posted
Yeah, thought I'd take the chance to thank you for something, Mr. Card (like so many people seem to be doing since you got hooked on your own creation). You see, ever since I started reading your books (Yes, Ender's Game was the first one) I paid particular attention to the introductions you wrote in them. I found them, sometimes, just as interesting as the stories they introduced. I paid attention to them because, like so many people out there, I had ambitions to become a writer. At the time, I had no idea how I was going to make that happen, though. All I had was the desire and a universe I had made up in my head (complete with a 200 year basic history and a good, intriguing main character). After reading the history of your own success, I finally began to make some general goals for my path to becoming a writer. Along with that, I decided to take my writing more seriously. As I was working in a library, I was shelving books and happened upon your book, "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy." Being a computer maintenance guy at a college library (which is the most boring job I have ever had in my life...Which is why I was shelving books. Just to pass the time) gave me the oportunity to sit down and read it without the distractions I would face at home. After I read the first 3 chapters, I just had to write something. So I turned to the work computer and started re-writing a scene I had written about 10 or so times before. This time, however, everything seemed to work perfectly. It was the first time I had been able to feel the exhilaration of creating something truly unique. I decided to ask one of my English teachers to read it and critique it for me (I had, by this time, realized that mom is good to run stuff by, but bad for getting honest critiquing). He told me that while it was a "scene right out of gunsmoke," he loved how I wrote it. At any rate, since that day, I've managed to write more stories and have even submitted one in a writing contest (interestingly enough I had progessed enough in the time it took for that to happen that I went from thinking it was the best story I could write, when it was submitted, to reading it again and thinking, "Wow...This sucks. I can't believe I actually submitted this for anything other than bird cage liner.") To make an already long story not quite as long as it could be, I just want to thank you for being my writing teacher. Though I've never met you, your work has inspired, driven, and enlightened me more than any other writer I know of. So yeah, thanks [/fanboyish thank you thread]
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Wow! "Gunsmoke" huh? I'm just curious - did you understand the reference or are you as old as me or do you catch the cable channels that show old reruns?
Anyway, congrats on your writing.
Posts: 17 | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
Well, I'd heard of Gunsmoke, but I'd never seen it. It was kind of a futuristic bar fight type of thing, with the hero beating the tar out of three goons. Pretty stereotypical, I know...But still a fun scene to write.
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
yeah, I like them too. I do not which book it was in, but my favourite was about a judgment of a woman who accused of fornication (I think). Nobody wanted to kill her, because they all were sinful, but the judge crashed her skull with a brick, because law was law:) And all of the shadows, reading those emails helped two forsee what's gonna happen
Posts: 723 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Intros to novels are like easter eggs on DVDs - most people don't bother, but they are so much fun when you take the time. I always read intros, (altho it may be after I've finished the book...)
kudos for taking the time. You'll pretty much always be rewarded for your effort.
Posts: 262 | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
I'll use this thread for my own purposes and thank Mr. Card for writing that book that's set of the "Elements of Writing Fiction." The one called "Characters and Viewpoint." Viewpoints are something I have loads of trouble with when it comes to writing, and it was a good wake up call.
I'm still debating whether or not to give the other books a try. I was pretty sure Card would know what he's talking about, but I'm not too familiar with the other authors who helped in the set. If anyone has some advice on this that would be helpful.
Posts: 142 | Registered: Apr 2005
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