Comments on: Coming soon, an exercise in futility http://scwc.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/coming-soon-an-exercise-in-futility/ Community blog for SCWC staff, conferees and writers in general. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:38:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: B. D. http://scwc.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/coming-soon-an-exercise-in-futility/#comment-173 B. D. Sun, 25 May 2008 04:08:24 +0000 http://scwc.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-173 <blockquote>Hmm, B.D. - Just how “developed” is your character?</blockquote> Remember that bit at the opening of Star Wars when the blockade runner came whizzing by and then the star destroyer .... Er, never mind. Actually, truth told, the exercise in futility is on its fourth—much simplified—incarnation. I posted the "Coming Soon" as a reckless way to force myself to follow through on this one, but still, it is proving a difficult thing. On the one hand, it starts with a dirty joke of sorts. To the other, the joke is in the eye (mind, loins, whatever) of the beholder, so I'm left justifying the point, which ends up sounding extremely political and, well, we decided to try to keep the nakedly (heh!) political out of it. I have a feeling I'm going to go with the simplified version and hope to not get run out of town.

Hmm, B.D. – Just how “developed” is your character?

Remember that bit at the opening of Star Wars when the blockade runner came whizzing by and then the star destroyer ….

Er, never mind. Actually, truth told, the exercise in futility is on its fourth—much simplified—incarnation. I posted the “Coming Soon” as a reckless way to force myself to follow through on this one, but still, it is proving a difficult thing.

On the one hand, it starts with a dirty joke of sorts. To the other, the joke is in the eye (mind, loins, whatever) of the beholder, so I’m left justifying the point, which ends up sounding extremely political and, well, we decided to try to keep the nakedly (heh!) political out of it.

I have a feeling I’m going to go with the simplified version and hope to not get run out of town.

]]> By: Gayle http://scwc.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/coming-soon-an-exercise-in-futility/#comment-172 Gayle Sun, 25 May 2008 03:12:37 +0000 http://scwc.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-172 Hmm, B.D. - Just how "developed" is your character? ;-) Hmm, B.D. – Just how “developed” is your character? ;-)

]]> By: B. D. http://scwc.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/coming-soon-an-exercise-in-futility/#comment-171 B. D. Sat, 24 May 2008 22:50:45 +0000 http://scwc.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-171 It's funny, Gayle, that you should mention pornography .... It’s funny, Gayle, that you should mention pornography ….

]]> By: Michael Thompkins http://scwc.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/coming-soon-an-exercise-in-futility/#comment-162 Michael Thompkins Wed, 21 May 2008 13:06:00 +0000 http://scwc.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-162 I am eager for the actual article and hope you are over your fit of low spirit, a common enough malady for writers. At shootingshrink.com I posed the following tangential but related query in Shrinking Fiction, How Psychology Can Help You Write Good Fiction: Question for Commenters: In Episode I of Season I of the Tudors (Showtime), King Henry VIII asks his ambassador to France if the French king has strong calves. Why? The questions of what makes good characters, what makes marketable characters and what makes unforgettable characters are our bailwick as writers,eh? Is this throwing question at question? Yes. I am eager for the actual article and hope you are over your fit of low spirit, a common enough malady for writers.
At shootingshrink.com I posed the following tangential but related query in Shrinking Fiction, How Psychology Can Help You Write Good Fiction:

Question for Commenters:
In Episode I of Season I of the Tudors (Showtime), King Henry VIII asks his ambassador to
France if the French king has strong calves. Why?

The questions of what makes good characters, what makes marketable characters and what makes unforgettable characters are our bailwick as writers,eh?

Is this throwing question at question? Yes.

]]> By: Gayle http://scwc.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/coming-soon-an-exercise-in-futility/#comment-158 Gayle Wed, 21 May 2008 02:42:12 +0000 http://scwc.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-158 How much is too much character development? It's kind of like that definition of pornography - "I know it when I see it." I've had different people read the same passage in my novel and tell me 1) my characters aren't developed enough and 2) my characters are too developed. I guess I need to stop sharing my writing with schizophrenics... My basic rule, when I'm reading, is that if a character's words, thoughts and actions are logical to the way that character would talk, think and act, then the development is just right. How much is too much character development? It’s kind of like that definition of pornography – “I know it when I see it.” I’ve had different people read the same passage in my novel and tell me 1) my characters aren’t developed enough and 2) my characters are too developed. I guess I need to stop sharing my writing with schizophrenics…
My basic rule, when I’m reading, is that if a character’s words, thoughts and actions are logical to the way that character would talk, think and act, then the development is just right.

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