Tips on writing

[PennLady]

Found these via StumbleUpon today.

Pixar's 22 Rules on writing: http://io9.com/5916970/the-22-rules-of-storytelling-according-to-pixar

Joss Whedon 10 writing tips: http://aerogrammestudio.com/2013/03/13/joss-whedons-top-10-writing-tips/

Neil Gaiman 8 writing rules: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/28/neil-gaiman-8-rules-of-writing/

ETA: Kurt Vonnegut 8 rules: http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/538

 

[NekoParks]

Found these via StumbleUpon today.

Pixar's 22 Rules on writing: http://io9.com/5916970/the-22-rules-of-storytelling-according-to-pixar

Joss Whedon 10 writing tips: http://aerogrammestudio.com/2013/03/13/joss-whedons-top-10-writing-tips/

Neil Gaiman 8 writing rules: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/09/28/neil-gaiman-8-rules-of-writing/

Thank you. I bookmarked all three of them. I always appreciate your posts, PennLady.

 

[PennLady]

Thank you. I bookmarked all three of them. I always appreciate your posts, PennLady.

Thanks, Neko. I was thinking that people often remark how little discussion of writing is done on the AH, so I hope these are helpful or at least interesting. I often think that while no one rule or set of rules applies to everyone, reading things like these might give someone a different idea or perspective that could jumpstart a story.

Plus I love Neil Gaiman's stuff, and Joss Whedon's and Vonnegut's, although it's been a while since I read any Vonnegut.

 

[oggbashan]

First rule: Write something every day, even if it is only a post on Literotica.

 

[CarolinaPeach]

Those are great. Thanks for posting them.

 

[Handley_Page]

And a very handy set of ideas it is, too.
Thanks PL.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Two Essential Points:

1. Youre where you need to be when you recognize that all the experts are fulla shit. When this fact dawns on you then know that youre ahead of the experts.

2. Real pros know what to do, and aren't stumped or blocked. I DONT KNOW, DO I? is the British National Motto but its not gonna cut it for any competent pro.

 

[3113]

I have to say, I wish Pixar was actually following some of those rules. I don't care what awards or accolades they may have gotten, I really think their last like four or five movies were disappointing, more "artful" and enamored of certain moments and images than trying to create a successful story--and Brave most sadly and especially. A story that was great for the first like twenty minutes and then, effectively, fell down and never got up again.

A lot of those rules could have saved those movies story-wise...though the fact that they mostly made money usually throws all rules out the window, no?

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Two Essential Points:

1. Youre where you need to be when you recognize that all the experts are fulla shit. When this fact dawns on you then know that youre ahead of the experts.

2. Real pros know what to do, and aren't stumped or blocked. I DONT KNOW, DO I? is the British National Motto but its not gonna cut it for any competent pro.

shut up, you twat.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

shut up, you twat.

Be a man for once and go fuck with some ragheads.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

Be a man for once and go fuck with some ragheads.

Keep it coming, show me what a sad turd you really are.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Keep it coming, show me what a sad turd you really are.

The Queen ordered all soldiers to dress like civilians. Tough old bitch. We were expecting her to order group hugs for all ragheads.

 

[geronimo_appleby]

The Queen ordered all soldiers to dress like civilians. Tough old bitch. We were expecting her to order group hugs for all ragheads.

the queen, eh? this isn't 1598.

 

[PennLady]

I have to say, I wish Pixar was actually following some of those rules. I don't care what awards or accolades they may have gotten, I really think their last like four or five movies were disappointing, more "artful" and enamored of certain moments and images than trying to create a successful story--and Brave most sadly and especially. A story that was great for the first like twenty minutes and then, effectively, fell down and never got up again.

A lot of those rules could have saved those movies story-wise...though the fact that they mostly made money usually throws all rules out the window, no?

I have to agree that Pixar seems on a decline lately, which is a shame, because I think they've done such great stuff. I was pleased to see a female heroine in Brave, and it was nice that she didn't have to be rescued by a prince, but yes, I felt it dragged a bit. I thought Up was wonderful, and I seem to be one of the few that liked Cars (thought not the sequel so much).

Obviously they need to get Joss Whedon back.

 

[3113]

I was pleased to see a female heroine in Brave, and it was nice that she didn't have to be rescued by a prince, but yes, I felt it dragged a bit.

Dragged a lot! They were trying to make a female "finding Nemo" but they forgot two things (1) In Nemo the boy and his dad were separated, not together, that's why it worked; opposites that are "unequal" have realizations about the other only when away from the other and not in that unequal relationship, (2) Buddy films are opposite/equals, not parent/child--realization comes from being forced to work together with your "frien-enemy"--with recognizing that they are an equal.

Meaning, they could have it one way (parent/child) or the other (Buddy film) but not both. If one, then separate the two. If the other, then not parent/child! Grrrr.

I could see the moment it went all wrong and why...why couldn't they? No, don't bother answering that, I actually know why...because they really wanted a mother/daughter buddy film and thought it had never been done so why not do it and wouldn't that be unique and special, and being unique and special what could possibly go wrong....?

Yo! New rule! A unique and special idea does NOT mean it's going to be a good (or unique/special) story! Grrrr.....