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[Writer's Exercises] [nancy fulda lives here] [Wen Spencer over here] [Wen's Writing Tips] [Diane Duane along here] [Sarah Hoyt] [liaden readers] [Tamora Pierce] [Tamora Pierce (unexpurgated)] [Wrede around here] [Howard Tayler] [Dave Freer] [sry lives here] Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "mbarker" journal:

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November 17th, 2009
09:55 am [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
November 10th, 2009
09:25 am [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
November 5th, 2009
08:03 pm [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
October 28th, 2009
08:49 pm [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
October 27th, 2009
03:42 pm [Link]	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 (3 comments \| Leave a comment)
October 26th, 2009
11:54 am [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
October 8th, 2009
10:17 am [Link]	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 (1 comment \| Leave a comment)
October 2nd, 2009
11:00 am [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
September 27th, 2009
11:50 am [Link]	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 (Leave a comment)
September 18th, 2009
08:58 pm [Link]	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 (2 comments \| Leave a comment)
September 10th, 2009
09:38 am [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 15: Q&A at WorldCon Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 15: Q&A at WorldCon From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/09/06/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-15-writing-process-qa-with-mary-robinette-kowal/ Key points: What technology? Use technology you're comfortable with. How do you get original ideas? "Who is this going to hurt" can help you pick interesting ideas. Incubate and combine ideas. How do you outline? Outlines are a way of thinking through what will happen -- how do you get from plot point to plot point. Focus on the lamp posts, the big changes in characters. Or pick an image or climax, and lay the groundwork to get there. Outlines can change, too. ( Questions and answers... ) Current Mood: filberts Current Music: Cowgirls Don't Cry, Brooks & Dunn Tags: ideas, outlines, q&a, wikidpad, worldcon, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
September 1st, 2009
09:09 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 14: WorldCon with Mary Robinette Kowal Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 14: WorldCon with Mary Robinette Kowal From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/08/30/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-14-the-four-principles-of-puppetry-with-mary-robinette-kowal/ Key Points: (1) Focus indicates thought. As a writer, you can only show the audience one thing at a time. Show them what you want them to think about. (2) Breath indicates emotion. Speed tells people how you feel about what you are doing. Writing is a way to capture storytelling to share with people when we're not in the room. (3) Muscle. Create the illusion that characters are moving of their own volition. (4) Meaningful movement. Every move should mean something. ( there are no strings on me ) [Howard] The fifth principle is the writing prompt. Create some sort of fantasy magical setting in which puppetry requires a fifth principle. [Brandon] Magical puppets! This has been Writing Excuses. Thank you very much, Mary. [Mary] Thank you. [Brandon] Now you're all out of excuses, now go write. Current Mood: strings Tags: breath, focus, meaningful movement, muscle, puppetry, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
August 26th, 2009
11:33 am [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 13: Dialects and In-World Jargon Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 13: Dialects and In-World Jargon From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/08/23/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-13-dialects-and-in-world-jargon/ Key Points: Accents and dialects are attempts to emulate the ways people speak. Changing the spelling can be hard to read, makes the prose obvious, and can irritate the reader. Word choice and word order also can be used to suggest dialect. Fake swear words and in-world jargon also can help. "Do whatever is honest for the character." ( words ) [Brandon] Did you have a writing prompt for us, Dan? Didn't we talk about this? No, you had one last time. I should come up with one. [Haggis] It's your turn. [Armando] It is time for you to give us a writing prompt. [Brandon] Armando and Haggis are together... [Armando] As we often are. [Brandon] Trapped in a room... [Armando] With many beautiful women. [Brandon] With many beautiful women, running away from them... [Haggis] And I've got a kilt. [Brandon] Why are they trapped in this room? This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses. Now go write. Current Mood: plain Current Music: Friends in Low Places, Garth Brooks Tags: accents, dialects, in-world jargon, writing excuses (2 comments \| Leave a comment)
August 19th, 2009
08:51 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 12: Subplots Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 12: Subplots From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/08/16/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-12-subplots/ Key points: Subplots are secondary plots. They can flesh out other characters, make the world feel more real, keep the tension high, and introduce elements as foreshadowing for the main plot. They can also provide quick accomplishments for a sense of progress. Be wary of subplots being more interesting than the main plot. How many subplots? It depends on your genre and skills, but don't overload the reader. Subplots feel real when they advance character, the main plot, or reveal setting. ( plenty of words about subplots ) [Dan] Here's our writing prompt. By odd happenstance, Brandon and I are wearing the same T-shirt today. Well, two different instances of a similar T-shirt. [Howard -- choked laughter] Thank you. [Dan] It is from an explosives company. We all know why we are both wearing the same T-shirt, but your prompt is to write a story about why we are wearing an explosives and blasting T-shirt. [Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write. Current Mood: secondary Tags: a story, b story, character, foreshadowing, plot, progress, setting, subplots, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
August 12th, 2009
10:02 am [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 11: Trimming Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 11: Trimming From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/08/08/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-11-trimming/ Key points: Trimming takes fat out so that you say what you need to say in the best possible way. Trimming improves the pace, makes writing snappy, and helps with clarity. Killing your darlings is not trimming. Trim repetition. Trim false starts. One strategy is section by section trimming -- 10% off each page or chapter, aka Jerry Pournelle's cut. Another approach is spot trimming, focusing on scenes, aka Dan and the Writing Group take a slice. Poetry teaches word usage. Trim adjectives, very, dialogue tags, navelgazing. Fix passive voice. ( 1 Lightyear: 10 to the 13th KM. About 63,000 AU, which is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun. ) [Brandon] The writing prompt is you are going LARPing with Jerry Pournelle. If you have to look up LARP, go ahead. If you have to find out what Jerry Pournelle is like, go ahead and Google that. Write a story that involves you LARPing with Jerry Pournelle. Not Howard LARPing with Jerry Pournelle, because he has already appeared in too many of our writing prompts. [Dan] Then cut it down to half size. [Brandon] Jerry Pournelle or the story? [Dan] Something in the story has to be cut in half. [Howard] Do you have any idea how big a light year is? [Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You are out of excuses, now go write. Current Mood: sideburns Tags: adjectives, dialogue tags, false starts, jerry pournelle, killing your darlings, navelgazing, passive voice, poetry, repetition, revision, trimming, very, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
