I was just curious about how many other people out there write novels/short stories that are inspired by Card. My favorite authors are Card, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King, but the stuff I write is pure science fiction and inspired by Card. Also I was pondering a question: Do you [Mr. Card] ever read fan's writings and give them pointers? I'm sure if you did you would be swamped with it.
Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :
As a would-be, wanna-be, "can't always find the discipline necessary" type of writer, I like the screenplay format.
Alarminglyminglymangledly, I find what I write tends to be highly derivative of monte python (absurd situations and tendencies) conflated with christopher guest (absurd but poignant characterizations) and NOW (with added zest) a pixar-like appeal to creative innocence and flare.
The whole process to figuring out a voice is very very challenging. Then again, Card, I think in one of his columns suggests that derivative work isn't quite an artistic sin.
*stumped*
Posted by uvscwolverine (Member # 8243) on :
I've done a little bit of derivative writing based on Ender's Game, but I've done it more for practice writing different situations than anything else. I have no intention of ever publishing any of this, I just use it to practice descriptions, dialogue, action, etc.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Although I enjoyed Mr. Card's books on characterisation and SF&F very much, I write in ways and on topics which have absolutely nothing in common with his work.
This may be why much of my writing sucks.
As far as I know, most published authors are advised not to look at work by fans written in the same genre in case it reflects or overlaps with something that they themselves have written, because of plagiarism issues.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
The initial spark that led me to start writing was reading Ender's Game. I had something like a religious awakening. I won't go into detail but it was one of the clearest and most powerful emotions I've ever experienced. (That was 17 years ago!)
However none of my writing is inspired by Card. My style isn't even close to his, but I *am* influenced by his work. He doesn't shy away from being bold, even bizarre. Try explaining Kingsmeat or Treason to most people and you'll see what I mean.
I try to approach my stories with the same kind of daring. Any time I start thinking, 'No, no, I can't do this. This is too weird,' I think about Card, Harlan Ellison, David Lynch. And in no time I'm thinking, 'Actually, this may not be weird enough.'
Posted by Feiwaltan (Member # 7912) on :
in all honesty you cant really be that judgmenal about an author because of what he or she wrote. i know this from experienc that somethines you avhe to write things you may not particulary be found of. there are thigns you write because they make sense and they are an important part of making a story belivable, isnt that the only reason you read the books and wanted to reccomend the author to your feriends and family? this not to be mean and has already been mentioned earlier, but why would you not let your wife read a book because of it containing a sex scene, as you out it? is she not aware of such a concept? is she ignorent to the fact that she had to have sex to have kids? to adress the original topic these book are a greate read and i recomend them to anyone who wants to read them, if you read something, no matter the age, if it interests you ou will continue to do if you think its too sexualy discriptive or too violent based on what you have been tought, you will stop reading or just look beyond it. back to mraymus having frustrations about the books having sexual imagery, you cant say that you dont completely diagree with the concept becasue you would not have continued to read those books if you were as frustrated with them as you say you were. i am not flaming at you just strict observation.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
what .... the ... Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
I think Feiwaltan posted in the wrong thread....
Posted by EndertheJedi (Member # 7889) on :
Hi, I'm a new member and an aspiring writer. most of my work is inspired by OSC somewhat but ialso read and am insired by Isaac Assimov, Stephen King, Terry Brooks and J.k. Rowlimg.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I write, but I'm not inspired by OSC that much. Only a little.
Posted by Antony (Member # 7947) on :
I've er started a comedy/sci-fi but I'm having trouble filling in a gap, having written the bulk of the prologue, chapter 1 and chapter 3... weird, huh?
Posted by Rahl22 (Member # 1376) on :
I'm a bit thrown by your use of the term "inspired by OSC." Do you mean that he inspires you to write? That his ideas inspire ideas in you? His style affects your style?
The first one seems acceptable. The others do not. OSC inspires me to write in the way that all writers of stories that have moved me in some way inspire me to write. Because that's exactly what I want to do; I want to tell stories that move people.
Find your own style (but certainly don't be inspired by someone else's and certainly don't spend time trying to perfect your own) by writing, writing some more, and writing until someone can convince you to stop (who was it that said, if anyone can convince you to stop, let them?). And don't worry about ideas. Find your own ideas, ones that really do stir something hidden and dangerous in your depths, that tickle your ganglion. (How dirty sounding!) They are out there. Don't shackle yourself under the constraints of someone else's ideas.
