Hmm, yeah, TOO many words can become tiresome to read. I gave up on a couple of fantasy authors when I felt they became too wordy and I found my eyes closing much too often while attempting to read one of their books.
When I have some extra time I'm going to start reading your story. :D
Thanks. I promise will not become defensive if you become bored with my writing as long as you tell me I'm: 1) not interesting as a writer, or 2) too wordy, or 3) you just don't like me because I'm _______ (fill in the blank).
It's the not knowing that kills us.
BTW, I am multitasking at work though I have a ton of (real work) things to do. I'm calling it a mental health break.
The best writing thing that has happened to me lately is NaNoWriMo or at least the idea that you can write 50,000 words and not really care about it since it's only the first draft. If you sit and pick at it you'll get nowhere, but if you let it flow then revise it later you're going to get the volume you need to actually make a story.
I used to start off with only the barest hint of an idea, and then write and see where it led. Now I try to look at my stories the way they want you to look at screenwriting. Methodically. Left-brain stuff.
What is the story about? Can you sum it up in 100 words, or less (this is the canonical "elevator speech")? What's the point (or, the moral)? What are you, the writer, trying to say? Is it "love conquers all," or "science is bad," or "two dopey stoners are really lame"? That kind of stuff.
I suggest reading books (if that's how you learn--it is for me) on screenwriting. Read more for help on how to structure the story and push it through to completion. Selling a screenplay is more luck and being in the right place, etc., than it is about skill. I desire to be skillful, first, and the rest will follow.
Story so far focuses around a female medical intern on a space medical ship called The Justice Hawk and an ex-classmate of hers (and possible love interest) who shows up on the ship.
I recently listened to a set of podcasts about a man on a space freight ship and got inspired to write about my own ship. I'm probably going to add a lot more about how she ended up on the ship rather than ship material if I go the way I'm going. Right now I have no set plot, but filling in the details I'm kind of forming the story as I go.
So, you're inventing the world of your characters. That's fine. Is this to be a love story? Love in space could be interesting, and I'm not referring to the complications of sex in zero-G. :-)
Are you a fan of Firefly/Serenity? It wasn't *strictly* about love, but there was enough to make it rather ... interesting. I am a sucker for seeing resolution of the sexual/romantic tensions in a story, so when Firefly/Serenity left so many things undecided ... ergh.
Your heroine: she's young, inexperienced, impressionable, maybe? Naive? I hope not too much, but the story could develop around her growth as a person. Her personal journey. But, what's the "journey" your protagonist(s) need to make? Have you decided? Who/what opposes them? This is important! She/they may start out with one idea, but circumstances might toss her/them off in another direction. Do they save the world in the end? :-)
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When I have some extra time I'm going to start reading your story. :D
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It's the not knowing that kills us.
BTW, I am multitasking at work though I have a ton of (real work) things to do. I'm calling it a mental health break.
Reply
Love the writing advice...
The best writing thing that has happened to me lately is NaNoWriMo or at least the idea that you can write 50,000 words and not really care about it since it's only the first draft. If you sit and pick at it you'll get nowhere, but if you let it flow then revise it later you're going to get the volume you need to actually make a story.
Reply
What is the story about? Can you sum it up in 100 words, or less (this is the canonical "elevator speech")? What's the point (or, the moral)? What are you, the writer, trying to say? Is it "love conquers all," or "science is bad," or "two dopey stoners are really lame"? That kind of stuff.
I suggest reading books (if that's how you learn--it is for me) on screenwriting. Read more for help on how to structure the story and push it through to completion. Selling a screenplay is more luck and being in the right place, etc., than it is about skill. I desire to be skillful, first, and the rest will follow.
Reply
I recently listened to a set of podcasts about a man on a space freight ship and got inspired to write about my own ship. I'm probably going to add a lot more about how she ended up on the ship rather than ship material if I go the way I'm going. Right now I have no set plot, but filling in the details I'm kind of forming the story as I go.
Reply
Are you a fan of Firefly/Serenity? It wasn't *strictly* about love, but there was enough to make it rather ... interesting. I am a sucker for seeing resolution of the sexual/romantic tensions in a story, so when Firefly/Serenity left so many things undecided ... ergh.
Your heroine: she's young, inexperienced, impressionable, maybe? Naive? I hope not too much, but the story could develop around her growth as a person. Her personal journey. But, what's the "journey" your protagonist(s) need to make? Have you decided? Who/what opposes them? This is important! She/they may start out with one idea, but circumstances might toss her/them off in another direction. Do they save the world in the end? :-)
I am intrigued.
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