So, I'm working on my story for Fiction Writing class and I'm trying to decide which story I want to workshop. I've narrowed it down to two, but I'm not sure which to submit.
Yeah, unfortunately as much as I like the second story, I don't think the 19-20 year old Idaho guys are going to be able get past the fact that the character's gay. Even if it's just to insist they're “okay” with it, I worry that the whole hour will go to that. Thanks.
Oh, I get it. I'm from Texas; my own family is terrible about it. It's really grating that this stuff is still such an issue in places, but I guess a writing class isn't the best place to tackle that when you're looking to improve, not push an agenda.
Are you allowed to have advice beforehand? Is that cheating? *shifty eyes* 'Cause I was gonna say if you're worried about not holding their interest, why not open up with an attention-grabbing line? Something like: She never imagined becoming a stalker, didn't even realize her actions could be construed as such until she found herself {insert stalkery scene here}, {blah blah a little more lead-in}. It started innocently enough. And then go into the less exciting set-up. That way, your audience knows something interesting is coming; they just have to wait a bit.
I dunno. Something like that. Or not. I'm just over-helpful sometimes and I've never taken a writing class, so take that as you will. :P
Oh, I don't mind over-help, I do it myself :) Right now my opening line is “I think he's a superhero.” Which I like, but we'll see how it works once I finish the entire story.
This is my first writing class and it's been eye opening, mostly because I have a new found respect for fanfic writers. Seriously, the average fanfic writer, with a few stories under her belt, is head and shoulders above the English majors in my class. Turns out, fanfic -is- writing. Who knew?
I think he's a superhero sounds like a pretty effective attention-grabber to me.
Haha, I know what you mean. I've found myself reading a book that's supposed to be really popular for some reason and thought I've read better fanfiction than this! My expectations are so much higher than they used to be thanks to fandom spoiling me.
It's funny, I never really thought about where all the different writing styles/challenges/prompts in fanfic came from, but taking this class has made it clear quite a few come from formal writing exercises. Our prof. will ask something like “has anyone read a story told in the 2nd person?” or “entirely in flashbacks” or “told from the P.O.V. of an object?” and the class will shake theirs heads, except all I can think is, yeah, I've read dozens of fics like that!
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Are you allowed to have advice beforehand? Is that cheating? *shifty eyes* 'Cause I was gonna say if you're worried about not holding their interest, why not open up with an attention-grabbing line? Something like: She never imagined becoming a stalker, didn't even realize her actions could be construed as such until she found herself {insert stalkery scene here}, {blah blah a little more lead-in}. It started innocently enough. And then go into the less exciting set-up. That way, your audience knows something interesting is coming; they just have to wait a bit.
I dunno. Something like that. Or not. I'm just over-helpful sometimes and I've never taken a writing class, so take that as you will. :P
Good luck with it, at any rate.
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This is my first writing class and it's been eye opening, mostly because I have a new found respect for fanfic writers. Seriously, the average fanfic writer, with a few stories under her belt, is head and shoulders above the English majors in my class. Turns out, fanfic -is- writing. Who knew?
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Haha, I know what you mean. I've found myself reading a book that's supposed to be really popular for some reason and thought I've read better fanfiction than this! My expectations are so much higher than they used to be thanks to fandom spoiling me.
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