Hatrack River Forum: OSC Updates Writing Lessons

This is topic OSC Updates Writing Lessons in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I know I'm not the only one who reads these, or who's been checking the link every once in a while for the last six months to see if it's been updated, so I thought I'd post it here for anybody who hasn't gotten around to checking lately.

[Smile]

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

Thanks Icarus. [Smile]

I love Uncle Orson's Writing Class. He's so great at explaining things where I can understand them.

I always send folks I meet elsewhere on the internet to his class if they want writing info. That's after I tell them "Go buy Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card" because I think it may be the best writing book I've ever read, and I've read a bunch.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Finally!

...and why aren't you two goobers on AIM?

Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :

Thanks for posting this, Icarus. I haven't looked at those in ages, and I didn't get through them all the first time. And reading a few of the newer ones, I got a couple more ideas for the Phobos contest story I'm writing. [Smile]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

quote:
That's after I tell them "Go buy Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card" because I think it may be the best writing book I've ever read, and I've read a bunch.

No. How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy is much better, even if you are not writing science fiction or fantasy.

[Smile]

Posted by 2 (Member # 4107) on :

Yes, Belle, I'm with Icarus here. You don't believe that at all.

(sorry, I can't pass up a good chance to be a smartass)

Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :

RE: Scott's advice about naming aliens. I agree that readers need a pronounceable version of their names, but I still think that showing their original pronunciation and then having the human characters create an approximation might be a better idea... as a linguist, I refuse to go the Star Trek route and make goofy names using English phonology. Hell, there are Xhosa and !Kung names that are pretty fricking unpronounceable for me, and they're HUMAN, heh.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

How to Write SF&F is a fantastic book - I own it as well.

But Characters and Viewpoint really helped me a lot, because I have a problem with viewpoint. I try to write limited 3rd person and then head jump. Even after Uncle Orson's book I still find myself doing it occasionally, mackillian caught a case of jumping head syndrome in a first draft for me the other night. But I'm much, much better than I used to be, thanks to that book which finally made things clear to me on viewpoint.

Posted by Megachirops (Member # 4325) on :

Wow . . . I got slammed by 2 and didn't even see it!

[Big Grin]

-o-

Anyway, new update!

http://www.hatrack.com/writingclass/index.shtml

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

[Sleep]

-- Wha?

quote:
But don't plan it like an essay designed to teach moral lessons. That just gets icky.

It gets me what?

[Big Grin]

Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :

[ROFL]

Finally! 'Bout time, Uncle Orson! *grin*

Thanks, Icarus. [Smile]

Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :

Right now I'm actually reading "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy". It was very helpful, but it's geared more towards writing the story. I started reading it because I'm creating a world of my own, so I didn't find what I was looking for, but it's still very helpful.

Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :

quote:
Basically, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

LOL.... I love that! But is it proper grammar....?

Posted by Megachirops (Member # 4325) on :

BUMP

Okay, it's been a month since they were updated, but I bet a lot of other people didn't notice. [Smile]

Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :

quote:
I always send folks I meet elsewhere on the internet to his class if they want writing info. That's after I tell them "Go buy Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card" because I think it may be the best writing book I've ever read, and I've read a bunch.

I'll second that. Characters and Viewpoint helped me get the highest grade on an essay I've gotten this entire year, even though it was a timed essay and I hadn't (and still haven't) finished the book. [Embarrassed]

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

Second-best book on writing I've ever read. Unfortunately, I lent it to a fellow wannabe writer years ago and never got it back!

fallow