tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post5217518553996071126..comments2024-03-26T22:40:30.265-07:00Comments on Dishin' It Out: How Do You Handle Violence/ Danger in a Story? By Connie Vines #RR #07/21/18Connie Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17835205487088200480noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-33319800657600970272018-07-23T20:29:01.730-07:002018-07-23T20:29:01.730-07:00Most people don't enjoy violence in real life....Most people don't enjoy violence in real life...at least most won't admit it. But there were little old ladies who brought their knitting to watch the beheadings during the French Revolution. There were white folks who sent postcards to their friends and relatives showing them partying, picnicking, and having a great time with their kids, while a black person was hanging from a tree, dead, or being burned at their feet. Human nature is bizarre. <br /><br />But violence in a story needs to serve a purpose. I don't like gratuitous violence any more than gratuitous sex. Both need to serve the purpose of advancing the story and the character development. Fiona McGierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495707848048468428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-78134260908150728632018-07-21T12:09:06.630-07:002018-07-21T12:09:06.630-07:00Good post, Connie - and the comments are equally i...Good post, Connie - and the comments are equally interesting!!!Anne de Gruchyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06342037213654338571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-61377926688447165122018-07-21T11:18:54.121-07:002018-07-21T11:18:54.121-07:00Violence in historical novels has a different feel...Violence in historical novels has a different feel, I think, than contemporary reactions. Just think of the picnics that took place during public hangings during the Georgian era. For all that we have so much death and violence presented to us on a daily basis via the media, I don't know anyone who would willingly go out to observe it. Victoria Chathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02064028734034371341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-50617827962179826402018-07-21T06:36:08.522-07:002018-07-21T06:36:08.522-07:00Although many in our world today would like to cha...Although many in our world today would like to change or erase history (tearing down statues, denying the holocaust etc) but as you point out, erasing violence in our writing whether historical or contemporary would make it unrealistic. Good post. Skyewriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08938351117986167519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-13611976054656530492018-07-21T06:22:28.774-07:002018-07-21T06:22:28.774-07:00Historical fiction is a difficult one to get throu...Historical fiction is a difficult one to get through if you're trying to avoid violence. But then, I think it's difficult in all genres precisely because of our history. We see it in our streets today even though we're "evolved" and know better. Jean Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00154134292139074325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-15364414310494178332018-07-21T05:05:12.116-07:002018-07-21T05:05:12.116-07:00I agree with you that the use of violence should h...I agree with you that the use of violence should have a purpose in the story: show the times, help the character grow, or establish an issue to overcome. Rhobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627825512017360508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-90790796710825597902018-07-21T01:53:25.378-07:002018-07-21T01:53:25.378-07:00Yes, and the message of your book about your lovel...Yes, and the message of your book about your lovely little Indian girl is one of movement toward decency, compassion, and even love developing between erstwhile enemies.<br /><br />Your story is a perfect example of what I said about how violence should be used as a tool for character growth.Dr Bob Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13905005432340711608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8915423025917785375.post-74209960800471616862018-07-21T01:46:51.658-07:002018-07-21T01:46:51.658-07:00Hi Connie, this is my 4th attempt to leave this co...Hi Connie, this is my 4th attempt to leave this comment. Google doesn't like me today. I read detective novels for the problem solving. Like you, I write historicals and I'm always aware of how violent Regency society was, but I don't use the violence for entertainment - it's there because it was. Also, it lets the good characters shine. anne Stenhouseanne stenhousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02737658937717248241noreply@blogger.com