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San Francisco, 6:42 AM
Sat Nov 21
26 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #freeadvice more →

    How Do You Bridge The Gap Between Two Cool Moments In Your Novel?

    One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?

    Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!

    What Do You Do When Your Novel Goes Off Course?

    All Your Characters Talk The Same — And They're Not A Hivemind!

    What's The Difference Between Denouement And Picking At A Scab?

    The One Sentence That Can Ruin Your Whole Day

    The Questions You Shouldn't Answer, And The Answers You Can't Let Go Of

    Make Your Epic Space Novel Live Up To Your "Elevator Pitch"

    Time To Switch From Urban Fantasy To Military Science Fiction!
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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Janglesatwest Janglesatwest
    11/20/09

    In reply to How Do You Bridge The Gap Between Two Cool Moments In Your Novel?
    Sometimes I start my writing because I have an idea for a cool moment where even I want to be jumping in my chair. Once I write it down I start working backward to figure out hot to get to that moment. Sometimes it helps to see my writing from a backwards POV. I've even considered doing a story something like the movie Memento where the whole thing is done with the scenes in reverse order.
     Reply
    Janglesatwest was starred Janglesatwest was unstarred
    Image of Rasselas Rasselas
    11/20/09

    In reply to How Do You Bridge The Gap Between Two Cool Moments In Your Novel?
    Cannell's is good advice: "What's the bad guy up to?"
     Reply
    Rasselas was starred Rasselas was unstarred
    Image of Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
    11/20/09

    @Rasselas: Not only did he write mounds of good TV shows, he now turns out best-selling novels which are at least 75% cool moments.
     Reply
    Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. was starred Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. was unstarred
    Image of cletar cletar
    11/19/09

    In reply to One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?
    Well, if you are George Lucas, you say "screw it," pretend the character doesn't suck, and keep going.
     Reply
    cletar was starred cletar was unstarred
    Image of OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
    11/19/09

    @cletar: Realizing the character doesn't work is probably the hardest part. It isn't easy to take an honest look at your work and realize that you've screwed up.
     Reply
    OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was starred OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was unstarred
    Image of thexpert thexpert
    11/19/09

    @cletar: Or you just kill off 2 interesting ones to make 'hir' seem more workable.
     Reply
    SJ_Edwards promoted this comment thexpert was starred thexpert was unstarred
    Image of wanion wanion
    11/19/09

    @cletar: Just close your eyes and think of the merchandising...
     Reply
    wanion was starred wanion was unstarred
    Image of SJ_Edwards SJ_Edwards
    11/19/09

    In reply to One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?
    @charliejane: Just out of curiosity, how many authors were asked to give an answer to this question (no names required), how many responded at all, how many responded "Not interested", "I don't have the time", "I'm really interested, but I don't have the time", "I don't care about my characters", "My dog ate your question"?

    I haven't read any of these authors (for shame!) and I'm interested to see how their comments (and my subjective 'liking' of the authors, based on their comments) actually translates in to liking their work (and their characters), when I do.

    BTW Was the question phrased with a gender orientation? The first thing I thought when I saw the strapline "She's dull, or He doesn't play well with others.", was James Cameron's (from Walter Hill) "You write dialogue for a guy and then change the name" about writing strong, interesting (on the screen?) female characters versus 'Hollywood handbags' [at [www.newyorker.com] (half way down starting "Hollywood..."), from [io9.com] ].

    Pretty much all of his successful, resonant ("dollars is votes") characters (Terminator, Sarah Connor) are quintessentially 'dull' and definitely 'don't play well with others'.

    Is this just a movie thing or do authors like to 'switcheroo' too, when the going gets tough?
     Reply
    Edited by SJ_Edwards at 11/19/09 6:32 PM SJ_Edwards was starred SJ_Edwards was unstarred
    Image of SJ_Edwards SJ_Edwards
    11/19/09

    @SJ_Edwards:
    Of course, Orson Scott Card described Cameron as "cruel, selfish and unkind to all" [en.wikipedia.org] , how does this translate to authors?

