So, today I learned all about Kishōtenketsu, which is a four-act story structure that does not rely on conflict for plot development.
SAY WHAT? No conflict? Surely this is blasphemy!
But it's not blasphemy, just culture shock. Kishōtenketsu is the product of Eastern thought, whereas my entire set of thought processes is a product of Western thought. So, it makes sense that I would be a little put off by the notion.
I guess, to be more accurate, I should say that today I re-learned all about Kishōtenketsu. In my Classical World Literature class in college, we did discuss and and read several examples of it, then all sat around and argued whether or not they actually did or did not have conflict in them. Ah, good times.
Anyway, check out this article by
Kishōtenketsu: http://mythicscribes.com/plot/kishotenketsu/
Be sure to read all of the links that
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Mythic Scribes Re-Blog: Understanding How Readers Read
Hi there! Sorry I missed yesterday's post. I was busy doing really important stuff.
~Stares at the ground~
~Bites lip~
OKAY, IT'S ALL A LIE!
I kind of spent half the day binge-watching Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix with my husband.
I used to worry that maybe my stories were too violent. They aren't. I mean, one character gets eviscerated (that means his intestines get ripped out), but at least I've never had a dude get decapitated by another dude repeatedly slamming his head and neck in a car door. Not to mention that I got kind of light on the description of that scene, whereas you actually get to watch the spray of blood in Daredevil. It was a straight-up gore-fest, let me tell you. They weren't joking around with the TV-MA rating on this one. Yikes. So it should go without saying that if you're under 18, you darn well better have your parents' permission to watch Daredevil. It's an intriguing story and all, but...oh man. I had to avert my eyes once or twice, and I usually don't shirk violence in movies.
What's that? Of course I'll be binge-watching more today! Why wouldn't I?
Anyhow...
I got on one of my favorite websites, Mythic Scribes, and stumbled across this article. I thought it was really interesting, and I wanted to share it with you. So, without further ado...
When I started writing – three, maybe four, years ago – I just wrote. I didn’t really think much about it as I sat there with my laptop, tapping down my stories and making things up.
I was happy with how they turned out. I had a good time, and I made up some really cool characters – most of which are still around in one form or another.
Then, eventually, I joined a writing forum and began to share my work there. I discovered there were a whole load of do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing […]
It turned out there are rules for how to write that I didn’t even know existed. I barely understood what deep point of view was, and it took a lot of explaining before I finally figured out the difference between passive and active voice (and I’m still hard pressed to explain it to someone else).
These “rules” of writing seem to pop up a lot wherever aspiring writers show off their work or ask for advice. I guess that’s fine – or at least understandable. The way I see it, the rules of writing are there to help writers produce better stories. […]
There is a lot of talk about how writers ought to write, but very little about how readers read. [...]
Check out the rest of the article on Mythic Scribes: http://mythicscribes.com/miscellaneous/understanding-how-readers-read/
Did you enjoy the article? Share it - but be sure to share the actual Mythic Scribes article, not my blog post. I mean, you can share my blog post, but credit where credit is due and all of that. Don't share my blog post without sharing the Mythic Scribes post. Thanks! You're the best!
~Stares at the ground~
~Bites lip~
OKAY, IT'S ALL A LIE!
I kind of spent half the day binge-watching Marvel's Daredevil on Netflix with my husband.
I used to worry that maybe my stories were too violent. They aren't. I mean, one character gets eviscerated (that means his intestines get ripped out), but at least I've never had a dude get decapitated by another dude repeatedly slamming his head and neck in a car door. Not to mention that I got kind of light on the description of that scene, whereas you actually get to watch the spray of blood in Daredevil. It was a straight-up gore-fest, let me tell you. They weren't joking around with the TV-MA rating on this one. Yikes. So it should go without saying that if you're under 18, you darn well better have your parents' permission to watch Daredevil. It's an intriguing story and all, but...oh man. I had to avert my eyes once or twice, and I usually don't shirk violence in movies.
What's that? Of course I'll be binge-watching more today! Why wouldn't I?
Anyhow...
I got on one of my favorite websites, Mythic Scribes, and stumbled across this article. I thought it was really interesting, and I wanted to share it with you. So, without further ado...
When I started writing – three, maybe four, years ago – I just wrote. I didn’t really think much about it as I sat there with my laptop, tapping down my stories and making things up.
I was happy with how they turned out. I had a good time, and I made up some really cool characters – most of which are still around in one form or another.
Then, eventually, I joined a writing forum and began to share my work there. I discovered there were a whole load of do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing […]
It turned out there are rules for how to write that I didn’t even know existed. I barely understood what deep point of view was, and it took a lot of explaining before I finally figured out the difference between passive and active voice (and I’m still hard pressed to explain it to someone else).
These “rules” of writing seem to pop up a lot wherever aspiring writers show off their work or ask for advice. I guess that’s fine – or at least understandable. The way I see it, the rules of writing are there to help writers produce better stories. […]
There is a lot of talk about how writers ought to write, but very little about how readers read. [...]
