tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post4723280172779127826..comments2009-12-29T18:02:47.697-05:00Comments on *A Brain Scientist's Take on Writing*: Theory of Mind and Character Interaction (When You...Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-28376314203918259162009-12-29T18:02:47.697-05:002009-12-29T18:02:47.697-05:00Anonymous 12/29/2009 9:15AM -- You'll have to read...Anonymous 12/29/2009 9:15AM -- You'll have to read the book to find that out :-)Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-40495574321623249552009-12-29T09:15:24.126-05:002009-12-29T09:15:24.126-05:00I'm still working on how Miranda the sixth-grader ...I'm still working on how Miranda the sixth-grader got a job at a restaurant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-58228044899165243502009-12-21T14:20:49.561-05:002009-12-21T14:20:49.561-05:00Excellent post!
I agree with Amitha. By using a l...Excellent post!<br /><br />I agree with Amitha. By using a limited point of view character, you can actually form false beliefs in readers as well. That way, the moment of realization becomes even more profound. My most recent novel, Angel of Death, uses this technique extensively.<br /><br />Writing requires a developed theory of mind. It's the only way to control what the reader knows and how the story unfolds.Rob Kinghttp://jrobertking.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-33782960419209057642009-12-19T14:30:19.397-05:002009-12-19T14:30:19.397-05:00Ruth -- that's a great story!Ruth -- that's a great story!Liviahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-57326690923159980152009-12-19T10:25:18.407-05:002009-12-19T10:25:18.407-05:00This reminds me of something that happened when my...This reminds me of something that happened when my daughter was little. She was talking on the phone with my mother, and spinning in circles. When she stopped, she asked, "Are you dizzy, Grammy?"<br /><br />I love this, and for some reason it has always stuck with me.<br /><br />It's my first time here - fascinating blog!Ruth Spirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16107919493665915704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-37653512801846282022009-12-17T20:35:47.496-05:002009-12-17T20:35:47.496-05:00You have seen Three's Company, right?
The entire p...You have seen Three's Company, right?<br />The entire premise of every single episode is misunderstanding. Everyone would assume they knew what was going on when the truth lay elsewhere.<br />In my latest WIP my character's entire world view is based on lies and coverups.<br /><br />The truth will set you free!<br /><br />Thanks for the follow-up! :)Iapetus999http://www.blogger.com/profile/09215333688753781447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-15172790930367912052009-12-17T08:00:55.264-05:002009-12-17T08:00:55.264-05:00A while back I ran into a blog post in which the w...A while back I ran into a blog post in which the writer claimed that many arguments can be boiled down to "astonished cries of, 'But you're not me!'" I loved that--it's not uncommon to encounter adults whose only frame of reference is their own experience, and who therefore assume any reaction that is not like the one they think they'd have under those circumstances must be "wrong." It's a little disorienting. <br /><br />From a writing point of view, I'm trying to use this with the main character of a mystery I'm working on. My character's impulses are generally charitable, and he attributes them to other people as well, which is not terribly helpful when you're trying to catch a murderer. He's gradually becoming a more suspicious person and he doesn't like it at all.coneycathttp://coneycat.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-924639228112737122009-12-17T05:25:19.783-05:002009-12-17T05:25:19.783-05:00Brilliant post, Livia, thanks :) I can't think of ...Brilliant post, Livia, thanks :) I can't think of any examples off the top of my head, but I'll be pondering this all day.Ellen Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01184391430927483100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-63052741838806311042009-12-16T21:27:09.986-05:002009-12-16T21:27:09.986-05:00What a great scene & lesson! I can't think of anyt...What a great scene & lesson! I can't think of anything off hand, but you can be sure I'll be looking for them from now on!Jemi Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-83312241008975917172009-12-16T21:00:56.095-05:002009-12-16T21:00:56.095-05:00I feel like Orson Scott Card is good at using this...I feel like Orson Scott Card is good at using this technique, but I can't think of any specific examples right now.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-43306184145445909502009-12-16T18:32:55.185-05:002009-12-16T18:32:55.185-05:00Portraying characters who misjudge motives can be ...Portraying characters who misjudge motives can be a classic technique in mysteries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-55941246249325414632009-12-16T17:07:48.484-05:002009-12-16T17:07:48.484-05:00I liked that scene too, when Miranda realizes that...I liked that scene too, when Miranda realizes that not everyone thinks the same way that she does. I also liked that eventually she is able to put the "cafe au lait" thing that annoys her so much into perspective so it actually becomes something she LIKES about Julia.<br /><br />This idea of "false belief" also seems to tie into the whole "limited narrator" idea where the narrator can only tell you what she knows or how she interprets things and it's up to you to figure out what's "really" going on.Amithahttp://blog.amithaknight.comnoreply@blogger.com