tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post860760192699184480..comments2024-03-27T01:07:03.944-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: White Space and SilenceAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-25552810737426814322015-08-20T20:40:40.787-04:002015-08-20T20:40:40.787-04:00Hi, Betsy, one of my blogs about authors who influ...Hi, Betsy, one of my blogs about authors who influenced me mentions both Joan Didion, in her essays, and Annie Dillard's book "For the Time Being," both of which use white space in a way I love. When I was involved in the copyediting phase of my book recently I fought for white space, asking over and over that a sentence be "floated" with just that extra white space in between. It is a way of laying out words on a page that for me resembles a sort of slide show--click, pause, click. I love it. And one of my morning prayers asks for "the gift of Holy Silence." Both provide breathing room, elbow room, time out of time. Thank you for this blog. pdrobertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14735648453969030448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-67069636051808468302015-08-19T08:38:46.865-04:002015-08-19T08:38:46.865-04:00I need quiet to write also. It always amazes me to...I need quiet to write also. It always amazes me to read authors' playlists for a book. I rarely listen to music when I write and even then it has to be without words. Love white space on a page. I'll skim long paragraphs--an usually miss something important. Give me dialogue. Short dialogue. LOLDiane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-894463030865610102015-08-17T15:11:45.593-04:002015-08-17T15:11:45.593-04:00I'm with you, Betsy. I've just finished a ...I'm with you, Betsy. I've just finished a mini vacation with my sister and I've been basically "unplugged" for five days. It's been wonderful!Leah St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004006100786260893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-12550595336872306162015-08-17T14:18:32.086-04:002015-08-17T14:18:32.086-04:00It really is. There are days, like today, when I w...It really is. There are days, like today, when I want to scream and turn off every electronic device. I was out this morning when a friend sent an email, a FB DM, a Twitter message, called both my cell and home phones and then texted me. She was "worried" when I didn't jump on what she wanted to say (she was having a good day and wanted to share). Had I been writing at the time, I would have turned everything except Word off. <br /><br />It's hard enough to concentrate when we sit down to work without everyone thinking we aren't "working" because it's "only" writing. Sheesh.<br /><br />Enough. Back to work. My 15 minutes for ranting have run out.Betsy Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871010122475160477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-49174181063112359292015-08-17T10:31:07.518-04:002015-08-17T10:31:07.518-04:00Couldn't agree with you more, Betsy. I can'...Couldn't agree with you more, Betsy. I can't even tolerate music and I know many an author who love to write to their favorite tunes. But I tend to be more like Rolynn. It's a tough act to balance.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-62158194714912788562015-08-17T10:04:51.327-04:002015-08-17T10:04:51.327-04:00I need quiet, as well, but even then, the distract...I need quiet, as well, but even then, the distractions are rampant...notes on my desk, the birds and bunnies out the window, issues swirling in my mind. I swear, the older we get the more distractions we amass! (I wrote this last sentence, grabbed the nail polish sitting on my desk and repaired a boo-boo. Noticed my coffee is cold...will go replenish...Sigh!) It's amazing I get any writing done...you are tougher than I am, Betsy!Rolynn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09504770204968969467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-4007973529373857632015-08-17T09:52:40.036-04:002015-08-17T09:52:40.036-04:00I also need quiet when I write, Betsy. And I adore...I also need quiet when I write, Betsy. And I adore white space. Most of my books are dialogue. No long, descriptive paragraphs for this girl. I just can't write them. My pace is fast. I can't seem to slow down. Readers who want something else will have to go elsewhere or "cope!" LOLJannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047728297429025804noreply@blogger.com