|
|
|
Your Writing Process, And/Or Problems with Same |
|
|
Grits |
Feb 11 2012, 10:57 PM
|
Councilor
Joined: 6-November 10
From: The Gold Coast
|
I once dumped an entire chapter (sixteen posts, IIRC). I had to grieve first before I could start over. Then I made a tiny skip in events so that I wouldn’t get stuck where things went wrong. I realized that I had started second guessing things before I wrote the chapter, and the whole thing was unnecessary. I was much happier when I went back to the original outline. Realizing that I had made a big mistake was a real learning experience, once I quit kicking myself over it. That was the hardest part. I ended up with a lot more confidence in my characters, because I had seen my mistake. Of course in this *cough* theoretical example, it sounds like the deleting was the mistake? In which case thank goodness for mALX and that … someone … didn’t finish off by lighting their computer on fire.
--------------------
|
|
|
|
mALX |
Feb 11 2012, 11:21 PM
|
Ancient
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN
|
QUOTE(Grits @ Feb 11 2012, 04:57 PM) I once dumped an entire chapter (sixteen posts, IIRC). I had to grieve first before I could start over. Then I made a tiny skip in events so that I wouldn’t get stuck where things went wrong. I realized that I had started second guessing things before I wrote the chapter, and the whole thing was unnecessary. I was much happier when I went back to the original outline. Realizing that I had made a big mistake was a real learning experience, once I quit kicking myself over it. That was the hardest part. I ended up with a lot more confidence in my characters, because I had seen my mistake. Of course in this *cough* theoretical example, it sounds like the deleting was the mistake? In which case thank goodness for mALX and that … someone … didn’t finish off by lighting their computer on fire. For future deleter reference, my email is like one of those "hoarder" places. I save everything until I have responded to it, lol. (except junk/spam mail). This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 11 2012, 11:35 PM
--------------------
|
|
|
|
McBadgere |
Feb 12 2012, 05:33 AM
|
Councilor
Joined: 21-October 11
|
QUOTE Of course in this *cough* theoretical example, it sounds like the deleting was the mistake? Sadly no, for reasons it's unfair to go into this was actually part of a solution I'm afraid... And I shall never be able to thank mALX enough for being as cool as she has been of late... ... Aaamywho, thanks to mALX I can now move forward as was planned...You lucky people you... ...
|
|
|
|
McBadgere |
Feb 12 2012, 09:20 AM
|
Councilor
Joined: 21-October 11
|
Er... yeah... ... It's safe to say I have no problem with messing about with time... ...
|
|
|
|
mALX |
Feb 12 2012, 03:15 PM
|
Ancient
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN
|
QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Feb 12 2012, 03:07 AM) Time skip. It's safe to skip four days in a story right? I've seen it done before. I just never really did it.
I remember back at the Bethesda forum that Acadian ended one chapter with Buffy starting out to Bravil, and the next chapter began with her arrival in Bravil. That upset some of his readers, they felt he should have described the trip. I don't exactly agree with that, especially if the trip was uneventful. With the main character sometimes just a small paragraph giving a brief cover of their activity can be given, supporting characters don't need even that. Of course, if your main character has been kidnapped and her brother is pretending he knows nothing of it to their father - your readers are going to clamor if four days passes and they don't know what Draken did to find Raven, or the fate of poor Raven herself .... .... .... ARGH !!!!
--------------------
|
|
|
|
treydog |
Feb 12 2012, 03:38 PM
|
Master
Joined: 13-February 05
From: The Smoky Mountains
|
QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Feb 12 2012, 03:07 AM) Time skip. It's safe to skip four days in a story right? I've seen it done before. I just never really did it.
One of the JOYS of writing fiction is that you are not constrained to report every minute of every day. You absolutely can time-shift in service to your story. It may be that you need to give a nod to the passage of time such as- "For the next several days, nothing of significance occurred." That is the simplest form of time-shifting. However, you can also do flash-backs, flash-forwards, dreams or fantasies- etc. Sometimes those methods can be used to obscure the events or their order- and the is OK, as long as it does not do violence to the story or your vision of it. An example from back in my English instructor days is the Faulkner short story "A Rose for Emily." It is told in that inimitable Southern U.S. style- with the teller wandering back and forth through time and incidents as they occur to him- rather than in the order they actually happened. As an exercise, we mapped out the ACTUAL timeline versus the order in which things were presented in the story. This all comes back to the title of the thread, at least for me- "Writing Process." You start with the things you KNOW need to be in there. But the order or the detail in how you present those things- and all the connective bits- is purely up to you.
--------------------
The dreams down here aren't broken, nah, they're walkin' with a limp...
The best-dressed newt in Mournhold.
|
|
|
|
mALX |
Feb 12 2012, 03:54 PM
|
Ancient
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN
|
QUOTE(treydog @ Feb 12 2012, 09:38 AM)
It may be that you need to give a nod to the passage of time such as- "For the next several days, nothing of significance occurred."
