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Teskas
Jun 11, 2008 19:46:57 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 11, 2008 19:46:57 GMT -5
Hey, I'll buy it when it comes out. Robi Well, at least with you around, Robi, I know the bookstore won't return every copy to the publisher. Jokes aside, thanks for the encouraging words, Robi. I agree with everything you've said. Actually, while I don't particularly like pulp romance, I know it does give a lot of pleasure to a large group of readers. I did admire the author for getting her work published. Even corny love stories are hard to write convincingly. Now that I know how difficult it is to write a novel, I respect her for what she managed to do. I will keep writing. A lot of this--after the first sparkle of creativity--is just hard graft. Plugging away, sentence after sentence, even when it doesn't seem to be gelling. I'm at the beginning of a novel, and today went back to Jeff's Character Creation for the Plot-first Novelist. I have a protagonist I'm beginning to find intriguing. I thought I knew him well enough. A plot is beginning to come into focus a little. But having gone through Jeff's guidelines, I can see there is still some hard work to put in, to give him an authentic voice. And there aren't any short cuts I can find. So, while I'll still be putting in my minimum daily number of words, I'm going back and writing a thorough profile using Jeff's template. As you say, Robi, our timetable for publishing, if ever, is in God's time, not ours. He loves me, I know, and that's a comfort.
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Teskas
Jun 11, 2008 20:08:53 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 11, 2008 20:08:53 GMT -5
Not to sound like a sycophant, but for those of you who do not know about it, I strongly recommend you acquire Jeff's Character Creation for the Plot-first Novelist software program.
I am a character-driven writer and even so, I find Jeff's program knocks months off the time it takes to develop character. It saves many otherwise wasted hours because it covers all the points one needs to take into consideration when creating a character.
I would add a caveat. There is a lot in the program which links intelligently with another publication, a book by a man named Robert McGee, entitled The Search for Significance. Jeff recommended it in one of his first writing Tips. I think it is a marvelous book, and of every Tip that Jeff has posted, introducing me to McGee was the one for which I am most grateful.
To make the most of Jeff's software program, I strongly recommend you pick up McGee's book as well. Not only will you become a better writer, you will likely find yourself tapping into hidden streams of grace.
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Teskas
Jun 12, 2008 7:34:26 GMT -5
Post by Jeff Gerke on Jun 12, 2008 7:34:26 GMT -5
Wow, Teskas, thanks for the great plugs!
And yes, Search for Significance is incredible. My wife and I are currently taking our pre-teen daughter through it.
If only someone had told me this stuff when I was a preteen...
Jeff
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Teskas
Jun 12, 2008 7:59:28 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 12, 2008 7:59:28 GMT -5
Wow, Teskas, thanks for the great plugs! And yes, Search for Significance is incredible. My wife and I are currently taking our pre-teen daughter through it. If only someone had told me this stuff when I was a preteen... You're welcome, Jeff. And I agree, if only someone had given me McGee's book when I was younger, what a difference it would have made. Thanks for the lead, Jeff.
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Teskas
Jun 12, 2008 12:36:55 GMT -5
Post by rwley on Jun 12, 2008 12:36:55 GMT -5
One of these days, when I actually have some money ( yeah, right) I'm going to get some of those aids that Jeff has produced. Maybe then I can get a handle on some of my characters who really just tend to run off and do exactly what they want in the middle of the story with no thought to what I want them to do. I usually don't have much trouble with plot or character development; I know who they are and where I want them to go, I just don't always know how to get them there. I know the story. I know some of the conflicts they are going to meet along the way. It's just getting it all out there in a readable and sensible manner so that someone else can enjoy the story. But sometimes my characters don't cooperate. They insist on growing and developing their own little quirks. Just like the rest of us. Go figure I've read part of The Search for Significance, but it's been awhile. This is something I try to teach my High School girls at church. To find who they are as individuals in Christ, not in the world. It's a tough row to hoe with all the garbage society throws at them, but I keep pluggin' along. I pray some of it gets through. That's all I can do. That's about all any of us can do that's worth anything. Robi
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Teskas
Jun 13, 2008 8:29:18 GMT -5
Post by Jeff Gerke on Jun 13, 2008 8:29:18 GMT -5
To rwley and others thinking about the money for those character-creation aids, take note! Summer sale, baby. Go to www.WhereTheMapEnds.com and click on the "Store" icon on the left. Jeff
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Teskas
Jun 15, 2008 15:02:00 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 15, 2008 15:02:00 GMT -5
I should have added that Robert McGee has a free video presentation of the subject matter found in The Search for Significance. You can find it at this link. www.mcgeepublishing.com/
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Teskas
Jun 17, 2008 11:09:51 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 17, 2008 11:09:51 GMT -5
#85
Do you ever wonder, when you put something up on a blog, or some thread or other, what other people think of it? I know I do. I read a lot on the Internet, especially here, but often don't comment. Sometimes I don't say anything because somebody else has said it better. Sometimes I don't say anything because I doubt it would be helpful.
That's rather looking at contributions from the inside out. Months ago I put up the opening of a story involving sailing ships. With hindsight, I can now see about a zillion mistakes in the writing, but after it went up, and people contributed helpful comments on the open board, someone sent me a private message. He said he liked the material and hoped I would keep trying with it.
I treasure that message. It was an unlooked for kindness for the man to take the time to sit down and write it, and even though it was sent months ago, it is still reaching out in support. Now and then, for only an instant, I'll remember what he wrote and be buoyed by it. Words are indeed powerful.
