a confession

[Hypoxia]

I'll confess to nothing. Not unless I'm being beaten. Or licked. Oh no, a big tongue! I confess! I confess!

 

[49greg]

Miss Appleby did it in the basement with both hands.

Uh, maybe that's not what you're looking for.

As far as writing goes I have no confessions except to say that being a storyteller is much better than a writer.

I usually have the title for the story before I start.

Most of the time I turn the characters loose and see where they go. Don't try herding ducks, cats, or characters. It just don't work.

I've always liked the term 'storyteller'. I can remember editions of Alistair MacLean's books with the words "Master Storyteller" in bold type on the cover. I always thought that was a cool term, it brought to mind an ancient era on a street corner, a traveler with dust from distant places on him regaled passersby with tales garnered from the ends of the earth. A small carved bowl in front of him for occasional coins.

I have a hard time coming up with a title, and it usually doesn't arrive until after the story is well underway, if not done.

My characters also never allow themselves to be herded.

 

[DarkUniverse]

I tend to go into too many details, then leaving the written stories/chapters aside for a few days, I usually throw out a lot of the unnecessary lines and/or partially completely rewrite... Takes ages... And probably drives also my editors insane...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I've always liked the term 'storyteller'. I can remember editions of Alistair MacLean's books with the words "Master Storyteller" in bold type on the cover. I always thought that was a cool term, it brought to mind an ancient era on a street corner, a traveler with dust from distant places on him regaled passersby with tales garnered from the ends of the earth. A small carved bowl in front of him for occasional coins.

I have a hard time coming up with a title, and it usually doesn't arrive until after the story is well underway, if not done.

My characters also never allow themselves to be herded.

Or the bedraggled, dust covered gentleman sitting at a table in a saloon, regaling the patrons with stories of his travels. Stopping occasionally to look down at his empty glass and not continuing until it was once again filled.

I usually have a title first, with an idea of what the story is going to be. The title sparks that movie projector into life and the film begins to ratchet through the gears past the back lit glass to cast the pictures of what I'm going to write about. About three paragraphs into the story, I stop to create the cover. Then it's on with the story.

 

[Serafina1210]

The title sparks that movie projector into life and the film begins to ratchet through the gears past the back lit glass to cast the pictures of what I'm going to write about.

I thought it was a TV, Zeb.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I'm with Allamagione: I waste type and words like a wounded squid, and I find it very hard.

But, as some writer once said: "Writing is easy. You just sit down at the typewriter and open a vein."

My confession is that writing is hard for me, especially plots, and I can't stand to go back and read anything I've written once it's published, because it just looks so bad to me. Embarrassing, worthless, bad. I can remember how I'd originally imagined the piece and I see how badly I've failed in music, imagery, mood, the works.

On the other hand, the day you're happy with what you've produced is the day you stop improving, so it's good to be a little dissatisfied.

But I have actually spent almost 15 minutes trying to find the right way to arrange 3 words: "...finally didn't matter" vs. "...didn't finally matter" vs "didn't matter, finally" I forgot which won.

I also cannot open something of mine to send to a friend without invariably changing a few things around, editing a little. I've come to realize that different versions sound better on different days.

There's a story about the artist Albert Pinkham Ryder (ca. 1890 ish) that he was such a perfectionist that he would show up with paints and easel at the homes of people who'd bought his paintings 5,10, maybe more years later to "touch it up", finally slathering so much paint on them that it cracked and split

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Flying_Dutchman%2C_the.jpg

But as yet some other writer had said: "No one ever became a writer because he wanted to. You become a writer because you have to." And the more I hurt, the better it invariably is.

Meaning, of course,m that you have no choice. You just can't not write.

 

[oggbashan]

...

But as yet some other writer had said: "No one ever became a writer because he wanted to. You become a writer because you have to." And the more I hurt, the better it invariably is.

Meaning, of course,m that you have no choice. You just can't not write.

Years ago, when I attended a local Creative Writing class, it was obvious at the first session who would last the course.

It was those who HAD to write. They had come to improve how they wrote.

Those who thought Creative Writing might be a pleasant pastime, but had never written anything, left the classes in the first few weeks. When asked to write 200 words on a set subject by next week - they couldn't.

The rest of us anguished about WHICH 200 words to write and possibly wrote several sets of 200 before deciding which one to expose to the class.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I thought it was a TV, Zeb.

It's actually both depending on how I originally see the story. Sometimes it's just a short made for TV movie or a series of shorts all dealing with the same characters. Other times it's a full length feature film that is projected on a movie screen and filmed in panovision.

One or both are always running in the background, when one springs to the front, I write what's happening on the screen.

 

[allamagione]

I'm with Allamagione: I waste type and words like a wounded squid, and I find it very hard.

