Comments on: Questions and Answers http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Wed, 16 May 2012 16:09:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4445 Camille Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:53:06 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4445 Cindy, How exciting - I just noticed you will be teaching this at Mount Hermon. I'll be sure to take your workshop! Cindy, How exciting - I just noticed you will be teaching this at Mount Hermon. I’ll be sure to take your workshop!

]]> By: Ann Isik http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4446 Ann Isik Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:18:01 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4446 I certainly believe that you get a lot of spam Randy! I use a company to filter mine out or I'd be swamped! Okay, with your permission, here's the url for the contest to write a first chapter of a novel: http://www.thewritehelper.com I feel honour bound to say that I found out about the contest from First Writer.com - http://www.firstwriter.com. For a small fee they send me daily automatic emailings of writing contests and other outlets, services, etc. I hope you haven't turned into a pumpkin! Ann I certainly believe that you get a lot of spam Randy! I use a company to filter mine out or I’d be swamped! Okay, with your permission, here’s the url for the contest to write a first chapter of a novel: http://www.thewritehelper.com

I feel honour bound to say that I found out about the contest from First Writer.com - http://www.firstwriter.com. For a small fee they send me daily automatic emailings of writing contests and other outlets, services, etc.

I hope you haven’t turned into a pumpkin!

Ann

]]> By: Charlotte Babb http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4448 Charlotte Babb Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:17:11 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4448 I know about the appearance of an ending...I got the end of the current WIP when I was proctoring an exam for an English class. I wrote most of it on the back of a test as that was the only paper I had handy. ...didn't get to dance though... I know about the appearance of an ending…I got the end of the current WIP when I was proctoring an exam for an English class. I wrote most of it on the back of a test as that was the only paper I had handy.

…didn’t get to dance though…

]]> By: Cate http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4449 Cate Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:56:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4449 Hey, I do the 50-70K thing too! Except, I put mine through a lie-detector test. Just sit down with the ole clunker and start reading with a tablet in hand--I write down everything I see that's true (what jumps out at me) and mark what's blatantly false (most everything else). Amazing how much junk I throw in just because it is handy at the time! When I find the truth behind the mask of my behemoth, that's when the pieces start falling into place. Hey, I do the 50-70K thing too! Except, I put mine through a lie-detector test. Just sit down with the ole clunker and start reading with a tablet in hand–I write down everything I see that’s true (what jumps out at me) and mark what’s blatantly false (most everything else). Amazing how much junk I throw in just because it is handy at the time! When I find the truth behind the mask of my behemoth, that’s when the pieces start falling into place.

]]> By: Lynn Squire http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4450 Lynn Squire Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:39:56 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4450 Cindy, I love your idea of storyboarding. I can see myself doing that - if I had space. However, I confess, I'm very a very linear thinker, and the reason the storyboarding idea impresses me is because I'm also very visual. Seeing it on the floor or on the wall I think would help me "fill in the blanks". I think I'd be able to develop the subplots better and see places where I could use more character-developing scenes. I'm looking forward to seeing you at Mount Hermon as well (and you too Randy). Cindy, I love your idea of storyboarding. I can see myself doing that - if I had space. However, I confess, I’m very a very linear thinker, and the reason the storyboarding idea impresses me is because I’m also very visual. Seeing it on the floor or on the wall I think would help me “fill in the blanks”. I think I’d be able to develop the subplots better and see places where I could use more character-developing scenes.

I’m looking forward to seeing you at Mount Hermon as well (and you too Randy).

]]> By: M.L. Eqatin http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4452 M.L. Eqatin Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:53:47 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4452 Randy, have you ever read 'Thinking in Pictures' by Temple Grandin? It was an eye-opener to me. But your method sounds much like what she describes, although she is probably less verbal than most people who think pictorially. I think in text. Literally. As I age, it's gotten so that I can hardly focus on a movie unless the text is running across the bottom of the screen. How weird is that? Randy, have you ever read ‘Thinking in Pictures’ by Temple Grandin? It was an eye-opener to me. But your method sounds much like what she describes, although she is probably less verbal than most people who think pictorially.
I think in text. Literally. As I age, it’s gotten so that I can hardly focus on a movie unless the text is running across the bottom of the screen. How weird is that?

]]> By: bonne friesen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4453 bonne friesen Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:11:18 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4453 I do the ol' writing scene synopses on big recipe cards to help me work out the order. I'm the flashback queen and it's hard for me to find the most effective order because I want to put the exciting hook stuff in, but sooner or later things need to get explained. Freshman foible - I'm hoping to grow out of it. I do the ol’ writing scene synopses on big recipe cards to help me work out the order. I’m the flashback queen and it’s hard for me to find the most effective order because I want to put the exciting hook stuff in, but sooner or later things need to get explained.

