Once upon a time, I was at a high school theater festival. In between shows, I got to chatting with someone from another school. We get to talking about some of what we'd seen that morning, and he asked about a certain show. I said what I thought: "I thought it started out strong, and I liked the premise, though I thought it got a little ridiculous towards the end. A bit over the top." The guy nodded thoughtfully and said, "I'll tell my director."
Face, meet Palm. You two can be friends.
Yep, I was talking to a cast member. (In my defense, people look different from more than 30 feet away. I just didn't recognize him.) (By the by, dude, if you're reading this, I really do apologize for that.)
While I didn't say the meanest things I'd ever said about a show, I know I didn't couch them the way I might have if I'd known I spoke to someone who worked on the production. After all, you put your heart and soul (or at least a hecca ton of sweat and tears -- and possibly a little blood) into a show, if someone criticizes it, it's gonna hurt.
What's this got to do with writing? I've been seeing a lot of talk on the blogosphere lately about reviews and commenting on books on blogs.
Talking about books on blogs is like being me in that auditorium. As far as you know, you are always talking to that guy from the show. Agents, editors, authors, friends of any of the above could be reading your blog. And, I know, people always say that you can't talk what people say about your work to heart -- and I've definitely a proponent of not taking things to heart -- but that's no reason not to be polite at the least.
As Ratatouille says "We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so."
So, while it might be fun to go making fun of people, and while, in the privacy of my own head/home/secret underground cave, I might rage against the heinousness of whatever book I just read, I try to keep that stuff off the blog.
Because I learned that lesson in high school: Everything you're looking at it something someone spent a lot of time and effort on, and yes, sometimes they are standing there, asking what you think of it.
How do you feel about publishing reviews on the internet? Do you put them on your sites? Good and bad alike?
How do you feel when you read a negative review on a blog, even of work that is not personally connected to you?
Showing posts with label thought bubble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thought bubble. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
All the Little Pieces
The other day, Melissa commented on my post Reblocking = Rethinking that "a great story is made up of X,000 perfect words in the perfect order." At the time, I thought that was quite brilliant. Last night, my family and I were watching our collective favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually, and I realized that the reason I love that movie is that it doesn't just have one, two, or three great moments. No, it has a ton of moments where I end up saying, "Oh, I love this part," or "this is such a good moment," or "ooh, I love this bit."
The truly great stories aren't one absolutely amazing bit. They're made up of x,ooo really good moments in a succession. For one fabulous moment, I'll read the book once and occasionally pick it up and flip right to that chapter. For a ton of good moments, I'll reread the entire book over and over again, because all of it's good and all of it feels worth it.
To sum up: You don't have to create a scene that is so absolutely fantastic that people read it and go, "oh, heavens to hopscotch, I'm never going to be that good - I should just give up." It's better to have a lot of little great moments over and over again. Tiny moments that tug at heart strings or inspire smiles and laughter or make me want to read that bit aloud to a friend total up to a book that moves someone, makes someone laugh every time they read it, and they want to give it to friends. 100 one-pointers is better than 1 ten-pointer.
Thoughts? Are there stories you love that are just a lot of good moments? What are you better at, little moments or big scenes?
The truly great stories aren't one absolutely amazing bit. They're made up of x,ooo really good moments in a succession. For one fabulous moment, I'll read the book once and occasionally pick it up and flip right to that chapter. For a ton of good moments, I'll reread the entire book over and over again, because all of it's good and all of it feels worth it.
To sum up: You don't have to create a scene that is so absolutely fantastic that people read it and go, "oh, heavens to hopscotch, I'm never going to be that good - I should just give up." It's better to have a lot of little great moments over and over again. Tiny moments that tug at heart strings or inspire smiles and laughter or make me want to read that bit aloud to a friend total up to a book that moves someone, makes someone laugh every time they read it, and they want to give it to friends. 100 one-pointers is better than 1 ten-pointer.
Thoughts? Are there stories you love that are just a lot of good moments? What are you better at, little moments or big scenes?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Writer-Siblings
Sorry for deviating from my usual posting schedule, but I waited Sunday night for the magic fairy of blogging inspiration to visit me, and said fairy failed to arrive. (Speaking of which, Missy, I'm on to you, and you better show up on time next time.) Actually, she did visit me over lunch, so here's what occurred.At Wellesley College, there's a ritual called Flower Sunday, whereby on the first Sunday of the academic year, new students receive Big Sisters at Wellesley and go to a special assembly at the Houghtan Chapel. It started as a means of easing the transition from home to college for students, and it remains a Wellesley tradition. Many sisters remain friends through their time together at Wellesley. It took place this past Sunday.
