Way back in the beginning of the new decade (Jan. 15 to be precise), I was reading Albert Zuckerman’s Writing the Blockbuster Novel. Although there were some useful bits in there, it was Ken Follett”s successive outlines for The Man From St. Petersburg that caught my eye. When people talked about outlines and writing I …
Writing from an Outline (or summary, if you will. And I know you will.) Read More »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Have you ever come away from a conversation discombobulated, wondering what happened? Listen to how people talk and you’ll know why that happens. You’ll find this advice in so many books about writing. But what happens when you actually do that? What happens when you listen in on your own coversations? …
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Now you may believe you are so bright, And you may not see how they confine your sight, And maybe you wake up late at night, Wondering why you feel so tired, Well my dear, let me tell you now, Do you hear, It’s only fear, only fear, it’s only fear, …
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsAFdZRRAFk] [tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Yet more brilliant writing from Cormac McCarthy in cinematic form. McCarthy originally wrote No Country for Old Men as a screenplay, so the dialogue you’ve seen here is pretty much directly from the book. And it’s solid. Beats sit neatly between the lines. Subtext simmers under the spoken words. The …
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Dig this version of Woodie Guthrie’s Vigilante Man by Ry Cooder. Cooder is probably best remembered these days for his work on the Crossroads soundtrack and The Buena Vista Social Club. I could tell you that he rips it up, but you can watch for yourself. Enjoy the how the tone …
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] My earlier post about nuance in story, about delving into subtext and abstraction, did little more than scratch the surface. However, it brought me back to the the idea of showing rather than telling. Why? As writers, we hear this edict all the time. Sometimes I have a hard time determining …
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] I’ve been enjoying exploring the nuances of story telling, ideas that build on fundamental concepts such as story structure, word and punctuation usage, and writing discipline. Over at Tribal Writer, novelist Justine Musk has offers two great posts (among many, really) on microtension and theme. Both posts underscored my goal for …
Take some time, watch this and marvel. (Stolen from Bronx Banter): [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/qybUFnY7Y8w&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Now, take time to marvel at your WIP or whatever noble task at which you’ve been toiling (Parenting is a good one). You’ve put effort into the details, arranged things just so, and hopefully, when all is said and …
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] rev·er·ie \ˈre-və-rē, ˈrev-rē\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural rev·er·ies Etymology: French rêverie, from Middle French, delirium, from resver, rever to wander, be delirious Date: 1654 1 : daydream 2 : the condition of being lost in thought Did you ever notice that some of your best ideas show up unannounced? You …
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] I’ve been cruising towards the finale of my second draft of Shadow of the Black City. Threads are coming together. The characters are poised to make decisions that cannot be undone. It’s just that I’m not exactly sure how it all goes down. I have the big idea, just not the …