Activity for Surtsey‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Question	—	How can a writer point out the merits of his or her own work? It is generally taken that if I tell you a joke, then have it explain why it's funny - it's not probably not funny. I continually return to one of my own short pieces. If I submit it I believe it will be viewed as a 'nice' , 'pretty' piece of literary fiction. But I also believe it is extremely clev... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Introducing a new POV near the end of a story I constantly run into questions like this. They intimate to me too much fancy booklearnin' and nowhere nearly enough thinking. THE POV IS HELD BY THE LAST PERSON TO PERFORM AN ACTION. Cindy woke in unfamiliar surroundings. As she hunted for her underwear in the dim light her mind replayed the previ... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: The concept of "Exotic Culture" and the necessity of a new world A have long and unpopular theory about the evolution of acceptable story formats. If all human life originated in Africa and you believe the two tribes theory, then the rest is logical. The tribe moving north (Caucasians) were inherently nomadic in nature. Global dispersion upholds this theory. The t... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	In the modern era should literature embrace the lessons from new media and discard some traditional practices? I recently asked a question about my current project for a serialised e-story and was informed by the stalwarts that my format was not new. I contrast my own techniques with many of those being promoted in this Q&A, and, after extended thought, have decided new media techniques differ substantially f... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Transfer from first person to third person The process isn't the big deal others seem to think it is. I don't believe there are hard and fast rules to writing but I believe an author should apply a set of rules to a particular work. Ask yourself a very simple question: what is the effect of continuing a scene after the 1st person narrator le... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	In this day and age should the definition / categorisation of erotica be revised? My experience tells me that a disproportionate number of wannabe writers are prudes. I recently wrote a scene where a female character is watching TV. The build up is complicated so I'll have to explain: a traumatic event has eviscerated character's libido. After 'dirty dancing' with a girlfriend in ... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: How much uncertainity will the 'general (Non-YA) fantasy reader' tolerate? Your question is moot because you're overthinking your issue. There is no 'general reader' because we all live in different bubbles and have different knowledge bases. For example: I'm currently writing a political thriller. The characters are discussing FLOTUS, the ACLU, the NASDAQ and 401Ks. I am a... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	Would publishing my story like a TV series be successful? I'm considering writing my latest story in the style of a TV series. The plan is to write 13 episodes of 10-12,000 each. Episodes will be published weekly on Kindle over a three month period. If season one garners even mild interest, I will write season 2 in the off-season and repeat the procedure. A... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	Why are Americans obsessed with acronyms, abreviations and initials? If anybody has an answer to this question I'd love to hear it. And, yes, it is on topic because I've used the obsession in a story. Here's the thing . . . There's a difference between text and speech. I understand that whilst writing a report a person involved in law enforcement or medicine my repl... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to sort out a confusing storyline? It alarms me that you've written a novel and then opened a new document to start again. The best advice I can offer is to leave your novel for a month - don't even think about it. If you're itching to write - start a totally different story. When a month has passed read your novel from cover to cov... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: When is it okay to say the word “now” in a past tense story? If English if not your first language the usage of "now" is difficult to fully comprehend. It has many nuanced translations but is most often used to mean "in this moment". It is also used to emphasise a statement. "Now Daddy didn't take too kindly his only daughter dating a black boy." "They put t... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	How far apart can the dots be? I've written enough to know the kind of writer I am, my voice, my style. I am often accused of making the reader work too hard to put the plot points together. In my latest story: a man experiencing a mid-life crisis expresses to a dubious bartender named Nick that he regrets marrying Amanda Jackson... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	Intentional, Subconscious, or Coincidence? The original "kick ass" government operative was James Bond. Since then we've had Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer. J ames B ond J ason B ourne J ack B auer Seriously? Of course we all know "Hannibal" rhymes with "Cannibal." How often to we intentionally or unintentionally use other people's stuff? ... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Am I being too descriptive? There are several adequate answers already provided. However, you are presupposing that their is a way of writing that pleases every reader. There is not. I, generally speaking, do not appreciate descriptions. In the modern era, triggers are far more effective. If you write "The rolling green hills... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Not enough real world experience to write convincing situations? Because I think you're possibly on the wrong track, I'll weigh in four or five areas for you to think about. (1) Writing your experiences isn't fiction. It may be good practice for writing in general, but it's not fiction. If we were all limited to the some of our experiences - Lord help us. (2) "W... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What makes a poem a poem? Poetry has no specific definition. In the modern commercial era it has no value. On the one hand it can be described as 'short literary fiction'. The other view is that poetry is simply song lyrics without the enforced restriction of a musical tempo. The harsh realisation may be that, when it come t... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: When do I successfully kill off an important secondary main character... in a series of five books? I have a series in which one of the main characters dies at the end of book one. From book two the dead character becomes to first-person narrator (Part of the plot - she wonders how she's around to observe and tell the story). Dexter runs to eight series. His father died before the series commencem... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to interleave a story with context and introspection? I'm sorry but I don't think your example works. You're in first-person but you're not in the moment. You're switching between an internal and external view of the scene which makes it disjointed What do you really think about whilst running for a bus or a train? What are you 'aware' of? Where is you... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Question	—	What is the creative aspect of creative writing? Is 'creative writing' simply a synonym for 'fiction'? (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Question	—	What's it called? As a novelist my preference is for what I call an 'active narrator'. The terminology confuses most as they think I'm talking about sentence construction and the benefits of 'active' or over 'passive' voice. That's not it. The issue is whether the narrator has a character. Obviously, the technique i... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are different levels of character development required for primary as opposed to secondary characters? I'll go right ahead and declare that you're far too versed in 'writing theory' than the practise of writing itself. All the writing techniques being questioned are related. Once you understand that basic fact all the other technical terms fall into place. Start with the basic "SHOW DON'T TELL". As... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to not change my mind I'm going to go against the grain. I'm going to give you some advice that you probably won't want to hear. You say you've only been writing for six months and your mention of 'chapter' indicates you are trying to write a novel. It's a bit early to be obsessing over word choices. When it comes to nov... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How significant a role have editors played on books published in the past? Firstly, you don't say what type of editor you are. Different editors perform different functions. Before continuing with my answer I must admit to my own bias. Based on experience: independent editors for manuscripts to be mainstream published are a waste of time. There is no correlation between "w... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: When it comes to creating cadence, should I depend on my ear or are there principles I can follow? Yes, I'd pretty much go with your ear. I could explain the technicalities of cadence and pacing but it's pretty much like dancing - if you think about too much while your doing do it . . . it's rarely pretty. Experience in poetry helps. It helps with balance and rhythm. (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I use prominent people in history to as characters in my fiction? Yes, you may use prominent people in history pretty much any way you choose. Obviously libel laws apply. Generally you cannot libel the dead, however some US states permit lawsuits where the descendants are the plaintiffs. Avoid people with commercial legacies. e.g. Don't portray Walt Disney as a ch... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Ways to replace "Then, ..." "Then" is not really required in the examples you show. "Then" is only really required when the previous sentence or clause indicates further actions or items. " First , the Earth cooled, then the dinosaurs came." I also suspect you are looking at sentences to tell your story rather than complete p... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I represent two computers having a conversation between themselves that other characters are unaware of? I've just thought . . . In the opening of "Millennial" I attempted animate inanimate objects. Whilst it may not specifically answer your question it may give you ideas on how to set up a suitable environment. A plethora of CCTV cameras tracked the young woman's brisk progress toward the corner of Ma... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Question	—	Can you write a story using inanimate characters? It seems a simple enough question, (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I avoid making all my characters speak like me? Dialogue a very difficult subject for a 'typical' writer. Dialogue needs to heard and cannot really be learned from a book. And unless you've a diverse group of friends you've no source material. - Firstly, you probably need to unlearn everything you've learned about grammar and prose. (If MS Word d... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I make the final realisation less depressing? I am not as fantasy orientated as the majority of members. Nor am I a fan of "Disney" plots, stories written for the purpose for being popular. Unfortunately the tribal nature of society does not allow for others to 'win'. Germans, terrorists, Russians, Injuns cannot be heroes in popular. Making an '... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Question	—	Does a novel require a conflict? Unless a better writer can dissuade me I am minded to say no. The 'essential' 'conflict' is cultural. It is part of the western 'Human Condition' - Eastern cultures have stories without conflict. Indeed, I'd venture the first story you ever wrote did not contain a conflict. It was entitled "Me and M... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Question	—	Writing for a broad spectrum of readers. How do you engage the elite whilst appealing to the base? I've always struggled with this. I like to write at the top of my knowledge without leaving those not having the benefit my experience behind. It may sound arrogant but if I write for the lowest common denominator I feel my target reader will get bored of reading (and I'll get bored of writing). To... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How does a new writer keep from getting scooped? I want to be harsh or burst your bubble but your worries don't conform with reality. Agencies receive thousands of manuscripts each week - most of which they don't actually read. Acceptable stories fall within a very narrow window. The boy always gets the girl. Good always overcomes evil. The cowboy... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Use of Regional Diction in Writing It depends on your market and the quality of your readership. There is a battle between two major forms of the English Language - British English and American English. US culture is very internal - American's interest rarely extends beyond its borders. But the rest of the world has been fed American ... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Question	—	In the digital age of Kindle and POD is a book ever finished? About five years ago I self-published a novella "The Spoils of War". In the middle there's a section where the MC is packed of to Pakistan because the family don't want to face the embarrassment of her actions in the UK. The story focussed on other characters until the MC returns. After publishing I... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Longer or shorter chapters? There are too many of these questions. Chapter length is governed by four elements: scenes, transitions, location switches, time breaks. I have a novel where the shortest chapter is 400 words - a character is falling asleep. Longest chapter is 11,000 words. Every character is in the same location. Th... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is blending genres well received by readers? There is a snobbery amongst readers (and writers). This is evidenced by the sheer volume of fantasy writers on this site. When they go to the library or the book-store they rarely look past the fantasy section. The main genre of you work is purely marketing. But be aware the readership has certain e... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Describing laughter in dialogue? Oh God! not the dialogue tag debate . . . again. Firstly, those who believe 'said' is the only valid dialogue tag and dialogue tags should be invisible are misled. It's fine if you don't write a lot of dialogue - otherwise it's the worst advice possible. - Write a long dialogue exchange using only '... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Physical description of characters I certainly agree with Mark. Not much to add. But always remember POV. Who's telling the story? > Without a doubt Emma Richards was the most beautiful girl in the world. A valid opinion if your narrator is a love-struck high-school boy. And, for me, "relative" description are far better than speci... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to write hidden details I disagree with the first answer. The core of the problem is the writer's individual style. Essentially, we're discussing the well-worn subject of 'show don't tell'. Showing leads the reader to derive or conclude based on the presented information. "Can you get the Wok from the top cupboard, please... (more)	—	about 7 years ago

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