tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post7487650312431727176..comments2023-10-15T04:48:05.528-04:00Comments on Free the Princess: Diagramming a SceneMatthew Delmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-56200125569535126402010-03-26T13:21:05.459-04:002010-03-26T13:21:05.459-04:00Really useful info here. I recently started to do ...Really useful info here. I recently started to do a similar thing while doing a revision of my WIP. I was using a technique I learned while studying acting: the old "what's my motivation?" thing. It's the best way to fix a scene that's not working (or figure out if it's necessary.) Maybe your system is too left-brained for a first draft, but it's pure brilliance for revisions. Thanks! Sierra Godfrey posted this link. I'm glad I found your blog.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-1947275456835668142010-03-22T20:36:56.143-04:002010-03-22T20:36:56.143-04:00I'll second Adam's rec for OSC's How t...I'll second Adam's rec for OSC's <i>How to Write Science Fiction...</i>. It was one of the first "books on writing" that I read. However, I'd say it's a general overview, not the nitty gritty stuff. STILL, it's Orson Scott Card...!Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-15126416797975140892010-03-22T20:14:39.867-04:002010-03-22T20:14:39.867-04:00Sounds like a lot of work. I think I'll try it...Sounds like a lot of work. I think I'll try it.<br /><br />You know, Orson Scott Card does have a couple (really good) books of advice on writing: <i>Characters and Viewpoints</i> and <i>How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy</i>.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-26262097976427442882010-03-22T15:12:44.828-04:002010-03-22T15:12:44.828-04:00My list of scene analysis topics even dwarfs that....My list of scene analysis topics even dwarfs that. But that's a good place to start.Andrew Rosenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09215333688753781447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-76382916592293333132010-03-22T14:15:18.729-04:002010-03-22T14:15:18.729-04:00Strangely, it depends on the scene/chapter. I have...Strangely, it depends on the scene/chapter. I have very specific diagrammed purposes for some chapters (in my head, or free form written down), and others have more of an intuitive feel of how it <i>starts</i> and then I just need to write to see where it goes. This is all on the rough draft, of course. I can see diagramming on the post-processing end, as Bane says, helping to shape up a flabby or meandering scene.<br /><br />Thought provoking, as always!Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-59366512444719760452010-03-22T12:47:22.567-04:002010-03-22T12:47:22.567-04:00It is so time consuming, but it is worth it in the...It is so time consuming, but it is worth it in the end. By applying what I learned from Mr. Maass, my scenes are leaps and bounds better than what they were before. I'm excited to begin my next project because I know that my scenes will be much tighter the first go around.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-71222577967540877842010-03-22T12:41:31.259-04:002010-03-22T12:41:31.259-04:00External diagramming's hard for me, but I do l...External diagramming's hard for me, but I do lots of internal iterative diagramming on the post-processing side.Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-89816670282515319312010-03-22T11:54:50.877-04:002010-03-22T11:54:50.877-04:00I have a general outline in my head and let my cha...I have a general outline in my head and let my characters steer me to the important plot points. I do a lot of brainstorming out loud and can spend hours figuring out how the pieces fit together, but I actually like it that way-- it's like putting together one big puzzle!L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5927870683677181756.post-35142732942058987532010-03-22T08:31:58.746-04:002010-03-22T08:31:58.746-04:00It's said that when they were making the movie...It's said that when they were making the movie Marathon Man, Dustin Hoffman at one point went without sleep for several days, because that's what his character did, and he wanted to get the effect right.<br /><br />Sir Laurence Olivier sniffed, "Good God man! Why don't you try acting?"<br /><br />Detailed preparation sucks the life out of whatever I write. I did a scene the other day that (very unusually) came out well on the first pass, and I had <i>no idea</i> about the twist one of the characters was about to produce until I wrote it.<br /><br />There is one book on organising your writing that I do recommend though, and it's Jack Bickham's <i>Scene and Structure</i>.Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.com