Hatrack River Forum: Quick questions for OSC

This is topic Quick questions for OSC in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

In another thread you said:

"Glad you like the rawness. But I tell each story in the way that seems appropriate to me. Hard to think of me as being "kinder and gentler." But I have learned techniques other than shocking violence to make something feel important and urgent to the reader; and therefore, having more alternatives, I use the shock techniques less often."

So what are these other techniques?

Also, I used to look forward to reading the latest installment of "Uncle Orson's Writing Class" quite eagerly. Why don't you give us some more? Are people just not posting questions?

I think it's time you wrote another writing book. I have both your others and would love a third with tips like 'techniques to make something feel urgent to the reader'.

thanks,
Crotalus

Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :

Right, like I can do a writing course in a post on this thread <grin>.

I create tension and a sense of importance out of the relationships, the point of view - what the character wants, fears, etc., and why. If I've set it up right, a mere SENTENCE from someone can cause someone grief in a way that mere physical pain can't.

Uncle Orson's Writing Class kept spinning off into people wanting me to make specific comments about the EXACT problem they were facing in their particular story. To comment intelligently, I needed to read the story - and didn't have time for that.

Not that I won't go back to UOWC - I may write bits there based on things that come up in class now that I'll be teaching every semester.

Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

Thanks man.

Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :

Mr. Card,
That would be really great if you could put in a few updates now and then in your UOWC of some of the common issues that beginning writers are faced with. I'm sure a lot of us make the same errors as the students in your classes make [Smile]

I know I have made many of those same mistakes in my writing.
I really learned a lot from your Characters and Viewpoint book. The section where you talk about What Else (the babysitter and what could happen) and not using the first ideas that come to mind helped me so much. I was able to take a somewhat dull, very cliched story and turn it into something unique!
Thank YOU!!