While Gen Con is mostly dedicated to nerd games, the convention also offers a variety of writing workshops. Topics range from writing your own role playing game to building characterization in short stories. Likewise, their quality ranges depending on the day.
However, one quote still sticks out in my mind: "Everything sounds stupid in summary." At the time, the speaker was railing against summarizing your story when submitting it to a professional editor. As an example, he summarized Moby Dick. "A whale eats a guy's leg and the guy follows the whale around forever."
Pete's example went like this:
Pete: I found this great new show.
Guy: Oh really? What is it?
Pete: Angel.
Guy: What is it about?
Pete: A vampire...that...fights crime.
Thus, I have two questions for you: (1) do any of you have a version of this story[?] or (2) do any instructional quotes about writing stand out in your mind?
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3 comments:
my example is your example... : )
Instructional quotes about writing... my favorite one is borrowed from Ron Moore, the guy that writes ( and produces, and directs ) the series Battlestar Galactica, which I very much recommend.
Mr. Moore was at a writer's conference very early in his career... maybe before he had worked professionally as a writer. He was at one of those panel discussions where published authors and screenplay writers give upstarts advice. Moore had gone to this particular panel to see one of his fav writers, Harlen Ellison.
Ellison had remained mostly quiet during the session, deferring to the other authors to answer such staple questions as "do you set aside writing time?" and "should I get an agent?" and so on.
In wrapping up, the moderator asked Ellison a direct question, noting his lack of participation. "Mr. Ellison, do you have any final advice for new writers as they enter the field?"
Deadpan, Ellison responded: "Don't be a whore."
Moore said there was silence for about ten seconds, after this, and then the moderator wrapped up. Moore also said the words stayed with him his entire career.
Don't sell out. Don't write something you don't want to just because someone is offering to pay you for it. Don't lose your vision, or suborn it to being a hack. Writing talent is too rare a thing to be pissed away, maybe.
Don't be a whore. Heh. : )
is this about the monkey Pete?
Ha : )
If someone had offered to pay me to write about the monkey, then yes... my little thingy would apply.
But as I am not getting paid, but rather doing it as a challenge, what I said about Ellison doesn't apply.
No worries.
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