On writing,
Which I'm trying desperately to return to.
And on the effective use of summaries and other header elements.
I don't expect anyone to read this. It's a babble written mostly to satisfy my mind so I can go to sleep.
To me, the story is the whole package. What I put in the summary, author's notes, warnings, and title are all meant to be read. They are all a part of it. In my summary I hope to convey a tone, to capture the reader with an emotion or atmosphere that the story conveys that they are interested in experiencing at the moment.
"There's a whole world waiting for Gibbs beyond Mexico and if he won't go to it, it might just come for him."
This was for a slash story I wrote. Essential elements: setting of time and place, main character and hints at another character, the basics of the plot. And, hopefully, mood: that time in Mexico had sort of come to a stop for Gibbs and he was detached from the world. This story is about coming back into line with the bigger world.
I am of the opinion that part of the effect in reading this story is created by reading the summary first. It was created to be part of the story.
This was triggered by someone concerned that people would be mad that she hadn't given away a plot point in her summary. Probably triggered by the summary/warning wars. And I won't read a story without a summary (there are so many to read, that I need a way to narrow them down), but you don't have to give away the story in it. It's a frame. It might give a setting, like when in the show it happens. It should clue you into to a general tone and theme and plot. But that's all.
Her summary, by the way, was perfect. It told me that it was an AU of the Supernatural pilot with a surprise OC accompanying Dean to fetch Sam.
I start off stories in all sorts of ways.
I've started stories with the summary I wanted the reader to see. I've started them with last lines. I've started them with titles, or motifs, or symbols, and then built the rest around that.
The story above started with three things, the summary, two ending paragraphs, and an early set of paragraphs to parallel the end.
But I think probably the tone and mood are essential to my writing process. Writing flows with pace and rhythm once I have that tone and my mood matches it. Then, the expression is (relatively) easy. It's probably why I write short stories. It's hard to maintain that same atmosphere within yourself over time. And I usually write in one sitting and then edit and reedit a dozen times over a longer period.
I think what I want to do now is start experimenting with more complex character, world, and plot creation that involves outlining and a protracted writing period and try to learn how to maintain and reenter atmosphere for myself over a longer time. I want to learn to create a plot that spans at least 100 pages that utilizes every detail written. That dovetails and brings together all these elements and pages and words into a cohesive whole.
I definitely need to find a creative outlet because I am sick of reading and not doing anything is creating writer's block in writing even simple school assignments.
And now my cat has gotten sick of telling me to go to bed (by getting in the way of the screen), and is trying to sleep in awkward and pathetic positions between the keyboard and the monitor so that I won't feel abandoned, even though she needs her sleep.
So, goodnight!
And on the effective use of summaries and other header elements.
I don't expect anyone to read this. It's a babble written mostly to satisfy my mind so I can go to sleep.
To me, the story is the whole package. What I put in the summary, author's notes, warnings, and title are all meant to be read. They are all a part of it. In my summary I hope to convey a tone, to capture the reader with an emotion or atmosphere that the story conveys that they are interested in experiencing at the moment.
"There's a whole world waiting for Gibbs beyond Mexico and if he won't go to it, it might just come for him."
This was for a slash story I wrote. Essential elements: setting of time and place, main character and hints at another character, the basics of the plot. And, hopefully, mood: that time in Mexico had sort of come to a stop for Gibbs and he was detached from the world. This story is about coming back into line with the bigger world.
I am of the opinion that part of the effect in reading this story is created by reading the summary first. It was created to be part of the story.
This was triggered by someone concerned that people would be mad that she hadn't given away a plot point in her summary. Probably triggered by the summary/warning wars. And I won't read a story without a summary (there are so many to read, that I need a way to narrow them down), but you don't have to give away the story in it. It's a frame. It might give a setting, like when in the show it happens. It should clue you into to a general tone and theme and plot. But that's all.
Her summary, by the way, was perfect. It told me that it was an AU of the Supernatural pilot with a surprise OC accompanying Dean to fetch Sam.
I start off stories in all sorts of ways.
I've started stories with the summary I wanted the reader to see. I've started them with last lines. I've started them with titles, or motifs, or symbols, and then built the rest around that.
The story above started with three things, the summary, two ending paragraphs, and an early set of paragraphs to parallel the end.
But I think probably the tone and mood are essential to my writing process. Writing flows with pace and rhythm once I have that tone and my mood matches it. Then, the expression is (relatively) easy. It's probably why I write short stories. It's hard to maintain that same atmosphere within yourself over time. And I usually write in one sitting and then edit and reedit a dozen times over a longer period.
I think what I want to do now is start experimenting with more complex character, world, and plot creation that involves outlining and a protracted writing period and try to learn how to maintain and reenter atmosphere for myself over a longer time. I want to learn to create a plot that spans at least 100 pages that utilizes every detail written. That dovetails and brings together all these elements and pages and words into a cohesive whole.
I definitely need to find a creative outlet because I am sick of reading and not doing anything is creating writer's block in writing even simple school assignments.
And now my cat has gotten sick of telling me to go to bed (by getting in the way of the screen), and is trying to sleep in awkward and pathetic positions between the keyboard and the monitor so that I won't feel abandoned, even though she needs her sleep.
So, goodnight!