tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post8090188123868363887..comments2023-11-06T13:07:23.645-05:00Comments on The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment: Red HerringMatthew MacNishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-60836551303087745592011-02-26T15:25:21.213-05:002011-02-26T15:25:21.213-05:00Oh yes. I love Snape. Sorry, I don't have anyt...Oh yes. I love Snape. Sorry, I don't have anything more intelligent to say at the moment [g]Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-62186537139877724402011-02-25T12:52:30.225-05:002011-02-25T12:52:30.225-05:00Great post, Matt! This has been kind of a confusin...Great post, Matt! This has been kind of a confusing element for me to incorporate, so it was nice to see a post about it. Thanks!Zoe C. Courtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00642503770758938774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-32432192332908523382011-02-25T11:07:06.245-05:002011-02-25T11:07:06.245-05:00I agree that Severus is a great example of a Red H...I agree that Severus is a great example of a Red Herring. Also Scooby Doo cartoons are the masters of red herrings.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-76366127585987447052011-02-25T01:30:53.236-05:002011-02-25T01:30:53.236-05:00I've debated this topic with my writers group....I've debated this topic with my writers group. Whether its a red herrings if the reader is given false info by a trusted character, but the character later admits they lied.<br /><br />A complicated situation to state without casting aspersions. <br /><br />Well, red herrings are a difficult to pull off well I guess.<br /><br />LOL; perhaps that why I don't write mystery . .<br /><br />A super topic.<br /><br />......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-73373029976589350382011-02-25T00:03:43.489-05:002011-02-25T00:03:43.489-05:00I have a red herring or three in my book with more...I have a red herring or three in my book with more to come. Its fun to leave clues yet misdirect the reader at the same time. Nice post, I really enjoyed it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-88142877256621054392011-02-24T23:43:41.731-05:002011-02-24T23:43:41.731-05:00I love red herrings, but I guess it's because ...I love red herrings, but I guess it's because I write mystery elements into my books. I think it's an art form to lead a reader on but not have them catch on to the ruse. <br /><br />Nice series!<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-77837424976597345482011-02-24T23:14:28.035-05:002011-02-24T23:14:28.035-05:00Great post...I am hearing about Red herrings for t...Great post...I am hearing about Red herrings for the first time. Thanks a lot.Shalet Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12550350381109665805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-19609488878957270522011-02-24T19:44:39.705-05:002011-02-24T19:44:39.705-05:00The Series of Unfortunate Events had a great Red H...The Series of Unfortunate Events had a great Red Herring in it in one of the books (I can't remember which one). Literally, it was a red herring, both the fish and the literary device. Quite amusing. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-26551187877655455532011-02-24T17:41:57.245-05:002011-02-24T17:41:57.245-05:00PS - I was in Freemont on Sunday and saw a rockety...PS - I was in Freemont on Sunday and saw a rockety-thing that reminded me of Bellingham's Rocket Donuts.Robert Guthriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618840090348189477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-4440040715343958932011-02-24T17:40:07.507-05:002011-02-24T17:40:07.507-05:00I love red herring as an action. Why is swimming t...I love red herring as an action. Why is swimming that way?Robert Guthriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15618840090348189477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-90012528493761326642011-02-24T17:30:16.973-05:002011-02-24T17:30:16.973-05:00Hmm. I ought to consider some more red herrings in...Hmm. I ought to consider some more red herrings in my own writing. Thanks for giving me something to think about, Matthew!Jeff Beeslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17935580053176710609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-84125535427951244962011-02-24T16:41:52.359-05:002011-02-24T16:41:52.359-05:00I love when an author can make the reader question...I love when an author can make the reader question something they believe about a characters...character. Just like JK did with Snape, exactly. I knew in my heart he wasn't all bad but then that thing happened and I lost my faith in him! She was is a master for sure. Great examples and explanation Matthew!!Colene Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086195075690893194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-90317839943221113862011-02-24T14:11:31.785-05:002011-02-24T14:11:31.785-05:00There's an Irish song -- how many strawberries...There's an Irish song -- how many strawberries grow in the sea, how many ships sail through the forest.<br /><br />And when I think of a red herring, I think of the 1987(ish) movie Clue. :)<br /><br />Like I did with Harry Potter, I am about to re-read Fever series by Karen Moning to see what clues I missed throughout the first 4 books. (Although I was no completely wrong in HP as I was in Shadowfever).<br /><br />I tried to throw in a red herring in my first ms, but it was obvious from the first. I guess this is why I don't write suspense.Erin Kane Spockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05376851676240606472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-81939862070569186742011-02-24T11:27:57.495-05:002011-02-24T11:27:57.495-05:00Handle your herrings with care!