But, as some writer once said: "Writing is easy. You just sit down at the typewriter and open a vein."

My confession is that writing is hard for me, especially plots, and I can't stand to go back and read anything I've written once it's published, because it just looks so bad to me. Embarrassing, worthless, bad. I can remember how I'd originally imagined the piece and I see how badly I've failed in music, imagery, mood, the works.

On the other hand, the day you're happy with what you've produced is the day you stop improving, so it's good to be a little dissatisfied.

But I have actually spent almost 15 minutes trying to find the right way to arrange 3 words: "...finally didn't matter" vs. "...didn't finally matter" vs "didn't matter, finally" I forgot which won.

I also cannot open something of mine to send to a friend without invariably changing a few things around, editing a little. I've come to realize that different versions sound better on different days.

There's a story about the artist Albert Pinkham Ryder (ca. 1890 ish) that he was such a perfectionist that he would show up with paints and easel at the homes of people who'd bought his paintings 5,10, maybe more years later to "touch it up", finally slathering so much paint on them that it cracked and split

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Flying_Dutchman%2C_the.jpg

But as yet some other writer had said: "No one ever became a writer because he wanted to. You become a writer because you have to." And the more I hurt, the better it invariably is.

Meaning, of course,m that you have no choice. You just can't not write.

Thanks, Doc. That's reassuring from someone whose work I esteem so highly.

Plot is the bane of my existence. I think that's why I tend to favor erotica that features high-conflict sex. Sex that shouldn't be happening for whatever reason. With enough built-in tension, the sex is the plot.

When it comes to my writing, I find that I'm more difficult to please than my readers are. I can't settle. Something can always, always be fixed.

And, as you say, maybe that's a good thing. Although, at some point the canvas will indeed crack.

 

[49greg]

It's actually both depending on how I originally see the story. Sometimes it's just a short made for TV movie or a series of shorts all dealing with the same characters. Other times it's a full length feature film that is projected on a movie screen and filmed in panovision.

One or both are always running in the background, when one springs to the front, I write what's happening on the screen.

I get little snippets of film for certain parts, sometimes parts that made me start the story, other parts that just seem more important. Eventually I could put the whole thing together, but it is always subtly different when I come back to it. And oddly the sex bits are always fuzzy in the picture.

There's always lots of stuff in the film that isn't written. Can't be written.

Years ago, when I attended a local Creative Writing class, it was obvious at the first session who would last the course.

It was those who HAD to write. They had come to improve how they wrote.

Those who thought Creative Writing might be a pleasant pastime, but had never written anything, left the classes in the first few weeks. When asked to write 200 words on a set subject by next week - they couldn't.

The rest of us anguished about WHICH 200 words to write and possibly wrote several sets of 200 before deciding which one to expose to the class.

Isn't there a quote from some well known speaker, goes something like, "if you want me to talk for four hours I can do it now. If you only need one hour I'll be back in a week, but if you only want fifteen minutes, I won't be able to start in a month."

The original is way way different in the details but the gist is there. Writing is like that for me. I can pound out crapola as fast as I can type. But it takes lots and lots of winnowing to get to the final product. And with me that's still a little verbose.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Thanks, Doc. That's reassuring from someone whose work I esteem so highly.

Plot is the bane of my existence. I think that's why I tend to favor erotica that features high-conflict sex. Sex that shouldn't be happening for whatever reason. With enough built-in tension, the sex is the plot.

When it comes to my writing, I find that I'm more difficult to please than my readers are. I can't settle. Something can always, always be fixed.

And, as you say, maybe that's a good thing. Although, at some point the canvas will indeed crack.

I read your story tho I left no comments or score. It has an adequate plot that collided with nothing nor ended at a washed out bridge. Your plot does the job.

The whole thing resonates with my Southern life, the young woman was a gal from West Virginia I almost married (she married a boy who wanted to be her best girlfriend), and the old man is an old boy I knew named Jarvis. I think he was from Alabama or West Florida. Jarvis talked too much, like the old man.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I get little snippets of film for certain parts, sometimes parts that made me start the story, other parts that just seem more important. Eventually I could put the whole thing together, but it is always subtly different when I come back to it. And oddly the sex bits are always fuzzy in the picture.

There's always lots of stuff in the film that isn't written. Can't be written.

...

Not really.

Write the scene in your head just like you would describe it to someone who hadn't seen the show and wanted an update to his favorite series or movie.

I know it's sometimes difficult getting all that action, scenery and mood lighting that they do in the movie, but you should be able to get the gist of the scene down on "paper".

 

[allamagione]

I read your story tho I left no comments or score. It has an adequate plot that collided with nothing nor ended at a washed out bridge. Your plot does the job.

