Discussion: Q1 Volume 38

I can't get past my third scene. I've written it five times now, each time anew, but it's never memorable or original enough for me. It just ends up as cliche dialog to me that works to move on with the story. Oh well.

Dave had a newsletter this past week with some really great ways to strengthen a scene. Might be worth checking out!

I can't get past my third scene. I've written it five times now, each time anew, but it's never memorable or original enough for me. It just ends up as cliche dialog to me that works to move on with the story. Oh well.

Reuben,

E-mail me. Tell me the set up of the scene, then attach it. I know it's not the whole story, but maybe I can help get you unstuck. Worst that happens is I can't.

There's a particular how-to I read frequently. It says, "stuck? It's probably this." I'm paraphrasing. But each time I smack my forehead, fix, and move on.

Although we mostly deal with openings in the 450 forum, I will post my non-specific thoughts there and maybe together we'll figure it out!

We are at the 1/2 way point for the quarter.

6 weeks to polish your draft.
Or
6 weeks to draft!

What's the general impression on nonlinear storytelling? I'm almost finished with my Q1 story, but now I'm thinking...what if I rearrange the scenes a little? I think it will generate more tension, but I wonder if it will come across as gimmicky.

I'm doing it for mine, partially. I've heard that "Dave prefers linear storytelling, but he's open to new ideas."

Among the volumes I've read during is tenure, V33 has two nonlinear stories, V35 definitely has at least one. I can't remember others, although I know that Kary English's finalist (h https://grantvillegazette.com/article/publish-587 ) is nonlinear--the whole thing is told as a flashback.

I'm doing it for mine, partially. I've heard that "Dave prefers linear storytelling, but he's open to new ideas."

Among the volumes I've read during is tenure, V33 has two nonlinear stories, V35 definitely has at least one. I can't remember others, although I know that Kary English's finalist (h https://grantvillegazette.com/article/publish-587 ) is nonlinear--the whole thing is told as a flashback.

Thank you! I'll keep that in mind. Also, thanks for the link. I really enjoyed reading that.

I finally feel I'm making headway on my entry. I was working on two other stories but hardly getting anywhere (or nowhere in the case of one of them). So I've returned to one of the first stories I wrote, over 10 years ago! I always liked the idea, and it's been bubbling over in my head on and off for a couple of years. It was a 700-word-flash back then, and I've already passed that in my first scene and a half.

I hope everyone is doing okay. Every quarter seems to get tougher for me in the past year or so, so here's some encouragement from my way. 🙂

Plenty of humour in mine, so i know i've no chance. But I'm enjoying writing it.

I finally think I hit on my idea for this quarter. I just need to finish a revision I'm working on first.

Plenty of humour in mine, so i know i've no chance. But I'm enjoying writing it.

Humor is super tough. Especially in short stories. But it can be done! V.31 had two humorous tales.

What is humor most times but defying expectation? By the time we set it up to defy it, we've got too many words.

Thor 3 wouldn't have been as funny without Thor 1 and 2. Now he's all about the humor being the easiest to defy our expectations.
Fantasy? How about a sensitive dwarf? Nope. ABD.

Look at The God Whisperer:
When Jack got home from work on Thursday, he found a pyramid made of bird skulls in his flowerbed. Zu'ar--ancient god of death, strive, and war--must have gotten out of the yard again.

I once saw a SF crit where Dave mentioned wanting more belly laughs. With humor it's go big or go home. Little chuckles are OK in an otherwise serious story, but if you go humor, go all out.

And of course if you're enjoying writing it, then all the better!

I'm finally almost finished my draft. Funny how it seems to get harder with each quarter. I originally wanted to write two WotF worthy stories this quarter, oh well...

Actually, how it happened was that I got strep, which finally gave the few hours I needed.

Anyone up for a read? I would sent it in two days or so after some revision. I'll of course be happy to return the favor.

Always, if you’d like my feedback. As of right now my queue is empty.