August 6th, 2009
03:42 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 10: Do's and Don'ts of Attending Cons Writing Excuses Season Three Episode 10: Do's and Don'ts of Attending Cons From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/08/02/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-10-the-dos-and-donts-of-attending-cons/ Key points: Don't be a booth barnacle. Beware of the fan moment! As an aspiring professional, present yourself as a professional. Know who you want to meet, and why, and respect their schedule. Have leading questions that are easy for them to answer, such as "Do you have a few minutes some time to talk?" "What panels are you on that you would recommend for an aspiring writer?" or "What are you working on now?" Don't ask "What are you looking for?" Don't be belligerent. Have a plan, and listen. Go to the publisher panels and listen. Don't carry a manuscript. Do carry a business card. Do plan to take notes. Do look for blogs. Do go to panels on writing. And mostly, quite sincerely, have fun. ( on the con floor... ) [Brandon] I think we've gone long enough. Let's go ahead and finish our writing prompt. Dan? What does the person have in their pocket? [Dan] What does he have in his pocket? [Brandon] It's not the one ring, that's not allowed. And it's not allowed to be nothing, either. [Dan] It's not the one ring? He has an entire universe in his pocket. [Brandon] Um. And it's not peace-bonded. [Laughter] Current Mood: stormy Tags: blogs, booth barnacles, cons, conventions, fan moments, panels, professional, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
July 29th, 2009
01:34 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Nine: Attending Cons Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Nine: Attending Cons From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/07/26/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-9-attending-conventions-part-i/ Key points: First of Two Parts! Conferences are for training, conventions are for fanning. Tradeshows/Expos are for industry, and media cons are exhibitions. For an aspiring writer, conventions provide inexpensive introductions and networking, while conferences provide intensive training at a cost. Details of what to do to make cons useful to you...next week. ( Cons-arned details? ) [Dan] Wait, we need a writing prompt, don't we? [Brandon] I don't know, it's a two-part episode. [Jordan] Give them half of the writing prompt now. [Brandon] Oh, half the writing prompt. OK, half your writing prompt... [Howard] The protagonist has shown up at a convention and in his pocket he has a ... [Dan] See you next week. Current Mood: hats Current Music: Strawberry Wine, Deanna Carter Tags: conferences, cons, conventions, expos, media cons, worldcon, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
July 22nd, 2009
09:20 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Eight: What Star Trek Did Right Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Eight: What Star Trek Did Right From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/07/20/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-8-what-star-trek-did-right/ Key points: If you are going to twist a genre or bend expectations for a surprise, do it early. Character climaxes resonate with audiences. A cabbage head character, a Watson, a naive person can help readers learn. Use hooks to help readers identify the characters, but character development to help them identify with them. Characters in conflict with themselves can be fascinating. Paired arcs can cross and support each other. A prosaic setting can help non-science-fiction readers get oriented fast. Use the setting to provide subtle hints to the passage of time. Spock is not a rooster. ( Behind the crossed spaceships ) [Just the writing prompt] [Howard] I don't want to give people a Star Trek writing prompt. No, that's good. Start with iconic Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Start with those iconic characters and then make them your own characters with their own justifications. Spock cannot be an elf... or a rooster. Now you're out of excuses. Go write. Current Mood: antiqued Tags: cabbage head character, character climaxes, character development, genre twisting, kirk, learning curve, mccoy, science fiction, spock, star trek, watson, writing excuses (2 comments \| Leave a comment)
July 14th, 2009
02:00 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Seven: Genre Blending Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Seven: Genre Blending From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/07/12/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-7-genre-blending/ Key points: Mixing genres can alienate readers. So don't tell them. Borrow and hide it. Well stolen is half composed. Even the writer doesn't always know what he will grow when he blends genres. Beware the Western Stigma! ( tossed genre salad under cover ) [Brandon] We have our writing prompt. Combine horror and Western, and don't make it look like either one. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write. Current Mood: triffle Current Music: These Are My People, Rodney Atkins Tags: genre blending, tropes, western stigma, writing excuses (Leave a comment)
July 10th, 2009
03:15 pm [Link]	Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Six: Dramatic Breaks Writing Excuses Season Three Episode Six: Dramatic Breaks From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/07/07/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-6-dramatic-breaks/ Key points: A dramatic break makes the reader want to go onto the next scene. Use cliffhangers, a tense lack of resolution, a sense of satisfaction, emotional ploys -- and mix it up. Pay attention to your genre -- thrillers like cliffhangers, epic fantasy prefers satisfaction. Be aware of the sense of time. Dan parks his flying car outside. Satisfying installments keep people coming back. Scenes need to progress the character or the plot to satisfy readers. Let the reader know the scene is over -- walk out the door, step into the street, etc. ( no drama, just hiding the extra stuff ) [Dan] Write a story in which Howard hates elephants and dramatically breaks one. [Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write. Current Mood: edgy Current Music: Because of You, Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson Tags: chapter endings, chapters, cliffhangers, dramatic breaks, lack of resolution, progress, satisfaction, scene endings, scenes, writing excuses (Leave a comment)

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