    Just asking :)
     Reply
    SJ_Edwards was starred SJ_Edwards was unstarred
    Image of Charlie Jane Anders Charlie Jane Anders
    11/19/09

    @SJ_Edwards: Actually every single author I asked to help me out on this question got back to me. Which was really nice. The "she's dull, he doesn't play well with others" thing was just me trying to say it could be a male or female character having this problem.....
     Reply
    Charlie Jane Anders was starred Charlie Jane Anders was unstarred
    Image of SJ_Edwards SJ_Edwards
    11/19/09

    @Charlie Jane Anders: Thanks!
    Another good reason to read these authors :)
    [Still like to know if they'd ever used a gender switch 'as', or 'as the start of' the solution to this 'problem'.
    Not just to switchback the reader's preconceptions and expectations of the character, but their own as well, as a means of breaking good.]
     Reply
    SJ_Edwards was starred SJ_Edwards was unstarred
    Image of gods-n-clods gods-n-clods
    11/19/09

    In reply to One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?
    Characters are supposed to be facets of the author's consciousness. So if a character needs a serious kickstart... go get your freak on?
    An eighth of cubensis, a gourd rattle, and an old Smith-Corona?
     Reply
    gods-n-clods was starred gods-n-clods was unstarred
    Image of Akitsu Akitsu
    11/19/09

    @gods-n-clods: Amen brother. I see dull characters as a fault of the author to see the potential of a character. It's the difference between watching Adam West play himself in Family Guy, which is awesome... and watching him play a dictator in Nation Lampoon's Ratko. (Horrible movie btw, avoid it like the plague) Both have the potential... but one is the product of a weak writer.

    A little "inspiration"... in whatever form it may take... is just what the doctor ordered for most. Looking at things from a different angle always helps.

    If a character is just horrible... an utter drag on the narrative... (which can and does happen... not all plans work out) sometimes the best thing is to consolidate them into another character.

    For example, you can have a character who's major role is to question the captain at a critical moment disappear if you plague him with self doubt. A character who's role is to be a mindless thug working against the hero? Nuke him and suddenly a trusted aid is a double agent.

    This can usually be done with a little thoughtful editing, but it has to be handled with care. The last thing you want is a character who is written one way 90% and suddenly changes in the final chapter.
     Reply
    SJ_Edwards promoted this comment Akitsu was starred Akitsu was unstarred
    Image of OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear
    11/19/09

    In reply to One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?
    "I have to go now. My planet needs me."
     Reply
    OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was starred OW-Holmes:Bringer of Fear was unstarred
    Image of Jrsy Devil's Advocate® Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
    11/19/09

    In reply to One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?
    Kill him/her off and take the story in a radical new direction....
     Reply
    Jrsy Devil's Advocate® was starred Jrsy Devil's Advocate® was unstarred
    Image of ManchuCandidate ManchuCandidate
    11/19/09

    @Jrsy Devil's Advocate®:
    Had to do that with a character I liked but didn't fit.
     Reply
    ManchuCandidate was starred ManchuCandidate was unstarred
    Image of AmishJohn AmishJohn
    11/19/09

    @Jrsy Devil's Advocate®: Pathos, sympathy/outrage from readers (in a series situation), and a clearer playing field. It's a win/win/win!
     Reply
    AmishJohn was starred AmishJohn was unstarred
    Image of gorehound gorehound
    11/19/09

    In reply to One Of Your Crucial Characters Isn't Working. What Do You Do?
    funny.you guys keep putting up cover art from old pulps and i own all of the pulps you took images of.this one you showed is from 1949 or 50 and it is a thrilling wonder quaterly.all or most of the stories came from earlier thrilling wonders or science wonder or wonder stories issues.lots of the reprints came from the 1930's era.
    NOTE:
    C.A.Smith story is perfect example as that one was from an early Wonder Stories (I OWN) and it is an oversize pulp from 1930 or 31.
     Reply
    gorehound was starred gorehound was unstarred
    Image of gorehound gorehound
    11/19/09

    In reply to Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!
    he is a great author and wrote us a lot of good scifis
     Reply
    gorehound was starred gorehound was unstarred
    Image of twophrasebark twophrasebark
    11/19/09

    In reply to Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!
    Truth is stranger than fiction???

    Link:

    [io9.com]
     Reply
    twophrasebark was starred twophrasebark was unstarred
    Image of NefariousNewt NefariousNewt
    11/19/09

    In reply to Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!
    Had the pleasure of meeting him twice, and he's a very enthusiastic, very supportive person, who gives good advice. I have his book on writing, which is where a lot of this comes from.
     Reply
    NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred
    Image of Anekanta - former space marine Anekanta - former space marine
    11/19/09

    @NefariousNewt: Is that Zen and the Art of Writing? Or a different one?
     Reply
    Anekanta - former space marine was starred Anekanta - former space marine was unstarred
    Image of goldfarb goldfarb
    11/19/09

