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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "mbarker" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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10:02 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 26: Nanowrimo
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 26: Nanowrimo
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/22/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-26-nanowrimo/
Key points: Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month, is an opportunity to write 50,000 words in November along with 160,000 other people worldwide. See http://www.nanowrimo.org/ Nanowrimo forces you to write quickly, turn off your internal editor, shut up and write.
What do you do when characters act dumb? If it's in character, fine. If it's not, what information are they missing, what emotions cloud their judgment? Forging ahead is one of the best ways to find an alternate solution. What do you do when main characters digress? Keep writing, and expect to throw away words. Save the good stuff for another book, because there will be other Novembers. What do you do when the pacing changes? If you're comfortable, keep going. You discover aspects of your style by writing. It's possible to have character development in action -- fight scenes can reveal and develop characters. Getting ideas on paper lets you see them and develop them, plus it gives you good practice. Nanowrimo -- keep writing.
( cut and paste? )
[Howard] Katherine, give us a writing prompt that involves a traveling shovel.
[Katherine] On the nano forums, I don't know if any of you all have been there but there's this sort of motif about the traveling shovel of death. One of your characters gets killed with a shovel somehow. You just have to work it into your story.
[Dan] Awesome.
[Howard] There's your writing prompt. Kill somebody with a shovel. No, wait a minute. Write about killing somebody with a shovel. You're out of excuses, now...
[Dan] Kill somebody with a shovel.
[Howard] Go write.
Current Mood: shoveling
Tags: action, character development, digressions, dumb characters, internal editor, nanowrimo, pacing, style, writing excuses
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09:37 am
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All Commercials, No Entertainment?
What's the opposite of no commercial interruptions?
Even the announcers had trouble figuring out just what to say about this one. They started out saying that it was an event about modern culture, then explained that in this case the culture is CM, or commercials. Advertisements. The organizer apparently is French, and he has collected 500 ads from around the world. All for a somewhat lengthy show that he apparently brings to various cities. And this time, it's coming to Osaka!
( Just the ads, ma'am? )
Anyway, some very odd ads. And there will be 500 plus ads, showing from 10:30 PM to 5:30 AM, along with all you can drink for one cover charge. And seven hours of advertisements. Nonstop. I think they should provide story breaks, to provide some kind of continuing background thread to help you fight off the flicker, flicker, flicker of unbridled consumerism.
So what is the opposite of no commercial interruptions? No non-commercial continuity?
Current Mood: baffled
Tags: cm, commercials, japan, tv
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09:55 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 25: The Business of Writing Comics
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 25: The Business of Writing Comics
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/15/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-25-the-business-of-writing-comics/
Key points: Professional relationships and keep plugging. Don't be afraid to try other things, you need a portfolio more than a specialty. Make your deadlines and be easy to work with. And work hard -- it takes passion and love to break into the comics industry.
( Under the covers )
[Howard] I have a writing prompt.
[Dan] Writing prompt? Let's hear it.
[Howard] Our superhero gained his superpowers by writing technical articles for Wired.
[Dan] Excellent. You're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: nasal
Tags: business, comics, deadlines, persistence, professional relationships, writing excuses
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09:14 pm
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I wonder if they listened to the whole song?
On NHK (Japan Public TV) there was a transition just now to a short piece about an artist's eco residence... and during the intro, the background music had a few recognizable phrases, and I found myself humming along...
...he shaved his legs... take a walk on the wild side...
I have to admit, I laughed long and hard. Then I went and found the words, just to check my memory. Right, Quincy Jones, Walk on the Wild Side... and... oh, yeah, those lyrics... I'll bet they didn't translate all of those into Japanese. They used the English lyrics, just a couple of clips almost inaudible behind the announcer, but... I heard it.
It does sound nice, though. And for those who recognize the tune or words, it is kind of a nice break to hear that kind of a song on public TV. We are the people our parents warned us about, I guess...
Current Mood: laughing
Tags: japan, music, tv, wild side
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09:18 am
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Will that stunt the oyster's growth?
The human interest piece in yesterday's noon public TV was about oyster farming. I have to admit, I've never thought much about it. Turns out that oyster farmers worry about water quality, much as dirt farmers get concerned about the soil. And then there are those oysters smoking...
( Underwater? )
So -- that was our 10 minute or so introduction to oyster farming. Frankly, I hadn't realized that they have to raise and lower the oysters to keep them in the best water. Or that they smoke while they are growing up!