I once saw a SF crit where Dave mentioned wanting more belly laughs. With humor it's go big or go home. Little chuckles are OK in an otherwise serious story, but if you go humor, go all out.

Belly laughs are unlikely. Better that I keep my results expectations low.

Always, if you’d like my feedback. As of right now my queue is empty.

Thanks! I'll send it over soon. It's high fantasy, around 6k

I've finally finished it. I just need to get some eyes on it. I put a request for a crit exchange in the forum, nothing yet. I don't really want to submit it without a few read throughs of the finished work. I've learned, Feedback is invaluable....

I'm available C.A. Tedeschi. I will PM you with my email address. Have you read it out loud yet? I found that reading my stories out loud is vital to finding mistakes and to see what the pacing is like.

I've finally finished it. I just need to get some eyes on it. I put a request for a crit exchange in the forum, nothing yet. I don't really want to submit it without a few read throughs of the finished work. I've learned, Feedback is invaluable....

I'm available for a critique exchange. Feel free to PM me if you haven't found someone yet.

I'm in for Q1! I feel weird having submitted so early, but I completely rewrote the thing (again) and now I was at the point where I was just moving commas around and changing my wording and then changing it back again, so that's usually my sign that the story is about to riot or self-combust if I do any more editing on it. Lol.

I'm in for Q1! I feel weird having submitted so early, but I completely rewrote the thing (again) and now I was at the point where I was just moving commas around and changing my wording and then changing it back again, so that's usually my sign that the story is about to riot or self-combust if I do any more editing on it. Lol.

Great job!

I have 1200 pages of Rhythm of War to read in 4w and the latest Hunger Games book to pick up and read that also. So, just as well, mine is ready to submit. I'm trying to let the paint dry without putting fingerprints all over it. Mine doesn't quite compare to Sanderson.

Hello It's been many months since I have been here. The web site would not let me back on. I tried sending in requests for help and most were not responded to, for a period not time I forgot. Joni evidently got one of them. Anyway I want to say that I wrote a story and I just need to revise it. Actually I didn't think about sending it in until a couple days when I was thinking of the next and realized, hey it's December the end of a quarter. I need to get revising.

Hi Louis!

Indeed - a new user ID is all it takes.

I tried both of my E-mail addresses and they each said they were in use already.

Plenty of humour in mine, so i know i've no chance. But I'm enjoying writing it.

Humor is super tough. Especially in short stories. But it can be done! V.31 had two humorous tales.

What is humor most times but defying expectation? By the time we set it up to defy it, we've got too many words.

Thor 3 wouldn't have been as funny without Thor 1 and 2. Now he's all about the humor being the easiest to defy our expectations.
Fantasy? How about a sensitive dwarf? Nope. ABD.

Look at The God Whisperer:
When Jack got home from work on Thursday, he found a pyramid made of bird skulls in his flowerbed. Zu'ar--ancient god of death, strive, and war--must have gotten out of the yard again.

I once saw a SF crit where Dave mentioned wanting more belly laughs. With humor it's go big or go home. Little chuckles are OK in an otherwise serious story, but if you go humor, go all out.

And of course if you're enjoying writing it, then all the better!

Hey, Tim, good to see you again! One of the things I loved about the Moon's story is that it's full of humor and warmth and then it rips your guts out. That is one of the secrets. (Sorry, Moon, I forget the number.) Humor is not a no-go. It can be an effective tool.

Just wanted to say that I had another story ready for this quarter. I had sent it in already but I figured another critiquing might help it-maybe. But then I forgot about sending in any story, probably because I got busy with the Wotf workshop. Then I realized this month was the end of the quarter-duh. So if I can get someone to look over the new story I decided to send that one in.

LouisD, do you need someone to look over a story? I can if you do.

Just submitted my Q1 entry. It was a rollercoaster, leaving me pretty wrung-out. Took some big risks with it, so my expectations aren't high, but it's the only way to get better.

LouisD, do you need someone to look over a story? I can if you do.

Yes, I do about 4,500 words long.

Just submitted for this quarter! All my readers say this is my best offering yet. Here's hoping!