    In reply to Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!
    I don't know why but I always think that Ray Bradbury is dead...and then I read something like this and I smile because I'm glad he isn't dead...
    I'll have forgotten all this by tomorrow.
     Reply
    goldfarb was starred goldfarb was unstarred
    Image of Dr Emilio Lizardo Dr Emilio Lizardo
    11/19/09

    In reply to Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!
    I would suggest that the miniseries is a natural for SyFy but it probably isn't appropriate since it may be:

    1) Science Fiction.
    2) Good.
     Reply
    Dr Emilio Lizardo was starred Dr Emilio Lizardo was unstarred
    Image of braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.
    11/19/09

    In reply to Ray Bradbury's Advice To Struggling Writers: Struggle Harder!
    It'd be a lot easier to take Ray Bradbury seriously if he didn't look so god-damn ridiculous.
     Reply
    braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. was starred braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. was unstarred
    Image of Charlie Jane Anders Charlie Jane Anders
    11/19/09

    @braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.: I think giant sideburns are part of the "classic science fiction author" uniform. Even Andre Norton used to sport them, although hers were made of yak fur.
     Reply
    Charlie Jane Anders was starred Charlie Jane Anders was unstarred
    Image of braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.
    11/19/09

    @Charlie Jane Anders: All right. But why is he wearing a labcoat?
     Reply
    braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. was starred braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. was unstarred
    Image of Barnabus Barnabus
    11/19/09

    @braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.: Is that a lab coat or a maitre d's dinner jacket? Either way it has no business being worn with tennis shorts.
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz promoted this comment Barnabus was starred Barnabus was unstarred
    Image of Jake Lsewhere Jake Lsewhere
    11/19/09

    @braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.: Whynot?
     Reply
    braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. promoted this comment Jake Lsewhere was starred Jake Lsewhere was unstarred
    Image of Scaramanga9 Scaramanga9
    11/19/09

    @braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.:
    And after Labor Day no less! The nerve.
     Reply
    braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. promoted this comment Scaramanga9 was starred Scaramanga9 was unstarred
    Image of NefariousNewt NefariousNewt
    11/19/09

    @braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.: Don't you always wear your lab coat when writing science fiction? It's the standard uniform -- read up on it the SFWA membership rules.
     Reply
    NefariousNewt was starred NefariousNewt was unstarred
    Image of Rasselas Rasselas
    11/19/09

    @Charlie Jane Anders: "Now, Robert Heinlein, there's a haircut you could set your watch by!"

    /grandpasimpson
     Reply
    Rasselas was starred Rasselas was unstarred
    Image of Annalee Newitz Annalee Newitz
    11/19/09

    @braak: I was also alarmed by the shots of him stowing an empty Coors can with many others on the counter, grabbing what seemed like a slice of meat or cheese or maybe cookie dough (?) and then grabbing another Coors from the fridge.

    But then I thought about it and I was like you know what? When I'm 80 years old, I'm going to fucking wear a lab coat with tennis shorts and eat cookie dough too. Fuck yeah.
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz was starred Annalee Newitz was unstarred
    Image of Scaramanga9 Scaramanga9
    11/19/09

    @Annalee Newitz:
    So I'm ahead of the curve then?
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz promoted this comment Scaramanga9 was starred Scaramanga9 was unstarred
    Image of sgtzim sgtzim
    11/19/09

    @Annalee Newitz: What's wrong with a wedge of cheese and half a dozen cans of beer? I don't know what YOU have for breakfast, but I see nothing wrong here...
     Reply
    Annalee Newitz promoted this comment sgtzim was starred sgtzim was unstarred
    Image of braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.
    11/19/09

    @Annalee Newitz: He always looked like that, though.
     Reply
    braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. was starred braak: You are, as usual, completely correct. was unstarred
    Image of ♠ Final ♠ ♠ Final ♠
    11/19/09

    @braak: You are, as usual, completely correct.: I always thought he was going for the Martin Van Buren look. It was all the rage when Bradbury was a child.
     Reply
    ♠ Final ♠ was starred ♠ Final ♠ was unstarred
    Image of Bootknife-Jackson Bootknife-Jackson
    11/18/09

    In reply to What Do You Do When Your Novel Goes Off Course?
    Brad Meltzer's comments remind me of a conversation i had with my editor earlier today (he's currently going over a new story of mine) he told me "it's a great story! but we need to have a talk, you really need an editor."

    and than i found myself wondering what he does all day....
     Reply
    Bootknife-Jackson was starred Bootknife-Jackson was unstarred
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