#writerscoffeeclub May 18. Have you written sections where the action occurs against the clock? How did you do it?
Quick action and little dialogue. If people talk or think, it's in short sentences or mere fragments.
I keep thinking about the narration, but I believe I also use long sentences - not convoluted, but making spare use of a full stop to give the reader no break either.
I never did any of this consciously, though. This is more of a gut feeling and reflecting.
#WritersCoffeeClub Ch 9 Nbr 18 — Have you written sections where the action occurs against the clock? How did you do it?
My current story segment in serialization takes place over a very short time period, after the last third of the previous story taking place between dusk and dawn. The other story I am working on is a three act story, each act taking place over very few hours.
Writing stories in compressed time isn't much different than writing stories that take place more episodically over longer periods of time. In both cases, I write about what is important for the character and how they deal with events. An example may help.
In the serialization (obviously spoilers if you know which story I'm referring to), the MC realizes that though the leader has left on a military adventure to handle a "guerrilla insurgency," she sees evidence that same foe may attack the capital city. In theory, she's politically second in command. In practice, she has no real power. How she spends that day scheming and conniving with only a title to get a single frigate on patrol drives the story and the clock. It starts with a PTSD episode where she realizes she may be responsible again for innumerable deaths without the power to prevent them, then her working every contact she knows, butting heads with the generals who discount her experience running a crime syndicate (briefly), convincing a discriminated against officer who wants to accept discharge to instead command a museum-piece frigate, getting into a bloody fight with the XO, avoiding what the reader will see as assassination attempts, and it just gets worse with her love interests (plural!) pulling at her heart.
All in 12 hours. Tick-tock! That's one day of three days of escalating existential threats. The fourth day's events take place over one hour, which is about the time it would take to read.
"Were my trust misplaced, I'd learn something about myself. But, then again, that seemed to be my method of operation: win—or get hurt, pick myself up, make different mistakes." HRH CPE S. G. Regina A. M.
Any set of readers who appreciate all the characters working (whatever that means) to the best of their ability. The above quote is how my MC views getting things done. Plot advancement by stupidity is verboten. They should probably like fantasy or soft / social SF, too.
First and most obviously, #folklore enthusiasts, as well as those who are interested in German history and culture.
I also hope that #ttrpg players find these of interest - I am one of these myself, and the old German folk tales I am translating often have the same chaotic energy that the best role-playing game sessions have.
And finally, those with an interest in #storytelling in general. We should all try to find inspiration in those who came before us, and these stories break a lot of modern storytelling conventions which we take for granted.
(Note: Yes, I know I am a day late with this, but I still wanted to get my two cents in.)
Anyone who follows my timeline knows I'm deep into underground Japanese Idols. Neck deep or deeper. Shows, livestreams, Cheki (small polaroid-type photos), bromides (larger photos), autographs, you name it.
I also do rough camping and hunt ghosts. I know some folks think I'm batty but I've had a couple of encounters with them.
So, I'm traveling a lot over Pentecost and will have time on the train. I can't quite decide which project to tackle first.
Whadda you think?
Final check of the translation of #OdysseyToThePromisedLand so that it gets done?
Start translating #TheMindOnFire?
Edit #TimeCurves in which those books will feature?
Or screw it and just read the books of the author I rediscovered on Patreon yesterday?
People like me, I guess. Because I always write for myself first.
So, people that love to read, don't like too much blood and gore, like some romance and don't mind sex, enjoy a happy ending or something akin, like strong female characters, don't like the alpha male crap or anything akin, like fantasy and history, don't mind people not being hetero, and enjoy if not the strongest and broodiest of 'em all gets the girl.
Was going to say my chronically ill often bedbound often in need of cheering up self and the one person who did more than open a tab when I sent the link, but I've just realised that my characters have become my 'target audience'.
In some ways, that's just saying myself and maybe I'm fooling myself but it feels like more than that.
Maybe it's about my values, how they're expressed through these characters and staying true to that.
The fourth chapter of Stardust: Labyrinth is out! After the minor setback in the third chapter, the group ventures deeper into the eponymous labyrinth, and the sheer scale of the complex becomes apparent...
My novels and short stories are science fiction and fantasy. Although I've never set out to produce literary fiction, two or three editors over the years have remarked that my writing is literary SFF. The tagline I came up with a long time ago and have stuck to because it's real, is: "I write what I love for readers who love what I write."
Most of my MCs are estranged from their parents, but alive and well elsewhere. I have killed off at least one (a father), but I prefer to keep them distant and cold.
I don't really expect anyone who isn't queer to enjoy my books, and less so for anyone who whines about the singular "they" pronoun. Or neopronouns, for that matter.
"Sapphic" is one of the terms I use to describe my books, as that's the demographic my MCs and most of the side characters fit in.
My wider audience includes those who like the paranormal, portal fantasy, and weird shit in general.
#writerscoffeeclub 17/05/2024 Other than writing drawing, what's your go-to creative outlet
I voluntarily concentrate only on one artistic expression. I believe that in order to reach the quality I want, I must dedicate all my time and energy on becoming a better comic artist.
Those who enjoy "urban science fiction" (sometimes magic) with a shot of romance. Which is often sapphic/yuri. All presented as a set of serial installments.
I'm not sure who's at this intersection (or who doesn't mind the extra elements), but if you know them, send them my way.
-Roleplay (mostly online). Half the characters in "Epsilon" are from RPGs that otherwise ended, and I hung onto them.
-Drawing. I'm not great, but I did run a 4-panel webcomic for a few years. Even participated in comic discussions. Also illustrate for my serials (attached).
-And of course parenting and the job that is my main source of income require elements of creativity. Extending to photography and making videos in FinalCut Express.