R.T.II's QUOTE

"If you lose passion in what you do. You lose a part of what you are."

~R.T. II
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Thursday, January 8, 2015

THURSDAY UPDATE - Violent Brain


     "So many ‘Rules’ to writing."




     When I first started writing many long years ago when I was but a dreamer in middle school I never once paid attention to the so called ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ to writing. Sure I took English classes and all that grammar speech stuff, but not once did I pay attention to how challenging the writing world is for I was too busy playing video games and drawing characters while being picked on for my rat-tail and chubby weight… and the fact I was a ‘geek’ not in the ‘Cool Club’.



     Growing up, between poetic spurts to short story plots and character creation I was writing free of critics and ridicule. Nowadays, critics are everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, and one has to be careful on helpful and unhelpful criticism. Through the years I’ve received various advice from many. From people who weren’t writers, to those who have published more than one novel.

     I have only published one, and after that one I’ve decided to revise it in one big reboot. It was a decision made not by others input, but by my own. The various ‘Rules to Writing’ were never an impact.



     Until one night my brain demanded that I ignore all input and just write, then critique later. I’ve done this before, with my first book. Why didn’t I think to do this again? Perhaps I was so open for input after dissolving the shyness I had of my work that I forgot to retain my fortitude? During these hankering stages I noticed a lag in my writing drive (minus the computer difficulties that lead to a reformat of computer) and my conscience started to nitpick due to other nitpickers planting seeds I knew better than to let grow.

     It’s one thing to accept the advice, but not all advice works for you. It was then I realized my whole element shift for the worse… and it needed to end.



     I still hold all advice I ‘DID’ take into consideration, and it worked well, but somewhere in this all I ended up getting violent in the head, or as I said: “My brain demanded I ignore and write for the sake of sanity.” Too many Do’s & Don’ts to writing and the “There are no rules” kicks back. Yes these ‘rules’ are guidelines other writers use for themselves, but as stated they are not for everyone. We all have our own style, and I almost forgot my own in the process of listening to others a bit too much… and that’s a bad thing.



     I wanted to learn from others. There is no harm in that and I learned a good deal. There are basis to grammar and then some, but everyone has their own style and that should never be argued against.

     And rushing a novel is bad juju.



SHADOW GENESIS INCEPTION 3rd DRAFT PROGRESS: 95%
  • SG Book II: (5 Chapter Cut Salvage from Book I) Waiting to expand
  • SG Book III: 2nd Draft Pending
  • SG Book IV: 1st Draft 25% 


     For those who don’t know, I just added another book in the Shadow Genesis series. SG Book II is now Book III, and the newly installed book (taking the former Book II slot) is the salvage of five chapters taken out of the current novel in progress (Inception) and will be expanded into thirty chapters with added content. A wise decision, for I want to expose more of the story and characters that matter in the series.



     Interesting how this all turned out. Just as you ‘THINK’ you got it planned, the story itself surprises you.

Friday, January 2, 2015

FRIDAY UPDATE - 3RD DRAFT NEAR DONE



 
  • 1” margin on all sides of manuscript doc.
  • Set up title page.
  • Number pages on first page of story text.
  • Headers on each page – Name/Title of novel in caps plus page number.
  • Each new chapter on its own page – Chapter Title starts 1/3 down on page (six spaces before Chapter Title) – Chapter number and title in caps.
  • Chapter body starts 4-6 spaces after title.
  • Indent five spaces per new paragraph. Double space text - 12pt Font (Times New Roman or Courier – Arial too).



And that, is my manuscript format guide…

New Year’s came in decent. Now we’re on Day 2 of January. Soon March is coming, well after February, and I’ll be 30 years old.

I’m getting...old?

Today I took the time to make sure novel formatting was good to go. I noticed it was off during my edits. It’s important to have that situated and on point for that is one of the many reasons why most stories are discarded upon submission. There is a sting of nervousness that gets to me here, since I am technically finished with the 3rd draft. I just want to be sure everything looks neat. Come to think of it, I planned to send this through another pair of eyes before giving it the go, so the publishing will hit when the nook and crannies are fixed, like plot holes and character build and stuff.

This is the part where I get very skittish and a bit scrupulous over my manuscripts, and here I’ve been all confident and sure of myself. Human nature, but I’m not afraid… or am I?

