Aegnor Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Had this tweeted to me via the site iO9 - 22 simple rules for writers to remember when struggling with a story. I really liked it, thought a few of you might as well as you work on your chapters. To stress, these aren't mine, they were shared by a writer from Pixar, Emma Coats, based on what she'd learnt at Pixar. (Caught my eye because I tend to think Pixar write fantastic scripts). --------------------------- #1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes. #2: You gotta keep in mind what's interesting to you as an audience, not what's fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different. #3: Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about til you're at the end of it. Now rewrite. #4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___. #5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You'll feel like you're losing valuable stuff but it sets you free. #6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal? #7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front. #8: Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time. #9: When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up. #10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you've got to recognize it before you can use it. #11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you'll never share it with anyone. #12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself. #13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it's poison to the audience. #14: Why must you tell THIS story? What's the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That's the heart of it. #15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations. #16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don't succeed? Stack the odds against. #17: No work is ever wasted. If it's not working, let go and move on - it'll come back around to be useful later. #18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining. #19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating. #20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d'you rearrange them into what you DO like? #21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can't just write ‘cool'. What would make YOU act that way? #22: What's the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosjetka Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Not bad and thanks for sharing :) Would you mind if I posted this over in the short stories section too? Could help them as well. Ludovic Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3081984 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aegnor Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 Please do Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082004 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Debonair Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 There's some pretty good ideas there. I like number 9 especially, very fun way to pass the time as well as help sort out what should happen next. :P EDIT: Not typos for once, I just left a space out. I think the crusade is finally having an effect? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082074 Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Angel Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 leaving out a space is a type of typo. we must march once more! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082165 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thanks for sharing, brother. These might come in handy. I agree with Ludovic - the short stories section could very well do with a few tips posted up. :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082244 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Apostle Thirst Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I like this. If you decide to do more, I'll be following. :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082259 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavulg Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I like this. If you decide to do more, I'll be following. thumbsup.gif To stress, these aren't mine, they were shared by a writer from Pixar, Emma Coats, based on what she'd learnt at Pixar. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082333 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Apostle Thirst Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I like this. If you decide to do more, I'll be following. thumbsup.gif To stress, these aren't mine, they were shared by a writer from Pixar, Emma Coats, based on what she'd learnt at Pixar. Relax, Octy. I did see that after I posted... but the same thing still applies. If his pixar friend sends him some more tips I'll readily read those too. Would you not? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082856 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavulg Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 If his pixar friend sends him some more tips I'll readily read those too. Would you not? Had this tweeted to me via the site iO9 Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3082925 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Apostle Thirst Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 If his pixar friend sends him some more tips I'll readily read those too. Would you not? Had this tweeted to me via the site iO9 That, I completely missed. My bad :o Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3083471 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavulg Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 They are very useful, mind you. :o Good post, Aegnor. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3083505 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PorridgeMeister Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Superb stuff! :D I will find this useful when I unleash my efforts upon the Liber in the coming months. *evil laugh* Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3083642 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razblood Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I will re-read this list several times before making my 2nd IA attempt as the wounds from the first time still burn :D Many thanks for sharing this :huh: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3083655 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulse Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Fantastic stuff, will definately help me in the future! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3084286 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aegnor Posted June 16, 2012 Author Share Posted June 16, 2012 And via Richard Kadrey (@richard_kadrey) a slightly more sobering piece of advice: “One of the biggest, and possibly the biggest, obstacle to becoming a writer — I’ve said this from a slightly different angle in another answer — is learning to live with the fact that the wonderful story in your head is infinitely better, truer, more moving, more fascinating, more perceptive, than anything you’re going to manage to get down on paper. (And if you ever think otherwise, then you’ve turned into an arrogant self-satisfied prat, and should look for another job or another avocation or another weekend activity.) So you have to learn to live with the fact that you’re never going to write well enough. Of course that’s what keeps you trying — trying as hard as you can — which is a good thing. As I started off saying, writing takes practise.” — Robin McKinley, on advice to those who would like to be writers Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3086944 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olis Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Damned right it takes practice. I think I'm much, much better at writing now than I was when I was, say, twenty. The reasons why? Listen to tips. Listen to critique. Most of all, write. Whether you write a little or you write a lot, the main thing is you are getting your thoughts and concepts down. The more you do it, the better you are at describing what you see in your mind's eye. Also, it helps to be well read. Trust me. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/253947-advice-for-the-brave-writers-of-the-liber/#findComment-3086958 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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