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Post by CtraK on Dec 11, 2009 12:32:18 GMT -5
When I write, I'm good at creating characters, dialog, and story, but I'm awful at details. The book I'm working on has chapters that are only a few pages long. Heck, the prologue is the longest chapter thus far, at a whopping 5 pages! I know that I hated reading Stephan King because I felt like I was reading more about 5-page description of chairs and other objects than anything else. However, I seemed to go in the opposite direction. I need to find a happy medium point. Now I think about it, I'm not sure whether or not I'm putting in enough. I have 7,257 words (checked back and found 15 named characters appearing in that time, which could in due course lead to a Gravity's Rainbow level of characterisation), but I'm sure a better writer would probably take 14,000 for the plot so far. I'm not sure whether this is the natural consequence of writing in 1,000-word bits, the quasi-diary format that it's written in, a lack of outside perspective, or if I'm confusing plot with subplot - after all, there is essentially one goal achieved or failed at (it isn't finished yet, so I can't even give a spoiler) across a 23,000 word chapter, and I've stayed true to that so far, and the atmosphere is meant to be one of light paranoia and constant threat. I might just want to finish it first and then sort all this out. 30th Dec postscript: 14,000 words, 20 named characters. Seems less crammed as a result; maybe it's the natural result of exposition.
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Post by Sandafluffoid on Dec 16, 2009 15:17:47 GMT -5
I like writing, but I do suck at it. I can create backgrounds and setting and worlds to set my stories in really easily, I just suck at characters, plots and actually writing in a style better than a five year-old.
Although a succession of English teachers have told me that I am a good poet, it's kind of a shame, because I hate poetry and every poem I have ever written was a sarcastic parody of the pretentiousness of so many poets. I don't think they ever realised that.
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Post by CtraK on Mar 3, 2010 17:30:28 GMT -5
Any, for those with writing difficulties, I'm going to make the suggestion of starting smaller and working upwards. Personal example: I recently quit on a novel and decided on a 10,000-word project, and I reckon it's worked better - certainly it's been more manageable. Whether I'm a decent writer I still have no idea, but hopefully I'll test this at some point. And the whole shebang took weeks rather than months or years (at the glacial pace I write, anyway), so there's a far more immediate payoff in terms of actually having a whole piece to edit.
Anyway, worked for me, is all I'm saying.
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Post by spaniel on Mar 3, 2010 18:10:35 GMT -5
I'm doing practice drawing, but I can't draw hands or muscles.
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Post by yojetak on Mar 3, 2010 18:13:19 GMT -5
I'm doing practice drawing, but I can't draw hands or muscles. all takes practice. Took me 23 years to get to the point where I am now. Be patient and keep going.
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Post by spaniel on Mar 4, 2010 1:43:03 GMT -5
I'm doing practice drawing, but I can't draw hands or muscles. all takes practice. Took me 23 years to get to the point where I am now. Be patient and keep going. That worries me. I'm impatient.
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Post by Nihilist on Mar 4, 2010 1:44:16 GMT -5
all takes practice. Took me 23 years to get to the point where I am now. Be patient and keep going. That worries me. I'm impatient. Keep drawing, have fun while you're doing it. And I got your back
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Post by Thejebusfire on Mar 4, 2010 1:49:28 GMT -5
I'm doing practice drawing, but I can't draw hands or muscles. I have that same problem. I found a step by step tutorial to help me with hands, but I'm still not good at it.
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Post by davedan on Mar 4, 2010 1:51:20 GMT -5
Chin up spanners,
Van Gogh couldn't draw and then he got himself a step by step guide book that he copied out till he could. Then again he was pretty odd...
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Post by DarkfireTaimatsu on Mar 4, 2010 1:54:04 GMT -5
Solution: Draw skeletons wearing mittens. Or Strong Bad.
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Post by spaniel on Mar 4, 2010 2:12:39 GMT -5
Solution: Draw skeletons wearing mittens. Or Strong Bad. But how does he type with boxing gloves on?
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Post by DarkfireTaimatsu on Mar 4, 2010 2:22:56 GMT -5
Solution: Draw skeletons wearing mittens. Or Strong Bad. But how does he type with boxing gloves on?
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Post by yojetak on Mar 4, 2010 10:22:56 GMT -5
Solution: Draw skeletons wearing mittens. Or Strong Bad. But how does he type with boxing gloves on? oh man... I know what I'm doing this morning.
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Post by sugarfreejazz on Mar 4, 2010 11:30:57 GMT -5
I'm doing practice drawing, but I can't draw hands or muscles. There are a couple exercises that can help with that. You can create a "viewfinder", (gray or black board or thick cardstock about 8"x10" with a hole cut into it about 5"x7"), then use it to help frame what you're looking at. You can also divide the view up by adding centered vertical and horizontal strings. Just tape them to the viewfinder. Practice seeing not what you're drawing, but what shapes make up that object. Take photos of your hands for reference or use another source and flip the image upside down. Inverted drawing helps take the focus away from drawing the perfect finger or face to working with the whole image. Make sure not to spend too much time on your initial drawings. You're just learning proportions and shape, detailing can come after you're comfortable. And don't forget to date your work and chart your progress.
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Post by Armand Tanzarian on Mar 4, 2010 11:32:43 GMT -5
My guitar is broken.
If someone will kindly mail me a Fender guitar I'll be eternally greatful.
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