tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post4351217622165739837..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Discussion: What Do You Love to Write About?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-62450731704359879052012-12-07T07:23:58.846-08:002012-12-07T07:23:58.846-08:00I also found it really interesting to see how many...I also found it really interesting to see how many writers mentioned finding that what they thought they would enjoy writing is actually different from what they enjoy writing. We surprise even ourselves, at times. :) <br /><br /><br />I think it's great that you never fell into the trap of writing for the market--it's something that befalls more than a handful of writers, so it's good to see that you avoided that completely. <br /><br /><br />And I agree with dialogue being entertaining to write. I didn't mention it in the post because I hadn't thought of it while writing, but I too find that dialogue and back-and-forth banter can be very enjoyable to write.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-50231527042996841112012-12-07T07:20:09.531-08:002012-12-07T07:20:09.531-08:00I thought the Bradbury quote was particularly powe...I thought the Bradbury quote was particularly powerful and I knew I had to use it as soon as I saw it. You're also absolutely right about having to love your work first before you can expect anyone else to. <br /><br /><br />Moral dilemmas and putting the pressure on are both great ones. Thanks for sharing, Nickie!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-39761935663819927522012-12-07T07:06:54.899-08:002012-12-07T07:06:54.899-08:00Dogs! That's funny, as much as I love animals,...Dogs! That's funny, as much as I love animals, I've only included them in my work maybe...twice? Not very much, that's for sure. Very interesting. <br /><br /><br />Snarky and smart characters are also very fun. Thanks for sharing, Jen!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-806786383323098972012-12-07T07:05:36.824-08:002012-12-07T07:05:36.824-08:00I think when people forget to write from their pas...I think when people forget to write from their passion, it's often because they start writing for the market instead (which is a losing battle 9/10 times). <br /><br /><br />I love that you mentioned forgiveness and reconciliation--two very powerful themes. What it means to be human is an interesting (and deep) one as well. Great list, Larry. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-64019793241149668742012-12-07T07:02:01.143-08:002012-12-07T07:02:01.143-08:00You're not the first to say that you're so...You're not the first to say that you're somewhat surprised by what you like writing (as it's different from what you thought you'd like), which I find really interesting. I also think that love and relationships (in all of their forms) are wonderful topics to focus on, and when done correctly can really add a lot of depth to a story. Thanks for sharing, Austin!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-37392186069780770802012-12-07T03:56:37.073-08:002012-12-07T03:56:37.073-08:00These comments are really thought provoking. It...These comments are really thought provoking. It's interesting to see that some commenters were surprised at what they actually enjoy writing.<br /><br />I don't think I ever set out to write a particular genre and certainly didn't care about "what was trending at the time" (which incidentally was the dawn of the dystopian genre revival). In fact, my original notes show that I began with a high fantasy story set around the seventeenth century. My current WiP borders on gaslamp and urban fantasy and is set in the late nineteenth century English countryside.<br /><br />Like many other commenters, I love dialogue. I'm telling the story of two sisters, so writing their banter is probably one of the highlights of writing.Khaihttp://twitter.com/virtuefictionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-66924781658318810212012-12-07T02:36:19.858-08:002012-12-07T02:36:19.858-08:00That's a really interesting point you raise, b...That's a really interesting point you raise, because you're right--what we like to write and what we like to read isn't always exactly the same. I find I also really enjoy poetic prose, but when I try to write it, it comes out <i>way</i> too purple and...quite frankly not as poetic as it seemed in my head when I wrote it. :) <br /><br /><br />I've also found that dialogue and action scenes can be very entertaining to write. Thanks for sharing, AJ!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-80392887796079809452012-12-07T02:36:02.634-08:002012-12-07T02:36:02.634-08:00Great list, Kyle! I absolutely agree that emotiona...Great list, Kyle! I absolutely agree that emotional stories are particularly powerful--both to write and read. Depth and flaws are also very important for character development, so those are great additions as well. <br /><br /><br />And I think any story that makes you stop and think is fantastic. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-69758509829017684372012-12-06T05:04:17.107-08:002012-12-06T05:04:17.107-08:00I love that Bradbury quote. You're right, it&#...I love that Bradbury quote. You're right, it's so important to write what you love (if you don't love it, who will?)<br /><br />I love writing about moral dilemmas, and how different people faced with the same problem will react differently. I love putting characters under pressure and seeing how they respond!Nickie McCallhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=683540430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-90495831634154640102012-12-05T18:34:50.968-08:002012-12-05T18:34:50.968-08:00I've found that dogs tend to creep into my wri...I've found that dogs tend to creep into my writing. I also like snarky and especially smart characters who are possessed of random niche knowledge.Jen Donohuenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-8599682341214199232012-12-05T18:24:14.654-08:002012-12-05T18:24:14.654-08:00Most every how-to book on writing stresses this--t...Most every how-to book on writing stresses this--to write from one's passion. I always thought this was needless advice. Why would anyone not write about what they love? I suppose there really are other motives for writing, and maybe we all need to be reminded of that. Well, maybe I just think I want to write science fiction because I love to read it so much. The themes I love to weave into my stories are forgiveness and reconciliation, exploring the secret side of personalities--loneliness, perfectionism, the hidden dreams. Philosophy and speculation about the meaning of the universe and what it really means to be human are recurrent themes to explore. Speculative fiction offers a wide open platform to discover all of these and more.Larry Wilsonhttp://www.facebook.com/larry.wilson.7370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-82968786970749812192012-12-05T16:35:14.221-08:002012-12-05T16:35:14.221-08:00I think it's pretty near impossible to write w...I think it's pretty near impossible to write without incorporating bits of yourself into it--it's your creation and it's only natural that you would have some part of yourself reflected in your work. Definitely not a bad thing, IMO.