Comments on: Get Published, Part 7 – Write To the Beat of Your Own Drummer http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-7-%e2%80%93-write-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drummer Novel Writing Tips & Fundamentals - Storyfix.com Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:34:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Danielle Meitiv http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-7-%e2%80%93-write-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drummer/comment-page-1#comment-1958 Danielle Meitiv Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:02:34 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1848#comment-1958 I've been following storyfix for a while, lurking, and reading the emails, but it was his post on the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Blog that finally got em to buy the e-book. (Finally overcame my inertia, I guess). Picked it up last week and finished it in a day - not because it was simple, but because I simply couldn't put it down. I spent the next two days explaining it all to my husband, and talking through how my story fit - or needed to be changed to fit - into the story structure he described. Voila! I now have a fabulous outline for my novel, a place for all those juicy scenes I'd already written, as well as those I'd dreamed of but couldn't think of where to put. Better yet, once I'd mapped out the structure, MORE scenes came to mind, the ones that followed the second pinch point or lead into the first plot point, etc. Don't know what I'm talking about? GET THE BOOK! No, Larry didn't put me up to this - he doesn't know me (yet) b/c I'm not published (yet). But thanks to his wisdom, I'm that much closer! Thank you! I’ve been following storyfix for a while, lurking, and reading the emails, but it was his post on the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Blog that finally got em to buy the e-book. (Finally overcame my inertia, I guess). Picked it up last week and finished it in a day – not because it was simple, but because I simply couldn’t put it down. I spent the next two days explaining it all to my husband, and talking through how my story fit – or needed to be changed to fit – into the story structure he described. Voila! I now have a fabulous outline for my novel, a place for all those juicy scenes I’d already written, as well as those I’d dreamed of but couldn’t think of where to put. Better yet, once I’d mapped out the structure, MORE scenes came to mind, the ones that followed the second pinch point or lead into the first plot point, etc. Don’t know what I’m talking about? GET THE BOOK!

No, Larry didn’t put me up to this – he doesn’t know me (yet) b/c I’m not published (yet). But thanks to his wisdom, I’m that much closer! Thank you!

]]> By: Luisa Perkins http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-7-%e2%80%93-write-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drummer/comment-page-1#comment-1921 Luisa Perkins Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:41:57 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1848#comment-1921 The structure and rhythm of drumming: what an excellent analogy. Great post, as always. The structure and rhythm of drumming: what an excellent analogy. Great post, as always.

]]> By: Bruce H. Johnson http://storyfix.com/get-published-part-7-%e2%80%93-write-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drummer/comment-page-1#comment-1917 Bruce H. Johnson Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:55:11 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1848#comment-1917 Love it. I've been a technical writer for over 30 years. That means lots of technical expertise (word processors, etc.) and structure running out of every body orifice. My first set of novels (4) were developed almost organically; the first one took a while to draft (with quite a few edits). I knew nothing about structure. Fortunately, I always knew where I wanted the series to go, primary scenes or plot points, etc. I ended up with an outline of sorts then filled in the holes to get the story from one point to another. I "discovered" structure and other parts of the Craft when the last novel was over 50% done. Ah, well. At least I was standing up some, rather than sitting totally on the seat of my pants. To anyone: get Larry's Story Structure Demystified, 101 Tips and keep urging him to publish the Six Core Competencies. When the only think you've got is a tom-tom, all your "music" sounds like tom-toms. Discovering structure, characters, ideas, etc., will give you a bass drum (with foot petals), cymbals, snares, tamborines and maybe a tympani or two. I've been a competent tech writer for over 30 years. Now it's time to be a competent (then good and then maybe great) author. Get the competencies at least a scan before you waste your time staring at a blank screen showing only, "It was a dark and stormy night." Keep up the good work, Larry. Your works and posts are now a vital part of my education. Love it. I’ve been a technical writer for over 30 years. That means lots of technical expertise (word processors, etc.) and structure running out of every body orifice.

My first set of novels (4) were developed almost organically; the first one took a while to draft (with quite a few edits). I knew nothing about structure.

Fortunately, I always knew where I wanted the series to go, primary scenes or plot points, etc. I ended up with an outline of sorts then filled in the holes to get the story from one point to another.

I “discovered” structure and other parts of the Craft when the last novel was over 50% done. Ah, well. At least I was standing up some, rather than sitting totally on the seat of my pants.

To anyone: get Larry’s Story Structure Demystified, 101
Tips and keep urging him to publish the Six Core Competencies.

When the only think you’ve got is a tom-tom, all your “music” sounds like tom-toms. Discovering structure, characters, ideas, etc., will give you a bass drum (with foot petals), cymbals, snares, tamborines and maybe a tympani or two.

I’ve been a competent tech writer for over 30 years. Now it’s time to be a competent (then good and then maybe great) author. Get the competencies at least a scan before you waste your time staring at a blank screen showing only, “It was a dark and stormy night.”

Keep up the good work, Larry. Your works and posts are now a vital part of my education.

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