The whole thing resonates with my Southern life, the young woman was a gal from West Virginia I almost married (she married a boy who wanted to be her best girlfriend), and the old man is an old boy I knew named Jarvis. I think he was from Alabama or West Florida. Jarvis talked too much, like the old man.

I'm a dialogue junkie. I wrote every line of sex dialogue for that story in one feverish sitting. Then I spent about three weeks trying to come up with that plot. It just doesn't come easily.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm a dialogue junkie. I wrote every line of sex dialogue for that story in one feverish sitting. Then I spent about three weeks trying to come up with that plot. It just doesn't come easily.

A plot aint nuthin, the hard part is making it interesting. Leave out the dull stuff. Its just like a date.

 

[lovecraft68]

My writing confession would be....I struggle with the sex sometimes.

I get caught up in the set up, the characters, the dialogue then when I get to the sex....I kind of drag. Gotten to the point the story is more fun.

 

[allamagione]

Leave out the dull stuff. Its just like a date.

That is... really damn good advice.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm studying how to make the story end inevitable and congruent and plausible. I'm seriously annoyed at how most stories end. My latest effort involves a lawyer who frames his client for all the murders he committed, to get back at her mother who betrayed him many years before. So my task is to betray her elegantly.

 

[allamagione]

I'm studying how to make the story end inevitable and congruent and plausible. I'm seriously annoyed at how most stories end. My latest effort involves a lawyer who frames his client for all the murders he committed, to get back at her mother who betrayed him many years before. So my task is to betray her elegantly.

Combining all three of those things is a feat. In Postman, Cain managed two of three but shot his plausibility with the totally random car accident.

Is this the one with the autistic prophet?

The difference between us is that you write stories. I write sex. At least one person climaxes. The End.

 

[squirrelzo]

Both you and Doc are completely nuts because you both write so well. Crackers! Off the reservation!

Thanks, Doc. That's reassuring from someone whose work I esteem so highly.

Plot is the bane of my existence. I think that's why I tend to favor erotica that features high-conflict sex. Sex that shouldn't be happening for whatever reason. With enough built-in tension, the sex is the plot.

When it comes to my writing, I find that I'm more difficult to please than my readers are. I can't settle. Something can always, always be fixed.

And, as you say, maybe that's a good thing. Although, at some point the canvas will indeed crack.

 

[allamagione]

Both you and Doc are completely nuts because you both write so well. Crackers! Off the reservation!

Maybe I'm just like my mother. She's never satisfied.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My writing confession would be....I struggle with the sex sometimes.

I get caught up in the set up, the characters, the dialogue then when I get to the sex....I kind of drag. Gotten to the point the story is more fun.

One reason I started writing non-erotic fiction. The story became more fun to write than the sex scenes. I must be getting old.

 

[squirrelzo]

I got reamed (politely) for having a weak plot. Ha ha.

Daddy wants it
Daughter wants it
They have mo moral qualms whatsoever, the only question is when. BOOM!


I'm thinking we should start reading some of that gritty, hard-boiled noir fiction that JBJ is always going on about. That shit's full of plot.

Thanks, Doc. That's reassuring from someone whose work I esteem so highly.
To
Plot is the bane of my existence. I think that's why I tend to favor erotica that features high-conflict sex. Sex that shouldn't be happening for whatever reason. With enough built-in tension, the sex is the plot.

When it comes to my writing, I find that I'm more difficult to please than my readers are. I can't settle. Something can always, always be fixed.

And, as you say, maybe that's a good thing. Although, at some point the canvas will indeed crack.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Combining all three of those things is a feat. In Postman, Cain managed two of three but shot his plausibility with the totally random car accident.

Is this the one with the autistic prophet?

The difference between us is that you write stories. I write sex. At least one person climaxes. The End.

Cowboy writer Alan Le May is the best plotter I know of. He wrote two masterworks that remain in print, THE SEARCHERS and THE UNFORGIVEN. Powerful stuff. And his endings are sublime.

I removed the autistic kid to make the story about pure evil.

Cain is the perfect specimen of the writer who fumbles the ends.

 

[allamagione]

I got reamed (politely) for having a weak plot. Ha ha.

Daddy wants it
Daughter wants it
They have mo moral qualms whatsoever, the only question is when. BOOM!


I'm thinking we should start reading some of that gritty, hard-boiled noir fiction that JBJ is always going on about. That shit's full of plot.

You should direct that reviewer to Steven James' book Story Trumps Structure: At the heart of story is tension, and at the heart of tension is unmet desire.

How dare you write an incest story with the wrong kind of tension? Jeez.

JBJ's noir enthusiasm is infectious, as my Amazon cart can attest.