writing techniques | Kurt R.A. Giambastiani

Posts Tagged ‘writing techniques’

Extended Metaphor #1

Posted in Culture, Writing, tagged clustering, creative writing, extended metaphors, metaphors, novel writing, right brain thinking, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 16 May 2013| 2 Comments »

As part of my natural writing exercises, I’ve been encouraging my right brain to “do its thing.” As a result, I’ve noticed a growing number of metaphors and some interesting imagery creeping into my day.

Yesterday, I watched an interesting video about metronomes and a striking metaphor came to my mind.

The video shows 32 metronomes (for you non-musical types, they’re the little tick-tock timekeepers musicians often use to keep a steady beat), and the videographer starts them all out of synch. The sound is a chaotic rush of ticking, like a river of hazelnuts clattering downstream. Now, if the metronomes had been on a table or other solid, static surface, they would continue this way, but the videographer has put them on a moveable surface (it looks like a suspended sheet of foam rubber). As each metronome swings its arm and counterbalance, a tiny amount of its force is imparted to its neighbor. The result was fascinating.

It’s only 4 minutes long, and rather mesmerizing in its way.

Go. Watch it. I’ll wait. (more…)

Read Full Post »

XX vs XY

Posted in Culture, Writing, tagged building believable characters, Characters, creative writing, differences between men and women, female character, gender and friendship, mannerisms, men and women, novel writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 02 May 2013| 2 Comments »

When I build my characters, I like a full picture. As I practice this craft, I get better at it. My pictures are more complete each time, and one reason for this is Observation.

Observation teaches two things. First, it shows me actual characteristics, physical and mental, that I can use to build my characters. Appearances, mannerisms, vocal traits, behaviors, they all add to a complete portrait. The second thing observation teaches is types. Yes, I’m sorry to say, but people generally can be classed into types.

Understanding types is important because, when I go against type, I want to know it.

Example: by and large, men are more into sports than women. Yes, I know…some women are sports nuts and I’m not saying they aren’t; I’m saying that, in general, men are more likely to have an interest in sports than women. So, will I never write a female character who’s into sports? No, I might do that in this next book. But if I do, I need to know that the characteristic puts the character in the minority. Why? Because if a character is in the minority of her peers, that might shape her, one way or another.

To this point, an interesting characteristic has been discussed on a couple of boards. It’s a characteristic I hadn’t thought of before, but it’s an important one. I’d like to share it with you, and get your feedback.

It has to do with men and women and the friends they have. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Doggerel Day Afternoon

Posted in Writing, tagged clustering, creative writing, doggerel, poem, Poetry, Writing, writing techniques on 30 Apr 2013| 4 Comments »

Over the weekend, I experimented with the “clustering” technique, with mixed success.

It is a great idea generation tool, and similar to Ray Bradbury’s morning word association ritual, can seemingly bring something out of nothing. It needs a seed, a kernel from which to grow, so it’s not literally “from nothing,” but that kernel can just be the first word that pops into your head. I’ve had success before, born of this sort of free-wheeling (my Ploughman Chronicles started from just such a random idea generation technique), but what clustering provides is a definite method.

Another way I found it of use is in focusing and honing an idea I already had. I used it when I created “25 Hz,” posted yesterday. I already had the idea, born of a crappy mood and a little cat therapy, but didn’t know exactly what I wanted to say. Clustering around the word “purr” gave me a page of word associations and–to my surprise–almost all of them appeared in the short poem.

However, there was one area in which I found clustering to be of no use whatsoever: Rhyming.

Yesterday, I got the bit of doggerel stuck in my head. I knew the start. I knew the finish. I just needed help with the in-between bits, all of which needed to fit in with a strict meter and rhyming scheme. Here, clustering failed me, utterly. To finish, I had to resort to an old school method; I slept on it.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Dear Left Brain: STFU

Posted in Writing, tagged clustering, creative writing, idea generation, natural writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 26 Apr 2013| 5 Comments »

Yesterday I tried the “clustering” technique for the first time. I was not pleased.

“Clustering” is an idea generation technique where you start with a core idea in the center (the nucleus), and start jotting other notions around it. This sort of random, free-association is what the right-brain does best, and clustering is a way to do that without the left-brain getting in the way.

In the book (Writing the Natural Way), Rico tells of how easily people fall into the technique of clustering, how even second graders are able to generate story ideas using it. It’s the “rare individual,” she says, who has problems with it.

Meet a “rare individual.” (more…)

Read Full Post »

Ray and Me

Posted in Writing, tagged brainstorming, clustering, creative writing, gabriele rico, generating ideas, novel writing, ray bradbury, word association, Writing, writing techniques, writing the natural way, writing tips on 25 Apr 2013| 4 Comments »

Stack of Books I am setting aside work on my new novel.

If you have a problem with this, take it up with Ray Bradbury.

Some comments on a recent post of mine got me thinking, and I went to get my copy of Dandelion Wine. I hadn’t read it for a long, long (loooong) time; such a long time, in fact, that I’m really a completely different person, and I knew I’d enjoy it more. I’ve always liked Ray’s stories–he and Roger Zelazny were the major influences on my decision to attempt writing, myself–so, an indulgence. I opened the book and began to read.

I didn’t make it past the foreword. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Maintain an Even Strain

Posted in Culture, Writing, tagged blogging, creative writing, novel writing, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 19 Apr 2013| 3 Comments »

It’s been a difficult week for us all, and continues to be so–nowhere more so this morning than in Boston. In reaction I’ve tried to “Keep calm and carry on” by doing normal things and moving forward with projects. I’ve been able to push the line forward a little in some areas: with this blog, with my gardens, and with the new novel. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Overthink Much?

Posted in Writing, tagged blogging, creative writing, editing, novel writing, novels, Writing, writing techniques, writing tips on 16 Apr 2013| 12 Comments »

Is there anything more desperate than an unpublished writer?

I’ve been participating in some of the writers’ group discussions over on LinkedIn and I swear, never have I seen so many people trying to augur the entrails of the publishing world, never have I read so many vaunted “rules” of writing, and never have I heard so much illogical “advice.” Never.

And yet, I understand it. I understand it all. (more…)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Kurt R.A. Giambastiani

Words and Works from a Seattle Author

Posts Tagged ‘writing techniques’

Extended Metaphor #1

XX vs XY

Doggerel Day Afternoon

Dear Left Brain: STFU

Ray and Me

Maintain an Even Strain

Overthink Much?

Join the Hive-Mind

Recent Activity

That’s What I’m Talkin’ About

Words and Works from a Seattle Author

Posts Tagged ‘writing techniques’

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Rate this:

Pass it on:

Join the Hive-Mind

Recent Activity

That’s What I’m Talkin’ About