Freshman foible - I’m hoping to grow out of it.

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4454 Camille Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:43:38 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4454 Sorry, I had to come back. I just saw an article about Karen Kingsbury on Novel Journey. She said she writes 10k words per day, 24k was her best day. That's thousand. Here's an excerpt of what she said: "For me, writing has always been like seeing a movie play out in my head, and then capturing it on the page. I'm not sure that all writers have this experience, but when I'm writing a novel I feel like I'm taking dictation on this moving picture playing in my mind. I rarely feel like a writer, but more like a reader - my hands flying as fast as they can across the keyboard." She attribut this phenomenal ability to God's gifting. I wanted to leave a comment and ask if she ever snowflakes or puzzles, because it doesn't sound like she does either. But the Novel Journey site has a bug right now. Hmmph. Anybody ever talk to her and find out how much prewriting or preplanning she does? Sorry, I had to come back. I just saw an article about Karen Kingsbury on Novel Journey. She said she writes 10k words per day, 24k was her best day. That’s thousand. Here’s an excerpt of what she said:

“For me, writing has always been like seeing a movie play out in my head, and then capturing it on the page. I’m not sure that all writers have this experience, but when I’m writing a novel I feel like I’m taking dictation on this moving picture playing in my mind. I rarely feel like a writer, but more like a reader - my hands flying as fast as they can across the keyboard.”

She attribut this phenomenal ability to God’s gifting.

I wanted to leave a comment and ask if she ever snowflakes or puzzles, because it doesn’t sound like she does either. But the Novel Journey site has a bug right now. Hmmph. Anybody ever talk to her and find out how much prewriting or preplanning she does?

]]> By: Lynda http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4455 Lynda Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:54:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4455 Wow! How different people are. I couldn't possibly begin without knowing the final scene. It's the goal I'm working toward. Wow! How different people are. I couldn’t possibly begin without knowing the final scene. It’s the goal I’m working toward.

]]> By: Noelle http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4456 Noelle Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:45:03 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4456 Thanks so much, Cindy for sharing this method! I've tried, without any luck, to line up my scenes in order as I write, but I've always written scenes that popped into my head, not ones that followed an order. Now I can stop stressing about the perfect order and get back to just writing again. I'll figure out how it fits at the end! Thanks so much, Cindy for sharing this method!

I’ve tried, without any luck, to line up my scenes in order as I write, but I’ve always written scenes that popped into my head, not ones that followed an order. Now I can stop stressing about the perfect order and get back to just writing again. I’ll figure out how it fits at the end!

]]> By: Karla http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4458 Karla Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:48:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4458 M.L. -- I have read Temple Grandin. I have twin sons with autism, and I think in pictures, so it was a great read for me. I don't have autism, but I have always, always thought in pictures. I have the most vivid dreams, too -- I actually feel, and taste, and see all kinds of colors. However, while you think in words, I do sometimes find myself "typing" what people say to me. LOL. Yeah, I'm an odd one. Randy -- I stand corrected about your linear thinking. Still, while you may get a "flash" in pictures -- a "flash" is not the same as seeing EVERYTHING and working EVERYTHING out in pictures. Although, I will concur that the snowflake is an awesome visual. So now, I'm perplexed at how your mind really works. Me thinks it's probably a scary place. . . Camille -- I love Kingsbury. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing that quote. Cindy -- I love this method. It's how I do it, too. I type all kinds of notes and scenes and conversations and conflict ideas and then I print it out and cut it out, and mark it and paste it and draw maps, etc. I didn't know this was what real writers did -- I just thought I was inept! LOL. BUT, I'm trying to learn from Randy how to put more layers in. I think that's why the snowflake helps me so much. Talk about Randy's mind being scary. . .now I'm scaring myself. Randy and Cindy -- I am horrible with endings. I have all the beginnings and middles and the message, but I suppose the one reason I have not yet published is that my endings escape me so I don't ever finish completely. I have about 6 novels sitting here that I have no endings for. I don't know if it's because I'm so in love with the story I just can't let it go or what. I would love some tips on how to write a good ending!! I am so jealous of those going to Mt. Hermon! I want to go! Pack me in your luggage, please! M.L. — I have read Temple Grandin. I have twin sons with autism, and I think in pictures, so it was a great read for me. I don’t have autism, but I have always, always thought in pictures. I have the most vivid dreams, too — I actually feel, and taste, and see all kinds of colors. However, while you think in words, I do sometimes find myself “typing” what people say to me. LOL. Yeah, I’m an odd one.

