tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post5612270202882320143..comments2023-08-27T04:22:55.468-07:00Comments on The Literary Lab: What I'm Not Telling YouUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-35649277160440722972011-10-26T10:06:06.645-07:002011-10-26T10:06:06.645-07:00Scott- Thanks. And that was a fun metaphor, becau...Scott- Thanks. And that was a fun metaphor, because while it was a fitting metaphor, it also stands on its own. I loves me some double entendre.<br /><br />I'll also echo Michelle's point about not being able to explain what/why/how I am creating something, I just know when it fells right. I like that better than the times when I know something isn't working but can't pinpoint why.Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-91051690643969963932011-10-26T10:01:30.857-07:002011-10-26T10:01:30.857-07:00It's the Big Thing suddenly seeming insignific...It's the Big Thing suddenly seeming insignificant that kills me every time.Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-12314209931508894072011-10-26T08:38:49.039-07:002011-10-26T08:38:49.039-07:00April: No, thank you!
Deniz: To misquote C.S. Lew...April: No, thank you!<br /><br />Deniz: To misquote C.S. Lewis, we write to know that we are not alone. See Michelle's post from today.<br /><br />Michelle: "Most of the time I can't even explain what I'm doing. I feel it. I know it. I just can't really talk about it." That's me all over. Whenever I try to talk about it I feel like I either make no sense at all or the Big New Thing suddenly seems insignificant. Or it would take so very long to describe the tiny but important shift in my view of writing that the effort doesn't seem worth it.<br /><br />Rick: Your sand sculptures are awesome. The photos you posted on your blog this summer amazed me! Hey, is that a metaphor you're using?scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-26285218477395641402011-10-26T08:11:32.222-07:002011-10-26T08:11:32.222-07:00I like to make sand sculptures at the beach.
A ...I like to make sand sculptures at the beach. <br /><br />A few years ago, I watched another sand artist create some truly amazing sculptures and he told me that wetting down the sand was one of the most important steps, so I started doing that. My sculptures held together much better afterward.<br /><br />I used to rely only on my hands to shape the sculptures. I would start with a large pile of sand, wet and pat it down, and then remove large clumps of sand until I had the right general shape. I used my fingers for detail work. My sculptures looked good, but they were all similar, with smooth surfaces and curves...no sharp angles.<br /><br />Last year I started using putty knives and paint scrapers. These tools allow clean cuts and deep grooves. I opened up a new realm of artwork, with sharp angles. I found out that I can also use the tools to create hatch marks and crosshatch patterns that create shadows on the surface of the sculpture, giving a real boost to the depth and dimension.<br /><br />But that has nothing to do with writing (or does it?)...Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-87624376825320499272011-10-26T07:58:16.366-07:002011-10-26T07:58:16.366-07:00I'm excited about stuff like this, but only be...I'm excited about stuff like this, but only because it means I'm connecting to you on some sort of level I can't even define because I feel exactly the same way: <i>Such, frankly, is increasingly the case these days whenever I feel the urge to talk about writing, which results in a weird state where the better I become as a writer, the less I find I can talk meaningfully about it.</i><br /><br />I've been there for awhile. <br /><br />The same goes for publishing. The more I get into this little publishing world, the more I don't want to talk about it. I was gung-ho about it before, but now, well, I just don't even want to talk about it anywhere or with anyone unless I'm in a room with them and they specifically ask me about it. <br /><br />These types of things just become so personal to me that I have to keep them to myself. My prose is getting that way. Most of the time I can't even explain what I'm doing. I feel it. I know it. I just can't really talk about it, and what would be the point, anyway, besides insightful posts like this where you're dancing around all of it, but talking about it at the same time. Clever you. :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-61794928036996671052011-10-26T06:26:43.641-07:002011-10-26T06:26:43.641-07:00But I *like* it when you share these thoughts - I ...But I *like* it when you share these thoughts - I don't feel quite so alone in my appreciation of nuances of language.Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-7541036128825257472011-10-26T04:53:15.881-07:002011-10-26T04:53:15.881-07:00Wow, what a beautiful post! And how exciting to b...Wow, what a beautiful post! And how exciting to be where you are right now. Thank you so much for that - I think I'm going to have to reread it later when I have more time to digest your words, but they rang true with me even the first time through. They got to me...about how I'd like to write, how I actually do try to write, and how I may improve upon that...thank you.April Plummerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000526454256802504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-9106715572067569312011-10-25T15:32:53.067-07:002011-10-25T15:32:53.067-07:00There is no way to prove that there are actually t...There is no way to prove that there are actually three of us, anyway, so "Davin" might as well get all the credit. He always lies, he always tells the truth, and he always sounds like Elvis.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-81028373323344192652011-10-25T15:13:28.938-07:002011-10-25T15:13:28.938-07:00And, j a zobair, I think it best if you give me cr...And, j a zobair, I think it best if you give me credit for all of the cool posts on this blog, no matter who wrote them.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-67287632815915702062011-10-25T15:12:46.633-07:002011-10-25T15:12:46.633-07:00Three-headed dogs are pretty cool too, especially ...Three-headed dogs are pretty cool too, especially when one always lies and one always tells the truth and one always sounds like Elvis.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-33963485204365791842011-10-25T14:47:24.152-07:002011-10-25T14:47:24.152-07:00Carrie: You are too kind!
