Fight Scenes. I said I wasn’t sure if I had anything more to say about fight scenes, but now I believe that I might just have a few things to say. But, anyway, let’s get on with the show.
First up: Cinematic Fight Scenes: Cinematic fight scenes are probably my favorite type of fight scene. In this type of fight scene just about every move is described in complete detail. Reading one of these is almost like watching the fight take place on a big movie screen, which is why I called it a Cinematic Fight Scene.
Pros: The pros to this type of fight scene are pretty simple. This type is pretty much the ultimate form of showing the reader what is going on.
Cons: The cons are also pretty simple. If a fight scene goes on too long, or you have more than one of them in the course of a novel they can become a little tedious and boring for the reader to … well, read.
Second: This is a type of fight scene I call Short and Sweet. Usually this is a type of fight scene where you only describe a few of the moves in the fight, kill/knock-out the MC’s (or whoever’s) opponent in those couple of moves, and go on with the story.
Pros: The pro to this fight scene is the brevity of the fight while still showing more of what happens in the fight then the next time.
Cons: Again this is something you should use in moderation, just like everything else. Too many of these little fights can become predictable, and tedious.
Third: The third type of fight scene, as I see it, is the worst type. I don’t even feel like coming up with a name for it because of how lame I feel the fight scene is. What the whole thing amounts to is: Sara stabbed the goblin. And, that sentence right there is the whole fight scene. It’s not exciting, not even remotely entertaining, and leaves all parties wanting more. I honestly dislike it so much, that I can’t even think of any pros to the situation at all. And, the con is simple…very very simple… its boring.
So, yeah, there you go, my full fledged post on fight scenes.
Tell Me: What type of fight scene do you like to use?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Worth Reading—A Christmas Carol
Worth Reading—A Christmas Carol
So, I was talking about doing a series on fight scenes, going into depth about the different types of fight scenes. Right now, I don’t think I have anything more to say about that, so we might have to wait until I find something more to say about them.
Anyway, I did have something I wanted to talk about. It’s a little story by Charles Dickenson called A Christmas Carol.
I have been in love with this story, in all its different televised or movie forms, but until now I’ve never had the chance to read the book.
I have the book now, and I’m like five pages into it, and it’s great.
I certainly must say that everybody should own a copy of A Christmas Carol.
Tell me: What’s your favorite Christmas story?
So, I was talking about doing a series on fight scenes, going into depth about the different types of fight scenes. Right now, I don’t think I have anything more to say about that, so we might have to wait until I find something more to say about them.
Anyway, I did have something I wanted to talk about. It’s a little story by Charles Dickenson called A Christmas Carol.
I have been in love with this story, in all its different televised or movie forms, but until now I’ve never had the chance to read the book.
I have the book now, and I’m like five pages into it, and it’s great.
I certainly must say that everybody should own a copy of A Christmas Carol.
Tell me: What’s your favorite Christmas story?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
What I got for Christmas.
What I got for Christmas. Original title isn’t it. Lol.
Anyway, I hadn’t planned on talking about what I got for Christmas, although I did get a really badass pen set and a self cleaning litter box.
What I did want to talk about was the different mediums available to writers, and the way in which I employ them.
I seem to be getting some strange looks…but, I can guarantee that I’m not entirely crazy, because I guarantee that you have also thought about the different mediums available to writers.
Those mediums are: pen and paper, typewriter, word processor/computer, and tape recorder.
And, I’m still getting crazy looks. But, before you write me off as insane I want you to think about it. What mediums have you used in the past? Me? I’ve used all of them. At this point in time, pen and paper is my preferred medium. I find that my mind works best at building a story while I’ve got a pencil in hand.
I have also used the “tape recorder” option in the past. You see, I didn’t always write. Instead I would pace around and around telling myself a story as it built in my head. That was the way I wrote as a child, but unfortunately I didn’t actually use a tape recorder to record my stories. (I might be much further along in my writing career if I had thought of that.)
The other two mediums are the ones I began playing with most recently. Using a computer is a good way to cut out the middle-man (transcription), while the typewriter has an extremely classical sort of feel to it (I love listening to a typewriter work).
But, the problems with these mediums is the way my mind works. I can use both the typewriter and the computer to come up with fresh copy. But, often enough, my mind doesn’t like to work with those mediums, and I wind up churning out barely usable copy.
Anyway, I think I’ll stop bitching now, and let you all enjoy your day.
