I've read a few good writing books, but I don't expect to be Shown The Way anymore from any of them. But they all have a little something to offer that might help.
I know, world in peril and we have to work together. This is my last office romance, I'll tell you that.
Buffy ,'End of Days'
The Great Write Way
A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.
erikaj - Feb 16, 2005 6:53:41 am PST #9958 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
Liese S. - Feb 16, 2005 6:55:07 am PST #9959 of 10001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
I'm always terrified of reading writing books.
erikaj - Feb 16, 2005 7:03:38 am PST #9960 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
Really? Why? Are you Doing it Wrong? Although one I did have to give up on because it asked me not to give a character anything physically insurmountable, and even then I knew that would dent my ouevre, and I couldn't have that.
Jesse - Feb 16, 2005 7:06:16 am PST #9961 of 10001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
I think any kind of advice book has stuff to take and stuff to leave. I mean, I don't write fiction, but every grant writing guide has a section that says YOU MUST ARRANGE IT IN THIS ORDER, but each guide gives a different order. So obviously, no one can follow all the books. You take what works for you/your situation and leave the rest. I mean, right?
Amy - Feb 16, 2005 7:06:17 am PST #9962 of 10001
Because books.
Debra Dixon's Goal, Motivation and Conflict
I just had to ask someone the other day what GMC meant, because I had no idea what they were talking about.
Connie Neil - Feb 16, 2005 7:06:38 am PST #9963 of 10001
brillig
it asked me not to give a character anything physically insurmountable
Because heaven knows no one ever has situations that simply must be coped with and aren't going to go away, because that's just silly and Everything Always Ends Well.
Feh.
Connie Neil - Feb 16, 2005 7:10:59 am PST #9964 of 10001
brillig
My least favorite bit of advice is "What's your theme? You've got to have a premise!" "Uh, OK, my theme is life is hard." "All right, does each and every scene promote that theme?" "Look, I'm just trying to get the silly fool to go kiss the guy, OK? Higher truth is just going to have to wait a bit."
erikaj - Feb 16, 2005 7:14:03 am PST #9965 of 10001
Always Anti-fascist!
I know, Connie. Tell God that, right? She did not get that memo, obviously.
Beverly - Feb 16, 2005 7:15:47 am PST #9966 of 10001
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.
Liese, I love more than is probably healthy the line
all your emotion safely shuttered/behind that smile like missile silos
Susan W. - Feb 16, 2005 7:20:54 am PST #9967 of 10001
Good Trouble and Righteous Fights
I just had to ask someone the other day what GMC meant, because I had no idea what they were talking about.
Glad to know I'm not the only one out there! I mean, I'm sure it's a fine book, helpful to more people than not, but it's not The Only True Way.
Though I do sometimes ask myself AFTER I've written a scene what a character's goal and motivation are, and if I'm doing enough to bring them out. It's just using GMC as a building block that bugs me, because it feels way too mechanical WRT the way I write.