tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.comments2023-04-04T02:36:03.680-07:00A Story is a Promise BlogBillJohnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17990935864671031062noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-84984159833515598732009-10-10T22:06:31.640-07:002009-10-10T22:06:31.640-07:00I've found that if I can get a fix on an autho...I've found that if I can get a fix on an author's personal issues, I can better understand the problems in his or her writing. <br /><br />The published authors I've worked with were more concerned with telling a good story than telling their personal story. <br /><br />A friend believes the great storytellers allow their characters to have internal lives that are completely separate from the author's internal life.BillJohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990935864671031062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-18212487227536993862009-10-10T21:33:47.939-07:002009-10-10T21:33:47.939-07:00I sometimes wonder whether most authors are aware ...I sometimes wonder whether most authors are aware how much they reveal about themselves in their writing, no matter what the subject. I believe the best writing comes from authors who really explore the depths of other people and events, rather than wallow in self.<br /><br />Syd @ www.jadephoenix.usSydhttp://www.jadephoenix.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-2816705793013247702009-09-29T17:19:35.525-07:002009-09-29T17:19:35.525-07:00I agree that some people write to relive and resol...I agree that some people write to relive and resolve the past. What I see happening is emotionally numb authors creating emotionally numb main characters. The minor characters often express the author's anger, rage, and frustration, so those minor characters hit what I call pure notes. They are very vivid and distinct, while the main character is diffuse.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.BillJohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990935864671031062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-71513366885426167922009-07-25T12:20:22.697-07:002009-07-25T12:20:22.697-07:00This comment has been hidden from the blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-75312385354668880862009-06-04T14:34:21.070-07:002009-06-04T14:34:21.070-07:00Thanks for posting! I enjoyed seeing him discuss ...Thanks for posting! I enjoyed seeing him discuss the books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-91184491146956541792007-11-05T00:43:00.000-08:002007-11-05T00:43:00.000-08:00A post comment, I recently read an article about F...A post comment, I recently read an article about Frank Lucas, the drug dealer featured in the new film American Gangster. When he was trying to figure out how to organize his drug gang, he holed up in a hotel for two weeks just to think about what he wanted to accomplish and how he could accomplish it. He found his own way to get to a state of mental clarity.BillJohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990935864671031062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-21751640444121929922007-10-01T23:53:00.000-07:002007-10-01T23:53:00.000-07:00The quickest way for most people writing a novel t...The quickest way for most people writing a novel to find a story's promise is to ask what a main character seeks or wants.<BR/><BR/>Some writers struggle with this because they overlay their personal issues onto a main character, so they understand quite well what a character wants. But that's not the same as making that character issue accessible to a story's audience.<BR/><BR/>The writer looks at a character in a situation or event and 'feels' the why it matters to the character, because the character is an extention of the author. The reader sees a character in a situation and has no clue what it means or why the reader should feel invested in an outcome.BillJohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990935864671031062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3241371045869709624.post-39285592753771693562007-10-01T19:17:00.000-07:002007-10-01T19:17:00.000-07:00Bill,I am re-reading A Story is a Promise and have...Bill,<BR/><BR/>I am re-reading A Story is a Promise and have to say, I missed the point the first time. I thought I knew what a story premise was, plot, and story line, but this time through I am making myself answer the questions at the end of each chapter and I can see why my current WIP keeps getting rejected. Now I am doing the hard work and hope to have a better story after revisions. <BR/>Thanks,<BR/>BonnieBonniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17936310678863635974noreply@blogger.com