Kate Elliott's Blog, page 50
July 26, 2010
And a question about reviews
What do you think about writers posting links to reviews of their works, or posting excerpts from reviews?
Do you like to see them? Not like to see them?
Do you ignore them for one of many possible reasons? Read them? Or may or may not depending on whether you have time that day? Wish writers would post more reviews links? Fewer?
Have strong opinions on this one way or another?
There is no subtext or context to this question. I have no preferred answer, nor hidden agenda. I am simply curious...
Do you like to see them? Not like to see them?
Do you ignore them for one of many possible reasons? Read them? Or may or may not depending on whether you have time that day? Wish writers would post more reviews links? Fewer?
Have strong opinions on this one way or another?
There is no subtext or context to this question. I have no preferred answer, nor hidden agenda. I am simply curious...
Championships
As you know if you read this blog regularly, I paddle outrigger canoes for fun, exercise, and ohana, and I blog about it occasionally, or at least post a photo (now that I have a waterproof camera).
There are basically 3 seasons for team (6 seat) outrigger canoe paddling (this is not the same as rowing): the "winter" or "recreational" season (which overlaps with the one and two man racing season); the regatta season, which is basically the sprints; and the long distance season.
Yesterday was ...
There are basically 3 seasons for team (6 seat) outrigger canoe paddling (this is not the same as rowing): the "winter" or "recreational" season (which overlaps with the one and two man racing season); the regatta season, which is basically the sprints; and the long distance season.
Yesterday was ...
July 25, 2010
Epic Fantasy and the Bechdel Test
For a while now I've been meaning to write about and thus making odd notes about the subject:
How much epic fantasy passes the Bechdel Test? All, most, some, little?
This isn't that post. I mean, not the one I may eventually write about the roles of women in epic fantasy.
The Bechdel Test (or Bechdel/Wallace Test), by the way, was originally devised for film and goes like this:
a film passed the Bechdel Test if
1) It has at least two women in it,
2) Who talk to each other,
3) About something besid...
How much epic fantasy passes the Bechdel Test? All, most, some, little?
This isn't that post. I mean, not the one I may eventually write about the roles of women in epic fantasy.
The Bechdel Test (or Bechdel/Wallace Test), by the way, was originally devised for film and goes like this:
a film passed the Bechdel Test if
1) It has at least two women in it,
2) Who talk to each other,
3) About something besid...
July 24, 2010
kateelliott @ 2010-07-23T23:14:00
I had a wonderful lunch today, and then delightful company tonight, so have no brain for posting.
Instead, I give you a question.
Who is right, the writer or the reader?
Instead, I give you a question.
Who is right, the writer or the reader?
July 23, 2010
Cold Magic ARC: Contest PLUS Links about writing
Go here for a contest to win an Advance Reading Copy of Cold Magic, open to anyone. Last day to enter is 24 July.
Two more days. Winner to be announced on July 25 or 26.
Writing Links:
Tobias Buckell with a smart post about the sparsity of posts with Mid-Career Advice.
Karen Miller with an excellent post for aspiring writers on finishing your first draft and what comes next.
Katharine Kerr talks about how characters come to her. Weird! (actually, not weird at all, but rather familiar to the wa...
Two more days. Winner to be announced on July 25 or 26.
Writing Links:
Tobias Buckell with a smart post about the sparsity of posts with Mid-Career Advice.
Karen Miller with an excellent post for aspiring writers on finishing your first draft and what comes next.
Katharine Kerr talks about how characters come to her. Weird! (actually, not weird at all, but rather familiar to the wa...
July 22, 2010
Writing: How to create deep, vibrant characters within a story?
A reader question:
My question is, how do you balance the need to cut out the large amounts
of extraneous material about a character's background versus the desire
to provide the reader with deep, vibrant characters with whom they can
relate? I understand now more about how to place hints via dialogue and
action, but I am concerned about leaving my characters too shallow.
What are some ways to think about creating deep, vibrant characters within a story?
A long description of a character, his/her a...
My question is, how do you balance the need to cut out the large amounts
of extraneous material about a character's background versus the desire
to provide the reader with deep, vibrant characters with whom they can
relate? I understand now more about how to place hints via dialogue and
action, but I am concerned about leaving my characters too shallow.
What are some ways to think about creating deep, vibrant characters within a story?
A long description of a character, his/her a...
Writing: How do we create deep, vibrant characters within a story?
A reader question:
My question is, how do you balance the need to cut out the large amounts
of extraneous material about a character's background versus the desire
to provide the reader with deep, vibrant characters with whom they can
relate? I understand now more about how to place hints via dialogue and
action, but I am concerned about leaving my characters too shallow.
How do we create deep, vibrant characters within a story?
A long description of a character, his/her antecedents, personality tr...
My question is, how do you balance the need to cut out the large amounts
of extraneous material about a character's background versus the desire
to provide the reader with deep, vibrant characters with whom they can
relate? I understand now more about how to place hints via dialogue and
action, but I am concerned about leaving my characters too shallow.
How do we create deep, vibrant characters within a story?
A long description of a character, his/her antecedents, personality tr...
July 21, 2010
Inception
Twin B and the Adorable Girlfriend kindly drove over here to go with me to see the new Christopher Nolan film, Inception, with Leonardo diCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, and several other good actors.
This film is not a remake. It is, as they say, an original story (I don't know if there is some earlier source material, but in any case, while there are familiar elements embedded in the story, it replicates no other film specifically that I have seen). It is basically a puzzle story, and it...
This film is not a remake. It is, as they say, an original story (I don't know if there is some earlier source material, but in any case, while there are familiar elements embedded in the story, it replicates no other film specifically that I have seen). It is basically a puzzle story, and it...
July 20, 2010
How much of a character do you understand before you start?
A reader question (have forgotten who it was, though, so can't credit):
How much about your characters (if you can, use examples) do you know/understand before you start writing?
It depends on the character.
Some characters I know right from the start; I understand them bone deep.
Many but not all of my male leads, like Ilya, Sanglant, and Anji, I simply internalized from the beginning and I felt that even in early drafts I mostly got their actions and reactions right. I note them because while...
How much about your characters (if you can, use examples) do you know/understand before you start writing?
It depends on the character.
Some characters I know right from the start; I understand them bone deep.
Many but not all of my male leads, like Ilya, Sanglant, and Anji, I simply internalized from the beginning and I felt that even in early drafts I mostly got their actions and reactions right. I note them because while...
July 19, 2010
No, in fact I got no writing done today
Our crew caught a couple of waves, yes, thanks to our steersman. Conditions awesome. Yes, that is Diamond Head, because the regatta today was in Waikiki.
Too exhausted to post. Thanks to Faith for taking the photo with my new camera.
Oh: and Happy Birthday, Dad.
Too exhausted to post. Thanks to Faith for taking the photo with my new camera.
Oh: and Happy Birthday, Dad.
