Comments on: Go Ahead – Prove Me Wrong!

By: Kat Harris

Kat Harris — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:27:44 +0000

>I'm really glad you wrote this post because when I read the "proactive and reactive" post I wanted to scream.

The "in general" rules of writing are driving me crazy. :-)

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:37:43 +0000

>Such fun to read your blog and the comments, Rachelle. Thank you for all of it. It's obvious you care about writers and are a ten on the 'helper' scale.
Mary, I love the very humorous way you make the point. :-)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:03:50 +0000

>Very interesting how some folks take offense at such simple yet sound advice. I'm not a big fan of the blow 'em up/shoot 'em up type books or stories either, but we do need a PLOT with ACTION and a character with motivation who ACTS not just reacts.

ps/Andrew, that's hilarious! Tried to read Proust once but fell asleep...lol

By: sds

sds — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:14:50 +0000

>In psychology, to be responsive is considered the more healthy way to live, whereas to be reactive is less healthy. Sometimes I think the word proactive has a zealous spin to it, which makes it sound less thoughtful. If reactive is like floating on the waves and going wherever they take you; and responsive is like purposeful swimming toward a particular destination; then proactive sounds a little armed and dangerous, like a battleship that will take out any floaters or swimmers it encounters in its single-minded pursuit of its goal. We want our characters to have goals and work toward them with consciousness of (and sometimes in spite of) everything going on around them–responsive characters, who face challenges and make choices. Edith Wharton's characters weren't in fact just watching the paint dry if you think of it this way.

By: Victoria Dixon

Victoria Dixon — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:07:06 +0000

>Great read! Thanks!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:27:50 +0000

>Free Reign

By: Gina

Gina — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:22:14 +0000

>It's funny you posted that today, because I just finished watching "The Age of Innocence" again, and I feel like I've seen a story with a protagonist who sits around and stares at a wall until he dies. :-) I actually like the movie (and love the book), but it must be admitted that most of the action is beneath the surface. Edith Wharton was just one of the rare people who could pull off that sort of thing.

And speaking of rare -- Rachelle, thank you for being one of those rare people who spell "free rein" correctly. If I see "free reign" one more time, I'm going to puke.

By: Tamika:

Tamika: — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:32:24 +0000

>Thanks Rachelle for being transparent enough to make sure your readers know your desire to equip us with fruits of knowledge.

It helps to tap into what other writers are thinking about what is being said.

For me storing knowledge and apply it where ever I am in my writing journey is key.

Keep giving us the tools to succeed!

By: Marilynn Byerly

Marilynn Byerly — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:01:05 +0000

>I'm a great fan of Andre Norton, the incredible sf and fantasy author.

When I read MERLIN'S MIRROR, I was so disappointed by the book, I reread it to figure out why.

The character of Merlin has a mirror which tells him the future, and he has to make it happen. Through the whole novel, he does all kinds of active things but doesn't make the first important decision about his own life or what he wants to do. Instead, he's led along by that dang mirror.

Being active as a character is as much about choices as it is about running around doing stuff to achieve a goal, particularly someone else's goal.

By: Timothy Fish

Timothy Fish — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:50:28 +0000

>In the case of Bartleby the Scrivener, which Reesha mentioned, the protagonist is the narrator and the passive Bartleby is the antagonist. The narrator is very proactive.

Forrest Gump, which is largely an example of deus ex machine, could also be seen as a story in which the world is the protagonist and Forrest is nothing more than an observer from Mars, so to speak. The world, in this case, is quite proactive as they try to place Forrest in a position of being a productive member of society.

By: Jazz

Jazz — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:56:22 +0000

>In Johnny Got His Gun, the protagonist does even less than sit and stare at a wall until he dies, but he's still quite proactive.

By: Marla Taviano

Marla Taviano — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:47:53 +0000

>If you're flying below the radar, you're doing something wrong.

Keep up the good work.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:12:53 +0000

>It depends on what we are trying to do, here. Marcel Proust could certainly write a lot of pages about a character that is anything but proactive, but he does not tell what one might call a 'cracking good yarn.'

What we are doing, at least most of us...is replying to the same impulse that leads any child to say, Tell Me a Story!!!!

And would YOU read Proust to your kid?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:27:21 +0000

>A good mystery/thriller has lots of plot twists and turns so you def do need an active MC in crime fiction. Frankly, a passive protag who sits around and whines bores me to tears. Guess it depends on the book, but a lot of internal monologue and no action puts me to sleep. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes!