Posts Tagged ‘advice’

  • Three Most Important Words In Plotting Fiction: Escalation, Escalation, Escalation

    Three Most Important Words In Plotting Fiction: Escalation, Escalation, Escalation

    August 31st, 2010 | The Ramble | terribleminds | 6 Comments

    In fiction, escalation is everything. Understanding escalation gives you a powerful tool in composing a strong plot and driving story: it’s the thing that brings people back to the book, it’s the thing that glues them to the screen, that stops them from changing channels, that keeps them playing the game well past the point of “reasonable time management.”

    Read More

  • Giving Good Criticism

    Giving Good Criticism

    August 30th, 2010 | The Ramble | terribleminds | 20 Comments

    Last week, I said, “You writer types out there should really learn how to take and use good criticism.” Thing is, what we haven’t yet answered is: “Just what the hell is good criticism, anyway?” Answer? I don’t really know. But it’s an important question. A writer doesn’t want you to waste her time, and further, she doesn’t want you to waste your own time, either: hence, any kind of critique has to be useful above all else.

    Read More

  • How To Take Criticism

    How To Take Criticism

    August 23rd, 2010 | The Ramble | terribleminds | 11 Comments

    One day soon — if it hasn’t happened already — someone is going to give you notes, aka “constructive criticism,” regarding one of your latest stories. If you’re like most writers, meaning you’re full of rage and alcohol and a deep well of sadness inside your body that draws everything downward with its indefatigable gravity, this process can be troubling…

    Read More

  • Hate Outlining? Start With A Screenplay

    Hate Outlining? Start With A Screenplay

    August 17th, 2010 | The Ramble | terribleminds | 16 Comments

    I have a solution for you. It’s something I did once, and something I might try again. Fuck the outline. You don’t want to outline. Okay. I can work with that. Write a screenplay instead. No, no, you misunderstand me. I don’t mean “write a screenplay instead of a novel.” I mean, “write a screenplay instead of the novel’s outline.” Here’s why.

    Read More

  • Blu-Ray Is Not A Superhero, Or A Sad Dude Named “Ray”

    Blu-Ray Is Not A Superhero, Or A Sad Dude Named “Ray”

    August 15th, 2010 | The Ramble | terribleminds | 11 Comments

    Quick one this morning: So. Say we got a Blu-Ray player free with our television.Say I wanted to buy a Blu-Ray film.Y’know, something that is equally “awesome movie” and “great-looking” on the tube. What would you buy?

    Read More