Tell me: what mediums do you like to use for your stories?
Anyway, I hadn’t planned on talking about what I got for Christmas, although I did get a really badass pen set and a self cleaning litter box.
What I did want to talk about was the different mediums available to writers, and the way in which I employ them.
I seem to be getting some strange looks…but, I can guarantee that I’m not entirely crazy, because I guarantee that you have also thought about the different mediums available to writers.
Those mediums are: pen and paper, typewriter, word processor/computer, and tape recorder.
And, I’m still getting crazy looks. But, before you write me off as insane I want you to think about it. What mediums have you used in the past? Me? I’ve used all of them. At this point in time, pen and paper is my preferred medium. I find that my mind works best at building a story while I’ve got a pencil in hand.
I have also used the “tape recorder” option in the past. You see, I didn’t always write. Instead I would pace around and around telling myself a story as it built in my head. That was the way I wrote as a child, but unfortunately I didn’t actually use a tape recorder to record my stories. (I might be much further along in my writing career if I had thought of that.)
The other two mediums are the ones I began playing with most recently. Using a computer is a good way to cut out the middle-man (transcription), while the typewriter has an extremely classical sort of feel to it (I love listening to a typewriter work).
But, the problems with these mediums is the way my mind works. I can use both the typewriter and the computer to come up with fresh copy. But, often enough, my mind doesn’t like to work with those mediums, and I wind up churning out barely usable copy.
Anyway, I think I’ll stop bitching now, and let you all enjoy your day.
Tell me: what mediums do you like to use for your stories?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Good News!
Good news, ladies and gents. I finished a new project I've been working on. And, as a result, I've decided to take a day off of writing.
Anyway, that includes a day away from the blog. But, I shall start up again tomorrow, with another post on Fight Scene's.
So, tell me: When you finish a project, what do you like to do to "distance" yourself from the work?
Anyway, that includes a day away from the blog. But, I shall start up again tomorrow, with another post on Fight Scene's.
So, tell me: When you finish a project, what do you like to do to "distance" yourself from the work?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas.
To all you fun and wonderful people out there in the world, I would just like to say: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, and just have a Happy Holiday season.
PS: Be sure to indulge in a little Gluttony as well.
PPS: A post on Gluttony will probably be one of my first posts after the Holiday's are over. Lol.
PS: Be sure to indulge in a little Gluttony as well.
PPS: A post on Gluttony will probably be one of my first posts after the Holiday's are over. Lol.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Fight Scenes
Fight Scenes. Today I want to talk about something that relates directly to writing, instead of something related to writing in a twenty-one degrees to Kevin Bacon sort of fashion.
Any way, yeah, I want to talk about fight scenes.
It would be my guess that fight scenes are one of the hardest things to manage when it comes to writing a novel, short story, or really any sort of writing at all.
Why are they tricky?
Well, there can actually be any number of reasons why fight scenes can be tricky. Often enough, for me anyway, fight scenes can become something of a story of their own, and like stories you have to manage the tension of the action you want to portray, how you go about the detail of the fight in the midst of, as well as dialogue, imagery, onomatopoeia (if you use that sort of thing) and just the language in general when you sit down to put the thing on paper. And, of course, you have to go back over the fight scene itself and look at the bitter picture surrounding it.
How does the fight scene relate to the story? How does the action involved in the story build up the overall action of the work? And, does the tension of the story take too much of a hit after the fight scene is over? Does it build said tension up? Or, does the fight scene after the flow of tension entirely, meaning…does the fight scene bring the whole story to a climax.
These are the sort of questions I ask myself when I write a fight scene. And, I would think that, they’re important universal questions that any writer should ask themselves going into a fight scene.
This post turned out to be longer than I though it would be. Lol. Anyway, I think I’ll continue this discussion on over into next weeks set. Maybe even break the fight scenes up into neat little categories. So, yeah, I’ll do that. Talk to you kids later.
Tell me: what questions do you ask yourself before writing a fight scene.
PS: and yeah, I realize that one paragraph towards the top of the post is like one giant run on sentence. Lol.
Any way, yeah, I want to talk about fight scenes.
It would be my guess that fight scenes are one of the hardest things to manage when it comes to writing a novel, short story, or really any sort of writing at all.
Why are they tricky?
