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Monthly Archive: January, 2016

January 12, 2016

The Art of the Unlikely Coincidence: Serendipity & Synchronicity in Writing

One of the biggest challenges of writing novels well is tying everything together in a believable way. Part of the difficulty comes from how heavily plots rely on coincidences: little details that seem insignificant at first glance but somehow tie into the resolution. Like life, some coincidence is necessary; however, finding the right amount can be problematic. Too much reliance, and it...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comment: 1
January 11, 2016

Have You Ever Painted Yourself into a Corner?

Or mopped, for that matter. You know, where you don’t think ahead, and by the time you reach the final corner of the room there’s nowhere for you to stand? Let alone get out of that corner without ruining everything you did? Surprisingly (or not), this is a great metaphor for writing: don’t write yourself into a corner. To give...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Creative Process/General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 0
January 10, 2016

Is There a Written Equivalent to a Will Ferrell-Style Movie?

Speaking of humiliating moments, the comedy genre of movies and television seems to have more than its share. Sitcoms always had some, and occasionally romantic comedies do little except go from embarrassing moment to embarrassing moment. But there’s a type of comedy that goes beyond that. I haven’t been able to find a specific name for the type, so the best I can do is say...
Categories General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 3
January 4, 2016

Legendary Heroes: A Fantasy of Poetry & Song

Centuries before books, movies, and electric lighting, people had far fewer options for entertainment in the evening. One major source of entertainment was telling each other stories, stories about exciting adventures and heroes. 9 times out of 10, those stories were told in poetry or song. That’s something we’ve lost. It’s not altogether our fault – it happened before we were...
Categories General Thoughts & Updates/Poetry Comment: 1