Ah, the mind and soul can be a conflicting state sometimes in me.


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Ozma, Esesael, & Snowflakin'



The Snowflake Method


This method of creating a complex story is one of the many ways to build an effective plot structure. Some say it is the best of the best, others are not too flowers and rainbows about it due to a few downsides the method has, not to say it has not a single good element about it, for it works wonders… sort of works wonders for me.

To better explain, without me having to dish out a bunch of words likely to make one pass out on their keyboards sleep-eye and spit-lipped, checked out these links below:


Snow Flake Method

Pros & Cons of the Snowflake Method



I have two projects I aim to further experiment with this intricate snowflake method. I like diverse styles, for they interest and help grow my skills as a writer, and hopefully, yours too.


Meanwhile, in Shadow Genesis: Inception

I have three chapters left in 2nd draft, and a few new scenes carefully added into this upcoming novel. Weekend is in session, time for a 2-day break, a few games to mess with, re-watch those Final Fantasy XV trailers (thank goodness for a demo next year… long wait but I can deal), and tinker around with my ‘Encyclopedia’ of work… got to love OneNote.

I also did not forget to share another character reference. Below are Ozma Diredread and Esesael Nelesyr, two characters appearing in both Shadow Genesis and the upcoming reboot. Keep in mind these and previous others are unofficial and will not be the legit character looks (since I am a bit rusty in character art), but there is nothing wrong with a bit of visual referencing for idea-sake. Done these all through IMVU, another one of my pass times when not 'busy'.



Thursday, August 28, 2014

Verb Destruction: Show Don't Tell



Showing and not telling is another critical element in storytelling.

One definitely does not want to ‘tell’ what a character is doing… unless necessary. Then again, I am unsure.

Yeah, it is better to show and not tell, folks.

It goes like this, as one writes their story, the character is fleshed out better when the writer explains through ‘showing’ what the character is doing, thinking, feeling, things of that nature. I noticed I came off telling more in what a character is doing while under the notion I am actually showing it. It is tricky, tricked my mind, and screwed me up as I go back and revise every ‘thought’, ‘feel’, ‘see’, and several other killer verbs that can and will destroy what is really good, and that is giving strength by ‘showing’ each and every action in good detail.

Keep in mind I did not say ‘Flashy’ and ‘Epic’, because trying to impress trumps the nature of a good story every time. You do not want to confuse your readers with big words a reader will most likely lose their brain in trying to figure out what said word means, but you DEFINITELY want to throw your reader into a thinking spree. This here makes them feel your character’s life, as I say, the breath of a character through words. It will strike a multitude of feelings in which after showing them these actions they have their own grasp of who and what they are… pretty much getting to know them.

In case I am still leaving one in what I call a ‘confuzzle’, here is what I mean below:

Verbs convey actions, events, and being (look it up). They are the easiest way to deliver in narrative without actually ‘detailing’ said actions, events, and state of being. Here is an example below:

Sean knows he is going to have fun once the kids go back to school.

Instead of saying, he ‘knows’, it is best to add some meat to those bones:

Sean counts down Mary and Dawn’s final summer days, laying a glance to the overly marked calendar blotched black upon white. Only two days left, one of the dates starred in gold and glitter, a flashy reminder of sweet liberation as he beams a cheek-swelled smile ear-to-ear.

I removed the ‘know’ verb out and threw some weight gainer in that line making it two sentences instead of one, and decent detail. Sure, one can make it far more grabbing to the reader, but the point gets across that Sean there is going to be one ecstatic man the moment Mary and Dawn are out of his hair, and face stuck in the books… until those breaks kick in.


That is, ladies and gentlemen, one example on how showing is way better than not telling. Trust me I have made a few bad ones in my manuscripts… that I aim to comb over before sending it in for critique. It is an easy muck up to fix when all one has to do is hit CTRL+F in MSWord and put in every verb or so that can be a pain in your work. So far I went back and started to clean up those ‘knows’ and ‘thoughts’. I do it when not writing and got time to do it. Trying not to spend all day writing now, dropping my Chapter a Day down to 500-2000 words daily, and have more time to take care of other things.



So besides the use of action verbs, provide visual details for the reader to embrace instead!