“Don’t take any shit from anyone.”
– Billy Joel (storyteller)
Here they are… all 16 of ’em.
There are dozens more posts in the archives that gave these a run for their money, too. I’m not crazy about so-called “top-10” lists lately — especially when… oh, never mind — so why limit the love.
Enjoy.
A Mindset Shift That Can Get You Published
The Holy Grail of Getting Published Big
Six Core Analogies for the Six Core Competencies
A Perspective on Cataclysmic Criticism
3 Edgy Little Tips to Make Your Story More Compelling
Opinions Are Like Manuscripts: Everybody’s Got One
Putting the Character Into Characterization
A Deeper, Richer Understanding of Craft (Part 1)…. and… (Part 2)
5 Creative Flaws That Will Expose Your Lack of Storytelling Experience
Five More Mistakes That Will Expose You As A Rookie
Epiphany: The Bottom Line Revealed
Chipping Away At The Scariest Number Ever
*****
My wish for you is a stellar, breakthrough 2012. Both in your writing, and in your life.
Thanks for allowing me into your head.
*****
Coming soon in 2012: “Warm Hugs for Writers… Essays on Surviving and Thriving in the Writing Life.” Sort of a Chicken Therapy for the Writer’s Soul kinda thing. If you’d like to pre-order a PDF copy at a discount (it’ll be $6.99 upon release on PDF or Kindle), send five bucks (via Paypal to storyfixer@gmail.com, ) and you’ll get it first.
6 Responses
Happy New Year all!
I’m a little late coming to this post because of the holidays, but I’m certainly thankful for this special gift. I downloaded all of the top posts above into their own Storyfix Top Posts 2011 folder. I included the comments with each post because they’re often entertaining and informative in themselves. Storyfix truly is a “gift that keeps on giving.”
Thank you, Larry, for your passion, your profundity, and your sharing.
Happy New Year Larry,
Any one of your top ten (16 for math majors) would be a hit of the year on other blogs. And we get ’em all in one place. Nothing better.
Looking forward to a big 2012, one plot point at a time.
Best,
David
Cindy said,” It’s easy for me to spot a poorly-planned novel nowadays.”
My experience. With time, flawed material becomes even easier to see. Once story structure slips below the conscious level a story hiccup becomes clanging bell.
Movies are top offenders. They are on timer. The 2008 movie “Wanted” is beautifully done until the story runs out of time. The disaster, lowest of the low moment for the hero shows up to late. They have only a few minutes to accomplish story wise what needed thirty. Sorry guys we are out of budget.
They resort to daus ex machine. In this case they used the cliché of all cliché’s. A bus momentarily blocks the beat down hero from view. When it passes it reveals the beaten down hero’s “miraculous” vanish from the scene. This is offered to the viewer as the transition from down and out fail to super hero.
NO!
Larry. I love this line.
“Thanks for allowing me into your head.”
Another year’s worth of wit and wisdom from you! Thank you for helping me improve my skills as a writer, editor, and mentor. Thank you for investing hours of time to help your blog followers understand “story.” Sounds simple, but is so complex. I had no idea of the many layers until I began to read your books and blogs.
Thank you for sharing, Larry!!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
I appreciate this blog (and your books) so much. Still No. 1 as far as I’m concerned. Not only your posts, but also the interactive intellectual community that has sprung up because of them. I have gained so much confidence here; one day I’ll get really bold and post something for peer review (but not just yet).
It’s easy for me to spot a poorly-planned novel nowadays. I recently had to abandon one, much to my disappointment, because the material had so much potential. I got halfway in and had no clue what the conflict was–just a bunch of faceless bad guys in black SUVs killing people I think I was supposed to care about, over an object of value that had not yet been fully revealed.
I’d be willing to bet this new author doesn’t get a second book deal–unless he’s lucky enough to pick up a copy of “Story Engineering.”
Don’t sweat the list, Larry. Those of us who have discovered something profound in your books and blog aren’t going anywhere.
…your creative mind sends to our creative minds that which we know is named sharing … and its this sharing that creates your mentorship. So, saying thanks seems such an insignificant expression. Has a correct word been hatched for expressing your sharing? Maybe a word cannot … maybe your sharing is simply a creative connection that we feel and hold onto. I feel your creative mind, Larry. Who but you would preface a post with: Don’t Take Any Shit From Anyone. That quote smiles the full length of your post. BEST OF ALL FOR YOU & YOURS IN 2012.