And, in the interest of full disclosure, I attended OSC's bootcamp last year (2004). So yes I am inspired by OSC, but more importantly, I have learned from him (and fully intend to usurp his throne).
Posted by Feiwaltan (Member # 7912) on :
quote:Originally posted by Feiwaltan: in all honesty you cant really be that judgmenal about an author because of what he or she wrote. i know this from experienc that somethines you avhe to write things you may not particulary be found of. there are thigns you write because they make sense and they are an important part of making a story belivable, isnt that the only reason you read the books and wanted to reccomend the author to your feriends and family? this not to be mean and has already been mentioned earlier, but why would you not let your wife read a book because of it containing a sex scene, as you out it? is she not aware of such a concept? is she ignorent to the fact that she had to have sex to have kids? to adress the original topic these book are a greate read and i recomend them to anyone who wants to read them, if you read something, no matter the age, if it interests you ou will continue to do if you think its too sexualy discriptive or too violent based on what you have been tought, you will stop reading or just look beyond it. back to mraymus having frustrations about the books having sexual imagery, you cant say that you dont completely diagree with the concept becasue you would not have continued to read those books if you were as frustrated with them as you say you were. i am not flaming at you just strict observation.
this was supposed to be posted at the rating review, sry.
Posted by estavares (Member # 7170) on :
I've written two novels which are currently in the looking-for-a-publisher route, and I've published a couple of short stories. Neither are inspired by Card but he did come to my writing class when I was in college and was a great source of motivation to make that leap from just thinking about it to actually doing it.
His How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy is also a must-read. Very helpful. But again, though my first novel was a fantasy the second is Victorian-era horror/adventure, and I doubt he's done anything in that bizarre little genre...
Posted by ill malkier (Member # 8244) on :
I've been a hobby writer since I was about 13 or 14, when I seriously started writing a novel. I was inspired mostly by EG and The Wheel of Time series (Robert Jordan-- fantastic series, if he ever gets around to wrapping it all up ). I was, what, 9th grade at the time-- lol.
My "novel" grew to about 100 single-spaced pages, and went through about a dozen titles. I haven't touched it in years, but every once in a while I think about picking it back up and rewriting with better planning, plot, and such-- it's always bad when you accidentally kill off your main character-- oops!
But, if you ever see "Sword of the Rising Sun" Book One of the Trarian Trilogy, it's mine. Just don't expect it for, oh, 100 years or so.
And hey, those of you who published (OSC and others)-- how long is full-length novel in manuscript form? I never could translate single-spaced pages in notepad (oh, how far I've come!) into book-sized pages.
Posted by R. Ann Dryden (Member # 8186) on :
Well, I am not VERY published yet (though soon will be, I hope) but I can tell you that the average word count on a manuscript page is 250; i.e. your font is Courier New 12 pt, you are doublespacing, and you have one inch margins all the way around, and widow/orphan control turned off. That is an average of ten words a line. Most full length novels are around 75,000-125,000 words, which means the average manuscript length is approximately 300-500 pages. Does that answer your question?
As far as Card inspirations: his writing inspires me to be a better writer. In no way do I strive to copy him (although he is great at mechanics and the nuts and bolts, and that I do look at when I write my own stuff) but I do learn from him. I am an active member over at his Writer's Workshop on this site, and can truly say that all of the advances to date in my writing career have been as a direct result of OSC and my online writing peers. I even enjoy writing in the same genres as he does, for the most part. He has been one of my very favorite authors since I was in middle school and I have read every novel of his, most of them many times. I can probably say that our writing is similar in the sense that people who don't like his writing most likely won't like mine (though the reverse is not always true, lots of people like his stuff that may never read mine).
I love his characterizations; he portrays the human struggle better than anyone else I have encountered, and I really enjoy that. I think that Mr. Card has a deeper understanding of human nature and psychology than most people, and I hope that some day my writing will have even a fraction of the depth of his. If I do, a lot of that will be thanks to him.
Posted by Feiwaltan (Member # 7912) on :
quote:Originally posted by MidnightBlue: I think Feiwaltan posted in the wrong thread....
thanks for the cover, this bought me enough time to bring in the big artilliry, fire away. hahahah
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
). I was, what, 9th grade at the time-- lol.