Current Mood: unsalted
Tags: furosato, japan, oysters, tv
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09:25 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 24: Writing Comics with Jake Black
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 24: Writing Comics with Jake Black
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/08/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-24-writing-comics-with-jake-black/
Key Points: Comic scripts need to be clear enough in stage directions and dialogue for the rest of the creative team to figure out what's going on. Be prepared to adjust and tweak. Comic characters don't talk a lot -- 20 or fewer words in a balloon. It's a visual medium, and dialogue and captions eat up art space.
( Inside the Fortress of Solitude )
[Dan] We are running far over time, so we are going to cut this. Please tune in next week when we will talk about how to get into the business of writing comics, and how to succeed and stay in the business of writing comics. Your writing prompt for today is to write a story -- you can do this as prose or you can do it as a comic script -- in which Superman swoops into a room, kicks something undefined, and then turns into Spiderman.
Current Mood: comic
Tags: balloon, comics, dialogue, stage directions, visual, writing excuses
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08:03 pm
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 23: How to Write without Twists
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 23: How to Write without Twists
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/01/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-23-how-to-write-without-twists/
Key points: Simple surprises and obstacles are not plot twists. Watching engaging characters overcome real problems is satisfying. Watching characters make progress is satisfying. Stories without twists often have strong setups with very clear conflicts and high stakes. Even stories with major plot twists often have straight-forward subplots.
( The Peppermint Twist? )
[Brandon] Let's do a writing prompt before this spirals completely into insanity.
[Jordo] Is it going to be Jane Austen and Diehard?
[Brandon] No.
[Dan] No?
[Howard] It can't be Pride and Prejudice and zombies, either, because that's been done.
[Dan] It's going to be Sense and Sensibility and terrorists.
[Brandon] You have lots of excuses why you are not going to write, but we're going to pretend you don't. Thanks for listening. This has been Writing Excuses.
Current Mood: breezy
Tags: conflict, obstacles, plot twists, progress, satisfaction, shyamalan, stakes, straight stories, subplots, writing excuses
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10:54 am
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What's the fuss?
I don't understand why people object to two people deciding to get married.
( For the good people of Maine and other parts )
Nope. I just don't understand it. Let's admit that any two people can get married, clean up the laws and wording, and move on. Figuring out how to help people build healthy marriages that last, and that support both parties and the children in being the best people they can be -- now that's a challenge. And it won't happen if you just bar some couples from trying. It'll only happen when we work together to make every marriage a success, no matter what ages, colors, religions, or sexes are involved.
Let no man put asunder... it has a ring to it, doesn't it?
Current Mood: fizzled
Tags: argument, controversy, flames, marriage
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08:49 pm
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 22: Idea to Story
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 22: Idea to Story
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/25/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-22-idea-to-story/
Key Points: To turn an idea into a story: Look for the points of conflict. Look for the boundaries -- what kind of story is this? Consider plot, setting, characters. What is the ending? How will you resolve the story? Look for characters who are in pain. Check old ideas that didn't get used yet. Brainstorm interesting ideas -- set pieces, events, twists, interesting stuff.
( the nuts and bolts )
[Brandon] We're out of time. But let's go ahead and give you the writing prompt which is the same idea that we used at the beginning.
[Howard] Insects have in some way evolved defenses against all of the poisons that we use to kill them and many of the chemicals that would work to just kill anything because they have somehow developed magic.
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: nodding
Tags: boundaries, brainstorming, characters, conflicts, ending, ideas, plot, process, setting, story, writing excuses
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03:42 pm
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 21: Pitfalls of Self-Publishing
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 21: Pitfalls of Self-Publishing
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/18/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-21-pitfalls-of-self-publishing-with-larry-correia/
Key points: Self-publishing is not easy. You still need all the stuff that a publishing house does, and you have to do it yourself. You have to avoid the con artists. You have to be a businessperson, marketeer, and accountant. You need a business plan!
( The self-publishing rag )
[Brandon] I've got a writing prompt for everyone. Story about someone who self publishes a book which for one reason or another becomes a threat that will end the world. So someone self publishes the Necronomicon.
[Larry] So you read my book?
[Brandon] Thank you to Larry. The book is Monster Hunter International. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: unpolished
Tags: pitfalls, self-publishing, writing excuses
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11:54 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 20: The Difference between Character Driven and Plot Driven Sto
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 20: The Difference between Character Driven and Plot Driven Stories
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/11/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-20-plot-vs-character-driven-fiction/
Key Points: What is driving the story -- who the characters are or what events are they involved with? What draws the reader in -- how does this end or who is Sally? Both kind create tension in readers, and require conflict. Is the climax a confluence of events or a character decision/change? When the characters' internal moments and the plot's external moments all line up, that's thrilling. Does the plot revolve around a discovery, a decision, or an action? Strong characters make plots interesting. Make your characters strong enough to carry the story.
