Recent content by Firekeeper

Music in my world is a strange dynamic, because it's the main magical system. Instead of incantations, melodies are sung or played, and sometimes certain magic depends on certain instruments (for example, a certain healing spell can only be sung, if yu played the same melody on a harp it would...

Om my great goodness that is exactly what I was looking for. All great advice in this thread to be sure, Penpilot's post was really awesome but yours is exactly what I needed; I've googled and googled but could find anything half as good as what has been provided by everyone here.

I know, that's an issue for me. It's so hard to explain, but it's like I'm afraid of the story. I have this fear that I don't have the skill to tell it properly, and you really only get one shot. It's not like an author can publish a story and then rewrite it 20 years later and publish it again...

But...ok like I have a good amount of conflict in my beginnings and endings. I can set up a story really well, I can introduce the characters, set the stakes and draw you into the world. And I can close it out pretty well too; I'm good at setting the stage for the final confrontation, conflict...

I started a thread on that here: http://mythicscribes.com/forums/writing-questions/10823-when-do-you-give-up.html This is the only forum I've ever been on, so wasn't sure how to do this, because it's kind of two different issues, because I do want to know about the three act structure. This...

Is it enough just to know how a story begins and ends? Or should there be a point where you cast it aside because you cannot fill in the middle? For example I have a story I've been working on for two years, I know exactly how it begins, and I know exactly how it ends. I've built the world for...

I've heard of it, but have no clue how to use it. I know it goes setup, build-up, payoff, something like that, but how do you know when to end each act, how long should each act be....that kind of thing. I think learning how to use it would help solve my issue of being able to create good...

I still have not yet played Skyrim, though I want to. I got burned out on consoles after having two 360's die on me within the course of a year. I know they have been made to where they don't crap out like that anymore, but I'm still apathetic. I'll probably get another one though eventually...

Agreed. He can be a total wretch, but as long as there are parts of him that readers can relate to, or at the very least understand, you'll be ok. You could also give him a flaw or two, just to humanize him. He could be a compulsive gambler; he could be terrible at the games he plays but thinks...

Good question. Personally, I see this as a place where we all share the same dream, and will help each other attain that dream if we can. If I can somehow offer a tidbit that helps someone along the way, I want nothing in return. I would like for that writer to stick around and continue to offer...

I'm a big believer in that you don't choose the stories you write, they choose you, at least to a certain degree. It sounds to me like this story has taken a life of its own and is guiding you, rather than you guiding it. That is quite an achievement and one that not many writers experience...

Yeah, that's a big thing I'm working on: not working in linear fashion. I get stuck in that rut, feeling like I can't work on a scene in chapter 8 when chapter 3 still needs to be finished up and polished. I have to constantly remind myself of that And I think that's what I was meaning here...

Powerful stuff here, and it hits home. Yes, I want to be a published author. I really like what was said about feeling like crap when you don't write something, which is basically me when I don't write. Yeah, sitting around waiting for inspiration to strike is at least partly just an excuse to...

This has always been a huge issue for me, because I know where I want my story to go and I know how I want it to get there, but I can go weeks without writing. So....my question: Should you force yourself to sit down and write, or wait until the mood strikes? Will the material be bland and...

Definitely worth the effort, but it's something I could never do. I'm a totally character-driven writer, if you don't like my characters you won't like my work. In fact, I'm often forced to find plots for characters I create, not the other way around.