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Thursday, 11.20.2008 |
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| A Field Guide to Writing Fiction |
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Product Details
Notes
scene, description and summary - integrate them well
third-person author subjective with limited viewpoint is better than omniscient
don't shift viewpoint within a scene, and make it clear after a break when it changes
excite, don't imprison the imagination of the reader
that means don't always tell everything in graphic detail
sometimes it's better to leave it unsaid and let the reader imagine it
man is a mixture of good and bad qualities
give characters some distinguishing feature right from the outset
otherwise, if you refer to them by name alone, the reader might forget later
your characters may say and do unexpected things, let them as long as it's good
sometimes it's best to describe a character by having someone else say something
don't leave a character in solitude for a long time, there needs to be interaction
don't try to force characters to be funny or something they're not, let it be natural
make your characters vary in attitude, outlook and purpose and let them go
in a murder mystery, give the innocents some reason for violence
the end should point to the true culprit, plain to see once exposed
write what you know, or more importantly, know what you write through research
use past tense, watch out for past perfect or pluperfect (using "had" too much)
active voice is stronger than passive voice (he hit the ball vs. the ball was hit by him)
avoid exposition and inert material, integrate description with story movement
don't say, "he remembered" or "he recalled", ease into flashbacks naturally
the adjective is the enemy of the noun, and the adverb is the enemy of everything
plausibility is important in most stories
if you deal with the impossible, start with it and build on it consistently
or another approach is to surround an implausible event with very realistic details
that makes the implausible event seem possible as an exception to the rule
think about the reader, are you engaging him, does he believe, is it natural?
a reader might accept a coincidence if it helps the opposition, not the protagonist
if there's going to be a coincidence, set it up beforehand with an early hint
make the setting clear, inside or outdoors, in a field or a city street, hot or cold?
don't let the reader say, "so what?" make him want to know the final outcome
make the reader cheer or jeer, hope for good or bad, care about the story
the antihero may be realistic, but it's boring, the reader wants something exciting
a goal of fiction is to take the reader away from the normal everyday realities
use specific description, not "beautiful" but describe how it's beautiful
choose shorter names for main characters, avoid names that are too similar
misplaced modifiers can sometimes add novelty, like "breathless mountains"
watch out for dialogue that is just chatter, it should move the story forward
don't overwrite, choose your words and make them say more with less
don't be afraid of writing "he said" too many times, the reader won't notice
watch out for false leads, make sure to complete any side plots
write the obligatory scene without delay, even if it's difficult to handle, plunge in
don't overuse slang or curse words, only when they are right for the character
don't interrupt your first draft to make major changes, finish it first then fix it
otherwise you risk losing purpose, enthusiasm and momentum
write a good story and the theme will emerge on its own
you can imitate another author's style, your style will probably emerge anyway
just sit down and write words in the best way you know how, your style will show
exercise 1: write a love scene without the word "love"
exercise 2: write an angry scene without any words like "anger" or "rage"
don't preach your philosophy, let it come through naturally in the story
don't talk too much about your story until it's done, it takes away from the writing
remember that friends are uninformed critics, and too many appraisals can be bad
find one or two good professionals whose opinion you respect
writing comes down to yourself, to your best judgment, there will always be critics
send a sample of your writing and a cover letter to an agent
remember they are interested in a long-term relationship
reputable agents only get paid their 10-15% commission on books that are sold
an agent knows the markets and contracts and watches out for the author
ideas for avoiding procrastination, it's not about your surroundings, it's you
decide to work for half an hour and then quit, you'll end up going longer
make yourself sit down in front of the computer, even if you don't write anything
retype the last page of yesterday's work to get back in the groove
actual writing is not fun, typing words is tedious
it's the feeling after you've written a great line, paragraph or chapter that's worth it
Henry James - "Show, don't tell."
Robert Frost - "Any work of art must first of all tell a story."
Edmund Gosse - "The secret of successful fiction is a continual slight novelty."
the writer's goal is to entertain and illuminate |
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