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Post by James on Apr 1, 2015 12:51:11 GMT -5
Yeah, I've been trying to cut back. I think I have a tendency to micromanage a scene. Especially if I'm writing jokes, I get really hung up on trying to control the pace of reading, because I want the timing to be right, and I think I just end up making it worse. Oh yeah, comedy is the worst. I think I use double the amounts of commas in comedy just because I'm trying to literally dominate the reader and be "no, no, you need to not get to the punch line quite so fast, hold it, hold it, zing." But yeah, I think the key thing is to provide some flavour, but not to micromanage everything that happens. You definitely want to some descriptions. It's all about finding that sweet spot, which is basically true in any writing discussion. |
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Post by Kaez on Apr 1, 2015 14:55:25 GMT -5
It's all about finding that sweet spot, which is basically true in any writing discussion. This is the right answer and is always the right answer. In this particular case, I think the key is balancing the -way- you convey kinetics. You can say: John explained, pacing across the room.
John paced across the room as he spoke.
His voice grew more distant as he paced across the room.
Pacing, John explained.
"Stop pacing," Mike whined at John.
John caught himself pacing again.
John always paced when he was nervous.
The wooden floor made soft, hollow thuds under John's pacing feet.The real key is not to use one of those varieties too often. You've got to mix your kinetics into the narrative and make them feel natural. The reader shouldn't even be thinking about the movements, they should just -understand- and -visualize- the scene correctly without having to give it any specific thought. And the key to that isn't using more or less of the kinetics, but making them flow as well as possible. And the key to flow is sentence structure and diversity. |
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Post by Sekot on Apr 1, 2015 16:37:50 GMT -5
"This is not for you."
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Post by Sekot on Apr 1, 2015 17:40:32 GMT -5
House.
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Post by Kaez on Apr 2, 2015 7:40:09 GMT -5
How far in are you?
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Post by Sekot on Apr 2, 2015 17:47:11 GMT -5
Not at all. Haven't had much time. Like chapter two? |
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Post by The Counter Cultist(Sawyer) on Apr 2, 2015 19:33:11 GMT -5
So hey, if I posted something I was thinking about publishing later on do you think I'd be okay if I redacted it from the forum before putting it out?
Follow up question, if I ended up self publishing do you think I could leave it and treat it like a first/rough draft?
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Post by Sekot on Apr 2, 2015 19:36:48 GMT -5
So hey, if I posted something I was thinking about publishing later on do you think I'd be okay if I redacted it from the forum before putting it out? Follow up question, if I ended up self publishing do you think I could leave it and treat it like a first/rough draft? Get rid of it. Alternatively post it somewhere more personal like a blog. Which you should have anyway if you plan to self-publish. |
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Post by Kaez on Apr 2, 2015 22:40:21 GMT -5
So hey, if I posted something I was thinking about publishing later on do you think I'd be okay if I redacted it from the forum before putting it out? Follow up question, if I ended up self publishing do you think I could leave it and treat it like a first/rough draft? We've talked about this a fair bit on here and have considered creating a password-protected sub-board for people to post such things. The general advice, and what folks like Allya and James have done in the past, is just to post it here, get feedback, then take it down whenever you go to submit it for publication. There's no reason to leave it up if you're sending it to a publisher. You want it removed from the web entirely because there's no reason for it -not- to be. |
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Post by James on Apr 2, 2015 22:42:38 GMT -5
^ The above isn't foolproof, though. I think, in future, if it's something I'm seriously considering publishing, I'll attach a word document to the forum rather than posting it on full in the forum.
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Post by The Counter Cultist(Sawyer) on Apr 2, 2015 22:54:22 GMT -5
^ The above isn't foolproof, though. I think, in future, if it's something I'm seriously considering publishing, I'll attach a word document to the forum rather than posting it on full in the forum. I was thinking about this too to be honest. But thanks for the response guys, hopefully(and this is the....fifth time, I'm pretty sure, that I've said it) I'll get something up if we have an Inklings meeting this week. |
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Post by James on Apr 4, 2015 22:19:59 GMT -5
The Hugo's are deeply depressing this year.
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Post by J.O.N ((Dragonwing)) on Apr 4, 2015 22:41:08 GMT -5
The Hugo's are deeply depressing this year. Did you see the picture I linked you on skype? I can't believe thats the wikipedia image for the writer. It's so stereotypical it's amazing. |
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Post by James on Apr 4, 2015 23:51:36 GMT -5
The Hugo's are deeply depressing this year. Did you see the picture I linked you on skype? I can't believe thats the wikipedia image for the writer. It's so stereotypical it's amazing. I googled John C. Wright. The very first picture is him tipping a fedora. The world is a wonderful place. |
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Post by J.O.N ((Dragonwing)) on Apr 4, 2015 23:54:10 GMT -5
Ha! Went back and read that conversation. You made fun of him only being a Nebula finalist, how do you feel now?  |
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