tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post115409687928337051..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: VW#4Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155267637222998542006-08-10T23:40:00.000-04:002006-08-10T23:40:00.000-04:00My thanks to everyone who participated in this wor...My thanks to everyone who participated in this workshop, and please feel free to continue posting comments. If you have a question about this workshop please stop by PBW on Fridays when I do open Q&A and we can discuss it then.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to post links to these workshops on the sidebar (thanks to Alison for the nudge.) We will definitely have to do this again in the future; I had a blast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155267418275708822006-08-10T23:36:00.000-04:002006-08-10T23:36:00.000-04:00Alison wrote: Please could you index the workshop ...Alison wrote: <I>Please could you index the workshop posts, so we can find them again in the future without sifting through all the archives?</I><BR/><BR/>Will do that tonight; keep an eye on the sidebar. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155267285584481632006-08-10T23:34:00.000-04:002006-08-10T23:34:00.000-04:00Phelan wrote: I enjoy writing in male POV, but oth...Phelan wrote: <I>I enjoy writing in male POV, but other's criticize me for doing it. I was attached on a poetry site when they found out I was female and my poems were all in the male POV. Is it possible that I could run into editors/agents/publishers with the same attitude? I guess it is possible, is it common?</I><BR/><BR/>There's a slim possibility that you might run into narrow-minded people who don't think you as a female should write male POV, but I think 95% of the industry professionals out there are reasonable, educated individuals who understand that writers are not their characters, and refuse to participate in misogynistic bigotry.<BR/><BR/><I>On the subject of genre. I see that you say that some people think that a writer must stay well within just one genre. I too like to delve into different types of novels, will that cause problems with me finding a good agent?</I><BR/><BR/>I think there are some inexperienced or narrow-minded agents out there who might give you a pass. They're doing you a favor, in my opinion. An established, experienced agent will not try to pigeonhole you or preset limits for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155266869728043052006-08-10T23:27:00.000-04:002006-08-10T23:27:00.000-04:00Sandra wrote: I think your statement about writing...Sandra wrote: <I>I think your statement about writing a protagonist as a soul-twin is where my writing is still stuck at the moment. Other than one rather mean vampire character (who is an alter-ego), I have yet to stretch my MC to be someone entirely different. Situations/backgrounds etc are varied. But I think her decisions are frequently my decisions...<BR/><BR/>Any advice on how to break that tread?</I><BR/><BR/>I'd try to see the protagonist as a friend or acquaintance rather than an extension of your personality. Also, give her your permission to be the person she was meant to be. If you look at your friends in the real world, very often some of them will do or say things that annoy you, or that you don't agree with, but you still accept them for who they are and respect their right to be individuals. <BR/><BR/>I have a good friend who is an avid follower of politics and loves to arrange silk flowers. Politics put me to sleep and I can't stand fake flowers, but I can listen to her rants about bipartisan shenanigans and admire her centerpieces because that's her thing. And she puts up with my publishing horror stories and quilts, two things <I>she</I> can't stand. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155265617338746682006-08-10T23:06:00.000-04:002006-08-10T23:06:00.000-04:00Kaplooey Mom wrote: I was around a lot of jocks in...Kaplooey Mom wrote: <I>I was around a lot of jocks in high school, so I can write guy's POV fairly well, but what I have trouble with are different speech patterns. Everyone seems to sound like me. Unless I make them British - they're naturally verbose. Even though I can hear differences in speech and dialect, replicating that in writing has been harder to achieve.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm constantly battling to get characters to sound like themselves rather than each other, so I sympathize. One thing I've found that can help is to walk around an area where people are talking in small groups (food courts in malls are great for this) and eavesdrop a little. Don't be obvious or carry a voice recorder (someone might think you're a stalker or terrorist and call security) but try to pick up one or two sentences from each person and jot down the constructions in a notebook. <BR/><BR/>Another great help for me has been to read screenplays, which are 98% dialogue, which really must convey the characters clearly so that the actors can bring them to life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155265127743206242006-08-10T22:58:00.000-04:002006-08-10T22:58:00.000-04:00PJ wrote: What "trick" do you use to put yourself ...PJ wrote: <I>What "trick" do you use to put yourself in the male mindset? I've been trying to write scenes from my hero's point of view, but I'm always afraid they are too feminine. Any tips would be appreciated.</I><BR/><BR/>I draw on three things when I write a male character POV: <BR/><BR/>1. My observations of male behavior and speech, which comes from a lifetime of growing up around men, working with them, watching them, appreciating them, and noting and enjoying the differences between my gender and theirs. I am an unabashed lover of guys. :)<BR/><BR/>2. Deliberately keeping a healthy mental and emotional distance between me and the male character. I am not what you'd call the most feminine female on the planet, but I do have some strong female characteristics, so for me to direct a male character on the page to do as I would is often gender-inappropriate. I find it helpful to stay in the "scribe" mindset where I watch the character and record their actions versus making them a fictional version of me. <BR/><BR/>3. I compare my male characters with my female characters constantly. If they sound interchangeable, or if I remove all the dialogue tags and identifiers and find that I can't tell who is what gender, I know I'm not doing justice to my male character.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155232916383094892006-08-10T14:01:00.000-04:002006-08-10T14:01:00.000-04:00Bernita wrote: My problem is that I love so much i...Bernita wrote: <I>My problem is that I love so much in so many different genres that I try to cram it ALL in.</I><BR/><BR/>We call you a fusion writer, Bernita, lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155232781549408262006-08-10T13:59:00.000-04:002006-08-10T13:59:00.000-04:00Rebecca wrote: So how do I know if I'm investing m...Rebecca wrote: <I>So how do I know if I'm investing my time in something that will pay off, or stalling?</I><BR/><BR/>I meant to answer that with the last comment but argh, forgot. It's good, though, because this is almost a separate topic.<BR/><BR/>Worldbuilding is seductive in the same way backreading and editing everything you write is. You can get so caught up in making everything perfect that you never finish the book, or you end up with a book so complicated or overwritten that the average reader won't be able to understand it or care to follow it.<BR/><BR/>To combat this, you have to set limits for yourself. My advice would be to give yourself a reasonable amount of time to finish your worldbuilding, and when you reach that deadline, stop and write the book as per what you've built. After the book is finished, give yourself one final, comprehensive edit of the manuscript to change whatever needs to be changed. Once that's done, you're done with this book, and it's time to move on to the next.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155232255698646682006-08-10T13:50:00.000-04:002006-08-10T13:50:00.000-04:00Rebecca wrote: My question: when writing speculati...Rebecca wrote: <I>My question: when writing speculative fiction and going about world creation, how do you know when enough is enough?</I><BR/><BR/>I think it's more about quality than quantity. I respect intricate worldbuilders, and I think a writer should know as much as possible about their fictional world. The trick is not to try to dump all that on the reader in the story, because the beauty of your worldbuilding gets lost in the innumerable details. <BR/><BR/><I>For example, I like languages, and I've created some for a fantasy world I work in, but at some point I realize that I can't create an entire language system for every culture in my world; that would be too much. Yet, I feel I should have a good grasp on the linguistics before I decide on place or character names.</I><BR/><BR/>Language is tricky. I agree that in fantasy it's a good idea to know your characters' cultures before you start assigning details to them; you wouldn't want to call the alien samurai warrior of a shape-shifting species Bob or Tom and have him live in Jersey. <BR/><BR/>However, I wouldn't necessarily build a full language for every race or species because you just aren't going to use it in the novel; you might try putting together some common phrases and get a feel for the contrasts it has to the sound of the primary language in your novel.<BR/><BR/>How much invented language to put in is also a hotly debated topic among fiction linguists. Readers are not linguists and if they get jolted out of the story because they can't follow the invented language, it's counter-productive. I've grown allergic to invented language glossaries, which annoy more than aid me while I'm reading, but your reader may need one to follow what you're writing if you use more than a dozen invented-language words in the story. <BR/><BR/>I always try to give the reader a taste of my invented language but not drown them in it. Aka a few jewels instead of the whole jewelry store. One way to do this is to write all your dialogue in English first, and then go back and see what expressions or phrase constructions are most often used by your invented-language speaking characters. Selectively replace some of those expressions/phrase constructions with your invented-language equivalent and then have someone else read it and ask them what they think. This more than anything will tell you if you've got the right balance. <BR/><BR/>So how do I know if I'm investing my time in something that will pay off, or stalling? <BR/><BR/>11:33 PMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155230955314943152006-08-10T13:29:00.000-04:002006-08-10T13:29:00.000-04:00Gillian wrote: Can I extend the food analogy and s...Gillian wrote: <I>Can I extend the food analogy and suggest looking at historical cuisines? Not just Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Fanny Burney and Mrs Radcliffe and George Gissing and John Masefield and George Eliot. And that's just a beginning. If you go back futher there is a lifetime's literature to feast on: I learned more about structuring a quest narrative from Chretien de Troyes than I have from anyone else, and Marie de France's Chevrefeuille has amazing lessons in how to describe forbidden love.</I><BR/><BR/>Absolutely, there are no time limits involved. I once wrote a short story based on characters and imagery inspired by a poem written by Akhenaten for Nefertiti. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155230411104376572006-08-10T13:20:00.000-04:002006-08-10T13:20:00.000-04:00Shiloh wrote: I swear, honest, I had something in ...Shiloh wrote: <I>I swear, honest, I had something in my mind I was going to ask or say about the workshop but then I saw my book mentioned on the blog and now I'm just dumbstruck.