Yeah, that's what I want to do. Not just some one aspect.
I've read extensively and want to put into perspective what I think I've learned.
I am into the structure of fiction as taught by Jack Bickham (SCENE AND STRUCTURE); beats as taught by Browne and King (SELF-EDITING FOR FICTION WRITERS); story composition as taught by Robert McKee (STORY) and Paul Lucey (STORY SENSE); even types of plots as envisioned by Ronald Tobias (20 MASTER PLOTS: AND HOW TO BUILD THEM). The best book on ending stories I've found is THE 3RD ACT Drew Yanno. For just details I like Jessica Morrell's BETWEEN THE LINES. Plus I have spent years studying published stories trying to figure out how they are written.
I'm looking for a few people -- even just one -- exchange emails with talking about these things.
Anybody interested?
I've tried a couple of times to start up a group in the Hatrack group section, but I wind up doing a soliloquy. I can do that at home. `
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
I am interested arriki, although I have not read any of those 'how to' books and not all that eager to start.
I must say that I am quite intrigued on your critiques. Your opinions are solitary but they are detailed and reasoned. I would not mind picking your brain.
Posted by sjsampson (Member # 8075) on :
I'm interested.
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
My opinions are "solitary" --what do you mean? That I'm the only one to hold them or voice them?
Actually I'm hamstrung most of the time because we lack a mutually understood vocabulary. I say "beats" and I think what I'm trying to say goes right past people. The same happens with Scene and sequel and transition and lots of others.
[This message has been edited by arriki (edited August 19, 2009).]
Posted by branteaton (Member # 7782) on :
I'm interested. I'm interested in forum-based exchanges, email, chat, audio/videoconferencing. What sort of format did you have in mind?
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
Email is easy. Private. We can look at wip without problems.
I don't know chat rooms too well. Where are any these days?
It would be nice to have some realtime conversations.
What sort of writing do you do? I know snapper's. Me, I write sf and an occasional fantasy. I have been submitting to the Writers of the Future contest some.
I read a lot of current novels, mostly mysteries or thrillers. Some social fiction. No romances or horror. Rarely pick up fantasy, have difficulty finding sf I like. Don't like punk or depressing futures. I do like spaceships and alien cultures. My favorite sf writers are Iain Banks, CJ Cherryh, Karl Schroeder, sometimes Alastair Reynolds.
I base most of my theories and practice of writing on the works I cited above.
Posted by Symphonyofnames (Member # 8283) on :
I'd be interested. I've done a little bit of "how to" reading and would be interested in comparing notes.
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
This is getting a bit crowded for email
could we open a group here and email out our wip and examples?
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :
I agree, arriki. The emails are overlapping. Perhaps one person could email something for us all to look over and we can have a group discussion on it on here. I suspect we would need to move this thread to 'books and hooks' or someplace else like that.
How does that sound to everyone?
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
I'd prefer Hatrack Groups -- a bit more privacy. And without access to the stuff in the emails, the discussions would probably not make much sense to casual viewers.
[This message has been edited by arriki (edited August 20, 2009).]
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
I've started a topic over in the Hatrack Groups area. Has everyone interested received my two emails on the topic of beats?
Posted by Troy (Member # 2640) on :
Gee. I have to ask -- what is the benefit of doing this in private, rather than just putting the topics you wish to discuss up for the entire group? I've read all of the books you mentioned in your original post, and I'm sort of curious to see how you're turning all that information into your personal writing philosophy. (This is something we all do, but in very different ways.) I don't really have the commitment in me to be a decent part of any such group at the moment, but I'd sort of like to be a fly on the wall.
Posted by snapper (Member # 7299) on :