love...This is a show that my kids (who love Batman) love and my writing friends hate. Great overview as to why. And girl, you need to sit your butt in the chair and write...backstory or notMelinda Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07008876199054404069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-61044919904909276272014-10-13T08:11:02.583-07:002014-10-13T08:11:02.583-07:00In my own writing, I have a hard time analyzing th...In my own writing, I have a hard time analyzing the mechanics so I'm not sure I ever really consider how to work in backstory, but as I do more, I think I get better. Thank goodness! :)Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-11608759789789597982014-10-13T08:09:23.736-07:002014-10-13T08:09:23.736-07:00Thank you! Thank you! Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-595645022842025242014-10-13T08:08:38.035-07:002014-10-13T08:08:38.035-07:00SO GLAD I'M NOT ALONE! I missed The Flash (bec...SO GLAD I'M NOT ALONE! I missed The Flash (because of something like a political debate for the upcoming elections...what?!) but I'm sure I'll check it out. The shards dropping in piece by piece is a good tip, something visual to help me remember.Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-2203037527337094282014-10-13T08:06:26.952-07:002014-10-13T08:06:26.952-07:00You are so right! Figuring out the balance is hard...You are so right! Figuring out the balance is hard. And now that I'm writing, I have more trouble reading than I used to.If I'm looking at the mechanics, I'm missing the story.Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-29860549806205061162014-10-13T08:04:56.047-07:002014-10-13T08:04:56.047-07:00I'm the same kind of Batman viewer, but people...I'm the same kind of Batman viewer, but people are talking and I want to know. That gets me into trouble AND boring television shows! Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-90173641392247009962014-10-13T08:03:42.048-07:002014-10-13T08:03:42.048-07:00The reason I turned on Gotham in the first place: ...The reason I turned on Gotham in the first place: people are talking about it. I'm an indifferent superhero viewer, but all the hype! I think about cutting the satellite now and then, but I start to hyperventilate and have to clutch my remote until I recover.Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-24590268833315215122014-10-13T08:02:00.499-07:002014-10-13T08:02:00.499-07:00I like fast pacing, especially in movies and telev...I like fast pacing, especially in movies and television. Madam Secretary moves quickly, but not at the expense of character. I feel more connected to the characters so I want to keep up. Also, Hulu is so, so, so bad for me!Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-92098084295870906712014-10-13T07:59:41.733-07:002014-10-13T07:59:41.733-07:00Hey, thanks! I always think I need to get one of t...Hey, thanks! I always think I need to get one of those because I need all the help I can get! It's good to know I might be able to give some help too.Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-77731213300593860202014-10-13T07:58:51.993-07:002014-10-13T07:58:51.993-07:00Thanks, Liz. I'm watching Madam Secretary too....Thanks, Liz. I'm watching Madam Secretary too. So far, the mix there is good enough, particularly with her family life, that I want to keep up. I think if I can sit back and analyze the storytelling, something is not working. I feel that way about books too. Cheryl Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16322884480241887224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-81272463079245692372014-10-13T07:37:07.813-07:002014-10-13T07:37:07.813-07:00Carol, I'm with you in not watching many TV sh...Carol, I'm with you in not watching many TV shows, and I know I need to...maybe after the next deadline. I did watch Castle, but the way that storyline has been going, I haven't even checked in to it.<br /><br />Cheryl, really good points on writing. As for backstory, I drop in small pieces, just enough to intrigue readers but enough for them to make a connection to my character. the onlyPatricia Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03382033674042021556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-25575597229584127402014-10-13T07:30:48.958-07:002014-10-13T07:30:48.958-07:00Writer’s do it all the time – take a good story or...Writer’s do it all the time – take a good story or plot and work it into something of their own. But Batman is the same plot, the same characters, the same conclusions. I liked your perspective on the subject, comparing the present Gotham on TV to what’s expected in good writing. Excellent post. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09144857256396400731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-32629585840531560872014-10-13T07:06:38.672-07:002014-10-13T07:06:38.672-07:00OMG, Cheryl, we are SO much alike, LOL, both in TV...OMG, Cheryl, we are SO much alike, LOL, both in TV watching and in reaction to this show (I actually just finished writing a column for my chapter newsletter about my disappointment in GOTHAM). My main issue was there wasn't anyone to like (I was borderline with Fish, but nope. No sale). The closest I came was with Alfred (love the actor)...but I was officially out of the show by the first 5Anna J Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147693615384740106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-75951079402912367462014-10-13T06:48:52.004-07:002014-10-13T06:48:52.004-07:00Holy Batman! (Ha) I haven't watched the show, ...Holy Batman! (Ha) I haven't watched the show, but I find that I take apart many of the movies I rent or buy to watch. Unfortunately I like to see or read some backstory. I want to know what brought the characters to the point where the story starts. Maybe it's because when I meet new people I like to know where they grew up an what they do for a living etc. (I know, people probably think rozdennyfoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06506701706951201107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-44324111940266552212014-10-13T06:36:34.675-07:002014-10-13T06:36:34.675-07:00I tried to watch this show after someone recommend...I tried to watch this show after someone recommended it, and I didn't even get through the first five minutes before I gave up. I chalked it up to not being a super big Batman fan (I like the movies, but I'm not into the franchise.) But you made some great points here, Cheryl! I'm thinking it wasn't just my lack of Batman love that made me tune out!Cerella Sechristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05627773842494621678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2442063056672240555.post-1786522558179595742014-10-13T06:30:23.432-07:002014-10-13T06:30:23.432-07:00Cheryl, I think you're much better than amateu...Cheryl, I think you're much better than amateur! These are all great points. I haven't see the show, and now will happily skip it. I actually don't watch enough TV, and I mean that sincerely. I think I could learn so much if I would just sit down and pay attention to some of the highly acclaimed dramas that are on right now. Not to mention that I feel completely out of the loop whenCarol Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02360417299528882416noreply@blogger.com