Okay fellas. Let me bring you up to speed on things: writing is confusing. There are characters and dialogue and dramatic irony and scene visualization... you get it: the list goes on and on. Even the professionals don't know where to begin. Now that's where I come in. Critics help authors improve and reach out to their readers with brand spanking new stories. Tonight (Friday the 20th of September). I will be answering any and all question coming my way on writing on this forum. Head below the break for the second episode of Let's Talk About Writing!
Questions about our program? Check out the page here.
AA-12Ducky asks: I've been annoying the fuck out of a couple of important contributors here over this.
They tell me that erratic, impulsive characters lack cohesion but I know that in real life, people aren't as easy as to follow their values all the time and some just don't think twice about every action they take.
What do with unstable/impulsive/self-contradictory characters?
Do they throw off readers?
Would that be a problem of the reader for expecting everyone to be completely rational or of the writer for lacking consistency?
They tell me that erratic, impulsive characters lack cohesion but I know that in real life, people aren't as easy as to follow their values all the time and some just don't think twice about every action they take.
What do with unstable/impulsive/self-contradictory characters?
Do they throw off readers?
Would that be a problem of the reader for expecting everyone to be completely rational or of the writer for lacking consistency?
Answer: I understand. It's hard to keep characters realistic and surprising at the same time. The first step is to lay out your character. Find his/her character traits and make sure they don't interfere with each other. An impulsive is not exactly hard to follow, however.
The reader should be able to see that the character is making decisions on a whim: out of emotions. Sort of like how a lover is quick to protect their partner. You don't think things through or weigh the odds of engagement, you jump. It's the same with their values. Impulsive persons don't weigh the odds, they jump without looking.
Avoid contradictory character traits however! That will confuse the reader and create a barrier between him/her and the reader. Remember impulsive and contradictory are the same thing! However, character can be confused on where they stand on a topic: internal conflict.ChaseCosmicwing asks: If someone is writing a tragic ending to a story, would they need to pay more attention to the ending details, or simply shift focus on detail attention?
It's been bugging me for a while, and now that I'm swaying between ideas for my ending, I need to know whether or not I'm able to adequately portray some of my ideas for it. I'm not sure that I'll be writing a tragic ending yet, but it may help me to decide which way to go with it.
Reply: I'm sorry, I don't exactly understand what you're trying to ask. What do you mean by details? Do you need help on wrapping up characters or plot holes or the likes? Maybe scene visuals? Please clarify.ChaseCosmicwing says: I've got ideas for a good and bad ending, but my question, more or less is this: If I go with the bad branch and write a tragic end for my protagonist, in general, what would I need to pay attention to as far as details in comparison to writing a 'good' ending. I say 'good' because with the story I mean now, good is a very context-sensitive term.
Answer: Ah! I see now.
Before writing any ending it's important to weigh out the consequences of the earlier plot points of the story and ask yourself "Does it make sense?" Assuming you've done this and all points converge on these endings, choose.
Now, when writing a 'bad' ending it's too easy to trip and distance the reader from your character. Especially in tragedies, the reader needs to relate with the character for them to really get choked up due to their tragic fate. If you really want to make a 'bad' ending a good ending, set out to leave a mark on the reader.
On the same note, the reader needs to be invested into the conflict as well. I hate to bring up this comparison, but the reason Fallout: Equestria's ending was a very emotional one for a lot of readers was that they showed investment in Little Pip as well as the restoration of the Equestria we know and love. Emotional connections to the character? Check! Investment in the story's conflict? Check! This adds up into an ending that truly leaves a mark on the reader.JustImagine asks: I plan to write a large story that contains many fight scenes, world-building, and many things I could ramble off about. I really want to begin to write this story in the beginning of November but I have a few things I think I would like to improve on before beginning it.
Questions:
How can I improve on scene visuals? People mentioned I have a problem in scene visuals and I'd like to know how I could improve writing details.
I have problems with making my sentences flow. Every time I read a good book or story on this site. I love the flow of the sentences, paragraphs, and whole story. Yet, I don't exactly know how to begin to hassle this. Can you explain how I could practice this?
What do I do to write good pacing? I don't want to irritate my readers by making the scenes come and go like a lightning bolt or continue on like in the speed of a turtle.
Lastly, how do you write first-person? The story is going to be in first-person and I know that it's going to be a hassle. But I don't think the story would be interesting if it were third-person. How exactly do you write in this perspective?
Answer: If you look closely, you can see every single one of these issues are intertwined. What do I mean? Think about it this way: First person is a very difficult perspective to write in - at least for me. This limited point of view might force you to put your scene visualization in uncomfortable places - making the story choppy and therefore pushing the story pace off-balance. I'm speaking from experience. Writing in first person could be tricky to start out in.
How can I improve on scene visuals? People mentioned I have a problem in scene visuals and I'd like to know how I could improve writing details.
As said above, all these problems come down to one issue: writing in first person. Firstly, first person scene visualization is not too different from third person scene visualization. Before starting a new scene, try writing the scene visuals out in third person. After you're finished, trim the fat. What can the character see and what does the character notice? This filter really helps.
I have problems with making my sentences flow. Every time I read a good book or story on this site. I love the flow of the sentences, paragraphs, and whole story. Yet, I don't exactly know how to begin to hassle this. Can you explain how I could practice this?
You know labels that say "do not try to force the charger into this socket! Permanent damage may occur!"? Stories are very similar. You might want to try addressing things as they come. For example:
I entered the Library in a hurry, briefly pausing in horror at the maze of books and papers scattered throughout the room. "Uhh," I said hesitantly before finding the purple mare, "I found something Twi!" Twilight looked up from her book with messy hair and deep circles under her eyes - not that I look any better.
I made that of the top off my head so it might not be the best example ever, but you get the point. Write passively, only subtly and progressively describing the scene to the reader.
What do I do to write good pacing? I don't want to irritate my readers by making the scenes come and go like a lightning bolt or continue on like in the speed of a turtle.
The whole point behind pacing, at least at the scene level, is that a scene is driven by the writer's intentions.
I really want you to be stressed.
You feel the sentences getting shorter. Line breaks are appearing more often.
No ands and buts are showing up.
Just reading is stressing you out. Make sure to set up the scene first because you won't have much room to do that once a fast paced moment begins. Other than that, dictate how fast you want the reader to read by forcing his/her eyes to move fast. It's really down to a technical level beyond scene visualization.
Lastly, how do you write first-person? The story is going to be in first-person and I know that it's going to be a hassle. But I don't think the story would be interesting if it were third-person. How exactly do you write in this perspective?
The best advice I can give you on this question is use 'I,''me,' or 'we.' Refer to the advice and example above. Hint: I wrote the example in third person before trimming out the other person's thought and filling in 'I' and 'me'.Closing Statements!
This episode was definitely shorter be no less great! I hope you were able to get some good advice. Thanks for tuning in tonight and I hope to see you at the next Q&A next Friday! Be sure to follow Admujica or this blog for the when and where of the next one! This has been Admujica, have a great weekend everypony!
Read the unedited thread here.
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