Well, there can actually be any number of reasons why fight scenes can be tricky. Often enough, for me anyway, fight scenes can become something of a story of their own, and like stories you have to manage the tension of the action you want to portray, how you go about the detail of the fight in the midst of, as well as dialogue, imagery, onomatopoeia (if you use that sort of thing) and just the language in general when you sit down to put the thing on paper. And, of course, you have to go back over the fight scene itself and look at the bitter picture surrounding it.
How does the fight scene relate to the story? How does the action involved in the story build up the overall action of the work? And, does the tension of the story take too much of a hit after the fight scene is over? Does it build said tension up? Or, does the fight scene after the flow of tension entirely, meaning…does the fight scene bring the whole story to a climax.
These are the sort of questions I ask myself when I write a fight scene. And, I would think that, they’re important universal questions that any writer should ask themselves going into a fight scene.
This post turned out to be longer than I though it would be. Lol. Anyway, I think I’ll continue this discussion on over into next weeks set. Maybe even break the fight scenes up into neat little categories. So, yeah, I’ll do that. Talk to you kids later.
Tell me: what questions do you ask yourself before writing a fight scene.
PS: and yeah, I realize that one paragraph towards the top of the post is like one giant run on sentence. Lol.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Motivation
Motivation. Motivation is the utter bane of my existence.
Really it is.
I swear to god.
Why?
I don’t really know why, though, it just seems to me that I never want to get work done.
I mean I do have things I want to do, I come up with a whole list of things I want to get done almost as soon as I get up. But, more and more I continue to find something else to do, something easier to do instead of the things on the list.
It’s like, okay I need to pick up the living room…but, wait my computer is right in front of me. Why don’t I play a few games of Mah Jong before I get started? And guess what, that’s right, an hour later I’m still playing Mah Jong, and have done absolutely nothing towards getting the living room picked up.
And, when it comes to writing I seem to be even less motivated. Once again, its because there are easier things to do then sit down, pluck words out of the air, and set them down on paper.
And, the really funny thing is, I should be more motivated to get my writing done. Because, well, because of the possiblility of generating some form on income (out of a job right now, so yes income is a big concern of mine).
Anyway, I guess I’m going to try and show some motivation and get some work done.
Tell me: what helps you when it comes to motivation for both house hold chores and for writing?
Really it is.
I swear to god.
Why?
I don’t really know why, though, it just seems to me that I never want to get work done.
I mean I do have things I want to do, I come up with a whole list of things I want to get done almost as soon as I get up. But, more and more I continue to find something else to do, something easier to do instead of the things on the list.
It’s like, okay I need to pick up the living room…but, wait my computer is right in front of me. Why don’t I play a few games of Mah Jong before I get started? And guess what, that’s right, an hour later I’m still playing Mah Jong, and have done absolutely nothing towards getting the living room picked up.
And, when it comes to writing I seem to be even less motivated. Once again, its because there are easier things to do then sit down, pluck words out of the air, and set them down on paper.
And, the really funny thing is, I should be more motivated to get my writing done. Because, well, because of the possiblility of generating some form on income (out of a job right now, so yes income is a big concern of mine).
Anyway, I guess I’m going to try and show some motivation and get some work done.
Tell me: what helps you when it comes to motivation for both house hold chores and for writing?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
My computer.
My computer. So, I have come to the conclusion that my computer hates me. It hates me more than anything else in this world. And, I believe I might have figured out why.
Do you know why my computer hates me?
Do you want to know why my computer hates me?
Well, the answer to the second question is probably not. But, I’m going to tell you anyway.
My computer hates me because it’s a piece of technology, and all technology hates me.
Vending machines eat my money.
Credit cards decline.
My X-box won’t read the disk of a game I bought weeks ago.
My laptops hinges are broken so the screen won’t stand up on its own, and the cord is freyed to the point where the laptop won’t charge until I jiggle the plug for like twenty minutes.
And, to top it all off, my truck is trying its best to die on me. It got into a car wreck, has problems shifting gear, the radiator ran dry, and the engine tried to blow up on me.
Anyway, now that I’ve bitched, I feel a little bit better about the world. Thank you for reading…
And, tell me, in what ways does technology hate you?
Do you know why my computer hates me?
Do you want to know why my computer hates me?
Well, the answer to the second question is probably not. But, I’m going to tell you anyway.
My computer hates me because it’s a piece of technology, and all technology hates me.
Vending machines eat my money.
Credit cards decline.
My X-box won’t read the disk of a game I bought weeks ago.
