Ladychipmunk's first assignment

[ladychipmunk]

Lets’ see, thoughts about the two writing articles.

Character Cheat Sheets: I found a couple at the front of the “writer’s block“ and used them for one of the stories I wrote in Level 1. I really liked how easy it made my character development and how much more real the character felt to me while writing. However it took a lot of time and for a short piece the cheat sheet may need to be reduced to just the particulars needed. In many ways I thought it was like a character sheet for a role playing game (Yes I confess I am a former gamer, non-repentant and un-recovered!)

As an avid reader I agree that dialogue tells the reader much more and in a more interesting manner about what is going on. But as a writer, it’s hard. I would like to improve and feel more comfortable technically writing dialogue.

Conflict. What more is there to say? Without conflict there is no story to tell. I feel my challenge is creating more outwardly interesting conflict.

Regarding Scene and Sequel at first I was just confused. As I thought more about it I think it means cause and effect. Cause being the action. Is that correct?

As a habitual run-on-sentence writer I really like the hints given in burn the deadwood. In fact I want to print them out and pin them to the wall! But as a non-English major…. what is a compound predicate?


Plotting….. I feel I have plot problems. I really want to see where “letting the character lead the plot” will take me. The more I write here the more I find I enjoy it. I want to combine the character sheet with this idea and the Three-O’s (will comment on later) and see what I can create.

I haven’t thought much about dialect yet. I think the ideas mentioned are good, but I am still just trying to master dialogue.

OK now for the triple O’s. First I find blank pages intimidating. I find the tedium of writing a plot outline even more intimidating. Therefore I was encouraged by the concept that plot can be boiled down to three little words, Objective, Obstacles and Outcome. It is still a bit intimidating but with the help of my character leading the way I hope to overcome my fear of the blank sheet. I have always done much better at answering questions and opinion pieces than “creative” writing.

Now for the next revelation about my personality, I hate journaling. I know as a budding writer I should love it. I don’t. I have tried. Way too tedious. Maybe it’s that tableau rasa thing again but, Yech!

One of the reason’s I was attracted to the writer’s block (besides running across it while looking for good dirty stories ) is I was hoping that writing in a group like this would help me be more disciplined about writing and get me to actually do it. So far it has worked. I have been having great fun with the challenges. Besides thinking about what my characters are going to do sure makes a long commute go by a lot quicker!

[Aussiegirl1]

Just so you know, I have seen this and will get back to giving it a good read in a little while.

Thanks
AG

[Aussiegirl1]

Lovely work Ladychipmunk. I liked how you have really thought about the articles and picked out the parts that interest you.

Regarding Scene and Sequel at first I was just confused. As I thought more about it I think it means cause and effect. Cause being the action. Is that correct?

Yes that is right in a way. My understanding from the reading is that it is a way of moving the story along, kind of like having a cliff hanger at the end of a chapter and making you read on to find out what happens. So you have the cause ( or the action) and then later in the story you tell the effect of that action. I have to admit this was new terminology to me when I first read the article but it does make a lot of sense too.

As a habitual run-on-sentence writer I really like the hints given in burn the deadwood. In fact I want to print them out and pin them to the wall! But as a non-English major…. what is a compound predicate?

Now this one I can't answer, sorry! I am sure though that if you ask dragonsmuse or post it in a question in the Pencil sharpening section, you would get an answer.

Well done on a great job here. I am pleased you have found a few things you want to try. That is the real purpose of the articles, to discover new ideas and find out if they suit you. If they do, great. If not, leave them be and try something else.

Now you are ready to try assignment two! I really want you to review one the chapters in the sticky at the top of the thread just like a tutor would. Don't rewrite it but copy and paste the chapter and let me know how you would change it and why. The why is really important, as it will let me know what you are thinking ( which is not as scary as it sounds lol)

Please contact me via PM if you have any problems or questions.

Have fun
AG