Comments on: Getting Off the Storytelling Dime — How to Start NOW http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now Novel Writing, Screenwriting and Storytelling Tips & Fundamentals Sun, 20 May 2012 23:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Suzannah-Write It Sideways http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-403 Suzannah-Write It Sideways Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:29:37 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-403 Hi Larry, This is just what I needed to hear. At the moment I'm sitting under a pile of English papers that need to be marked (which means no time for writing), and I have 2.5 months to get myself in order before my new child arrives. What am I planning to do with the next year of my life? I won't be working (more time to write), but I'll have a baby who needs constant care. Given the right attitude, vision, and planning, this could still turn out to be one of the most productive writing years of my life. Your post has inspired me to set some real goals for the coming year. Thank you. Hi Larry,

This is just what I needed to hear. At the moment I’m sitting under a pile of English papers that need to be marked (which means no time for writing), and I have 2.5 months to get myself in order before my new child arrives.

What am I planning to do with the next year of my life? I won’t be working (more time to write), but I’ll have a baby who needs constant care. Given the right attitude, vision, and planning, this could still turn out to be one of the most productive writing years of my life.

Your post has inspired me to set some real goals for the coming year.

Thank you.

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-402 Larry Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:00:50 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-402 @Patrick - interesting, I've noticed that "writing lessons" and "life lessons" are often very much the same thing. I think the more we pay attention to that, the better we'll all be. I mean, if what we pour our passion into doesn't teach us something about life, how valuable is it? Thanks for pointing that out here. @Mike - anywhere we find our ideas is a good thing. I do think that, in any case, a story should begin with an idea, and if the writer already knows it's "junk" then perhaps it isn't worth the effort. There are plenty of ideas waiting to hatch that aren't. That said, you're right, sometimes what we believe is worthy turns out to be junk (or, we just can't make it happen on the page), but in doing so we come up with an even better idea. Guess what I'm saying is... evolving good into great is a wonderful thing... but beginning with junk really isn't. I urge you to adopt a middle ground here -- don't write until you have an idea that excites you, and then if you discover a better idea along the way, don't hesitate to trash the first and pursue the new. Hope this helps... it's all opinion anyhow, and like I said, whatever works is a good thing. Good luck with your projects! And thanks for hanging out here on Storyfix. @Patrick – interesting, I’ve noticed that “writing lessons” and “life lessons” are often very much the same thing. I think the more we pay attention to that, the better we’ll all be. I mean, if what we pour our passion into doesn’t teach us something about life, how valuable is it? Thanks for pointing that out here.

@Mike – anywhere we find our ideas is a good thing. I do think that, in any case, a story should begin with an idea, and if the writer already knows it’s “junk” then perhaps it isn’t worth the effort. There are plenty of ideas waiting to hatch that aren’t. That said, you’re right, sometimes what we believe is worthy turns out to be junk (or, we just can’t make it happen on the page), but in doing so we come up with an even better idea.

Guess what I’m saying is… evolving good into great is a wonderful thing… but beginning with junk really isn’t. I urge you to adopt a middle ground here — don’t write until you have an idea that excites you, and then if you discover a better idea along the way, don’t hesitate to trash the first and pursue the new. Hope this helps… it’s all opinion anyhow, and like I said, whatever works is a good thing. Good luck with your projects! And thanks for hanging out here on Storyfix.

]]> By: Mike Wright http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-401 Mike Wright Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:12:40 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-401 Larry - You are knocking it out of the park lately with stuff like this! Thanks for your insights. A question about the "ideation" theory; don't you think those "killers" can come sometimes after you've pounded out pages of junk? I'll sit down and start on one idea then "watch" as the really good one comes out, evolves. If I waited for the "home run" to pop into my head, I might never sit down at the keyboard. Your thoughts? Larry – You are knocking it out of the park lately with stuff like this! Thanks for your insights.

A question about the “ideation” theory; don’t you think those “killers” can come sometimes after you’ve pounded out pages of junk? I’ll sit down and start on one idea then “watch” as the really good one comes out, evolves. If I waited for the “home run” to pop into my head, I might never sit down at the keyboard. Your thoughts?

]]> By: Patrick Sullivan http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-399 Patrick Sullivan Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:18:29 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-399 If I had a year off to work on writing without any other worries in the world I tend to agree with one point you mentioned but didn't push much. Writing conferences. Stuff like Clarion seems like an awesome idea, but who has the mix of the however many grand AND the ability to drop the rest of their life for all that time to do it? LUXURY! Overall though I think this isn't even a writing lesson, but more importantly a life one, and one I know I need to work on. You have to learn to never settle. If you shoot for the moon you might get into space at best. Shoot for the stars though, and if you really go for it at worst you hit the moon, which is still better than 99% of everyone else. If I had a year off to work on writing without any other worries in the world I tend to agree with one point you mentioned but didn’t push much. Writing conferences. Stuff like Clarion seems like an awesome idea, but who has the mix of the however many grand AND the ability to drop the rest of their life for all that time to do it?

LUXURY!

Overall though I think this isn’t even a writing lesson, but more importantly a life one, and one I know I need to work on. You have to learn to never settle. If you shoot for the moon you might get into space at best. Shoot for the stars though, and if you really go for it at worst you hit the moon, which is still better than 99% of everyone else.

]]> By: Lori http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-398 Lori Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:31:57 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-398 I really enjoyed an can appreciate this article, Larry. This is great advice. And, might I add that your reader could have easily dropped some major cash (or wasted a few years) to get the same knowledge via other avenues. You're the Mother Theresa of the burgeoning writer. Thank you. ;) I really enjoyed an can appreciate this article, Larry.

This is great advice. And, might I add that your reader could have easily dropped some major cash (or wasted a few years) to get the same knowledge via other avenues.

You’re the Mother Theresa of the burgeoning writer. Thank you. ;)

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-397 Larry Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:49:30 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-397 @Dale -- yeah, that point about the power of the initial idea is huge. A massive percentage of perfectly well-written novels and screenplays get rejected precisely because the ideas that resides at their core aren't compelling enough. Name-brand authors get away with this because they can, but publishers are looking for "breakout" material from new writers, stories that are fresh and original and compelling, even out-of-the-box. So good-on-you for feeling this one, Dale, it could be the very thing that gets you published. I hope that happens. @Dale — yeah, that point about the power of the initial idea is huge. A massive percentage of perfectly well-written novels and screenplays get rejected precisely because the ideas that resides at their core aren’t compelling enough. Name-brand authors get away with this because they can, but publishers are looking for “breakout” material from new writers, stories that are fresh and original and compelling, even out-of-the-box. So good-on-you for feeling this one, Dale, it could be the very thing that gets you published. I hope that happens.

]]> By: Dale http://storyfix.com/getting-off-the-storytelling-dime-how-to-start-now/comment-page-1#comment-395 Dale Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:26:18 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=1010#comment-395 Another post that really hit home for me. I'm in the "ideation" stage of my next novel. While I absolutely agree that practice and study in combination are the way to go, what really hit me here was your comment about not "settling" on an idea. I've been guilty of that--going for a "standard" idea rather than a "killer" one that keeps me up at night. This post really brought that point home :-) Thank you! Dale Another post that really hit home for me. I’m in the “ideation” stage of my next novel. While I absolutely agree that practice and study in combination are the way to go, what really hit me here was your comment about not “settling” on an idea. I’ve been guilty of that–going for a “standard” idea rather than a “killer” one that keeps me up at night.

This post really brought that point home :-)

Thank you!

Dale

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