Sarah over at Musings of a Steampunk asked me to do a guest blog; a very nice compliment. Check out her blog to follow her journey into the world of a first-time novelist.
Archive for the ‘Creativity’ Category
The “D” word
Posted in Writing, tagged creative writing, discipline, novel writing, Writing, writing schedule, writing techniques, writing tips on 12 Aug 2012| Leave a Comment »
Lessons
Posted in Writing, tagged blogging, creative writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 10 Aug 2012| Leave a Comment »
I’m wrapping up my second month on this blog (boy, do I wish there was another word for this thing; “blog” just sounds so…indiscreet), and I thought it proper to do a little retrospective on the process.
First, a big thank you to all those who have visited, read, and decided to follow this “scream of consciousness.” It’s always humbling (and not a little surprising) when complete strangers from around the world take an interest in what I write. Your attention is noted and greatly appreciated because, after all, writing is only half the process; readers are key. (more…)
File It Under B
Posted in Writing, tagged Clarion, creative writing, novel writing, writers workshops, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 09 Aug 2012| 1 Comment »
Ages ago, when the crust was cooling and TV was funny, there was an episode of M*A*S*H where Hawkeye was looking through the files for the map to the minefield and Radar says it’s right here. Under “B”…for “Boom.”
An acquaintance over on another blog recently told us that she’d joined a writers’ workshop, and my immediate reaction was “Uh oh.” I’ve had some bad experiences with writers’ workshops. While I don’t want to discourage any writer from joining a workshop, they can a minefield. Luckily, I have a map. (more…)
Black Hats
Posted in Writing, tagged Beneath a Wounded Sky, Characters, creative writing, Fallen Cloud Saga, FC:V, novel writing, novels, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 07 Aug 2012| 1 Comment »
I’ve often heard actors say that they really prefer playing bad guys to good guys. Good guys are generally so…good. They’re simple, where bad guys are complicated; straightforward, where bad guys are conflicted.
I can understand this view and, based on how characters are written in most movies these days, I agree with it. In books, though, I think we have to do better than that.
Nothing Doing
Posted in Culture, Writing, tagged quiet living, simplification, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 06 Aug 2012| Leave a Comment »
Frederick the Great is reputed to have said, “If you try to hold everything, you hold nothing.”
He was talking about focus, and applying your effort where it can do the best good, even if that meant you took a hit. This advice, though 200 years old and military in origin, can be applied directly to our lives today.
Yes, I’m talking about multitasking.
Perchance to Dream
Posted in Writing, tagged creative writing, dreams, lucid dreaming, novel writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 03 Aug 2012| Leave a Comment »
Ever have one of those dreams that is has a really great storyline? I don’t mean a cool (but wacko) storyline where you turn into a dolphin and swim to the Peloponnese where you meet Marisa Tomei and—damn, I love that dream…
No, I’m talking about a dream that has a cogent but wild plot, a good theme, and strong structure with rising action and conflict. Ever have one of those? Am I the only one who does a literary post-mortem on his dreams?
Writing Soundtracks
Posted in Writing, tagged Beneath a Wounded Sky, creative writing, Dreams of the Desert Wind, Fallen Cloud Saga, FC:V, Music, novel writing, novels, soundtracks, writing techniques, writing tips on 02 Aug 2012| Leave a Comment »
Before I started to write, I studied music. Classical music, ancient music, and modern; in orchestras (symphonic, chamber, and pit), in bands (marching, symphonic, jazz, and swing), and in trios, quartets, and quintets; as a student, as an amateur, and as a professional; as a violinist, a violist, on the tuba (Sousaphone and miraphone), with bass guitar, on percussion, and as a conductor: I did it all. For the first three decades of my life, music was my sole creative outlet.
When I swapped music for writing, music did not disappear. I brought it with me.
The world is filled with distractions, and it can be a challenge to block them all out so I can concentrate on the world inside my head. Music helps me do that.
Each of my books has a soundtrack. Sometimes it’s related to the subject, building an ethnic backdrop (like the Arabic pop music I played while writing Dreams…) but more often it’s completely unrelated, just providing the beat, the drive, and the mood (like all the Symphonic Metal music I’ve been listening to while writing FC:V). I specifically ignore lyrics—I was never good at picking them out, anyway, so ignoring them works fine. Foreign language and instrumental works are especially well-suited, and movie soundtracks are often the perfect choice, evoking a mood and drama.
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Kurt R.A. Giambastiani 