tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post4610436212429992504..comments2023-06-01T19:03:42.636+08:00Comments on Simon Haynes: Backstory vs BuildupSimon Hayneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660767551431793439noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-41524264357996127372008-07-16T01:06:00.000+08:002008-07-16T01:06:00.000+08:00I was just speaking to some fellow writers in our ...I was just speaking to some fellow writers in our <A HREF="http://forum.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=messageboard.viewThread&entryID=66137420&groupID=107446424&adTopicID=19&Mytoken=87EB802E-6A4F-4EB8-B7F088AC33EAC05C81654587" REL="nofollow">MySpace Fantasy Writers Club</A>. I really see your point about how books are purchased and I follow similar practices when making my decisions. <BR/><BR/>I try to start with action peppered with plot elements that create questions the reader must answer. It's a formula that I follow through the book where every answer creates more questions. My first (unpublished) novel is to be the beginning of a series. While this style doesn't lend itself to the initial purchase, hopefully it will create some anticipation for the following books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-71413542283776552502008-07-09T09:36:00.000+08:002008-07-09T09:36:00.000+08:00As Pedro says, if it's working, go with it. :) "...As Pedro says, if it's working, go with it. :) <BR/><BR/>"Hang the code! They're more like guidelines anyway." :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-85617732224583945392008-07-09T07:44:00.000+08:002008-07-09T07:44:00.000+08:00Rules for writing are not rules. They're guideline...Rules for writing are not rules. They're guidelines. They are especially useful for beginners. Rules help artists (not just writers) easily eliminate options that probably are bad by showing them the road that is most likely turn out to have results. But an artist needs two things: he needs to know how to make the stuff, and he needs to be competent at evaluating its quality, i.e. judging whether what he did is good or bad and being able to decide whether to dump it or keep it. If you have a good judgement, and you know that what the rule indicates doesn't work, then go ahead, break the rule. It's not really a rule. It's a guideline. It's something that helps you move along when you are disoriented. It's like the sonata form classical composers used in symphonies and romantic composers got rid of. It turned out quite well, didn't it? Still, if you were to compose a symphony for the first time, it would probably be a good idea to use the sonata form for some of the movements. This is the same. And, like you said, this is a first draft. I doubt you will keep the beginning, or keep the scene of the beginning in the beginning. So, go ahead. Do you know what was Debussy's criterion to decide what notes should go in a chord? It was this: whatever sounds right. Of course, a beginner wouldn't be able to do that and get away with it, unless he was Mozart. But you're not a beginner. And I never buy a book because of the first chapter either.Pedrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09127913929445829707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-30476304494379029662008-07-08T11:29:00.000+08:002008-07-08T11:29:00.000+08:00Both of the jobs they're involved with are integra...Both of the jobs they're involved with are integral to the ending, and I'm just debating whether to show the boulder starting to move at the top of the hill, or smashing through the town at the bottom. I like the former approach better.Simon Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02660767551431793439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-61437307814214575782008-07-07T23:11:00.000+08:002008-07-07T23:11:00.000+08:00What's the heart of your story? What's the thing ...What's the heart of your story? What's the thing that's going to be resolved at the end? Where that "thing" becomes a problem for the main character is usually where the story begins. <BR/><BR/>But that doesn't mean you can't rearrange everything, include some backstory, etc, if that helps you get the first draft down. First drafts are wonderful, because you can experiment all you want. And then go back and prune/edit where needed. :) <BR/><BR/>Thanks for stopping by my blog! And Kerryn, thanks for the plug!Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-59169277701214542932008-07-07T16:10:00.000+08:002008-07-07T16:10:00.000+08:00Thanks for reminding me it's the first draft! You'...Thanks for reminding me it's the first draft! You're right, there's no harm if I start on the thing, because if it doesn't work out I can just write the chapter or two which lead up to the action bits and plug them into the start of the book.Simon Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02660767551431793439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10678422.post-56149919833918295002008-07-07T15:57:00.000+08:002008-07-07T15:57:00.000+08:00Tabitha Olson was talking about this over on her b...Tabitha Olson was talking about this over on her blog <A HREF="http://tabwriter.blogspot.com/2008/07/hook-line-and-sinker.html" REL="nofollow">Writer Musings</A>.<BR/><BR/>I hope you figure out where to start the first draft. :)Kerryn Angellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05107186121152495872noreply@blogger.com