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-45666729152709887602012-12-05T16:34:11.939-08:002012-12-05T16:34:11.939-08:00Your characters sound eccentric and fun--both to w...Your characters sound eccentric and fun--both to write and read. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-87297022173297334492012-12-05T16:33:39.547-08:002012-12-05T16:33:39.547-08:00Parallel worlds and alternate realities! Both are ...Parallel worlds and alternate realities! Both are very cool concepts, and I completely understand enjoying to experiment with them. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-87731763896908553702012-12-05T16:32:46.209-08:002012-12-05T16:32:46.209-08:00I also have the same experience with dialogue--get...I also have the same experience with dialogue--getting your characters to talk is a great way to get to know them.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-71231166191478291722012-12-05T16:32:00.273-08:002012-12-05T16:32:00.273-08:00I usually find that it's easiest to let the di...I usually find that it's easiest to let the dialogue flow without worrying about the importance of what's said in the first draft, then refining it in later drafts. It's usually easier to cut and tweak than it is to add later on.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-44289386552415595392012-12-05T16:30:52.361-08:002012-12-05T16:30:52.361-08:00Sure thing, Andi! I also find that I enjoy writing...Sure thing, Andi! I also find that I enjoy writing dialogue, so my first drafts tend to be pretty dialogue heavy. Back and forth banter never gets tiring to write. :)<br /><br /><br />Best of luck with your outlining!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-6907233926864839672012-12-05T14:01:46.215-08:002012-12-05T14:01:46.215-08:00It's funny, what I actually write compared to ...It's funny, what I actually write compared to what I think I like to write about are totally different. I always think I like to write fantastical action and sweeping, epic landscape. But no matter what I genre I'm writing or POV or whatever, I always end up focusing (and loving) on character development, altering world-views, and love, romantic and platonic. Love, it seems, is especially a big subject for me in poetry and prose. I actually seem to focus less on romance as I do with other relationships. Craft-wise I love writing dialogue; something about two characters talking and making it sound real, but knowing that real conversations sound dumb on paper, gets my creative bones burning.Austin Halsellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-51396367797977435962012-12-05T13:50:39.870-08:002012-12-05T13:50:39.870-08:00It's funny, I was just talking about this with...It's funny, I was just talking about this with a friend, and I was saying that I'm surprised by my own agility with action and dialogue scenes. I never expected to enjoy writing these. I LOVE reading moody, heavy, poetic, thoughtful prose-y books, so when I set out to write, this was what I was going for. But I really suck at it! I love writing the dialogue, I'm always surprised by where it takes me. And I love writing action/fight scenes, where I can really 'see' what my characters are made of. These scenes are what get me through the 'sequels' that I find rather laborious...AJ Bradleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-6407333754583949262012-12-05T13:43:22.914-08:002012-12-05T13:43:22.914-08:00I really like stories about deeply flawed and comp...I really like stories about deeply flawed and complex characters, who act differently and unpredictably with every obstacle thrown in their way.<br /><br />I like stories that aren't afraid the give me a gut punch emotionally. The Walking Dead Episode Five? Man, now that is an emotional story right there. ;(<br /><br />I also try to give my characters a lot of depth, and as I said before, flaws. I write what I like in a story, and I like characters that suffer from emotional pain. It makes them more sympathetic to me.<br /><br /><br />And last but not least, I love complex stories that make me think. :)Kyle van Rensburghttp://www.facebook.com/kyle.vanrensburg.35noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-7148956557872770752012-12-05T13:28:43.956-08:002012-12-05T13:28:43.956-08:00My hubz says I'm good at it, but I don't k...My hubz says I'm good at it, but I don't know how valid that is, LOLZ! The conversations seem natural when I read them, which is cool. But as far as how important the exchanges themselves are... well... I don't know about that. I can say, I learn more about my characters from their unscripted chatter than from outlining them. They reveal history and quirks and other secrets that I never would have thought of on my own. Guess my stories are more character-driven than plot-driven. Not sure this is a good thing or not, but it's a place to start, at any rate! :)Andi-Roohttp://www.theworld4realz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-63331623994138574472012-12-05T12:17:26.098-08:002012-12-05T12:17:26.098-08:00Aside from animals in my picture books, I like to ...Aside from animals in my picture books, I like to write about people's weaknesses or feelings of inadequacy. I think a lot of myself comes out in my writing. Not sure if that's good or bad sometimes.Renanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-27134442674382201762012-12-05T11:59:36.915-08:002012-12-05T11:59:36.915-08:00My favourite part of writing is the characters. Th...My favourite part of writing is the characters. Their development, their dialogue, their meetings together. I love to write about really weird, extroverted characters that have orange fuzzy llama slippers (fact: I actually have a character like this) and that declare Mondays as Wear Pyjamas Outside days. Characters are my favourite :)Emily Meadhttp://twitter.com/theloonytuneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-63024967599978662732012-12-05T11:55:45.874-08:002012-12-05T11:55:45.874-08:00I find writing dialogues very difficult. I always...I find writing dialogues very difficult. I always question myself as to the importance of what is said in relation to the plot...Stephanie Noëlhttp://www.facebook.com/kanmurinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-17622854626211713842012-12-05T11:54:28.215-08:002012-12-05T11:54:28.215-08:00I like to write about entirely different world tha...I like to write about entirely different world that are often parallel to our own. I also like to created alternate futures, using what if questions. My characters are often faced with complex problems and I like to explore human emotions. I like to write epic stories.Stephanie Noëlhttp://www.facebook.com/kanmurinoreply@blogger.com