Activity for Chris Sunami‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: From reactive to proactive; When should the protagonist change tack? Readers typically prefer active characters, because one of the reasons we read is to learn , and one of the ways we learn is by seeing the decisions that characters make, and their consequences, dramatized. There's less to learn from a passive character who only reacts. Given that, and all other thi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is straight-up writing someone's opinions telling? All writing in print is (technically) telling. You can "show" in a movie or a play, but everything you're doing in a book is telling, if you want to get technical about it. A lot of times it is better to go with the more immersive choice, the one that puts you more in the head and the experience of t... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can a successful book series let the bad guy win? Your girlfriend is correct that the bad guy winning at the end limits your audience, and will anger some readers. But it's important that you write your own book, not the book you think you should write. If you really connect with the material, and you execute it well, there are readers out there who... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to describe POV characters? Most people don't constantly think about their own appearance, which can make first person appearance describing a little awkward. But there are some legitimate times we do think a lot about how we look --usually when we're insecure about our looks or self-critical for some reason, or when we have so... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Averting Real Women Don’t Wear Dresses The initial problem was that writers (mostly, we assume, male) were writing female characters that were thinly imagined, stereotypical, and largely there only to reflect glory at the male protagonist, to serve as window dressing, or to advance the plot. They were based on male fantasies, not on portr... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: If I wouldn't want to read the story, is writing it still a good idea? CON: The reasons to not write something you wouldn't read are pretty easy and straightforward: - You are a stand-in for your potential audience. If even you aren't interested in this idea, that audience may not exist. - It's hard to do a good job writing something that doesn't engage you. - If you... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	Co-branding a book with a website For the last several months, I've had a a professional assignment writing an ongoing series for a well-known website. It was repurposed from a book I wasn't able to sell to a publisher. It's been well-received as a series, so I'm thinking about working up a new proposal for a reworked version of the ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: I wrote a scene that the majority of my readers loved. How do I get back to that place while writing my new book? I've always been a "prisoner of inspiration," but I've at long last come to understand/accept that there are technical, skill-based things that you can do to create those perfect scenes --you don't have to wait for the stars to align and your soul to speak. First really understand your characters, ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the most important characteristic of New Weird as a genre? Genre should be seen largely as a way of connecting a writer with the audience most likely to enjoy his or her book based on elements shared with other books. It isn't an exact science, and for this, a hybrid subgenre, you'll be looking for a signature combination of traits, rather than a single def... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I subvert the tropes of a train heist? Stripped of all the self-aware, meta jargon, the problem is that your hero isn't well suited to a big, action-packed showdown -- she's more likely to win with her wits than her fists. Given that, I'd lead the reader to expect the big, action packed showdown, allow her to be physically overpowered, an... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Lots of confusion over which story to write My first instinct was to tell you to write the "good" story first. After all, you'll definitely need to rewrite, so there's no reason you can't practice on something you're really enthusiastic about. (After all, what does it mean to "save" an idea?) But I've changed my mind. Trying to write the "perf... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is writing literary devices in a narrative essay (reflective) always good? Writing is not real life. It is words on a page arranged to produce an effect, express a truth, or meet any of the many other possible goals of writing. So neither the non-naturalistic eloquence of some writing or the rough-edged bluntness of other writing is the point. The point is whether or not t... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I answer high-school writing prompts without sounding weird and fake? You can and should answer these prompts in your own style and voice. I do have my doubts and concerns about these kinds of tests, but if there is any legitimacy to the grading at all, it won't be based on you writing in the style and voice of the sample. (In other words, you're focusing in on the wr... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should I release my novel now... or miss a golden opportunity? From experience , just hitting a pop-culture trend head-on isn't necessarily going to make people read your book. Keep in mind, when a trend is hitting, there's plenty of competition. The people who strike it big in those situations are the ones who were solidly ahead of the trend in the first place... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Picking a theme as a discovery writer As you've described it, successful writing, for you, has three phases. The first is a discovery phase, where you just write. The second is a clarification phase, where you discover your theme, and the third is a completion phase, where you continue to discover your story, but in the light of the them... