Darswords

I’ve learnt a huge amount from writing this blog. One of the most important being, ‘you’ve always got something else you can learn.’ But now I’m back to writing a first draft, I find all this information on writing techniques buzzing around my head is getting in the way.

It’s like buying a new house and trying to re-decorate everything at once. Nobody chooses the colour scheme, paints the woodwork, puts up the wallpaper, and changes the light fittings all at the same time.

Learning so many wonderful and useful things about writing craft is all well and good, but I’m beginning to feel like I’ve gone to B&Q and bought the whole shop, so now I have no idea where to start.

What I need to remember is a first draft is just that; the first draft of many. So I’ve come up with a plan and it compares…

Completing the line drawing opened up a whole new spectrum of art. Money being tight was not a deterrent. After all, there was a whole stock pile of slate that with a little preparation served as well as any canvas.

I was now being prescribed steroids.  The Cortisol was the only medication to even touch the pain. After a year or so the GP showed concern that I was developing severe side effects as a result of their use. I slowly came off them, a horrific experience mentally and physically.

Whilst withdrawing other life style changes were on the cards, moving back into town from country living was a major adjustment. The practicalities of being in a secluded rural setting proved impossible as driving was agony, taking days to recover from journeys into town.

Being creative people, myself and my partner moved into a property slightly near civilization, that although…

Did you know that literary talent and story talent are not the same thing?

Literary talent is the use of words. It’s the ability to create beautiful sentences and spin a stunning metaphor. It’s the language of imagery, the emotion of a carefully placed consonant, crafty dialogue, and gorgeous descriptions.

But according to Robert McKee in his book Story “literary talent is common.” Where as story talent (in his opinion) is rare. He goes on to say that “literary and story talent are not only distinctively different but are unrelated, for stories do not need to be written to be told. Stories can be expressed any way human beings can communicate. Theater, prose, film, opera, mime, poetry, dance” (27).

Story talent is rare.

But what is story talent? Well, it’s everything else you are telling the story with. It’s the underlying life that the words evoke. It’s what you’d tell…

Did you know that literary talent and story talent are not the same thing?

Literary talent is the use of words. It’s the ability to create beautiful sentences and spin a stunning metaphor. It’s the language of imagery, the emotion of a carefully placed consonant, crafty dialogue, and gorgeous descriptions.

But according to Robert McKee in his book Story “literary talent is common.” Where as story talent (in his opinion) is rare. He goes on to say that “literary and story talent are not only distinctively different but are unrelated, for stories do not need to be written to be told. Stories can be expressed any way human beings can communicate. Theater, prose, film, opera, mime, poetry, dance” (27).

Story talent is rare.

But what is story talent? Well, it’s everything else you are telling the story with. It’s the underlying life that the words evoke. It’s what you’d tell…

Television and film constitute an art form heavily related to fiction in book form. Sure, tv involves other elements–most notably a visual and auditory element that traditional books can’t provide–but storytelling is storytelling.

That means we authors can learn a thing or two by watching old episodes of “Cheers,” “Friends,” and “Frasier.”

One thing you might know about me (or might not, if you’re new to my blog) is that in addition to writing fantasy and reading fantasy literature, I have a real love of sitcoms.

Sitcoms are wonderful vehicles for a writer to consider character and story development (as well as take a quick break from life and get in the day’s deep belly laugh, if you’re lucky).

So I wanted to take today to do something a little different than my normal blogging routine. I wanted to write a list of characterization tips I’ve picked up from my…