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Tapsel, I wouldn't disagree with that.
posted by
word.smith
on November 23, 2005 at 6:30 AM
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word.smith, I personally think that a lifetime of reading sets the pattern in the subconscious mind of the reader so that when he/she writes it comes out rather naturally.
posted by
TAPS.
on November 22, 2005 at 7:35 PM
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I've printed out the first chapter and will be back with you early
in the a.m. tomorrow.
posted by
word.smith
on November 22, 2005 at 5:07 PM
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BTW, Word:
I do hope the Bloggster Reviewers might have some ideas about my novel soon. I would like to keep most of the writing as now presented --WELL, MAYBE I WOULD, OR WILL-- but I would like to shape it toward the Evil Vicki stuff. You can glean this from some of my very loose synopis ideas under "just being helpful" (the title to that has "help" in it anyway , not sure about the other stuff). Basically, Tommy goes crazier from the lack of a life long drug that's taken away, and Vicki takes certain advantages... of course Tommy goes all "ideational" and sees Vicki as a metaphor for Life in terms of Schopenhauer ideas about Life... or maybe Freudian drives. Anyway there's room to play in the mix. Don't know when or if to put in my mysterious investigators. Just What agency are they working for? I think I will have one of the investigators pull a rabbit out of the hat to save Tommy at the end of the novel. Oh, and upfront, chapter one? I have already had some ideas on getting the big MO going sooner..
posted by
Novelvision2020
on November 22, 2005 at 4:38 PM
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Novel, no problem.
That's the thing about us, it is possible for us to take a different route to get to the same place. I agree that it's not necessary to know absolutely everything about a character. There would be no fun in that at all. It's not so farfetched that we use our writing as a way to share our knowledge and what we do with so much variation.
posted by
word.smith
on November 22, 2005 at 4:27 PM
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That's what I was thinking, John.
We are unknowingly absorbing the how to's as we are reading all the stuff we do.
posted by
word.smith
on November 22, 2005 at 4:22 PM
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I read somewhere that there
are only a finite number of plot routes. But, wow, the permutations from page one to the end! Word, I think we have both looked at that same software, but it seems to me more of a way to collect details about a character or around a scene. And why would you need to know everything about every character? Not necessary--necessarily.
I think humanity has a set of templates that we lay over experience to help it make sense. The reason we like stories is because, as humans, we seek meaning.
May I digress into mathematics? There has been this debate. (I doubt its a "raging" debate. Imagine math profs hopping about in a rage. Ha! What a hoot! anyway...) The question goes: Is mathematics "out there" in the world, or is it a projection of the human mind onto "reality"?
For our present discussion about stories, it seems to me that human stories and matters of human meaning are within the latter category: a set of templates for us to project onto a meaningless universe. Sorry, didn't mean to go all ansty on you. Just making a point.
posted by
Novelvision2020
on November 22, 2005 at 4:01 PM
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word
The answer to the question posed by your headline? Yes.
As to the other question, I think the reading of thousands of books must wear a route in our minds which we follow automatically - or do we?
posted by
johnmacnab
on November 22, 2005 at 3:44 PM
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MayB,
What has struck me while thinking about all this is the people who wrote the classics, did fine without any kind of software and I guess that these 'prescibed formulas' for storytelling would have been developed from looking at how they crafted their stories.
Yes, it would be interesting to read something written with and without the software to make a comparison. The software, I think, is more of a guide than anything else, but I understand that there are some that tell you where there are holes in the story.
I like your definition of brilliance. 
posted by
word.smith
on November 22, 2005 at 11:39 AM
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Word.smith, it's very interesting. I'd be curious to read a version without the technology and one which uses it.
As for brilliance, well anyone with an open mind, curiosity and a propensity to work hard for what they want is brilliant.
posted by
Azur
on November 22, 2005 at 11:03 AM
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Awwww Masky,
Thanks for you wonderful comment. 
I have learnt so much during the past year and a half about writing! We're never too old to learn.
posted by
word.smith
on November 22, 2005 at 10:23 AM
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Word.Smith...I love the title of this post. It made me laugh!
According to my desktop dictionary:
brilliant adj sparkling, bright; splendid; very intelligent.
So are you brilliant? Yes, indeed you are. And, are you learning as you go along? Yes, indeed you are. You have obviously paid attention not only to lessons pertaining to the technical side (mechanics) of writing, but you've also carried other writer's talents and secrets to success with you! 
posted by
Masky
on November 22, 2005 at 6:37 AM
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