Check out the rest of the article on Mythic Scribes: http://mythicscribes.com/miscellaneous/understanding-how-readers-read/
Did you enjoy the article? Share it - but be sure to share the actual Mythic Scribes article, not my blog post. I mean, you can share my blog post, but credit where credit is due and all of that. Don't share my blog post without sharing the Mythic Scribes post. Thanks! You're the best!
Friday, March 20, 2015
Some Good Advice on Writing
Well, my life is still busy, but I was reading my favorite websites the other day and saw this article by Nina Amir about writing a book. Since I just recently started my own exercise routine, the author's comparison of writing to exercising really resonated with me. Check it out!
I admit I’ve simplified the task a bit. There are the ideation and research that go into writing a book. You have to determine the structure and content. Some writers need a gestation period before they begin writing. And you may feel you need time to learn how to write a book. But the best way to become an author—actually the only way—involves producing a manuscript. You must write.
As the adage goes: Writers write. If you want to be a writer or an author, there’s no way around this fact.
Check out the rest of the article at http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/03/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-just-do-it/
Share any thoughts or questions in the comments.
Was this useful? Share it on your favorite social network.
So You Want to Write a Book? Just Do It!
Start with page one. Then write page two and so on. Before you know it, you’ll have a manuscript. As author Donald Murray once told America’s Writing Coach, Roy Peter Clark, “Remember: A page a day equals a book a year.”I admit I’ve simplified the task a bit. There are the ideation and research that go into writing a book. You have to determine the structure and content. Some writers need a gestation period before they begin writing. And you may feel you need time to learn how to write a book. But the best way to become an author—actually the only way—involves producing a manuscript. You must write.
As the adage goes: Writers write. If you want to be a writer or an author, there’s no way around this fact.
Check out the rest of the article at http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/03/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-just-do-it/
Share any thoughts or questions in the comments.
Was this useful? Share it on your favorite social network.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Flashbacks Again
Hello, readers! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I have been busy, and it's been hard to make time for blogging.
After my last post on flashbacks, I was asked if I could provide an example of how it's done. Being short on time, I cheated and did a Google search. I found this awesome blog post by Paige Duke that breaks down the anatomy of a flashback in The Hunger Games.
Here's a teaser for their post. I highly recommend that you read the whole thing.
Creating a Strong Framework
Because a flashback halts the forward motion of the narrative, the reader must care about the character before you throw the car in reverse. Collins’ flashback comes in Chapter 2, which might seem early, but we’re already hooked into the action of the story and tied to the fate of the character. Because Katniss has just volunteered to take her sister’s place in the Games—a death sentence for sure. And she’s about to find out who else she’ll have to face in the arena.
Read more at http://www.standoutbooks.com/writing-flashbacks/
I hope that helps everybody write stronger, more awesome flashbacks! Now get out there and write!
Share any thoughts or questions in the comments.
Did you find this useful? Take a moment to share it on your favorite social network!
After my last post on flashbacks, I was asked if I could provide an example of how it's done. Being short on time, I cheated and did a Google search. I found this awesome blog post by Paige Duke that breaks down the anatomy of a flashback in The Hunger Games.
Here's a teaser for their post. I highly recommend that you read the whole thing.
Creating a Strong Framework
Because a flashback halts the forward motion of the narrative, the reader must care about the character before you throw the car in reverse. Collins’ flashback comes in Chapter 2, which might seem early, but we’re already hooked into the action of the story and tied to the fate of the character. Because Katniss has just volunteered to take her sister’s place in the Games—a death sentence for sure. And she’s about to find out who else she’ll have to face in the arena.
Peeta Mellark! Oh, no, I think. Not him … I try to convince myself it doesn’t matter. Peeta Mellark and I are not friends. Not even neighbors. We don’t speak. Our only real interaction happened years ago. He’s probably forgotten it. But I haven’t and I know I never will.…
The First Sentences
There are two things to note about a strong first sentence of a flashback. First, it’s a transition, so it needs to be strategic. Whether it’s smooth or abrupt, seamless or jarring, it should be that way intentionally. Maybe this flashback comes to your character in a natural way when a sense of smell triggers the memory. Or maybe they’re thrust back into a tense and painful moment in time, caught completely off guard. The effect is different, so use this transition point to its full advantage.Read more at http://www.standoutbooks.com/writing-flashbacks/
I hope that helps everybody write stronger, more awesome flashbacks! Now get out there and write!
Share any thoughts or questions in the comments.
Did you find this useful? Take a moment to share it on your favorite social network!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Article on Mythic Scribes
You may or may not have noticed that I have a link to Mythic Scribes in the sidebar. They are a wonderful site with great writing advice for fantasy writers. They also have friendly, supportive forums where writers can connect. I definitely recommend them.
Today, however, I'm going to recommend them even more, because I have an article published there! Check it out!
What Writers Can Learn From Soaping
The title is pretty self-explanatory. :)
Today, however, I'm going to recommend them even more, because I have an article published there! Check it out!
What Writers Can Learn From Soaping
The title is pretty self-explanatory. :)
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