Enter the mind of a Bandit

[TimeBandit]

I would like to create a journal for this board, not a real journal, just a place to chit-chat and for me to unload thoughts. Now a journal means different things to a multitude of people, a daily event log of ones life, a place to put free writes, thought processes in the grind to plot that next story, questions that intrigue and stimulate ones better well being and, if I might add, sanity, or just random scribe-ish that border on dementia. What is my idea of a journal and how I my use this particular one? you may ask. All of the above, within board guidelines, of course.

Now the questions turns to what does this have to do with the reader of said journal? Very simple. This will be an interactive journal, if you so choose. You may ask questions, discuss topics of any variety that involve the writing process, state opinions, or just simply say hello; or just merely ignore me. I respond to everything, be it a short or long diarrhea of opine.

Next question. Why would you interact? Why not, I say. What harm could it possibly bring with such a nice person as myself. I like to talk about writing and I like even more talking about plot. We all seem to snag on plot at times. Where is this story heading or where should I take it next? These are all question that have been asked by us numerous times. Lets talk about it. Lets work it out so you can pass that road block and get on with bring your characters to life.

So what else at the moment should I start with in this first post. I guess I should say “Hello” don’t you think?

My way of saying HELLO

Snow covered the rolling sweep of the valley, an unadulterated expansion of glistening white. The winter storm had moved in before the dawn as small flurries continued in the early light. A long curving driveway, lined with large maples that cast tall shadows across the snow, weaved its way to a quaint setting. The trees swayed and branches cracked under the burden of the elements. The fresh smell of winter now replaced the sweet scent of flowers that spring brought froth.

At the crest of a hill, overlooking the valley, sat a warm and inviting place. Looked to be built nearly 170 years ago, this beautifully restored home offered a warm blend of modern amenities and country elegance. I followed the path leading to the home, my feet frozen. I had been wandering around for a while, searching for a hot cup of Java and a place to rest my weary bones.

A dog barked. That would be Shepherd, my trusted friend and perpetual curiosity hound. I look back behind me to see his nose and golden coat frosted with ice as he played freely in the snow. Shepherd bounded from place to place in a playful act of friskiness. He burrowed his nose deep into the snow before his front paws worked feverously to push the rest out of the away, chasing an unseen creature that by now was long gone.

“Shepherd, come on boy it’s getting cold out here,” my voice rang out.

The dog’s ears perked up at the mention of his name. He poked his nose once more in the snow, barked, and headed back to my side.

“Let’s go in. I’m freezing.” The dog gave a sharp yelp and began guiding me back to the pathway that lead upward.

I ascended the stairs, tired, worn, and thirsty. Shepherd’s tongue hung to one side as I patted his head. I knocked a light rap upon the door. After a brief moment, it opened.

“Hello,” I said.

 

[Lucubratus]

Hey have you heard of Xanga? Pretty much the same thing and you can tailer your page the way you want it.
But welcome to the forum anyway
I don't see many posts in this section. lol

 

[TimeBandit]

Just going to ramble here about another thread.


Writing groups. Good and bad. A lot depends on you as a person and how you handle critiques, bashing, encouragement, and accolades. I have seen some wither and be stifled of creativity. Here is my opinion on the whole process.

If a person is going to write a novel, I would not let anyone read that novel until the whole story is put down on paper first. A multitude of reasons for this.

One, it is a process that you need to learn on your own that doesn’t need any outside source that may harm your learning process. What I mean by outside source is other people who may not have gone through the same process. There is no right or wrong way to write a novel. When you are writing you are developing a style and voice that is your own. You don’t want that process to be jaded. First time writers that have a story in mind should just write it and during that they should be reading, how to write books on technique and fictional books of any sort. This process will teach them all the pitfalls they will encounter, like plot snags, characters that step outside of their rolls, research problems that need more indepth notice and various others that are too long to mention.

Two, if you don’t have the whole story put of paper first before displaying it, those chapters that you put out for review will more than likely will need some polishing up on and you will do it. Some people keep doing it and never move on with the story. Write first, revise later when it is done.