( serendipity hides here )
[Brandon] I think that's a great note to end on. Larry, we want you to give us a writing prompt. Just off the top of your head. I'm putting you on the spot. This is what happens. A writing prompt for our listeners.
[Larry] Come up with a plot driven story and try to make it good with boring characters.
[Dan] Ignore all the advice we've just given you.
[Howard] We've just made them run laps for no reason.
[Brandon] Someone's already done that. His name is Dan Brown.
[Larry] Oh. Burn. Snap.
[Howard] You can get Dan Brown's stuff on audible.com.
[Brandon] Yes, you can. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: delayed
Tags: action, character-driven, climax, conflict, decision, discovery, events, plot-driven, tension, writing excuses
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10:17 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 19: Emotion in Fiction with John Brown
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 19: Emotion in Fiction with John Brown
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/04/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-19-emotion-in-fiction-with-john-brown/
Key points: fiction is all about guiding an emotional response in a reader. Writing takes time to think about writing plus time to write. Make time for both. Emotions come from reaction and thoughts, but when we think distorted thoughts, we cause our own emotional reactions. Cognitive therapy tool: stop, write down the feeling and the thought that went with it. Then examine the thought to see if it is realistic. Don't just compare what someone else does well with what you are weak at -- pay attention to the things you do well, too. Good writing guides the reader into experiencing emotions, so think about what evokes a response in you, then put that in your story. Character identification, believability, clarity, focusing on triggering details are all part of evoking emotions. The question you have to ask yourself is, what would evoke that response. Then put that in the story.
( slithering in the grass )
[Brandon] OK. Let's go ahead and do a writing prompt. I think that might be a good one right there. A story about villainous heroes that has a romantic element that inspires terror in your reader. That's going to be your goal. All right. This has been Writing Excuses, you're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: harried
Tags: cognitive therapy, depression, emotions, writing excuses
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06:51 pm
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A fat Japanese on TV...
Oh, that's wicked. This guy is a gourmet foods buyer -- so he's going to visit farms and such, then to restaurants and other users of the products he buys, and of course, everyone feeds him. So he is definitely plump.
( Have you tried wine pork? )
Weird and wonderful. I didn't even know there were gourmet food buyers, nor would I have known what his job was. Run around trying out gourmet foods? It actually sounds like a rough job, because even though the perks of the job are tasty, trying to outguess the gourmet foods market must be difficult. And if you buy a half-ton of wine pork and no one wants it because they're dieting this week -- food spoils.
Current Mood: piglet
Tags: gourmet food buyer, japan, tv, wine pork
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10:48 am
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Like taking bananas from a monkey?
One of the TV shows here in Japan had what I thought was a fascinating experiment with monkeys the other day. These were the wild monkeys that are somewhat common here in Japan -- a large pack of them, clearly familiar with the area and rather bold.
The first part of this was showing us what happens when someone walks into their area carrying a banana. First they showed us a woman walking in. She was carrying the banana at about waist level. Within about two steps, they surrounded her, grabbed her skirt, and one of them jumped up and tore the banana out of her hand. Next they showed us a man, about the same height and build. He was carrying a banana in the same way that the woman had. He stepped into the area, and walked across it and back. They cleared his path. One monkey did a half-hearted jump towards the banana, but didn't even really try.
( Experiments! )
I'm not sure that this means anything -- I would want to do a lot more trials and combinations if you were really trying to figure out what the monkeys are using to decide who's banana they can safely steal. But it seems pretty clear that there's some kind of monkey business going on.
Incidentally, they rewarded the monkeys with a whole box of bananas after they finished the various walks.
Current Mood: monkeying around
Tags: gender, japan, monkeys, tv
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09:37 am
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Great idea, but...
One of the news shows recently had a segment covering the "Pink Ribbon" campaign somewhere here in Japan. Apparently an exhibit and so forth focusing on breast cancer. And they made a point of showing us one of the displays.
( undercover )
Of course, that doesn't really explain why that was the focus of the short segment on the news... but it's still a good idea. Made me wonder what other learning experiences would be simplified with a little tactile simulation. Maybe instead of show and tell, we need to urge students to touch and feel?
Current Mood: newsy
Tags: breasts, japan, news, tactile, tv
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11:00 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 18: How to not repeat yourself
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 18: How to not repeat yourself
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/09/27/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-18-how-to-not-repeat-yourself/
Key points: Balance continuity and similarities with new stuff. Watch for reuse on small details and for reuse of themes and storylines. Try different takes, outcomes, characters, directions. Hang a lantern on reuse -- let the reader know that you know you are doing it. Try recombination of disharmonious elements and random jumbles to make yourself stretch.
