And now, dinner

[cleolinda]

THREE DAYS IN A ROW! Amazing. So. Let us have some linkspam.

The real explanation for that long delay in George R.R. Martin's next book?

I wanted to lead with this link because

Comments

[megalosaurus]

that top link is really interesting...I make comics, and I have this problem where I have a lot of characters I like, and I have little ideas of the kinds of things they would do, but I find myself mainly thinking about how I would like them to interact. Which means that then I struggle to find interesting larger plotlines/main ideas (though I get there eventually) As a result, I'm trying to find a way to make things come easier.

Anyway, what I mean is, I think it's interesting the different ways people work on making stories.

[astaria51]

This is me (mostly). I like developing characters more than plotting and so that's what I do.

Like, right now I'm writing a book, and the thing of it is, the entire plot is driven by the psychological needs/wants/problems of the characters and what happens when they interact.

Thankfully there's a bit of a physical catalyst to make some of said issues more obvious or I feel like I'd just be writing about people doing laundry and making mac and cheese and not getting around to quitting their jobs for HUNDREDS OF PAGES.

[megalosaurus]

I feel like I try to combat this problem by sticking to the plot when I have one, and then missing a lot of chances for random character moments D: I think I need to find a happy medium. Because I LIKE in other things when there's a scene of characters just interacting, but I feel weird writing that into my stories...maybe once I've done something longer it'll feel less like I just derailed the plot for a random scene.

[astaria51]

Yeah, I think part of it is not being too tough on yourself. Write it all in, you can edit it out later - but you might figure out re-reading it or beta-reading it that it's really good. Or maybe it isn't that great, but it tells you something about one of the characters that makes the plot do something different. Sometimes those little scenes are necessary, and you don't always want to get so quickly through the plot.

[megalosaurus]

exactly! this is why I'm going to try writing out a script first instead of writing it as I thumbnail the comic...I think that might give me more ways to fine tune things before I work on the final pages.

[awanderingbard]

I think (it's been a few years since Philosophy class) that's similar to Emile Zola's theory. That if you have real characters and you put them in a situation, they will react like themselves. Like real people would, if they were in those situations. And I find, when I write, sometimes characters will say things that I didn't know they were going to, because they are reacting like themselves.

The fun part for me is seeing those interactions, so it's hard for me to have a really great plot, because I'm sort of like 'who cares why they're doing this, look at them snark!'.

So, I'm in the same boat as you.

[astaria51]

The fun part for me is seeing those interactions, so it's hard for me to have a really great plot, because I'm sort of like 'who cares why they're doing this, look at them snark!'.

This, totally.

[lissa_quon]

Hah, thats sort of my method. Focus on world building and characters and see where that leads.

Its fun but for me it tends to mushroom out as I extrapolate all the possible plots that could come out of this.

Mine was supposed to be a one shot comic...looks like its going to some massive beast thing when I get it cranked up.

[megalosaurus]

yeah! I was doing these short comic assignments for school, and after a while I realized the characters and their situations all sort of felt like they belonged in the same universe, and now I have like, a list of ideas for future stories that are a bit longer, and all sort of interconnected...it's funny how that happens.