</I><BR/><BR/>Gotcha. Lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1155230094273081932006-08-10T13:14:00.000-04:002006-08-10T13:14:00.000-04:00Phelan wrote: I have questions. But I am in the mi...Phelan wrote: <I>I have questions. But I am in the middle of the blogathon {24 hours for charity} Can I ask them monday when I am thinking straight?</I><BR/><BR/>Fridays are better for questions, Phelan, because I have the open Q&A then -- Mondays I am pretty much brain dead. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154407233068949952006-08-01T00:40:00.000-04:002006-08-01T00:40:00.000-04:00I love this week's workshops, PBW Everything sound...I love this week's workshops, PBW Everything sounds easier when you talk about it :). And I also like to see how eclectic the group that visits your blog is.Juliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01687702980929114489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154404828202384402006-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:002006-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00Once again, I have to thank you for giving such in...Once again, I have to thank you for giving such in-depth insight into the publishing industry from a writer's point of view. And you are so bloody cool for all of these goody bags you've been giving out for free! ^_^<BR/><BR/>I'm happy to see that you encourage aspiring writers to challenge themselves with new and interesting subjects to write about. I guess having grown up in an era of great change, I expect big changes to happen instantly, and part of the reason I'd like to be a writer someday is to go out there and add my own unique ideas to the world of fiction. Because there just never seems to be enough variety. ^_~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154402409509208682006-07-31T23:20:00.000-04:002006-07-31T23:20:00.000-04:00That's interesting about looking for an author's g...That's interesting about looking for an author's gender in the text. It's not something I thought much about, though when I write male protagonists they tend to be the introspective sorts. It also reminds me of how, somehow, Charles de Lint's narrators always read as female to me, even if they aren't. Something to look into.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154394704970892102006-07-31T21:11:00.000-04:002006-07-31T21:11:00.000-04:00I've never written professionally, but I've writte...I've never written professionally, but I've written fan fiction (and have had it published) and took some creative writing courses, so I love to hear about the art of writing and these workshops have been fascinating. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154392918826147752006-07-31T20:41:00.000-04:002006-07-31T20:41:00.000-04:00Your blog in general always has something interest...Your blog in general always has something interesting to read! This writing series has been great for pushing my creative spark in different directions...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for all the posts and the cool goody bags...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154388332090613762006-07-31T19:25:00.000-04:002006-07-31T19:25:00.000-04:00I think I'm going to try one of your exercises RIG...I think I'm going to try one of your exercises RIGHT NOW.<BR/><BR/>Thanks.Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023986850397045322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154382723520634712006-07-31T17:52:00.000-04:002006-07-31T17:52:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for doing these VWs. I love this o...Thanks so much for doing these VWs. I love this one -- several passages really spoke to me today!Joely Sue Burkharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17895058332587825648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154382214212968042006-07-31T17:43:00.000-04:002006-07-31T17:43:00.000-04:00Please could you index the workshop posts, so we c...Please could you index the workshop posts, so we can find them again in the future without sifting through all the archives?<BR/><BR/>Many thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154378182158233932006-07-31T16:36:00.000-04:002006-07-31T16:36:00.000-04:00I actually have written a story from the viewpoint...I actually have written a story from the viewpoint of the family pet. It was a very enjoyable break from the muddle of humanity.<BR/><BR/>Now, however, I need to work on my block against the male POV. I'm working my way through it gradually... a few chapters from the hero's POV while the main story is told from the heroine, for example.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the tips!<BR/><BR/>~NicoleNicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415819230337026236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154370266985472172006-07-31T14:24:00.000-04:002006-07-31T14:24:00.000-04:00Thank you for all the wonderful workshops, and con...Thank you for all the wonderful workshops, and congratulations to all the winners!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154369779021238302006-07-31T14:16:00.000-04:002006-07-31T14:16:00.000-04:00By the way, thank you also for the most generous g...By the way, thank you also for the most generous giveaway!<BR/><BR/>Congratulations to all the previous winners!<BR/><BR/> Hugs, Zarabamabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15986745648983981412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154369607012053572006-07-31T14:13:00.000-04:002006-07-31T14:13:00.000-04:00Wow, these posts are so helpful! You really have a...Wow, these posts are so helpful! You really have assisted me in looking at things from a fresh perspective. I am still struggling with telling my internal fraidycat to shut up, but eventually I will prevail lol! Thanks again!<BR/><BR/> Hugs, Zarabamabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15986745648983981412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1154367671456179522006-07-31T13:41:00.000-04:002006-07-31T13:41:00.000-04:00A very informative set of posts.A very informative set of posts.Joycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11940808028018579472noreply@blogger.com