tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post585372177793580947..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: Writing WoesCharles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-78294174560408028952012-07-08T12:08:37.180-05:002012-07-08T12:08:37.180-05:00What an opening!!! Wow! Now I have to know what ha...What an opening!!! Wow! Now I <i>have</i> to know what happens next...Vesperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417602625059442986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-87618828232948084562012-07-08T12:08:10.704-05:002012-07-08T12:08:10.704-05:00What an opening!!! Wow! Now I have to know what ha...What an opening!!! Wow! Now I <i>have</i> to know what happens next...Vesperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417602625059442986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-52831254561782187412012-06-26T22:57:13.981-05:002012-06-26T22:57:13.981-05:00Travis Cody, I wondered about that line. I kind of...Travis Cody, I wondered about that line. I kind of like it but I wonder if it means anything to most readers. I'm glad you liked it.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-13776661811242223752012-06-26T22:54:59.323-05:002012-06-26T22:54:59.323-05:00Intriguing...makes me interested in what comes nex...Intriguing...makes me interested in what comes next. I particularly like the line, "It was almost as if he had a purpose".<br /><br />Nice.Travis Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06192526507760146748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-6392985210475828392012-06-26T16:14:57.687-05:002012-06-26T16:14:57.687-05:00Golden Eagle, glad you find it intriguing.
Oscar,...Golden Eagle, glad you find it intriguing.<br /><br />Oscar, I had a dream last night that might just help.<br /><br />Mimi, thank you. Glad you enjoyed.<br /><br />Laughingwolf, :)<br /><br />Steven, It is a good game. I was reading some old Lin Carter today and it seemed like Skyrim had picked up some of the tropes he was using back in the day, which he got from Tolkien, Howard, and Burroughs, of course.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-36109447487874415502012-06-26T14:14:03.045-05:002012-06-26T14:14:03.045-05:00I am intrigued as well. Very good start. And there...I am intrigued as well. Very good start. And there's nothing wrong with having a Skyrim influence :) That's a darn good game right there.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17467848055195820047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-54593760544575041752012-06-26T13:19:07.110-05:002012-06-26T13:19:07.110-05:00de nada, amigo...de nada, amigo...laughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-7006134308795457762012-06-26T13:00:53.987-05:002012-06-26T13:00:53.987-05:00"To write fast you have to let the unconsciou...<i>"To write fast you have to let the unconscious do most of the work, but when I turn the work fully over to the unconscious I get the commonplace instead of the unusual. Conscious evaluation of images takes time and, it seems for me, there is no substitute."</i><br /><br />Thank you, Professor!<br /><br />I want to follow those prints....excellent beginning.Mimi Lenoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616635898420835541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-33089959538316729032012-06-25T17:35:14.633-05:002012-06-25T17:35:14.633-05:00Nice start, Charles. I'm certain something une...Nice start, Charles. I'm certain something unexpected will pop into your subconscious which will surprise us all.Oscar Casehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10328166606910469945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-42914200894004000182012-06-25T17:35:13.083-05:002012-06-25T17:35:13.083-05:00That's a great opening. I wonder where those p...That's a great opening. I wonder where those prints lead, now.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-17876191257165797012012-06-25T16:43:35.435-05:002012-06-25T16:43:35.435-05:00Prashant, thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.Prashant, thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-47103079448187939742012-06-25T12:54:55.743-05:002012-06-25T12:54:55.743-05:00Great opening, Charles. I have never played Skyrim...Great opening, Charles. I have never played Skyrim but I was conjuring up all sorts of game images of my own as I read through the opening. I liked the line "He lay flat for a moment, drank his fill, then rose to ghost along the shoreline." Thanks for sharing this.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-84254079502648756692012-06-25T12:52:59.381-05:002012-06-25T12:52:59.381-05:00Patti, thanks much.
Eric1313, as witnessed by my ...Patti, thanks much.<br /><br />Eric1313, as witnessed by my having to rip out most of what I did fast yesterday.<br /><br />Laughingwolf, Yes, shone should have been the word. thanks for the catch!<br /><br />Deka, probably so. Good point.<br /><br />Alex, someone not all together human I would guess.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-11002016578117165372012-06-25T12:45:57.770-05:002012-06-25T12:45:57.770-05:00That is intriguing! Who would've survived the ...That is intriguing! Who would've survived the flames?Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-61893255922736314782012-06-25T12:06:57.732-05:002012-06-25T12:06:57.732-05:00Then youbhave here a cghance to complete a story w...Then youbhave here a cghance to complete a story with him. Go ahead and don't worry about channeling Skyrim too much. my opinion is this time you should focus on enjoy telling the story. Maybe when is finished is better than you think now.Deka Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08328847551867893941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-74095383583646775492012-06-25T12:02:44.276-05:002012-06-25T12:02:44.276-05:00i like it... a lot!
am confused here: "The p...i like it... a lot!<br /><br />am confused here: "The polished surface of the tarn shown like a black shield beneath the ringed moon."<br /><br />did you mean 'shone'?laughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-25735526575012593452012-06-25T11:18:25.687-05:002012-06-25T11:18:25.687-05:00That was it for me too... It really is just a way...That was it for me too... It really is just a way of altering routine. If I get too fast (and careless), then it's entirely possible that writing fast takes more time because of the revision process.eric1313https://www.blogger.com/profile/13807078704660045859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-78715670617068039682012-06-25T10:10:01.417-05:002012-06-25T10:10:01.417-05:00Lovely writing, Charles.Lovely writing, Charles.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-34453313933649358262012-06-25T08:57:00.063-05:002012-06-25T08:57:00.063-05:00Keith, cool, man. Glad to hear it.