It occurred to me yesterday that it would be really great if there were some sort of equivalent tradition of sorts for writers. Writers are great people, but even awesome people can use some support every now and then. Natalie Whipple blogged about a similar idea a while ago. A Writers' Society. I think it'd be nifty.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions? Anyone thinking a writer-sibling would be pretty useful right about now? Anyone have any similar traditions in their life they'd like to share?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
There Is No Future, Only the Past
I know that title probably sounds depressing, but it isn't. At least, not for me. I cribbed an old quote by O'Neill, "There is no present or future, just the past happening over and over again." Well, the truthfulness of that in regards to historical events, I will not debate at this moment. But, I must say, from what I've seen, in stories, at least, it's true.
Don't believe me?
Scenario #1: A young couple from waring families falls in love and must struggle to be together against seemingly impossible odds.
Obviously, I mean Romeo and Juliet. Except I really meant the myth about Pyramus and Thisbe. Or did I mean Troilous and Cressida? No, wait, I was thinking of The Wicked Books by Holder and Viguie.
Scenario #2: Pretty, spirited young miss becomes involved with a slightly older, highly attractive man, and through her love saves him from his dark past.
I'm not even going to play with you on this one. That's the plot of about a million romances whose names I couldn't even begin to list. And Twilight. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
So, this brings about the old question, what constitutes new and original anyway? For most stories, I'm sure there's something there that, when stripped to the bones, is really something we've all seen before.
But, for me, that's the key. You've got to strip it to the bones to see that. There should be enough new and interesting meat on the bones that it distinguishes itself from others of its kind.
Bear with me on what could be a disturbing metaphor, okay?
Human skeletons, by and large, look a lot alike. (Not that I've seen a bunch up close or anything like. I'm generalizing.) If you look at pictures of different human skulls, you'll always know, 'Hey, that's a human skull.' And, if I showed you five skeletons, you'd probably need a while to find the two that were exactly alike. (Ooh, an interesting, but slightly creepy, game to play at Halloween parties.)
But, not all people look alike. We're not even shaped alike, for all we've got similar bones. Some bones are longer some people. Some people have more muscles in certain areas. Our hair and eyes and all the little details come in different dimensions and colors. The details change.
It's the same with stories. To make an old story new, change things up. Elongate some bones and shrink others (change the basic framework to shift the focus to another aspect of the tale). Redistribute the muscle groups (change some big aspect, like POV or time and place, which can do a lot). Replace the hair and eyes (make the minor details way different. You can change the MCs personality and end up with a whole different seeming story.)
The past is happening over and over again. Why don't we always feel like it? Because it's a different looking history every time.
How do you feel about story repetition? Are these all just the same old story over and over again? What do you do to make your stories original?
Don't believe me?
Scenario #1: A young couple from waring families falls in love and must struggle to be together against seemingly impossible odds.
Obviously, I mean Romeo and Juliet. Except I really meant the myth about Pyramus and Thisbe. Or did I mean Troilous and Cressida? No, wait, I was thinking of The Wicked Books by Holder and Viguie.
Scenario #2: Pretty, spirited young miss becomes involved with a slightly older, highly attractive man, and through her love saves him from his dark past.
I'm not even going to play with you on this one. That's the plot of about a million romances whose names I couldn't even begin to list. And Twilight. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
So, this brings about the old question, what constitutes new and original anyway? For most stories, I'm sure there's something there that, when stripped to the bones, is really something we've all seen before.
But, for me, that's the key. You've got to strip it to the bones to see that. There should be enough new and interesting meat on the bones that it distinguishes itself from others of its kind.
Bear with me on what could be a disturbing metaphor, okay?
Human skeletons, by and large, look a lot alike. (Not that I've seen a bunch up close or anything like. I'm generalizing.) If you look at pictures of different human skulls, you'll always know, 'Hey, that's a human skull.' And, if I showed you five skeletons, you'd probably need a while to find the two that were exactly alike. (Ooh, an interesting, but slightly creepy, game to play at Halloween parties.)
But, not all people look alike. We're not even shaped alike, for all we've got similar bones. Some bones are longer some people. Some people have more muscles in certain areas. Our hair and eyes and all the little details come in different dimensions and colors. The details change.