I'm working on a me...Carrie: You are too kind!<br /><br />I'm working on a metaphor for writing as fine woodworking, but I don't quite have it yet.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-38863706835005972712011-10-25T14:45:12.657-07:002011-10-25T14:45:12.657-07:00Davin: You and I have talked about your current su...Davin: You and I have talked about your current suspense project, and it really interests me. I also like to set up challenges for myself by deliberately not doing things the "right" way in the formal sense. In my detective book, I've played fast and loose with the rules, but I think the narrative is solid enough that I can get away with my naughtiness. I did a little bit of your "this could be serious...no, it's not" type of threat/resolution. The idea, yes, is to get the reader to stay with you anyway and keep reading. I am annoyed that my local bookstore doesn't have any Banana Yoshimoto on the shelf. I've complained.<br /><br />Tina: I'm not really thinking in terms of POV. I almost never do anymore, because I see POV as a fluid thing. The way I think of it now if more like groups of objects, and how to group the character's present moment with larger maybe eternal or timeless moments outside the story. I also leave sort of placeholders in the first drafts and try to flesh them out in revisions. The revision process becomes more important to me with each book. I think my first drafts are all pretty similiar and they only become unique and reflective of my current ideas about narrative craft during revisions.<br /><br />j.a.: Davin, Michelle and I are all starting to sound alike. I see that as a good thing. Three heads are better than one, you know.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-23592418571665314402011-10-25T14:38:12.097-07:002011-10-25T14:38:12.097-07:00I love that you all get so geeked out about writin...I love that you all get so geeked out about writing! Thanks for sharing - I think it's exciting to see what developments other people are experiencing, especially when it's at such a thoughtful level as here on LitLab.Carrie Callaghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14054716159593704969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-70439721035156579332011-10-25T14:07:02.564-07:002011-10-25T14:07:02.564-07:00"what I wonder is now if you are wedding your..."what I wonder is now if you are wedding yourself to a certain kind of character--the kind of person who sees more"<br /><br />No, I'm not! If I'm good, the "wide world" stuff will not come in the form of observations made by characters. The observations will be made by the author and the reader.scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-34820267965675792192011-10-25T13:59:15.240-07:002011-10-25T13:59:15.240-07:00Whoever wrote it, it's fascinating. (Scott)
T...Whoever wrote it, it's fascinating. (Scott)<br /><br />The idea you paint here is exciting for the reader, too. Because so much, in life really, is missed.<br /><br />But what I wonder is now if you are wedding yourself to a certain kind of character--the kind of person who sees more. Because frankly, I feel like most people I encounter In Real Life miss things, muchly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-341754465863947832011-10-25T13:37:15.807-07:002011-10-25T13:37:15.807-07:00I read this whole post thinking Davin had written ...I read this whole post thinking Davin had written it. Until I saw his comment. And now, whether right or wrong, I have to go read it again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-87178152802125422102011-10-25T12:10:31.465-07:002011-10-25T12:10:31.465-07:00I love the idea of playing with the larger world b...I love the idea of playing with the larger world by using the character's POV. I find this impossible to do in first drafts and often leave "filler" lines like the generic character actions you mentioned. However, in revision, I try to replace these with actions and sequences more relevant to the story and the "larger picture".Tina Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09892617933410379929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-55295736661957431652011-10-25T11:22:34.739-07:002011-10-25T11:22:34.739-07:00Scott, it delights me to read that you are in such...Scott, it delights me to read that you are in such a cool place with your writing now. I also like to hear what a writer happens to be working on at any particular stage. I think I understand some of what you're talking about. What I love about Banana Yoshimoto and Yasunari Kawabata, for example, is that they make me experience a huge world even though they use few details to suggest it. That was my big obsession for a long time. Lately, I feel like I'm working and making progress on playing with reader expectations using timing and surprise. I'm working more on how the story comes out rather than what the story is. In fact, often times I feel like I'm intentionally making the story anti-climactic so that I get the challenge of making it satisfying despite what it's lacking. I have a lot of situations where things threaten to happen but then get resolved rather easily. The threat is fascinating me at the moment, and now I'm rambling.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.com