The Narrative Gardener

Tag: #writerunboxed

  • Character Discussions — 8 Steps to Side Characters by Sacha Black & “The Walking Stick” by Donald Maass @Writer Unboxed

    Hard on the heels of finishing Sacha Black’s newest masterpiece 8 Steps To Side Characters, this article, “The Walking Stick” , appeared in my inbox. Sacha’s book left my mind reeling, digesting much of what I knew stated in a different way that added clarification and inspiration. Then I read Mr. Maass’s no-punches-pulled airing on the idea of ‘authentic’ characters and what authenticity really means.

    Yep, mind-blown. 🤯

    To keep your characters from falling flat, starting flat, or feeling flat, I highly recommend these two resources. Happy writing!~

    Solid side character instruction with a slathering of singularly-Sacha humor. I recommend it highly!

    The Walking Stick

    August 4, 2021 By Donald Maass Leave a Comment

    There’s a concept in storytelling that I’ve long tried to understand: “authentic”.  Mostly it’s invoked with respect to characters.  It’s important to know them.  It’s important that they act and speak in ways consistent with who they are, whether entering a room or rocketing to the stars.  It’s also important to know how they came to be who they are.  Back story wounds and burdens shape and define them and become the engines of change.

    If writing is “authentic” then every gesture, action and utterance is “honest” and everything observed is rendered in a way both original and pinpoint accurate. “Authentic” means writing not to formula but as characters would actually behave, whatever the circumstances.  “Authentic” means they go about their business in their own ways, not the author’s.  Even when they are inspired by real people or reflect the author’s own experience, if characters are “authentic” then a story will always have internal logic and integrity.

    It’s something like that.

    What bothers me is, how does knowing characters and honoring their independent existence help you to write a story?  I mean, it’s nice if characters behave in ways that are lifelike—or which at least conforms to our understandings of them—then, so far, they can only display who they are.  A backstory-induced need is a good thing and can propel a character toward some sort of emotional resolution, but by doing what?  On top of that, when characters are strongly defined and consistent how can they surprise us? read more…

  • Reblog — Thinking Fiction: The Book as an Object — An American Editor

    This topic caught my eye while I was scrolling. I enjoyed the discussion about the phases a manuscript goes through as it passes to different people on the publishing journey. We all believe our writing to be a part of us, but isn’t the idea that it becomes “real” only once someone else has read it a bit ironic? The section about the author-editor relationship and how an editor views a book is informative—something to be kept in mind when you send your work out. Well worth reading for writers and editors, enjoy!~

    Carolyn Haley Writing a novel has often been likened to having a baby. The analogy is apt, in terms of gestation, obsession, pain, thrill, frustration, and all that goes with the long-term development of a new life. Less often discussed is what happens later in the process, when it’s time to push the fledgling out […]

    Thinking Fiction: The Book as an Object — An American Editor

  • Reblog — Hopes and Fears and Fiction — Writer Unboxed

    This landed in my inbox this morning, the day after I wrote a piece about fear. Fear has been on my mind a lot lately and I am in a constant struggle with it in several areas of my life.

    In this piece, Donald Maass reminds writers of some questions that should be asked while writing, and then asked again by editors as they make suggestions.

    Reading it reminded me of why I read certain things at certain times. Maybe it will resonate with you, too.

    And I also just remembered I need to buy his book, The Emotional Craft of Fiction, I’ve been meaning to for a while. Happy Birthday to me! 🎂

    What do you need to be reminded of today?

    https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?preview=inline&linkCode=kpd&ref_=k4w_oembed_Dkt5tdEfWEgKay&asin=1440348375&tag=kpembed-20

    What are your hopes and dreams?  What are you most afraid of? Search online for common fears and phobias, and you will quickly find that whatever terrifies you also terrifies others.  Do you, for instance, suffer (as so many do) from Koumpounophobia, Alektorophobia, Sidonglobophobia, or Hippotomonstrosequippedaliophobia?  Those are the paralyzing fears of buttons, chickens, cotton…

    Hopes and Fears and Fiction — Writer Unboxed

  • Reblog — Character Time and Reader Time — Writer Unboxed

    Time and pacing are always foremost thoughts in an author’s mind when they are plotting or writing.

