"The Basic Basics of Writing" by Algis Budrys, long article by my old writing mentor, about how to write stories for a professional market.
"...suppose you want to learn to write—to somehow transmit stories from your mind to the minds of readers."
Funny enough, that's not my problem, personally. I can do that. My problem is how to make up stories worth transmitting.
6 comments:
Eolake said...
"...My problem is how to make up stories worth transmitting."
And that is where getting out *amongst us* interacting w/and experiencing *the real world* helps. ;-) (no insult intended to your *virtual world*, of course; I am, of course, referring to the expansion of *a person's* *playground*...beyond the *creature comforts* etc. and four walls of their own home. ;-) There is enough variety, *spice* and *drama* in this thing everyone refers to as *real life* to [at least] get you a basis for a good foundation. You wouldn't have to entirely start from scratch and "make up" everything if that were done! What most of us would do, were we in your financial, individual (vs. marital) status, and the [forever] *challenge* w/those 2 factors, alone, along w/the constant time factor leaving us w/little energy left...to expand our horizons and explore the world. The world is, literally, your oyster, Eo! :-)
"The advantage of speaking truth is that you don't have to strain your memory or imagination."
Eo said this in the "tease" chapter...
Well, I don't know if I ever spoke the truth, must be a nice feeling...
Maybe it works for "true" stories.
I think stories appear with the contact of the paper (of screen). It is a process, ping-pong between you and the writing.
Maybe "true" stories just grab you... ?
Maybe.
Funny thing is I can write stories who sound true:
http://tr.im/g4uv
... but they are never long, and don't have a plot. I guess they are "vignettes", as Budrys talks about. Which is a legit medium but aren't commercially viable at this point in time and space.
"My problem is how to make up stories worth transmitting."
I know someone who could help you. She lives in the UK, maybe you've heard of her. Her name's Joanne K. Rowling. ;-)
TC,
But I don't like oysters!!! :,(
Is surimi okay? Or sushi? With wasabi allowed?
Aniko (sort of) confessed...
"Well, I don't know if I ever spoke the truth, must be a nice feeling..."
Woman! You don't even KNOW?!? What are you, a Lebanese or something?
Sheesh! There ARE treatments for mythomania, you know. (~_^)
"Maybe "true" stories just grab you... ?"
That's it then: I'm *never* writing porn. Like, ouch, man.
"Which is a legit medium but aren't commercially viable at this point in time and space."
Maybe you should write geometry-fiction then? How about this title: Outlaw Bisector Riemann Ratio Blues Organ? According to my calculations, it should inspire you at 73%, which is an excellent figure.
Fans in CalTech will affectionately call it OBR-RBO.
42, man. 42.
"I know someone who could help you. She lives in the UK, maybe you've heard of her. Her name's Joanne K. Rowling"
Sure, I used to hang with ole "JK" in the Elephant House cafe in Edinburg. You're saying she got something published? Good for her!
Pascal said...
"But I don't like oysters!!! :,(
Is surimi okay? Or sushi? With wasabi allowed?"
Lol! Silly Pascal! Have whatever *tickles your fancy* Pascal...as long as it gets you and Eo outta your *caves* every once in awhile and interacting with the world! :-) Imagine the adventures you could take Eo on; you seem like quite the adventurous person, Pascal! That or...you've definitely got a pretty vivid imagination! Coming to think of it...you probably have enough...uh...*fuel* to keep yourself going for, oh, a couple years of writing...at least, yes, Pascal?! lol! ;-) When will the book that you have written about be coming out...or were you just goofing around when you mentioned it? (Personally, I would pick deliciously pan-fried oysters (actually had some deliciously fresh ones, when I went out, last night, fresh out of the west coast oyster bed near us!) with some yummy cooked sushi (unagi or *California* rolls sound really good, right about now)...w/just a touch of wasabi! YUM! ;-)
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