It's the same with stories. To make an old story new, change things up. Elongate some bones and shrink others (change the basic framework to shift the focus to another aspect of the tale). Redistribute the muscle groups (change some big aspect, like POV or time and place, which can do a lot). Replace the hair and eyes (make the minor details way different. You can change the MCs personality and end up with a whole different seeming story.)
The past is happening over and over again. Why don't we always feel like it? Because it's a different looking history every time.
How do you feel about story repetition? Are these all just the same old story over and over again? What do you do to make your stories original?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Happy Catchup Time
As you might remember, I got behind in my goals for the week. And I just couldn't let that stand.
So, yesterday, I grabbed my edits on The Thief Book and typed and fixed, and I made it all the way up to where I would have been if life hadn't interfered with my process. Which means, only 6 more pages to go, and I'll have finished getting in all my line edits on Part 1.
Now, I won't consider this portion of the book 'set' until I've gone back and inserted the Ideas I had while editing. Yes, there were a few nice thought bubbles that formed during my editing process, so now the fronts of both parts are bedecked with post-its. Now, I just need to slip them in where they belong.
Still, I'm willing to call Friday's work a victory. Really, it's a bit of a tie, from what I'd hoped to get done, but all things considered, I feel comfortable departing the field and calling it a win.
I hope everyone else is having a smashing weekend and fabulous Saturday.
How are your writing goals/life goals coming along? Any plans nearer to fruition? Any nice thought bubbles lately or good news?
So, yesterday, I grabbed my edits on The Thief Book and typed and fixed, and I made it all the way up to where I would have been if life hadn't interfered with my process. Which means, only 6 more pages to go, and I'll have finished getting in all my line edits on Part 1.
Now, I won't consider this portion of the book 'set' until I've gone back and inserted the Ideas I had while editing. Yes, there were a few nice thought bubbles that formed during my editing process, so now the fronts of both parts are bedecked with post-its. Now, I just need to slip them in where they belong.
Still, I'm willing to call Friday's work a victory. Really, it's a bit of a tie, from what I'd hoped to get done, but all things considered, I feel comfortable departing the field and calling it a win.
I hope everyone else is having a smashing weekend and fabulous Saturday.
How are your writing goals/life goals coming along? Any plans nearer to fruition? Any nice thought bubbles lately or good news?
Friday, January 29, 2010
To Infinity And Beyond
Well, in this, my final post related to Stranger Than Fiction (for the time being, at least. I make no promises about eternity), I'd like to throw out a quote from a character whose name I've forgotten but I call in my head Awkward-Friend-Guy. In response to the question what he'd do if he thought he were going to die, he said, "Easy. I'd go to space camp." Bear in mind, this guy is at least 30. When the MC asked him if he weren't just a little old to be going to space camp, Awkward-Friend-Guy replied in all seriousness, "You're never too old to go to space camp, dude."
"You're never too old to go to space camp." You are never too old to go after your dream. (If your dream is to run with the bulls in Pamplona, I might suggest rigorous training in advance and getting on that goal now. But who am I to set an age limit on running with the bulls? You know your limits better than I, bull-runners.)
Let me expand this to both ends of the spectrum. You are also never too you to start pursuing your dreams, either. You are never to young to plan the adventures you'd like to have, write that novel, learn to speak Portuguese in preparation for the day you get marooned in Lisbon by your pirate comrades.
Age is rarely a factor in what you want. (Unless what you want is a driver's license, in which case the government might take issue with your time of birth. DISCLAIMER: I am not encouraging anyone to violate the law of your state/province, your country, or physics. Please check with your local officials and appropriate medical person before attempting bullfighting/flight/marionette racing, etc.) The right time to start going for what you want is now.
Now.
Don't let anything hold you back. 'I haven't seen enough/done enough/learned enough.' You can learn more, figure out more. Get smarter, get wiser. These things can be achieved. They aren't time sensitive. Strike while the iron is hot and get what you're going for.
Do you often feel like you're questioned about what you want or feel unable to achieve it because of your age level? How important do you think age is to writing? Does age correlate to experience?
"You're never too old to go to space camp." You are never too old to go after your dream. (If your dream is to run with the bulls in Pamplona, I might suggest rigorous training in advance and getting on that goal now. But who am I to set an age limit on running with the bulls? You know your limits better than I, bull-runners.)
Let me expand this to both ends of the spectrum. You are also never too you to start pursuing your dreams, either. You are never to young to plan the adventures you'd like to have, write that novel, learn to speak Portuguese in preparation for the day you get marooned in Lisbon by your pirate comrades.