Randy — I stand corrected about your linear thinking. Still, while you may get a “flash” in pictures — a “flash” is not the same as seeing EVERYTHING and working EVERYTHING out in pictures. Although, I will concur that the snowflake is an awesome visual. So now, I’m perplexed at how your mind really works. Me thinks it’s probably a scary place. . .

Camille — I love Kingsbury. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing that quote.

Cindy — I love this method. It’s how I do it, too. I type all kinds of notes and scenes and conversations and conflict ideas and then I print it out and cut it out, and mark it and paste it and draw maps, etc. I didn’t know this was what real writers did — I just thought I was inept! LOL. BUT, I’m trying to learn from Randy how to put more layers in. I think that’s why the snowflake helps me so much. Talk about Randy’s mind being scary. . .now I’m scaring myself.

Randy and Cindy — I am horrible with endings. I have all the beginnings and middles and the message, but I suppose the one reason I have not yet published is that my endings escape me so I don’t ever finish completely. I have about 6 novels sitting here that I have no endings for. I don’t know if it’s because I’m so in love with the story I just can’t let it go or what. I would love some tips on how to write a good ending!!

I am so jealous of those going to Mt. Hermon! I want to go! Pack me in your luggage, please!

]]> By: Louis Wilberger http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4464 Louis Wilberger Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:55:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4464 Characters grab me and before I know it, I've done two chapters on him of her. I have trouble sometimes remembering bit player's names. Wouldn't it be great to have a cast of characters window to pop up when you need it. Characters grab me and before I know it, I’ve done two chapters on him of her. I have trouble sometimes remembering bit player’s names. Wouldn’t it be great to have a cast of characters window to pop up when you need it.

]]> By: Gerhard J van Vuuren http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4465 Gerhard J van Vuuren Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:50:26 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4465 Cindy, Thanks for the answers. I was wondering whether you used a hybrid system (like a lot of people seem to do) or stick to the puzzle system. It seems as if you stick to it. Personally I think that every one of us have a system of our own. One of our main jobs is to figure out what our system is so that we don't get sidetracked by what works for other people and not for us. The way we figure it out is to try other people's systems and then to keep the parts that work for us. I have ideas for what my system is and how it works but I can only say it works when I get that first novel done. I have done with a term paper what you talk about in terms of printing the mess and laying it out on the floor. I ended up with a scroll after I stapled everything together sequentially. It worked well for a 20 page paper but I'm not sure if I could cope with it in terms of a novel size work. Cindy,

Thanks for the answers. I was wondering whether you used a hybrid system (like a lot of people seem to do) or stick to the puzzle system. It seems as if you stick to it.

Personally I think that every one of us have a system of our own. One of our main jobs is to figure out what our system is so that we don’t get sidetracked by what works for other people and not for us. The way we figure it out is to try other people’s systems and then to keep the parts that work for us.

I have ideas for what my system is and how it works but I can only say it works when I get that first novel done. I have done with a term paper what you talk about in terms of printing the mess and laying it out on the floor. I ended up with a scroll after I stapled everything together sequentially.

It worked well for a 20 page paper but I’m not sure if I could cope with it in terms of a novel size work.

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4468 Pam Halter Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:38:38 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4468 I do the cheering thing, too. ;) I also laugh out loud, weep and heave dramatic sighs. 3 more days to Mt. Hermon - for me anyway, because I'm traveling from NJ, so I'm getting there a day early. It's my first time to the west coast, so I'm totally jazzed. Hope to catch up with you and say hi! I do the cheering thing, too. ;) I also laugh out loud, weep and heave dramatic sighs.

3 more days to Mt. Hermon - for me anyway, because I’m traveling from NJ, so I’m getting there a day early. It’s my first time to the west coast, so I’m totally jazzed. Hope to catch up with you and say hi!

]]> By: Bonnie R. Schutzman http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4479 Bonnie R. Schutzman Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:57:29 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/07/questions-and-answers/#comment-4479 Cindy, thanks so much for sharing this method. I write the same way, only I never thought of calling it a system. I've spent most of the last several years trying to FIX it. Cindy, thanks so much for sharing this method. I write the same way, only I never thought of calling it a system. I’ve spent most of the last several years trying to FIX it.

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