Comments on: Great Questions On Best Practices! http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:00:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Steve Lewis http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2689 Steve Lewis Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:30:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2689 Oakly Dokely Randy here's my best practice question: How do I come up with a high concept idea that captures the imagination. I think that ideas such as "A rogue physicist travels back in time to kill the apostle Paul" get people thinking about the story before they even start reading and they're already excited. How do we do this oh, wise one? Oakly Dokely Randy here’s my best practice question: How do I come up with a high concept idea that captures the imagination. I think that ideas such as “A rogue physicist travels back in time to kill the apostle Paul” get people thinking about the story before they even start reading and they’re already excited. How do we do this oh, wise one?

]]> By: Destiny http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2692 Destiny Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:05:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2692 This is a great idea! How do I write quickly, without letting the internal editor come on, each and everytime? And another question that is not related to "Best Practices" and one that doesn't HAVE to be answered: What's your take on the NaNoWriMo? This is a great idea! How do I write quickly, without letting the internal editor come on, each and everytime?

And another question that is not related to “Best Practices” and one that doesn’t HAVE to be answered: What’s your take on the NaNoWriMo?

]]> By: Donna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2693 Donna Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:39:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2693 How do I know if my middle sags when in my head it's saying what I feel it needs to? How do I know how much detail is too much? How do I know if my middle sags when in my head it’s saying what I feel it needs to? How do I know how much detail is too much?

]]> By: Karla http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2696 Karla Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:15:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2696 How do I write a satisfying ending that leaves the reader happy they read the book and happy with the ending? How do I write a satisfying ending that leaves the reader happy they read the book and happy with the ending?

]]> By: Aly http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2697 Aly Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:15:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2697 How do I turn a concept into a plot? How do I develop a plot from character and/or setting ideas? (Or, how do I come up with a viable story when all I've got so far is an intriguing character or two and maybe a storyworld concept?) I love the Snowflake method, but I'm finding it difficult to use right now when I can't seem to come up with a storyline. How do I turn a concept into a plot?

How do I develop a plot from character and/or setting ideas? (Or, how do I come up with a viable story when all I’ve got so far is an intriguing character or two and maybe a storyworld concept?) I love the Snowflake method, but I’m finding it difficult to use right now when I can’t seem to come up with a storyline.

]]> By: D. E. Hale http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2698 D. E. Hale Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:40:33 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2698 How do I edit effectively without hacking it into mush? How do I know if something is too melodramatic? How do I come up with an effective title? How do I edit effectively without hacking it into mush?

How do I know if something is too melodramatic?

How do I come up with an effective title?

]]> By: Holly http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2701 Holly Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:57:19 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2701 How do I balance plot and character? Example: I focus on plot and my characters suffer; I focus on character and my plot wanders into Neverland. How do I sustain enthusiasm and vision into the next drafts when I realize that much of what I have now needs to be rewritten? How do I make a strong villain without cloning Darth Vader? How do I edit my story without spending my life savings on ink and paper? How do I balance plot and character? Example: I focus on plot and my characters suffer; I focus on character and my plot wanders into Neverland.

How do I sustain enthusiasm and vision into the next drafts when I realize that much of what I have now needs to be rewritten?

How do I make a strong villain without cloning Darth Vader?

How do I edit my story without spending my life savings on ink and paper?

]]> By: Peg Phifer http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2703 Peg Phifer Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:11:45 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2703 How do I know I'm opening the story at the right place/scene/time? In one of my wips, I had the opening with a frightening happening that drew my female protag back to a memory which explains why she was so frightened. But my critters said it would have been better to open with the older event first. The the reverse was doing it as backstory. How do I know I’m opening the story at the right place/scene/time?

In one of my wips, I had the opening with a frightening happening that drew my female protag back to a memory which explains why she was so frightened. But my critters said it would have been better to open with the older event first. The the reverse was doing it as backstory.

]]> By: Tami Meyers http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2704 Tami Meyers Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:30:33 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2704 Like Peg I never know what is the best time/place to open, and which POV character to open with? Like Peg I never know what is the best time/place to open, and which POV character to open with?

]]> By: Noelle http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2705 Noelle Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:54:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2705 How do I know if my character talks too "deeply"? (ex they always say something that makes you stop and think, but they keep talking like that? Does that make sense?) Not sure if these are any good, but... How do I know if my book is too tradgic? How do I know if my book is too corny? How do I know if my character talks too “deeply”? (ex they always say something that makes you stop and think, but they keep talking like that? Does that make sense?)

Not sure if these are any good, but…

How do I know if my book is too tradgic?
How do I know if my book is too corny?

]]> By: Anna http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2708 Anna Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:10:48 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2708 Oops...sorry I posted my comment on the previous blog entry. =) Oops…sorry I posted my comment on the previous blog entry. =)

]]> By: Katie Hart http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2709 Katie Hart Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:25:13 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2709 How do I write action scenes (i.e. fistfights, swordfights, car chases, great escapes)? How do I write action scenes (i.e. fistfights, swordfights, car chases, great escapes)?

]]> By: Shruti http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2711 Shruti Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:27:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2711 How do I know the exact length of a scene, without boring the reader or rushing him through? How do I find out how many details to include in a scene? Should I stick to the plot like a gum and provide details which move the plot forward or can I be descriptive for characterization? How do I know the exact length of a scene, without boring the reader or rushing him through?

How do I find out how many details to include in a scene? Should I stick to the plot like a gum and provide details which move the plot forward or can I be descriptive for characterization?

]]> By: Rob http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2716 Rob Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:11:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/15/great-questions-on-best-practices/#comment-2716 How do I generate enough plot to fill a full-length novel from 80-100,000 words? How do I generate enough plot to fill a full-length novel from 80-100,000 words?

]]>