Age is rarely a factor in what you want. (Unless what you want is a driver's license, in which case the government might take issue with your time of birth. DISCLAIMER: I am not encouraging anyone to violate the law of your state/province, your country, or physics. Please check with your local officials and appropriate medical person before attempting bullfighting/flight/marionette racing, etc.) The right time to start going for what you want is now.
Now.
Don't let anything hold you back. 'I haven't seen enough/done enough/learned enough.' You can learn more, figure out more. Get smarter, get wiser. These things can be achieved. They aren't time sensitive. Strike while the iron is hot and get what you're going for.
Do you often feel like you're questioned about what you want or feel unable to achieve it because of your age level? How important do you think age is to writing? Does age correlate to experience?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Conflict
I've been angsting for a bit about the latter half of The Thief Book. She's married to the prince, which should be nice conflict (no, the wedding is not the happy ending), except no matter what I do, everything seems to be sounding rather like a romance novel.
That's not okay. Sure, I like reading romances, and I like having a bit of romance in the story, but that's completely left field for a story that started out being about a girl working as a pickpocket and living with a professional thief.
Then, yesterday, my MC said something stupid. Not stupid like, 'Gee, that was a ridiculously dumb thing for you to say.' Stupid like, 'Well, jeez, why'd you say that? You just about admitted to everyone that your cover story is false.' And then it hit me.
Why would they think the cover story is false? I mean, she's no liar, and her dad isn't a liar, and the prince seems to believe them (yeah, he's in on the lie, too), so why would people be so ready to believe the lie's a lie. Except it is.
So why would that guy across the room, who seems like he should be figuring this out (Not my fault. He just plain told me he'd figured it out. Not even the extras consult me these days.) be able to see the truth. Unless maybe he's that guy from earlier in the book who never really had an identity.
So, it's decided. The extra is actually the guy they almost got arrested robbing about 7 chapters ago, and he knows. At least, they think he knows. Joy of joys.
Well, who am I to complain. It's not like it's my story or anything. I'm just writing it all down. At least it's conflict, and not a romance novel.
You know you're a writer when conflict makes you happy.
That's not okay. Sure, I like reading romances, and I like having a bit of romance in the story, but that's completely left field for a story that started out being about a girl working as a pickpocket and living with a professional thief.
Then, yesterday, my MC said something stupid. Not stupid like, 'Gee, that was a ridiculously dumb thing for you to say.' Stupid like, 'Well, jeez, why'd you say that? You just about admitted to everyone that your cover story is false.' And then it hit me.
Why would they think the cover story is false? I mean, she's no liar, and her dad isn't a liar, and the prince seems to believe them (yeah, he's in on the lie, too), so why would people be so ready to believe the lie's a lie. Except it is.
So why would that guy across the room, who seems like he should be figuring this out (Not my fault. He just plain told me he'd figured it out. Not even the extras consult me these days.) be able to see the truth. Unless maybe he's that guy from earlier in the book who never really had an identity.
So, it's decided. The extra is actually the guy they almost got arrested robbing about 7 chapters ago, and he knows. At least, they think he knows. Joy of joys.
Well, who am I to complain. It's not like it's my story or anything. I'm just writing it all down. At least it's conflict, and not a romance novel.
You know you're a writer when conflict makes you happy.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
WOW
Yesterday, I was working on Chapter 6 of WIP1 (God, I really need to name these) and as I rounded off a section I thought, 'Why is she sneaking off home? She could totally meet up with Admon along the way and that could be really interesting.'
So, instead of doing something with that thought, I stuck a post-it note in there for my alpha reader to ask what her thoughts would be for such a moment. Then, today whilst reading a post about writer's block, I thought 'You know, it's a pity you couldn't think of something to do with that one idea. Because that could really have gone somewhere neat.'
And then I had an epiphany. (Ooohhh, Hook moment. "'Lightning just struck my brain.' 'That must have hurt.'") All of a sudden, I knew what I could do with that. (I should probably write it down before I forget about it.)
Weird, huh? Has this ever happened to you?
So, instead of doing something with that thought, I stuck a post-it note in there for my alpha reader to ask what her thoughts would be for such a moment. Then, today whilst reading a post about writer's block, I thought 'You know, it's a pity you couldn't think of something to do with that one idea. Because that could really have gone somewhere neat.'
And then I had an epiphany. (Ooohhh, Hook moment. "'Lightning just struck my brain.' 'That must have hurt.'") All of a sudden, I knew what I could do with that. (I should probably write it down before I forget about it.)
Weird, huh? Has this ever happened to you?
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