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to transition from poetry to song-writing? Many of the most famous songwriters have either done just lyrics or just music. It's relatively common to excel only at one or the other. Personally, I write both but I tend to prefer only doing one or the other --I find it easier to write interesting songs with a collaborator. Since this is a writi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Avoiding the "not like other girls" trope? The thing you're seeking to avoid is creating a character who is nothing but an inverted collection of stereotypes. That's arguably better than just relying on the original stereotypes, but not by all that much. You avoid this by putting the work in to create a three dimensional character. Some typi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to collect scattered ideas on various topics in to a blog post/ writing article? As a long-time blogger, I can say from experience: It's much harder to get any traction with an audience if you don't have a specific topic or theme. But it depends on what your goals for the blog are. If your primary aim is to express yourself, and to have a place to keep your writing skills sharp, ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to choose ideal number of main characters? In general, I would go with the minimum number of main characters you need. As a reader, it's difficult and distancing for me to keep track of many characters, and hard for me to care. I'm willing to go to the effort, but only if the writer has made it worth my while. So, if you can combine some ch... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to look for when criticizing poetry? I have my own three-part rubric I've used for years for critiquing any creative project: - Craft : How skillful is it? What command of the technical basics does the creator have? In terms of poetry, if it is a formal poem, does it meet all the rules? If the rules are broken, are they broken for good... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Am I Breaking Too Many Rules? It's great that you're going to have 250K words to start from. Note that I said "start from." Keep writing, make your way all the way to the end of the story, and don't worry at all about the length, or any other publishing concerns --yet. Once that's all done, it's time to get ruthless. Get out yo... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I add more depth to my poem? The reason your 4th grade poems didn't have any depth is you weren't putting any in there. As you said, they were just fun bits of doggerel that rhymed. If you want deeper poetry, choose a deeper topic: Heartbreak, spirituality, acceptance, isolation, depression, love, hope, beauty, nostalgia, friend... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does symbolism have only one level of depth? Yes, this is possible. It's called deeply nested fiction (and happens to be a particular interest of mine!). Many of the great classic works of world literature, such as the Arabian Nights, use this pattern. It's likewise common in modern metafiction. In general, in my experience, the more deeply yo... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to make clear what a part-humanoid character looks like when they're quite common in their world? If you are writing third person, you can always just provide a brief description up front if you really feel you need one. Otherwise, you'll need to find reasons for your POV character to notice these characteristics. The key is to integrate them into details that would be meaningful to the character... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How soon is too soon for a redemption arc? I believe this character can be redeemed, because I believe anyone can be redeemed. But I don't see you being able to do justice to that story as a sideplot. This character kills a family member and attacks a child. The audience isn't going to have any sympathy for him, or any desire to see him redee... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I respectfully write black characters in a 1930s Arizona setting? First, thank you for asking this question. All too often, I encounter things in the media where I desperately wish people had asked questions like this beforehand. It can be especially painful in the kids' sector (which has made less progress in the last 30 years since I was a child than I might have... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I make a talky, idea-based concept enjoyable I think your instincts are correct. This structure isn't going to work as is. But that doesn't mean you can't build a great novel out of these pieces. I'd suggest one of three paths: 1) Drop the ending entirely : Does the book work as a psychological piece about people finding the meaning of their l... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Question	—	Multiple Books in a Single Query I recently decided to make a long delayed return to a genre where I had early publishing success, upper-level picture books. Given that I now have school-aged children, I have a number of stories that I made up for bedtimes that are ripe for being turned into books. In particular, I have three that I... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tips and tricks to describe more This is also my problem. The trick to solving it is to understand WHY description is necessary. You're not just checking a box or jumping through a hoop. Description puts the reader inside the perspective of the character , giving a vital context for the dialog and the plot. The best descriptions eng... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it bad if I don't like the "best" books in my chosen genre? It could be a good thing, if it means that you bring a fresh take and new ideas to a well-traveled genre. It's often NOT a good thing to write in a genre that you don't know very well, just because you're (ironically) more likely to use old cliches and worn-out tropes, because of not being aware how... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to write a memorial plaque? What about using synecdoche (a part for the whole)? > Doctor X was a polymath, who invented the Y medical procedure and composed the epic opera Z. He was just one of the 300 people, representing 400 years of culture and history in country W, who were all brutally murdered on this spot by V as part o... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Story that's too depressing? You're forgetting the power of contrast. What makes a grim or bleak story compelling is the moments of hope, the flashes of humor, the unexpected kindnesses, the oases of calm in the middle of the storms. If it's a tragedy, those are the moments that make the tragic parts heartrending. Absent those,... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where can a new author sell the first chapter of a book? If you want to publish a shorter work AND get paid for it, then it almost certainly needs to be a complete stand-alone short story , not the first chapter of a longer work. If you can successfully rewrite your chapter into a stand-alone story, then there are actually plenty of both print and online o... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is no religion a bad thing? Religion is barely mentioned or touched upon in much, arguably most, general fiction. I've even read books like this by authors I know to be highly religious. As a religious person myself, I occasionally find that a bit odd, but much preferable to uninformed, offensive, overly pushy or otherwise poo... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Antagonist that remains unknown Generally, the answer to a "can I do this" question is usually, "yes, it just introduces extra challenges." In this case, you won't have the typical advantages of a story with an unmasked antagonist. So what are those? It builds audience engagement, by personifying the opposition, and it grants closu... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What Kind of Story can Achieve Cult Status? Given the non-standard usage of the term "cult status" in the OP Works that inspire unusually passionate or devoted fans do have a common denominator -- they are risky, challenging, eccentric, or otherwise outside the norm. Works of this sort have an uphill battle to reach mainstream popularity. A c... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Question	—	A handful of gems So I'm facing an issue after many years of writing, and several unsuccessful novels. In my own estimation, all my books contain a "handful of gems" --wonderful scenes that really come to life. But they aren't enough to make the books as a whole work, and neither are they "extractable," meaning they d... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to create a memorable line? What makes this phrase meaningful is that it sums up a particular philosophy --the philosophy of these characters and their subculture --in a form that is both brief and meaningful. If you look at famous philosophers, most of them had their life's work condensed by history into a single pithy quote ... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I handle writing a story where different portions of the narrative are told from the point of view of several different narrators? This isn't a standard short story, so present it in the most clear and understandable format, so your readers won't have to play guessing games, like so: > Mark : I met Jim when we were in third grade. He was a pushy kid. > > Jim : I always thought Mark was such a wimp. > > Lisa : It bothered me t... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I handle different PoVs, at different times and places, each dealing with the same event? Can you give it a frame story that gives a coherent overarching narrative that these all stories fit into organically? For instance, the POV characters all meet up in a temporary refuge after the fire, and share their experiences? Or, conversely, a reporter comes to interview them, years later? Alth... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Question	—	People like my book, starting halfway through This is kind of an alternate take on my other recent question, as well as the inverse problem to this question. I've been told by more than one beta reader that there's a specific chapter where they went from "meh" on my book to really feeling invested. But that chapter is just past the halfway poin... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Question	—	Early investment in a character who "learns better" I'm looking for ways to build early reader investment in an unlikable character who "learns better," but not until fairly late in the book. In particular, I'm writing a first-person middle-grade novel in which, among other flaws, the protagonist/narrator is often unconsciously (and without malicious... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I keep my writing from being perceived as "too complicated" The secret to voice in writing is that what you write needs to be matched to a) you, b) your audience, and c) the specific usage. There is no objective fact of the matter as to whether a given sentence is "too complicated." If it doesn't match you, your audience or the specific usage, it should be re... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to write female characters with agency? While I'm not qualified to advise you on this specific question, I do have some good general advice. Start by doing some research in the form of interviews with someone who resembles your character (it doesn't need to be a writer). Obviously you won't (probably!) find a time traveler, but you can ta... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you escalate a story's plot after killing the Big Bad? The Big Bad, by definition, is the primary antagonist of a story built around the defeat of a primary antagonist. If defeating the Big Bad isn't the end of the story, then either that person wasn't the Big Bad or this isn't actually a Big Bad story. That doesn't mean it might not look like one. Both ... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should a non-native writer try to use complex English words? Using words wrongly or awkwardly sounds much worse than having a restricted vocabulary. Therefore, your best bet is to stick to words you know well and are comfortable with. If that includes a wider variety of words, great! But if that restricts you to simpler words, so be it. It's entirely possible... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to write a convincing character with a opinion that differs from the author's? Audiences always confuse the author with the narrator , and your chosen format makes this particularly difficult. Slam poetry is typically confessional in nature, which means that your audience is even more predisposed to view you as speaking for yourself. Being completely honest, I wouldn't even t... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can i have two low points in a story? I think it's fine to have an up-down-up-down structure, but that one of the lows, probably the second one, should be significantly "lower" than the other one. Otherwise it does just feel like a repetition. Maybe experiencing the first low helps in some way in overcoming the second. Or the first fores... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I finish my stories although I have both ideas and titles for them? Usually, writer's block is a result of your inner editor overpowering your inner writer. This is a very common problem that can especially affect experienced writers, critics, and others with a large amount of knowledge about good writing, because they can't help judging their work as they write it. ... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does point of view matter drastically? There are better and worse ways to do this. It can be difficult and needlessly confusing to have multiple first-person narrators --difficult to give them authentically different voices, and confusing to the reader. "Close" third-person narration, which closely follows one specific character and his ... (more)	—	about 6 years ago

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