My laptops hinges are broken so the screen won’t stand up on its own, and the cord is freyed to the point where the laptop won’t charge until I jiggle the plug for like twenty minutes.
And, to top it all off, my truck is trying its best to die on me. It got into a car wreck, has problems shifting gear, the radiator ran dry, and the engine tried to blow up on me.
Anyway, now that I’ve bitched, I feel a little bit better about the world. Thank you for reading…
And, tell me, in what ways does technology hate you?
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Revision
Revision. Revision is an important element, not only in writing, but in life as well.
Revision in writing means to look at the story, determine which parts are good, which parts are bad, and then to decide how to deal with the negative parts. This often means re-writing the negative parts, and maybe even throwing those parts out of the equation all together.
And, I know what you’re asking?
How can you reverse life? How can you go back through your life and cut out all the bad parts?
Well, the process for both of them is pretty much the same, except for the singular fact that you can’t change your past. And, these bad experiences that you’ve had. But, you can move forward.
When applying revision to life, you do have to look back at the bad parts, no matter how terrible those parts might be, and then take the lessons you learned from the experience and applying them to your everyday life.
I can even give and example of where I’ve tried to apply revision to my own life.
I used to lie, and I mean lie really bad. I would lie to my wife about going to class, whether I was doing my work or not, and most definitely about tests that we had to take in class. I would lie because I didn’t want to create conflict with my wife, but as it turned out, lying made the whole situation worse than what it could have been. Those lies created an enormous rift in our relationship, and very nearly destroyed it.
But, I learned from the experience. I learned how to watch for cases where a lie would fall from my lips, and I’m doing everything I can, mentally, to keep from lying to my wife. I don’t want to lose her, so I am cutting the lying from my character, and dropping it to the floor. And, I’m going to step on it a few dozen times.
So, that’s my story. How do you apply revision to your writing and your life?
Revision in writing means to look at the story, determine which parts are good, which parts are bad, and then to decide how to deal with the negative parts. This often means re-writing the negative parts, and maybe even throwing those parts out of the equation all together.
And, I know what you’re asking?
How can you reverse life? How can you go back through your life and cut out all the bad parts?
Well, the process for both of them is pretty much the same, except for the singular fact that you can’t change your past. And, these bad experiences that you’ve had. But, you can move forward.
When applying revision to life, you do have to look back at the bad parts, no matter how terrible those parts might be, and then take the lessons you learned from the experience and applying them to your everyday life.
I can even give and example of where I’ve tried to apply revision to my own life.
I used to lie, and I mean lie really bad. I would lie to my wife about going to class, whether I was doing my work or not, and most definitely about tests that we had to take in class. I would lie because I didn’t want to create conflict with my wife, but as it turned out, lying made the whole situation worse than what it could have been. Those lies created an enormous rift in our relationship, and very nearly destroyed it.
But, I learned from the experience. I learned how to watch for cases where a lie would fall from my lips, and I’m doing everything I can, mentally, to keep from lying to my wife. I don’t want to lose her, so I am cutting the lying from my character, and dropping it to the floor. And, I’m going to step on it a few dozen times.
So, that’s my story. How do you apply revision to your writing and your life?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Envy.
Envy. So, envy is my new favorite of the seven deadly sins. And, well, it’s not because I think envy is a cool sin. No, if I had a favorite sin based on which ones I think are interesting my favorite would have to be lust ;) But, that’s not the case.
Envy is my favorite because I am envious.
I’m envious of other people. Not because they have more success than I do. Not because they have more money than I do. And, not because they’re better at their jobs than I am at mine.
Are those things a factor? Yes, I would have to say they are. I want to be rich. I want to be important. And, I want to be a great writer. But, more than anything, I want to be normal, I want to have a daily routine, I want to be able to sleep in bed with my wife…at night!
These are things that I want that other people have. These are the things that make me envious.
Tell me:
What makes you envious?
Envy is my favorite because I am envious.
I’m envious of other people. Not because they have more success than I do. Not because they have more money than I do. And, not because they’re better at their jobs than I am at mine.
Are those things a factor? Yes, I would have to say they are. I want to be rich. I want to be important. And, I want to be a great writer. But, more than anything, I want to be normal, I want to have a daily routine, I want to be able to sleep in bed with my wife…at night!
These are things that I want that other people have. These are the things that make me envious.
Tell me:
What makes you envious?
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