What I learned about writing this week.

[icarus]

What I've learned about writing this week:

From the Japanese film director Kurosawa (Seven Samurai, Ran). He says he sets a scene "like it's a silent movie, with a minimum of dialogue. I find dialogue boring."

From Neil Gaiman (via libitina's LJ). "When people tell you there’s something wrong with a story, they’re almost always right. When they tell what it is that’s wrong and how it can be fixed, they’re almost always wrong."

From personal experience. Do not stay up until four am writing or you will miss your morning class.

In RL: I spoke to my mom on the phone for five hours last night after being out of contact for two years.

After four hours, she finally asked how I was. *rim shot* Thank you, folks, my mother.

Comments

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she is related to L's mother.

You know that religion quiz that's going around? I took it the other day and wasn't surprised that it came up with Secular Humanist at 100%. But, I was surprised that my number four match was Theravada Buddhism. So, now, I want to know more about it. I looked it up on Wikipedia, and I can see the similarities, as well as differences, between it and Humanism. Where can I look for more info?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Let me look into that. I'm Tibetan Buddhist, so the take I'm given on Theravada has a particular spin. There's a 1,500 year distance between the two. So I'll have to do some hunting for online resources.

One the best resources for Theravada in book form is the Dhammapada.

Icarus

[wishwords.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[lherelenfeline.livejournal.com]

Wow, your mum is special....

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

See??? I KNEW we were long lost siblings!!! Our mothers are twins, seperated at birth! I wonder, do we look alike??

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Wow. I do know, in my rational mind, that not all parents -- well, mothers -- are like mine, but this still baffles me, and I think my life would be very different had I had yours -- hell, I'd be very different.

Also, innnteresting things about writing. I don't quite agree with Neil Gaiman, or betas would be superfluous at best and actively disadvantageous at worst, which does not at all seem to be the case, but it's possible he had a different perspective in mind -- that of a superficial reader, or a nagging critic.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Wow. I do know, in my rational mind, that not all parents -- well, mothers -- are like mine, but this still baffles me, and I think my life would be very different had I had yours -- hell, I'd be very different.

Talking to her is depressing. She went on and on about how wonderful she was, giving me a sell job on her wonderfulness, and then she was all exasperated that she had to fill out paperwork to dump my autistic cousin in a group home. Such an imposition to have to help him. And it was eerily similar to how she dealt with my schizophrenic little brother.

But, hey. At least she's able to be calm when we're in some kind of danger. I came home with a bleeding head wound and she was totally level about it as she bandaged me up. So there's that.

I don't quite agree with Neil Gaiman, or betas would be superfluous at best and actively disadvantageous at worst, which does not at all seem to be the case, but it's possible he had a different perspective in mind -- that of a superficial reader, or a nagging critic.

A really good beta draws the story out of you. Points out what's not working but doesn't try to do it for you.

The kind of editing Gaiman is talking about, we don't have in fandom. Publishers' editors often just rewrite or tell you what you should write.

Icarus

[monanotlisa.livejournal.com]

Such an imposition to have to help him.

*sigh* Indeed. Kudos to you for turning out all right.

he kind of editing Gaiman is talking about, we don't have in fandom. Publishers' editors often just rewrite or tell you what you should write.

Makes sense that this the distinction, yeah.