Creative Writing Class day 4
Sorry these are late. I'm a busy bee. I'll post everything I have eventually though!
Do things in small steps then look back and ask "What did I accomplish?"
Once you have at least 50 pages of a work, get a free lance editor to look at it for you. Ask what your strengths and weaknesses are.
When you write, don't plan too much ahead. Let the character's decide how things go. You may have an idea on what you want to happen, but don't be tied to it. The characters may disagree.
Good transitions are important.
We keep saying the same things, we just write for our generation.
Narrative voice (story voice) - speaking voice telling us what's happening, may be your voice, may not. Could be a minor character
At the beginning the reader should be guessing about the characters.
Voice options:
Listen to the way people speak. Important to have differences with characters.
Jumping from characters minds is ok but don't lose your reader.
Storyteller voice is special. Where you talk directly to the reader about the story. Unique and hard to pull off.
Questions to help you find your narrative voice:
Need to have a sense of where in the story your characters are. Have to determine when your character can tell the story. Someone can't tell you something they haven't experienced.
Study the different voices in what you read from day to day.
If you want to tell your own story, can it with fiction. Easier to step outside the situations. You aren't too close to it and can make characters for the people in your life.
Just more free writing from class with the characters I made up.
I sheathed my sword and panted heavily. Practicing in the courtyard mid afternoon had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, not so much.
I wiped at my brow with my shirt, licking my lips and wishing for a drink of water.
"Did you enjoy your practice, Captain?"
I spun at the voice and only slightly covered my smile. The queen may be a life long friend but propriety must still be followed. I dropped my head before speaking.
"Very much, your majesty. Your highness has the best sword makers in the galaxy."
I couldn't help but glance up, her blush at my lack of clothing making my heart speed up.
"Permission to dress myself your majesty?"
"Granted."
I slipped my shirt over my head and tugged on the leather jacket I'd thrown to the side. As I strapped on the thigh holster for my gun, the queen began to speak again.
"Castle wishes to see you. I think the Anasi are moving towards the east. The air ships will need to deploy soon if we expect to head them off."
I patted the dirt from my hands and ran one hand through my hair. I couldn't hide my frustration. "Sasha, you know they will turn down the treaty. I applaud you for trying but a preemptive move could-"
"No. We have been through this. I will not be the queen who shot first and asked questions later. I will not repeat my wishes again."
I dropped my eyes once more. I was a bit ashamed, having tried to use my friendship to sway her. Once Sasha made her decisions, they were final. Still, I knew I had a special route directly to her ear. "As you wish my queen."
She stepped closer and I could feel her temper lessen. A worried tone entered as she spoke. "Dom...just...just be careful." She touched my hand and turned, making her way back across the courtyard.
I watched her leave, the weariness from what was to come settled in.
Do things in small steps then look back and ask "What did I accomplish?"
Once you have at least 50 pages of a work, get a free lance editor to look at it for you. Ask what your strengths and weaknesses are.
When you write, don't plan too much ahead. Let the character's decide how things go. You may have an idea on what you want to happen, but don't be tied to it. The characters may disagree.
Good transitions are important.
We keep saying the same things, we just write for our generation.
Narrative voice (story voice) - speaking voice telling us what's happening, may be your voice, may not. Could be a minor character
At the beginning the reader should be guessing about the characters.
Voice options:
- "I" voice: somewhat limiting, but very appealing.
- "You" voice: reader identifies, experimental, not popular
- "He/She" voice: many different variations, can be as intimate as "I" voice, most popular fiction voice
Listen to the way people speak. Important to have differences with characters.
Jumping from characters minds is ok but don't lose your reader.
Storyteller voice is special. Where you talk directly to the reader about the story. Unique and hard to pull off.
Questions to help you find your narrative voice:
- Who is speaking?
- When are they speaking?
- Where are they speaking?
- Why are they speaking?
Need to have a sense of where in the story your characters are. Have to determine when your character can tell the story. Someone can't tell you something they haven't experienced.
Study the different voices in what you read from day to day.
If you want to tell your own story, can it with fiction. Easier to step outside the situations. You aren't too close to it and can make characters for the people in your life.
Just more free writing from class with the characters I made up.
I sheathed my sword and panted heavily. Practicing in the courtyard mid afternoon had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, not so much.
I wiped at my brow with my shirt, licking my lips and wishing for a drink of water.
"Did you enjoy your practice, Captain?"
I spun at the voice and only slightly covered my smile. The queen may be a life long friend but propriety must still be followed. I dropped my head before speaking.
"Very much, your majesty. Your highness has the best sword makers in the galaxy."
I couldn't help but glance up, her blush at my lack of clothing making my heart speed up.
"Permission to dress myself your majesty?"
"Granted."
I slipped my shirt over my head and tugged on the leather jacket I'd thrown to the side. As I strapped on the thigh holster for my gun, the queen began to speak again.
"Castle wishes to see you. I think the Anasi are moving towards the east. The air ships will need to deploy soon if we expect to head them off."
I patted the dirt from my hands and ran one hand through my hair. I couldn't hide my frustration. "Sasha, you know they will turn down the treaty. I applaud you for trying but a preemptive move could-"
"No. We have been through this. I will not be the queen who shot first and asked questions later. I will not repeat my wishes again."
I dropped my eyes once more. I was a bit ashamed, having tried to use my friendship to sway her. Once Sasha made her decisions, they were final. Still, I knew I had a special route directly to her ear. "As you wish my queen."
She stepped closer and I could feel her temper lessen. A worried tone entered as she spoke. "Dom...just...just be careful." She touched my hand and turned, making her way back across the courtyard.
I watched her leave, the weariness from what was to come settled in.