Comments on: Getting Distance or Going All the Way

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:02:09 +0000

James, thank you for this helpful advice. One of the things I love about fiction is the raw honesty. I can be authentic without offending. I started a memoir style piece and found it hard to write (risk of ticking off too many people) but fictionalized I could let honesty rip and take it a step further. The truth of fiction is both the beauty and the curse as you noted, and admittedly I have been stuck with what to write. Thank you for the encouragement to pick up the pen and get back in the fight. Karen Swims last blog post..Guest Post Today at Word Sell

By: James

James — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:00:59 +0000

@ Cath – People are people, and the way they become who they are is just situational based on choices they make. I think we can all relate to these choices – only we just choose differently – and that’s what makes it easy to empathize.

Good comment, by the way!

@ Alex – Oh, all right, stubborn… have it your way

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:28:10 +0000

Hi James - it's difficult isn't it? When the character is feeling depressed or miserable, it affects your own emotions too. I am writing about a serial killer now. I had to make him likeable, or he wouldn't be able to get away with all the murdering. But now I'm starting to like him and actually understand why he commited the murders and that is scary - I never thought I could empathise with a serial killer. Cath Lawsons last blog post..Paint A Picture Of Your Perfect Day

By: Alex Fayle

Alex Fayle — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:30:32 +0000

Despite being a Professional Organizer (or perhaps I’m a PO because of the way I am) I can be an incredibly disorganized person and when I get that way the world turns to chaos, and nothing gets done.

To be creative, I need structure – the more structure, the more creative I become – it’s like an inverse proportion thing. I get overwhelmed by details very easily because they all take on importance and I lose sight of where I am. So by outlining I end up writing in stages, first looking at one set of details – basic plot, then another set – character motivations, then another… until all I have left to do is the writing and I can focus on the writing itself without distractions.

As I’ve said above the story always changes along the way and I let it. I’m not rigid in my outlines – in fact they are very fluid – I just redo each set of details when things change and I can get back to focusing on the words.

Alex Fayles last blog post..Connecting Desires with Actions: James Chartrand Interview

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:18:13 +0000

On outlines: I am the world’s happiest thesis writer. I can outline my butt off and be in 7th heaven. I thought I’d write everything out for my little side-project, too, and then just flesh out like I used to with theses, like I do now with client reports.

Then I saw the first scene in my head, so I thought, I’ll just write that down and come back to outlining.

Then the characters took over. They frighten me, in a good way. I don’t outline my life (though it might help!) and they wouldn’t let me outline theirs. I had a timeline for continuity, but instead of writing it in advance, I wrote down things as they “happened” so I could refer back and not mess up a later scene. I couldn’t outlineâ€”I didn’t know in advance! It was a remarkable experience.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with outlining. Alex’s characters let him do it, and he loves working that way. Seems like it frees him. That’s what we all want for whatever kind of writing we do, isn’t it?

Later,

Kelly

By: Bill Kanapaux

Bill Kanapaux — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:38:38 +0000

Have to interject on this outline thing. Some rather successful novelists and screenwriters thrive on outlines. Structure in and of itself is not a bad thing: Shakespeare wouldn't exist without it. Plot driven stories are not necessarily bad. I think you can have plot and structure and still do the deeper explorations of character that you originally recommend. Bill Kanapauxs last blog post..Danger? What danger?

By: James

James — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:31:32 +0000

Have wine on me, because yes, you are.

By: Urban Panther

Urban Panther — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:25:47 +0000

@James - I'm published?!!!!! Oh happy day!!!! I am taking the Lion out right now to celebrate!!!!! Urban Panthers last blog post..I dream

By: James

James — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:19:58 +0000

@ Panther – Define published author.

I have no novel. I am a published author. I have no agent. And yet, I am a published author. This blog counts as published. My work on ER as well. Anything that is posted publicly is published. You too, are a published author.

In fact, there’s a post or three about that on this site… search on “published author” and I’m sure they’ll turn up.

As far as arTEESTe… um… sh. Just shush.

By: Urban Panther

Urban Panther — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:14:24 +0000

@James - re: publication means very little. The success of the story in a reader's mind matters. Okay, now you are going all arTEEST on me. *smile* The success of the story IS in the reader's mind. I totally agree. But if you don't publish, then you don't have readers. N'est ce pas? Urban Panthers last blog post..I dream