Three, and the most important, IMHO. If God put a story in your heart and you pray about that story, why would you need anyone else’s advice on how to write it. You really want God speaking through you on your story.

I can see a lot of problems with these opinions for maybe an aspiring writing. It is tempting when you finish, let’s say a first chapter, that you feel it is just outstanding and you really want to show it to someone. Depending on who you are, someone could rip your writing to shreds and you will lose your confidence. I know some people who say they are strong and can take any criticism fall flat on their face and feel nothing but hurt. Someone could come along and make tiny suggestions that changes the direction of your story, a story that you had no intention of writing but it leads you down that path anyway. Someone can see some plot flaws that will cause you to rethink your whole story. These problems create within you a lot of frustration and a desire to just quit.

Using that same first chapter that you wrote. Let’s say that is all you have written. You display it to a group of people you trust. They offer encouraging comments, point out a few typos and all but they really like your story and can’t wait to read more. Do you know how often that first chapter will change or for that matter any chapter. If you don’t have the whole story on paper and you have sweated blood to make that first chapter perfect, it is my opinion that you have wasted your time on that first chapter. Characters will come alive on you during the course of writing the book. They will not be the same people you started with in that first chapter. More than likely you will rewrite it.

You have a heavy laden plot and it would be nice to have someone read your work and point out those plot flaws that seem to creep in at times. I’m a mystery/suspense writer and plot flaws are a big problem. I have to outline the story before I write it. To me it is essentially that I do it that way. My current outline is half done. I have expired one and a half pens of ink just on the outline alone. If I were to have just sat down and wrote the story, I would have rewritten chapter one, maybe, ten times. The concept of the chapter did not change but little plot enhancements and, for the lack of a better work, the little stuff changed. I know one thing that was a major change, one of the characters changed in a big way and she was only a minor character. Outlining has its pluses and minuses, I feel there are more pluses. I don’t like going back and rewriting good chapters because it doesn’t work in the story anymore, to me it is a waste of time.

 

[TimeBandit]

I’m a mystery/suspense writer. Well, more like a fool who jots down gibberish in an attempt to pass off as literature. Not entirely true, at times my fingers can bang out some fairly brilliant lines of verbiage that can pass the amateur editor and makes it way into the hands of some unsuspecting reader, who then tosses my pain inflicting words in the rubbish after page three. Sometimes they get to page four by some miraculous feat, maybe they just like the pain, I don’t know.

Anyway, I digress beyond my mere comprehension. I am in the progress of outlining a new novel. Like many times before, several questions arise during this process. I noticed that my scenes when put together offer no form. What do I mean? The novel doesn’t seem to break down into chapters but fit nicely into parts. There is a definite Part I and Part II to the story, with scenes filling the parts. Here is a question.

Do you as a reader prefer chapters? Do you like long chapters with several scenes (Editors will decide this for you at times) or do you like short chapters (AKA James Patterson being the most notable for short chapters)? When you stop reading a book, where do you break at most often, the chapter end or any white space that offers a break?

I sure my novel will probably contain two parts of chapters.

 

[Blessed-one]

long or short chapters? and one or several scenes in a chapter? um...
for me (as a reader), i don't really care much so long as i enjoy reading it. For example, Robert Jordan's tends to have one long scene for one chapter whereas David Eddings' would pack more into one chapter, yet i enjoy both equally..

might have more to do with character consistency, depth and plot instead.

 

[plum]

I'd recommend setting up a journal where it has its own easy url, its own database and archives section, and it's a space controlled by you, not a moderator. just an idea.

http://www.xanga.com
http://www.blogspot.com

 

[TimeBandit]

In response to some of the post here.

Chapters or white space. I guess it is an individual preference on this. I for one like medium breaks (scenes that last just a few pages). The book that I read at night before I go to bed, actually I read 3 books, but the last book I read is fiction. I like to have those medium breaks there so I can stop reading at that point and go to sleep. I hate stopping in the middle of a scene or fall asleep in the middle.

Journal. I guess, I do that a lot, that journal is the wrong word here. I just like to have a place of my own to interact with others and have that same space to put froth thoughts that generate conversation.