    Is it too slow?

    Is it too fast?

    What if I slow it down a bit, will people lose interest?

    And then there comes the moment when the plot puzzle seems to not work together timewise. What do you do then?

    This Writer Unboxed post offers some insight into how to deal with this conundrum. Happy reading!~

    We’ve all had the experience of something being over in a flash and, in contrast, of time feeling endless. Time feels different, depending on where we are and what we want. It’s the same for our characters—and our readers. As writers, we juggle several kinds of time. I hadn’t really thought about this—not explicitly—until I…

    Character Time and Reader Time — Writer Unboxed

  • Reblog— What to Expect from an Editor — Writer Unboxed

    I see this topic come up in conversation in online writing groups constantly. This Writer Unboxed episode provides a solid idea of what to expect from an editor and why we aren’t to be feared. Editors have a genuine desire to help authors improve their craft and see their creativity shine. Many of us are writers too, we understand the discomfort involved, and trust me, we don’t want to perpetuate it in someone else! ~

    Letting other people—even those close to you—read your novel for the first time can be stressful. You’ll wonder if they’re going to judge you, if they’ll recognize themselves in there, or if you really want your mother to know that you know about these things. But after the first few times, you get used to…

    What to Expect from an Editor — Writer Unboxed

    One difference I would note is that where Mr. Dempsey talks about the notations and comments made in “…copy editing and proof reading” stages, at Quill & Orb Press those notations would be part of my line editing and copy editing services.

    If you would like to learn more about Quill & Orb Press editing, please visit me here. Enjoy your day!~

  • Reblog — Staging the Scene — Writer Unboxed

    One of my favorite things about reading fantasy and historical fiction is the element of description. Setting scenes and locations is fundamental to these genres. It is also one of the most fun aspects to write, as you may have noticed if you read my Collection of Huphaea blog series. This blog post explores scene-setting from a couple perspectives. I found it informative and thought-provoking, see if you do too.~

    Image by Thomas H. from Pixabay I have always been a visual writer. When formulating a scene, I have to envision each moment in exacting detail. As such, a good deal of my editing process involves scaling back, sharpening key images and finding short cuts to capture the feel of a moment with fewer words. Even…

    Staging the Scene — Writer Unboxed

  • Reblog — Show Me the Money: Royalties, Rights & Riches for Indie Authors — Writer Unboxed

    On the heels of the finish of NaNoWriMo, this Writer Unboxed post discusses many of the questions authors need to answer for themselves as they decide on a publishing route. Indie or trad? Have you made your decision yet, before you start the editing process with your new manuscript? This post is full of information about this all important decision. Enjoy!~

    I made my independent publishing debut back in 2011, and if this journey has taught me anything it is that realistic expectations are critical to a productive, rewarding experience. 2,413 more words

    Show Me the Money: Royalties, Rights & Riches for Indie Authors — Writer Unboxed

  • Reblog — Ground Your Characters with All Five Senses — Writer Unboxed

    Writers are cognizant of how important it is to include all of the senses in the narrative. This article explores how important inclusion is, for the author and the words.~

    When I’m writing—these articles, for example—I often compose a kind of first draft in my head, and I usually do it when I’m out on a long walk with the dog. For this article, I knew I wanted to get across the idea that writers can introduce elements from one or all of the five…

    Ground Your Characters with All Five Senses — Writer Unboxed

  • Reblog— What—and How Much—Belongs in Your Novel? — Writer Unboxed

    Here is a different take on the oft-asked “How long should my novel be?” or “Is x words too long?” Read on to hear what Mr. Maass has to say about this age-old query.~

    “How long is too long?” The question comes up at every conference. How long should a novel be? It puzzles me that this anxiety persists. We are in a literary era that tolerates length. Game of Thrones, anyone? Even at 292,000 words, George Martin’s first novel in his epic series is not even in the…

    What—and How Much—Belongs in Your Novel? — Writer Unboxed