Donna Hole said i...Handle your herrings with care!<br /><br />Donna Hole said it best when she called me out for planting a bad herring in a blogfest:<br /><br />"Lie to the characters, but not the reader!" Donna said.<br /><br />That's the fine line you walk with herrings. I did this with bullets in the gun out of convenience... (see your Dayoos post). Guilty as charged.<br /><br /> - EricEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-63436642577455681932011-02-24T09:45:23.654-05:002011-02-24T09:45:23.654-05:00Dang those red herrings! I often fall for them! ...Dang those red herrings! I often fall for them! Duh!Rachele Alpinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02899898654095163712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-15600276504099887382011-02-24T08:57:05.168-05:002011-02-24T08:57:05.168-05:00I don't have any red herrings in my ms, but I&...I don't have any red herrings in my ms, but I'm thinking about sticking on in! <br /><br />Thanks :)Joanne Brothwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277805693436251841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-48334065340192175962011-02-24T03:54:07.437-05:002011-02-24T03:54:07.437-05:00Good post, Matthew! I think I'll have to rere...Good post, Matthew! I think I'll have to reread it when it's not 3 a.m.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-33881484976984459862011-02-24T01:38:54.966-05:002011-02-24T01:38:54.966-05:00That reminds me. I wanted to pick up some pickled...That reminds me. I wanted to pick up some pickled herring at Costco when I go there tomorrow--if they're cheap enough. They're so darn expensive at Ralphs. <br /><br />Also I heard that Costco is a good place to get lox. I love lox on bagels, but again at Ralphs they cost way too much.<br /><br />What were we talking about?<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-14898337110073351742011-02-23T23:34:39.937-05:002011-02-23T23:34:39.937-05:00Love your RH explanation, but I gotta be honest – ...Love your RH explanation, but I gotta be honest – I still think about that hilarious scene in Clue with Martin Mull. That's how I learned about the term.Copyboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00339752422561039109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-2815505321777209842011-02-23T21:27:33.052-05:002011-02-23T21:27:33.052-05:00I agree--if done well, they can be a thrilling par...I agree--if done well, they can be a thrilling part of a novel. Great post!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-67552365703051546452011-02-23T19:41:31.953-05:002011-02-23T19:41:31.953-05:00Severus was the best red herring ever. But no one ...Severus was the best red herring ever. But no one would've suspected Scabbers either!Carolina M. Valdez Schneiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589934533051907801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-21951993995651238002011-02-23T17:52:22.407-05:002011-02-23T17:52:22.407-05:00I think it's amazing how some authors can pull...I think it's amazing how some authors can pull this off EVERY SINGLE TIME... even if I'm expecting them to try to trick me.<br /><br />And then on the other hand... sometimes I can tell you who is the secret bad guy in the first chapter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17713870959347500414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-29055776807494741142011-02-23T17:14:37.595-05:002011-02-23T17:14:37.595-05:00Good points, Matthew! Red herrings are especially ...Good points, Matthew! Red herrings are especially important in mystery novels where you want everyone to think mean Mr. Mustard did it when really it was the butler all along. ;o) I don't write mysteries per se, but I do have my herring moments, especially in the novel I just finished. Happy Wednesday!Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-88132178276349684352011-02-23T16:45:34.583-05:002011-02-23T16:45:34.583-05:00Interesting to learn where the term comes from. Ca...Interesting to learn where the term comes from. Can be a good plot device if done well.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5345890055658252124.post-69601881679000643192011-02-23T16:09:13.177-05:002011-02-23T16:09:13.177-05:00Some people do red herrings quite well!Some people do red herrings quite well!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com