"Four long days passed, of which the majority of her time was spent hovered over the chamberpot as the poison made its way out of her system in various ways" Yeah, we will all wonder what exactly went on for those four days, ROFL !! If you leave it up to our imaginations it may turn out worse than just telling us about them, lol. (just kidding). This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 12 2012, 03:59 PM
--------------------
|
|
|
|
McBadgere |
Feb 12 2012, 08:05 PM
|
Councilor
Joined: 21-October 11
|
QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Feb 12 2012, 03:39 PM) McBadgere: Eww. Sounds like a bad case of defecation to me.
Er...As a wise man once said...What you talking about Willis? ...
|
|
|
|
mALX |
Feb 12 2012, 08:23 PM
|
Ancient
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN
|
QUOTE(McBadgere @ Feb 12 2012, 02:05 PM) QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Feb 12 2012, 03:39 PM) McBadgere: Eww. Sounds like a bad case of defecation to me.
Er...As a wise man once said...What you talking about Willis? ... Er...I thought he refused to say it ... ? Isn't that what the court case was all about? ROFL !!!
--------------------
|
|
|
|
Darkness Eternal |
Apr 4 2012, 11:35 PM
|
Master
Joined: 10-June 11
From: Coldharbour
|
How many of you folks use music in your stories to express a certain scene or chapter? Or maybe even inspiration? For example: "Chapter I" *Insert song here* Mr.Warrior walked along side the road, eyeing the birds and the bees. Not Screamo music or anything like that. No, not even rap or hip-hop for Redguard. You know what I mean
--------------------
And yet I am, and liveā€”like vapours tossed. I long for scenes where man hath never trod A place where woman never smiled or wept There to abide with my Creator, God, And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept, Untroubling and untroubled where I lie The grass belowā€”above the vaulted sky.ā€¯
|
|
|
|
Jacki Dice |
Apr 5 2012, 05:04 AM
|
Knower
Joined: 18-March 10
|
QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Apr 4 2012, 02:35 PM) How many of you folks use music in your stories to express a certain scene or chapter? Or maybe even inspiration? For example: "Chapter I" *Insert song here* Mr.Warrior walked along side the road, eyeing the birds and the bees. Not Screamo music or anything like that. No, not even rap or hip-hop for Redguard. You know what I mean I do! I'm doing it now, actually Certain songs can bring out certain feelings in me and it really helps to bring things out in my writing. As for inspiration, the entire story for Nemesis was inspired by Swansong for a Raven by Cradle of Filth. ♥
--------------------
|
|
|
|
Olen |
Apr 5 2012, 07:42 PM
|
Mouth
Joined: 1-November 07
From: most places
|
I tend to set the mood with music and have various playlists. Film scores are good, by design they set a mood but aren't distracting. The gladiator score sees a lot of use. Likewise music from games can be useful (often buried as mp3s somewhere in the install). While in general I prefer music without lyrics there are a few tracks which are great for setting the mood. Joan Baez Diamonds and Rust is a good example.
--------------------
Look behind you and see an ever decreasing number of ghosts. Currently about 15.
|
|
|
|
McBadgere |
Apr 5 2012, 07:50 PM
|
Councilor
Joined: 21-October 11
|
I'm not sure DE means what music do we listen to to write... Isn't it - Chapter 1(Web-link to song to fit mood - Ernie the fastest milkman in the west)...Bert walked briskly down the road, bottles jingling in the moonlight. He was somewhat alarmed when Mrs Scroggins from number 24 decided to start chomping on his throat. "Ere!! Get owff meh!!" he cried, "I've got a round to finish!" "Rawr!!" said the undead matron sporting bright green curlers, flannelette nighty and floral slippers. ----------------- Sort of thing?... No, I wouldn't do that personally... You won't want to be listening to Starship, Yes or the Three Degrees' Givin Up, Givin In... ... EDIT...As you were...I think that's what's meant... ...Sorry about that... ... This post has been edited by McBadgere: Apr 5 2012, 07:52 PM
|
|
|
|
mALX |
Apr 5 2012, 08:27 PM
|
Ancient
Joined: 14-March 10
From: Cyrodiil, the Wastelands, and BFE TN
|
QUOTE(Jacki Dice @ Apr 5 2012, 12:04 AM) QUOTE(Darkness Eternal @ Apr 4 2012, 02:35 PM) How many of you folks use music in your stories to express a certain scene or chapter? Or maybe even inspiration? For example: "Chapter I" *Insert song here* Mr.Warrior walked along side the road, eyeing the birds and the bees. Not Screamo music or anything like that. No, not even rap or hip-hop for Redguard. You know what I mean I do! I'm doing it now, actually Certain songs can bring out certain feelings in me and it really helps to bring things out in my writing. As for inspiration, the entire story for Nemesis was inspired by Swansong for a Raven by Cradle of Filth. ♥ OMG, Jacki - now that is absolutely fitting and inspiring for writing Tara's character.
--------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
|