Some random thoughts. Plotting and outlining. I know, not guess this time, that writers have their own way of writing a story and that each story is done differently. Short stories I can see not outlining because usually I can keep the beginning, middle, and end in my head. But the novel I am working on now, I don’t see how it could be done without an outline. I also understand that some don’t like to outline because it may inhibit their characters from becoming real, and generate real actions to given events that come along in a story. I am of the belief that all writers outline. Some put them on paper and some keep partial outlines in their mind. My experience with this new novel of mine is quite interesting. Since I write mysteries/suspense, plot is a major factor in the overall entertainment of the book. With twists, clues, and foreshadowing, outlines seem to save me time from rewriting chapter 2 when I am just finishing up chapter 22.
This time I took a different approach to my outline. When I first started the outline, I had it in my mind that plot would come first and character last. Not a good idea because characters are the most important part of any book. If the reader doesn’t connect with the characters it doesn’t matter what story they are put in. I disregarded all of that and trudged on with my plot. I gave my characters in the outline a simple designation. 1MC (for first main character). I didn’t give him a name and still haven’t, I don’t even know what he looks like. As I went along my outline, I placed events that I wanted to happen, one after the other. I started out with one outline and as I learned more about my story, I ended up thrashing that first one and now I am on my fifth. I did most of my outline in ink. I have gone through two pens now. Doing it this way, plot first—character last, I have learned more about my characters than ever I thought I would. I have molded the characters to the situation and they have dictated some of my events that happen. I have gotten so familiar with these characters that when I sit down to write the real story it will be hard not to call my main character, 1MC.
I have just finished the first part of the outline and a few scenes in the second part which introduces 2MC. It has been an enjoyable ride so far and am looking forward to learn more of what happens.

In the mean time I offer this short piece.

 

[TimeBandit]

NT

 

[TimeBandit]

Death to all adverbs I say, willingly. Why do so many aspiring authors tend to use adverbs? What purpose do they server? Is it just an easy word to come up with in the heat of writing? But do you realize that it only weakens your prose?

I’ve been doing some reviews of works that people have in progress (Not here but some where else). Not bad writing at all but those pesky adverbs bring the hard work these fine people produce to a pile of nails on the road, flattening their stories with un-visual mock.
Am I wrong on this? Let’s do a couple of experiments. First, take the current published novel that you are reading. You are reading aren’t you? Now look at how many adverbs you see in the book (you know those ‘ly’ words) Looking at my own books I don’t count that many. I did a search for all adverbs in Elmore Leonard’s “Tishomingo Blues”. 78,000 words and less than ten are adverbs that are not in dialogue. Interesting don’t you think. Doesn’t just about every writing book say not to use adverbs. Again, maybe I am completely wrong.

Why not use them? Adverbs weaken the verb which in turn weakens the sentence, and your prose. They don’t give the reader a vivid picture of what you are trying to convey. For example, I will use a line that I just read.

He closed the door soundly.

Beep beep beep, adverb alert. Soundly, what in the world is soundly? Did it creak, make a loud thunderous boom, a whisper of wind whistled through the crack, or did it fart. I don’t know what sound it made. How about write it like this?

He slammed the door.

Work for you? I can imagine the sound of a door slamming. It ain’t a fart I tell ya. Do you see that getting rid of that adverb and making your verb stronger what a more vivid picture you paint for your reader.

Another example.

She looked at him sexily.

Most be making goggle eyes at him. Imagine someone looking at you with goggle eyes. The pupil sort of rolls around, the one eyebrow bounces up and down. Not very pleasant. My dander is not going to flutter over that. No sir.

Give me this line instead.

Her gaze penetrated his many facades and melted his senses.

Take me to bed or lose me forever (Top Gun quote) I know, weird I am. (Yoda)

So for all those works in progress that you have, go back and check out those adverbs. That is if you agree with me, if not, completely ignore my ranting enthusiastically.


Saying all of that I think adverbs have their place. Used sparingly, they can become an important part of you work. But if there is a strong way of wording your meaning, junk the adverb, if not leave it in.

What anyone like to hear my rambling on "how to survive a review of your work"?