( doubletalk... )
[Howard] No, no. But you pick several... you pick among one of these several sentences and then you roll the dice for nouns and adjectives and whatever. It's like MadLibs, only when you're done, you realize, "A Princess is trying to eat a pie and the magic frog doesn't want her to." You come up with story seeds, from which you could go...
[Brandon] Well, we have a writing prompt.
[Howard] Okay. Writing prompt. A princess is trying to eat a pie and someone is trying to stop her.
[Brandon] And the fate of the world depends on it.
[Dan] [musical interlude -- dun, de dun dun...]
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: gum
Tags: hang a lantern, random elements, recombination, repetition, reuse, themes, writing excuses
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09:15 pm
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Taking the Drama out.
Here's an oddity. The one-year drama on public TV here recently came to an end. This is a daily serial, with 15 minute segments six days of the week. Each segment is shown about 3 times in the morning, once at lunch, and then again in the evening. Saturday they run through the whole week, just in case you missed something. I haven't really been watching this one, although Mitsuko watches it daily.
( A long story... )
They filled in the final week with various reconciliations. Clearly they were trying to wrap up all the loose ends. For this kind of a portrayal of life, though, I think it's sometimes better to leave the loose ends -- "and they went on," rather than "everything was wonderful."
Current Mood: flat
Tags: climax that wasn't, japan, tv
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11:50 am
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 17: More Q&A at WorldCon
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 17: More Q&A at WorldCon
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/09/20/writing-excuses-episode-3-season-17-characters-worldbuilding-qa-with-mary-robinette-kowal/
Key points: What do you do when characters revolt? Check -- is this the right character? Are you bored with the story? Are you forcing yourself to follow an outline, and you are a discovery writer? Or go ahead and write it out, then decide whether or not it is better. What's surprisingly hard about writing? Starting something new, doing revisions, doing all the parts -- beginnings, middles, ends. How do you build a world and history for your story? Study history. Reuse fiddly bits. Plan and take advantage of serendipitous happenstance. For new magic or technology, consider -- how does it affect the poorest class, the richest class, and how can it be abused?
( Details, details... )
[Brandon] That's very good advice. All right. We'll go ahead and end with the writing prompt which is you're going to write about a band called the Predestined Monkeys...
[Howard] I thought you'd just make them write about a predestined monkey...
[Dan and Brandon] [garbled]
[Howard] It can be a band of predestined monkeys.
[Brandon] Something like that is your writing prompt. This has been Writing Excuses. Special thanks to Mary for sitting in on three of these. Thank you all, audience, for giving us questions. Keep on listening.
[Dan] You have no more excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: scrivening
Tags: character revolt, hard parts, q&a, worldbuilding, worldcon, writing excuses
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05:45 pm
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Bouncing Dervishes?
I've been trying to come up with a name for them, and I think that's pretty good. It's harvest time in this area in Japan, so the rice fields are ripe for the crows and such to get into. And most of the farmers put up bouncing dervishes to try to reduce the pilferage.
What's a bouncing dervish? Start with two long limber bamboo poles -- say 20 feet long or so? Stand them up about that far apart, with a long string on each of them. In the middle, hanging on the string, there's a hoop -- maybe 3 feet across? -- covered with... I guess it's plastic, or maybe paper. White, anyway. With huge eyes and a mouth, or some similar pattern on it. Most of them have a bright tail on the bottom to help stabilize it. But every passing breeze makes it flip and jump, with a lot of up and down because the poles are very limber.
I think they really make the rice fields decorative at this time of year. Bouncing dervishes everywhere!
Current Mood: watching
Tags: bouncing dervish, fall, harvest, japan, rice, scarecrow
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08:58 pm
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Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 16: The Anti-Mary Sue Episode
Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 16: The Anti-Mary Sue Episode
From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/09/13/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-16-the-anti-mary-sue-episode/
Key points: Mary Sue means wish fulfillment. To write different voices, steep yourself in that voice and culture. Keep someone in mind when you write a character, a dominant impression. Get inside your character's head. Fix it in revision. Find someone fascinating and write about them, to avoid always telling your story.
( the voices in your head... )
[Jordo] Writing prompt?
[Brandon] Producer Jordo says I have to do a writing prompt, so I'm going to make John Brown do it.
[John] Okay. Here's your writing prompt. Go out and do some research. Find a fascinating character that is nothing like you. Go pick some topic that you don't know about. Then write a story.
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
Current Mood: morphic
Tags: character, mary sue, voice, writing excuses
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