Well, why do I bring this up? Because Jeff put up a Tip this week, encouraging us to be teachable. There's been no comment in our Tips thread here on The Anomaly. Maybe there doesn't need to be. I don't know. But it doesn't keep Jeff's Tip from rumbling on in my head. I took up writing again about two years ago after years of absence. Mostly rping. I like rping because it helps with characterisation, and can be fun in the hands of a good gamemaster. And there's a bit of social networking if you get a good bunch of writers together. It is kind of a fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants way to write, though, and not a whole lot of use, if a person wants to settle to something a bit more serious.
Jeff's words this week made me wonder how seriously was I taking this writing business. Of course I want to learn. Sure I'm teachable--if teachable means soaking up all the useful information out there to string words together. But when it comes down to it, teachable is more than that. Christian writing isn't for the Christian, it's for Christ. Teachable means a commitment to master the art, and get the material out there, not just wishful thinking, or something to share with the relatives.
Jeff made me wonder how committed I was to doing this stuff. So I went nosing around WTME and had a hard look at the CWG link. He's right. It is pricey. But, beyond the sticker shock, I looked at the curriculum. Really looked at it. It made me realize there was a lot I didn't know. Two years for the basic curriculum is a long row to hoe, and I'd be only half way along. There's a lot in the syllabus I didn't think applied to me. Lots of journalism. Lots of non-fiction. Areas I don't see myself working in. Or would I?
Then I thought of Jeff's interviews--that's journalism isn't it? And his Tips--that's non-fiction isn't it? Randy Ingermanson does similar things on his site. What are these guys up to? Aren't they just novelists? Clearly, I'm a slow learner if it has taken me the better part of a year to notice these little incidentals.
So thanks to Jeff, I'm wondering what kind of commitment I have to Christian writing. And the words keep rumbling through my head, be teachable.
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Teskas
Jun 17, 2008 12:56:23 GMT -5
Post by rwley on Jun 17, 2008 12:56:23 GMT -5
I hope I will always be teachable. I hope I never get so full of myself that I think I know it all.
Iwould love to join CWG. But there is a difference in being willing and able. When it's a dicey proposition whether the essential stuff is going to get paid, (e.g. mortgage, lights, water, food) I can't responsible spend money on something like that. Much as I would love to be irresponsible and do it anyway. God provides, but He does expect us to be smart about our own position. I have to trust that at some point in my life, I will be able to spend on my education again. Unti then, I make use of places like this and WTME to get what help I can. And I continue to write. A lot. Or a little. But I write.
I want to attend every writer's conference there is; take every class there is; hire a book doctor; hire a publicist; hire a secretary; hire a maid; study at Oxford; finish college; okay, I'm getting silly I know but there are many things I WANT. Very little I actually NEED. I fully believe that when God's time is right, I will be able to do the conferences, take the classes, hire the professionals I need.
Do I take my writing seriously? Oh, yes. Do I want someday to be able to quit my day job and just write? Oh, yes. Is that going to happen soon? Probably not. But that's okay. Someday.
Robi
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Teskas
Jun 17, 2008 14:17:56 GMT -5
Post by Jeff Gerke on Jun 17, 2008 14:17:56 GMT -5
Great conversation, Teskas and Rwley. Thanks for commenting on the tip and taking it seriously.
CWG is a good program, but it is pricey. I know many of the mentors, and I've been one myself. They're good people and they'll give you solid personalized feedback.
Stay tuned for next week's tip, which will at first seem to contradict this week's.
Ah, teasers...
Jeff
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Teskas
Jun 21, 2008 14:50:29 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 21, 2008 14:50:29 GMT -5
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Teskas
Jun 22, 2008 18:24:31 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 22, 2008 18:24:31 GMT -5
Jeff has put up a perfectly rational continuation of the "Be Teachable" tip. There does come a point when a person has to leave the confines of the "classroom" and get out there and do it.
I know I am personally at a turning point where I'm no longer content to be an enthusiastic amateur. I guess this is why I'm paying a lot more attention to advice--because my material isn't publishable. I'm willing to be taught in order to hasten the day when I can plausibly hold out my writing to a reading public.
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Teskas
Jun 26, 2008 16:47:05 GMT -5
Post by Teskas on Jun 26, 2008 16:47:05 GMT -5
Forsooth! Jeff has a new avatar.
Or should I say, Sir Jeff!
Verily, ver(il)y cool.
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Teskas
Jun 27, 2008 7:39:34 GMT -5
Post by Jeff Gerke on Jun 27, 2008 7:39:34 GMT -5
Thanks, Teskas. On the off-chance that someone is interested how I got a 3D model to appear a lot like me, here's what I did. I used a free 3D modeling program called Daz Studio ( www.daz3d.com) for most of the work. The latest update of that program (did I mention it's free?) allows you to use the free version of a plug-in called FaceShop ( www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/itemdetails/-/?item=7273&_m=d). FaceShop takes any photo of a human face and maps it to a 3D model in Daz Studio. After playing around with it a bit I was able to come up with a result I liked. I dressed the figure, put hair on it, posed it, put it in a setting, lit the scene, and rendered it. Then I took the finished render into a PhotoShop-like program to put on some finishing touches. The great thing about this setup (besides that it's all free!) is that you can have a reasonable facsimile of any human you've got a decent photo of now appear as a poseable character inside your 3D worlds. Want to show Hitler sitting down for coffee with Gandhi? You can do it. Want to do one of those Elvis-James Dean-Marilyn Monroe shots? Now it's in your power. Want to bring the Mona Lisa to life? Why not? Or you can do like me and just put yourself into the action. I tell ya, it's a little weird seeing yourself staring back at you from a 3D render you created. Weird but way cool. Jeff
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Teskas
Jul 12, 2008 16:58:48 GMT -5
Post by Divides the Waters on Jul 12, 2008 16:58:48 GMT -5
It's very cool. I may have to tinker with this sometime myself (after learning how to do a webpage, of course). I could digitally create the characters in my story using the likenesses of people I imagined portraying them....
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