Bark, (Em)Bark, (Disem)Bark

[snurri]

Lots of writers talk about how difficult it can be just to get a character across a room.

Nobody talks about how hard it is to get one on a fucking boat.

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Do they get confused about whether they've frequently not been on boats or whether what they've frequently been is not-on-boats?

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Yes.

Exactly.

[sarah-prineas.livejournal.com]

"And then, she got on the boat."

Come on, puppetmaster! Make those critters dance!!

[snurri.livejournal.com]

*Scratches head* But there is no dancing in this story. What is it you are trying to say?

[rnb.livejournal.com]

This is why I write screenplays. ez $$

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Life would be easier sometimes if my main worry was dialog.

[rnb.livejournal.com]

Me too.

[barthanderson.livejournal.com]

Shang hai? I vote for a speedy shang hai.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

Oh, she wants to get on the boat. There's just this stuff in between, like talking. STUPID WORDS.

[jonhansen.livejournal.com]

I prefer the "pass out in a bar, wake up somewhere in the Atlantic on a ship of the line" approach.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

I almost did a scene break and skipped to later. But I was just being lazy.

[jonhansen.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily. If it's not important to the reader to know how she got on the boat, don't bother with. If it is important to the reader, you could use this approach:

{ON SHORE}
SHE: I must take action to solve my dilemma!

{ON BOAT}
SHE: Hey, I'm on a boat.
ROBOT BARTENDER ON THE LUAU DECK: So, what brings you onboard?
SHE: Funny story. (tells)
ROBOT BARTENDER ON THE LUAU DECK: Outta sight!

[gregvaneekhout.livejournal.com]

My characters did a lot of leaping, climbing, crawling, scrambling, and shambling over gunwales.

[snurri.livejournal.com]

No swinging from the shrouds?

I'm telling ya

[barthanderson.livejournal.com]

She wants on, she doesn't want on. Works either way. Pillow case over the head, toss her in a wheel barrow, baddabing, no more dialog!

*dusts hands*

[ninja-pencil.livejournal.com]

You just did it, with no less than poetic simplicity!

"He gets on the fucking boat."