tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post6976639931270675726..comments2024-03-29T10:24:43.685-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: How Assumptions Can Affect Your WritingLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-70858667882075314392021-06-23T09:55:28.771-04:002021-06-23T09:55:28.771-04:00I've worked with a couple of critique groups, ...I've worked with a couple of critique groups, and the most common problem for all of us has been assuming the reader understands something that hasn't been stated anywhere in the book! It's true that when something's in our head, we don't always remember to actually put it (or at least hint at it) on the page.Eponahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16239488154920731930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-90389008494740115182021-06-22T22:29:02.963-04:002021-06-22T22:29:02.963-04:00Thanks, everyone, for commenting.
Rob, yes, reade...Thanks, everyone, for commenting.<br /><br />Rob, yes, reader assumptions are worth consideration. All kinds of tricks for burying clues works off of assumptions about what will be noticed and under what circumstances. <br /><br />Susan, you're welcome. Your example is a perfect reason why it's a good idea to let a story sit a while before you edit it and send it out, if you can. <br /><br />Tonette, thank you! I'm always delighted to fool readers. <br /><br />Judy, I never heard that story. It's good they stepped up. (Or were they forced to?)<br /><br />Eve, it amazes me how dumb people can be sometimes. If you tried that lawnmower bit in a story, readers would tell you it wasn't believable.<br /><br />Barbara, it is fun playing God! Thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Adam, yep, it's fun tricking people, and it's great when it's readers because they appreciate it! Unlike tricking people in real life. Then they tend to get testy!Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-35791339435318497112021-06-22T14:42:32.437-04:002021-06-22T14:42:32.437-04:00Good column, Barb (and I remember that episode of ...Good column, Barb (and I remember that episode of the Odd Couple!) ... I liked the way you used that assumption to propel the story in "James." And I love using assumptions to help deliver a twist, when the reader believes something is one way and then realizes it's anotherAdam Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002576075065193119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-21645953363484236142021-06-22T14:39:31.579-04:002021-06-22T14:39:31.579-04:00Yup. In my WIP, the sleuths are making some very w...Yup. In my WIP, the sleuths are making some very wrong assumptions. It's fun playing God! ;)Barbara Monajemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06740868750916582900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29543466169519970732021-06-22T13:27:16.491-04:002021-06-22T13:27:16.491-04:00Rob, I remember that story - I loved it.
Barb, t...Rob, I remember that story - I loved it. <br />Barb, the trouble with products is that whoever writes the instructions makes a lot of assumptions. Consider the tale of the man who purchased a lawnmower, and he and his brother decided that it worked so well, it was bound to do a good job on the hedge. Right? Later they sued the manufacturer for their medical bills.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-19237791492573391172021-06-22T13:09:44.175-04:002021-06-22T13:09:44.175-04:00Your microwave story reminds me of Wolf brand chil...Your microwave story reminds me of Wolf brand chili which had the slogan, Just heat and serve So one woman did--she put the unopened can on the burner and heated. Of course, it exploded all over the kitchen. The Wolf people paid to redo the kitchen.judyalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767466505891813090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-12511747104445358282021-06-22T12:18:09.521-04:002021-06-22T12:18:09.521-04:00Oh, yes, by all means, make your readers ASSUME. I...Oh, yes, by all means, make your readers ASSUME. I will once again pay to you the highest compliment that I can give to a mystery writer: You GOT me! You got me in "Bug Appetit" and others. I usually see twists coming but if I don't see the end coming, I love it.<br />As for the pie, that's where beta readers come in.I worked on one for a friend and I asked which of the two characters was speaking at one point that she had not clarified. It was, in fact, a third character.<br />Keep me making wrong assumptions. It's the only time that I ever enjoy being wrong!Tonette Joycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03282619985489614075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-43446639390073449912021-06-22T11:52:09.767-04:002021-06-22T11:52:09.767-04:00Good reminder, Barb. I too fall into the trap of t...Good reminder, Barb. I too fall into the trap of thinking I've told the reader everything she/he needs to know only to reread the story a few weeks later to discover I haven't. Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-12984946511988801192021-06-22T00:12:28.077-04:002021-06-22T00:12:28.077-04:00Interesting stuff. Of course, another category is...Interesting stuff. Of course, another category is the reader making assumptions. In my story "The Hard Case" a character tells someone on the phone that he just finished 25 years in prison. Hopefully the reader assumes he was a prisoner, but it turns out he was a guard...Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.com