I write using the "stick figure" method, myself. I start off in a quick rush and flurry of words, then I must go back and fill in all the details. Of course, this all takes more discipline than I can abide. I can't wait to see what your muse has kicked into gear.
That's sort of like me. I "quilt." I'll write a scene. Then another and then build from there until I have summary to start with. Lots of filling in - yes.
Yeah, I'm actually kinda excited about doing fan fiction again. I think all the DH clips have helped.
I've only written fan fiction (and about ninety-eight million words of technical reports, teaching material, etc).
I've read quite a few quotes from established writers, but never from one who writes because it's easy. On the contrary, some seem to feel that being called to write is more of a curse than a blessing.
I wonder if it's a bit like soldiering: it's not hard to think of a hundred reasons why no sane person would choose to be a soldier, but if you talk to career soldiers you'll not find many who would swap it for anything else.
Yes, and I've enjoyed the fan fiction you've written. Not sure I could same the same for technical reports - that must've been tortuous to write. Ah, the life of a teacher...
Definitely not easy.
Well. Would I swap it? It's not like it's something I really choose to do. It's much more like an overwhelming itch that slams against my brain with the force of a mallet until I give into it, sit down and spew out the scenes, characters, disembodied dialogue from my brain. Then I can breathe again. That's the best description I can come up with.
I am definitely slow and plodding in my original fiction. I'm glad I'm not alone. ;)
I actually began writing fanfic to get better at fiction writing so I could write my own fiction. When I'm playing in JKR's world, it's just for fun. Even if I'm entering a contest, there's really nothing to lose. The stakes are much higher with my own writing.
Fan fiction is a lot of fun. I also do it for escape. And, well, as a procrastination tool when I'm stuck in my own writing. At least I'm writing. Or that's how I look at it.
But yes, very slow and plodding. I put turtles to shame.
I was actually thinking about that the other day. Fanfic really doesn't help new authors with character development. All you have to do is call a character Ron and everyone fills in the characterization in their head.
If you skipped character development in original fiction there'd have to be some other significantly compelling aspect to the story, and I don't think most authors would pull that off.
Well, you can't just slap the name Ron on any character and have it be Ron, though. The point of fan fic to me is to take the characters from the books and put them in different situations that aren't too far out of the realm of the books. Loads of gray area there, yes, but the idea is to use the character as originally intended. Thus, if Ron acted like... Dumbledore it wouldn't make sense.
The character development is, hopefully as you pointed out, already done. Even if you had an incredible plot, though, without well crafted characters I don't think there'd be much worth reading. To me characters are everything.
Catcher in the Rye is an excellent example of this. What's the plot? There isn't any. It's just a guy who's schlepping around New York, trying to figure out what to do with his life after being kicked out of school - again. At least I'm pretty sure I recall he was kicked out. Anyway, there isn't a lot plot here. Not much action
( ... )
Comments 10
Reply
Yeah, I'm actually kinda excited about doing fan fiction again. I think all the DH clips have helped.
Reply
I've read quite a few quotes from established writers, but never from one who writes because it's easy. On the contrary, some seem to feel that being called to write is more of a curse than a blessing.
I wonder if it's a bit like soldiering: it's not hard to think of a hundred reasons why no sane person would choose to be a soldier, but if you talk to career soldiers you'll not find many who would swap it for anything else.
Reply
Definitely not easy.
Well. Would I swap it? It's not like it's something I really choose to do. It's much more like an overwhelming itch that slams against my brain with the force of a mallet until I give into it, sit down and spew out the scenes, characters, disembodied dialogue from my brain. Then I can breathe again. That's the best description I can come up with.
Reply
"Writing is easy. All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead."
-Gene Fowler
"I do not like to write - I like to have written."
-Gloria Steinem
"The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon."
-Robert Cromier
Reply
Reply
I actually began writing fanfic to get better at fiction writing so I could write my own fiction. When I'm playing in JKR's world, it's just for fun. Even if I'm entering a contest, there's really nothing to lose. The stakes are much higher with my own writing.
Reply
Fan fiction is a lot of fun. I also do it for escape. And, well, as a procrastination tool when I'm stuck in my own writing. At least I'm writing. Or that's how I look at it.
But yes, very slow and plodding. I put turtles to shame.
Reply
If you skipped character development in original fiction there'd have to be some other significantly compelling aspect to the story, and I don't think most authors would pull that off.
Food for thought! :)
Reply
The character development is, hopefully as you pointed out, already done. Even if you had an incredible plot, though, without well crafted characters I don't think there'd be much worth reading. To me characters are everything.
Catcher in the Rye is an excellent example of this. What's the plot? There isn't any. It's just a guy who's schlepping around New York, trying to figure out what to do with his life after being kicked out of school - again. At least I'm pretty sure I recall he was kicked out. Anyway, there isn't a lot plot here. Not much action ( ... )
Reply
Leave a comment