Heather, I lik...Keith, cool, man. Glad to hear it.<br /><br />Heather, I like the intro myself pretty well. <br /><br />Liane, thanks, I appreciate it.<br /><br />Angie, good idea.<br /><br />Ty, I've got to start spending more hours these summer days writing. I've used the time not so wisely.<br /><br />David J., they say really good writers borrow widely while lesser writers borrow only from one thing. I think that's true.<br /><br />Eric1313, that has been true for me too, but I don't know what the net savings in work time is.<br /><br />Michelle, if I were writing more regularly right now I'd also be faster.<br /><br />SQT, yeah, that intrigues me too since I don't quite know yet.<br /><br />Deka, I'm liking this character too. I came up with him years ago but have never completed a story with him.<br /><br />Kate, thankee, my friend.<br /><br />Aimless writer, if I can only live up to that opening.<br /><br />Ivan, the unconscious is at least not as lazy as I am.<br /><br />Mark, I wrote Swords of Talera in 4 months, but it took long long periods of revision before it was ready for sale. I wrote a 20,000 word novella in about 3 months and it was pretty good at the end.<br /><br />Sage, glad to hear it!<br /><br />Tom, I appreciate the kind words, man. I hope I can keep it rolling.<br /><br />Bernard, the 13th warrior was a great movie, definitely has been an influence on me. I understand historically that not all the women went willingly.<br /><br />Tom, although I loved the book for the 13th warrior, I have to admit most of the images in my head come from the movie.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-47853682577685280162012-06-25T08:28:55.480-05:002012-06-25T08:28:55.480-05:00@Bernard - Actually, in the book, she is ceremonio...@Bernard - Actually, in the book, she is ceremoniously slain by the old witch first as part of the ritual. :) But I had the same image in my head as well.Tom Doolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03451129317759266295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-25326083645979333752012-06-25T08:12:59.574-05:002012-06-25T08:12:59.574-05:00I remember the same ship burning at the beginning ...I remember the same ship burning at the beginning of 'The Thirteenth Warrior' when the 'Northmen' sent their dead King on his way. It did occur to me that was a rough ending for the woman sent out with him to be burned alive, although in the movie she was shown to go willingly. Your opening allows for a different mindset. :)BernardLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09722619048888613647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-24747501984938446962012-06-25T07:49:30.278-05:002012-06-25T07:49:30.278-05:00I suffer from the same problem. I will read somet...I suffer from the same problem. I will read something, or see something in a movie, and then later, I will subconciously put my own character in that position, and figure out what he/she would do. Sometimes it comes out as original enough to be worthy, and sometimes, not so much.<br /><br />And that beginning is...ok. And by "ok" I mean "HOLY EFFING BARBARIAN BADASSERY, THAT'S AWESOME!" Yeah, I'm definietly in the "intrigued" camp as well. :)Tom Doolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03451129317759266295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-82212683773940997192012-06-25T07:11:08.197-05:002012-06-25T07:11:08.197-05:00okay, I'm now intrigued! Nice opening.okay, I'm now intrigued! Nice opening.sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-18547933339585305982012-06-25T07:08:34.451-05:002012-06-25T07:08:34.451-05:00I dunno...maybe the second bit that you trashed wa...I dunno...maybe the second bit that you trashed was the right bit to follow this. I am one for (if I ever write another book of prose) for telling the story from front to finish then edit edit edit edit. <br /><br />The few whom I have shown what I have done liked 'em well enough I suppose, it's me, I am the one not interested in them. <br /><br />Maybe it's the same with you, you're not the objective judge only the author of where you go from here. Fast writing has to come from that place of "who cares, this story is going to be told." <br /><br />To me that whole boards with plots and lines charts and arrows and calendars to graph out what portion of the story the arc gets to on what day just seems to me (no slam on you who do this) overly methodical, overly pre-thought with no chance for the authors surprise to happen.<br /><br />Can I ask you Charles what is the fastest you have ever written a full length novel before any edit or rework, just sat and wrote like hell until you put down The End?the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-6083396079571966292012-06-25T06:51:38.665-05:002012-06-25T06:51:38.665-05:00Oh, flock it.
Seems to me you become a writer whe...Oh, flock it.<br /><br />Seems to me you become a writer when you throw away your thesaurus and your dictionary-- and even your first drafts. Suddenly you seem to make everything proof copy.<br />But you're right about the subconscious. Incredible technical problems are somehow fixed in the morning.<br />And you're doing sine qua non. Proof copy.<br /><br />Nice draft.<br /><br />Let the old subconscious work on it.ivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05662075375182633162noreply@blogger.com