|
|
Post by Char-Vell on May 11, 2021 15:51:51 GMT -5
High praise indeed! If I have a talent, it's for picking the right people to ape.
I've immersed myself in Howard, Lovecraft, Smith and Moorcock for years, but I didn't dive into Vance until relatively recently. This very day I finished re-reading Vance's Planet of Adventure, which I find delightful. Surprisingly I didn't get jazzed by the Dying Earth stuff as much.
Anyway, Thanks!
You know, the above may be construed as a form of " writing advice". Being influenced by what you read is unavoidable, but exercise creativity when blending your influences into something resembling your own voice?
|
|
|
|
Post by scottoden on May 11, 2021 18:48:00 GMT -5
"You know, the above may be construed as a form of " writing advice". Being influenced by what you read is unavoidable, but exercise creativity when blending your influences into something resembling your own voice?"
Not bad advice, at all (says the guy who has made a career out of aping REH and adding bits of original voice).
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on May 12, 2021 8:26:26 GMT -5
It's been said that one of the most important things for a writer is to find their own voice. Elsewhere it was said that a writer's voice should be instinctive, that they should not be conscious of their own voice or they can end up aping or even parodying themselves. ERB is believed by some to have been pastiching himself in some of his later works.
|
|
|
|
Post by darthgall on May 13, 2021 8:39:16 GMT -5
"You know, the above may be construed as a form of " writing advice". Being influenced by what you read is unavoidable, but exercise creativity when blending your influences into something resembling your own voice?" Not bad advice, at all (says the guy who has made a career out of aping REH and adding bits of original voice). Do you guys have techniques you use to "ape" a writer you like? One thing I've found myself doing: if I read a book that I fall in love with, I usually re-read it and make an outline. I think there's value in figuring out plot structure so I can build similar story scaffolding. For example, if one wanted to write a James Bond-esque script, there's value in taking a few Bond films and breaking down: how many countries does he visit? HOw many fights and chases? How many main characters & supporting characters? Etc. |
|
|
|
Post by Char-Vell on May 13, 2021 9:17:52 GMT -5
"You know, the above may be construed as a form of " writing advice". Being influenced by what you read is unavoidable, but exercise creativity when blending your influences into something resembling your own voice?" Not bad advice, at all (says the guy who has made a career out of aping REH and adding bits of original voice). Do you guys have techniques you use to "ape" a writer you like? One thing I've found myself doing: if I read a book that I fall in love with, I usually re-read it and make an outline. I think there's value in figuring out plot structure so I can build similar story scaffolding. For example, if one wanted to write a James Bond-esque script, there's value in taking a few Bond films and breaking down: how many countries does he visit? HOw many fights and chases? How many main characters & supporting characters? Etc. With me it's not so structured, I pick words and phrasing to make passages read more "weird fiction" to me, or i'll start out with an idea like: "I want to write a story that makes me feel like I do when I read Red Nails." or "this villain needs to make a crazed speech like Kevin Sullivan from Florida wrestling". |
|
|
|
Post by scottoden on May 13, 2021 10:44:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on May 13, 2021 16:34:50 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by themirrorthief on May 14, 2021 23:48:33 GMT -5
I no longer try to write but there seems to be some good advice in this thread
|
|
|
|
Post by Von K on May 17, 2021 11:22:22 GMT -5
Anyone interested in dividing things up into separate sections for discussion? Say examining Swords and Sorcery Characters, Settings, Conflicts, Themes and Styles. Or discussing how S+S is distinct from Historical Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Grimdark or Noblebright?
|
|
Owen
Wanderer
Posts: 24
|
Post by Owen on May 17, 2021 18:48:21 GMT -5
Anyone interested in dividing things up into separate sections for discussion? Say examining Swords and Sorcery Characters, Settings, Conflicts, Themes and Styles. Or discussing how S+S is distinct from Historical Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Grimdark or Noblebright? I like your idea of subsections based around story structure, I think those are all important areas you've got there. If I may offer a novice's suggestion, a section dedicated "Plot" would be helpful, although that might dovetail into "Conflict." Maybe Plot & Conflict? |
|
|
|
Post by Von K on May 18, 2021 15:58:29 GMT -5
Anyone interested in dividing things up into separate sections for discussion? Say examining Swords and Sorcery Characters, Settings, Conflicts, Themes and Styles. Or discussing how S+S is distinct from Historical Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Grimdark or Noblebright? I like your idea of subsections based around story structure, I think those are all important areas you've got there. If I may offer a novice's suggestion, a section dedicated "Plot" would be helpful, although that might dovetail into "Conflict." Maybe Plot & Conflict? You're right, probably better to just call it Plot I guess, don't know why I changed it to conflict. The five classical aspects of fiction are Plot, Character, Setting, Theme and Style. I love Leigh Brackett's description of a pulp plot: "Plot is people. Human emotions and desires, founded on the realities of life, striking against each other hotter and fiercer until finally there's an explosion. That's Plot." Also lines up with the Greek "Character is Destiny" and author Jim Butcher's belief that "Plot and Character cannot be usefully separated." |
|
|
|
Post by darthgall on May 19, 2021 10:39:05 GMT -5
I like your idea of subsections based around story structure, I think those are all important areas you've got there. If I may offer a novice's suggestion, a section dedicated "Plot" would be helpful, although that might dovetail into "Conflict." Maybe Plot & Conflict? You're right, probably better to just call it Plot I guess, don't know why I changed it to conflict. The five classical aspects of fiction are Plot, Character, Setting, Theme and Style. I love Leigh Brackett's description of a pulp plot: "Plot is people. Human emotions and desires, founded on the realities of life, striking against each other hotter and fiercer until finally there's an explosion. That's Plot." Also lines up with the Greek "Character is Destiny" and author Jim Butcher's belief that "Plot and Character cannot be usefully separated." Dog Brothers, I can get behind this! And I'm pleased there's so much appetite! I'd propose for continuity whoever starts the next one name it: "Writing Sword & Sorcery - Plot" This one could be kept as an umbrella or "etc." board for other topics that don't fit in 5 aspects threads... |
|
|
|
Post by Von K on May 19, 2021 18:30:35 GMT -5
|
|
Owen
Wanderer
Posts: 24
|
Post by Owen on May 26, 2021 21:36:04 GMT -5
I watched this video the other day, very informative! More geared towards science fiction, with only a brief mention of Conan and fantasy generally, but a lot of the principles for plotting seem applicable.
|
|
|
|
Post by Char-Vell on Jun 20, 2021 7:58:37 GMT -5
How do you guys feel about intensive research for historical or quasi historical s&s? I find that out of hours of looking up timelines and whatnot,very little makes it on the page. I suppose I mainly do it to avoid making some wildly inaccurate anachronism.
|
|
