Activity for icanfathom
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #281532 | Initial revision | — | almost 3 years ago |
| Question | — |
Do readers primarily identify with or judge heroes in a novel? In this article about different categories of heroes, Matt Bird states that sensitive and unlucky heroes are hard to write because audiences have a hard time caring about them. He says: >Americans are hard-wired to hate losers... If I were to ask you, 'who’s more sympathetic, a homeless guy or a C... (more) |
— | almost 3 years ago |
| Edit | Post #275945 | Initial revision | — | almost 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
How can I pinpoint a story's moral dilemma? In this answer, Mark Baker makes a statement about story: >All story ideas are basically a variation on one thing. A man (or woman, or child, or small furry animal) has two desires, both of which he (she, it) believes they can achieve, but between which he will eventually be forced to choose... Th... (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #74800 |
What word would you use to epitomize this magnetic force? Is there a single word for it? (more) |
— | almost 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39564 | Initial revision | — | about 4 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How can I write a dark protagonist for whom there is no hope? You have to accept that different readers will have differing levels of patience for this sort of character. But the universal thing that pushes every reader out of a story is characters performing actions for no good reason. Conversely, as long as there's a sympathetic justification for some action,... (more) |
— | about 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #39501 |
+1 for "A story needs a reason to exist." That's the most concise way I've heard for determining if a story is meaningful or just checking boxes. (more) |
— | about 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39496 | Initial revision | — | about 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
What's the difference between time-tested and formulaic? Maybe this is all in my head, but it seems that novel writing for a lot of genres has become mainstreamed to the point of formula. We have articles, podcasts, and books telling us how to: - Create likeable characters by increasing their sympathy, competence, and humor sliders - Invent just enough... (more) |
— | about 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39473 |
Post edited: Used Markdown instead of JIRA syntax... |
— | about 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39473 | Initial revision | — | about 4 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Is there a formula for creating stakes? Based on your example, it sounds like you're looking for stakes in the form of "If (protagonist) doesn't help these people who need help, then (something bad) will happen." You want stakes in the form of a motivating force. As Mark Baker pointed out, this boils down to desires. One of your charact... (more) |
— | about 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #21247 |
Metaphors are very much a Your Mileage May Vary writing device, both from the writer's and reader's perspective. I was entranced by Patrick Rothfuss' writing in The Name of the Wind until I noticed that it's all metaphors and he doesn't make use of much else. When you realize he can't describe someth... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Comment | Post #39219 |
I guess we found some new stomping grounds, huh? Count me in. (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How can I make "acts of patience" exciting? There's an amazing setpiece scene in the game Uncharted 4 where Nathan Drake is running from an armored vehicle, dodging bullets, leaping from one truckbed to the next, picking off his pursuers, and finally escaping on a motorcycle. It's a masterpiece of movement and action, and had my heart pounding... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How to "Start as close to the end as possible", and why to do so? Have you ever noticed that most main characters seem to be "special" in some way? It might be destiny, super powers, a rebellious attitude, or maybe they're just unlucky and got targeted by the bad guy. This is because every story is about a conflict, and in order to tell the most compelling story w... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How can I write a panicked scene without it feeling like it was written in haste? I've noticed something about many books and movies. Just as two characters are getting into a deep conversation, either sharing something important or showing emotion or leaning forward slowly to kiss, a random passerby will walk right between them. It totally throws them off and - you would think - ... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How important is payoff? I think the bigger problem with your story is that it sets the wrong reader expectations. Readers come into the story not having any idea what will be payed off, except maybe some hopes of what the story will be about based on your title, cover art, and synopsis. They can only go off of what you giv... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: ...and then she held the gun I like your last example. Just keep the speedy action and remove the final sentence that seems out of place for your setting. If your character knows what she's doing, the action she performs will be subconscious; even she won't think about it much, and the prose reflects that. > Her hand hit like t... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What are the major weaknesses of Writing Excuses as a resourse for learning the craft? I'm a fellow Writing Excuses lover. I discovered their podcast somewhere during Season 11 and then decided to backtrack and listen to everything that came before. I've listened to literally hundreds of episodes, probably averaging 4 a week for the last couple of years. I've found so much good advice... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: If you're not a professional, what motivates you to keep writing? I'm unlike Amadeus in that I don't actually enjoy the act of writing. But I do enjoy having written - the feeling of achievement, of hours, days, and years spent in hard work, and the ability to finally share it with friends. I write to make that moment happen. But I am all too familiar with the bur... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Are paired adjectives bad style? I would strive for variety in your writing, so the fact that you've already noticed a pattern means you need to be careful. Overuse of that single technique - even if you choose the perfect pair every time - will turn you into a one-trick pony. I like where @wetcircuit was going with their answer, b... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How to keep darkness from piling up I think what you're sensing is a desire to ramp up the conflict. Especially for a longer series, you need the stakes to increase with each book. First there's the enemy, then friends start turning against each other, and soon there's no one left the protagonist can trust. It's dramatic. But there's ... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Character motivations facing death? Self-preservation is an instinct we all understand, so that works. Readers will accept it. But it's ultimately self-focused if you leave it at that. Most people have more tangible reasons for why they want to survive, outside of fear for themselves: - You don't want to say goodbye to the ones you lo... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
| Question | — |
Should I write scared? Is it better to push yourself in your writing? To attempt bigger and deeper stories than you've done before? K.M. Weiland says so. But then there's this thread (which is talking about music performance, yes), which implies that the only way to perform perfectly is to hold back just a little and do so... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |