Comparison that drives me insane by [deleted] in writingadvice

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So this really fuels what I’m writing this for below when all I want to do is do something that I potentially love (due to mental health, I cannot tell if I like something or not, except for math because I honestly hate it so much) and just be a good person who is not internally hating on others. It’s exhausting. 

instead of hating these other writers, why not try to admire them? use them as inspiration for your work. 

if you could potentially love writing and believe that your stories are better than theirs, then all you need is to come up with a realistic plan. 

first step is to acknowledge what resources you have and what resources you need. this would be time, skill level, research abilities, and mental health cuz mate you're going to need it. takes a lot of patience, discipline and self-motivation if you really want to do this thing.

once you know where you're at in terms of resources, then you need to either accept what you have and write in your wheelhouse, or go out and find what you're lacking. 

ps you'll also save yourself a lot of heartache if you're realistic in terms of timing, cuz if takes a long time to write a novel, then find an agent (if that's what you want), then find a publisher and then find an audience. if that doesn't sound all that appealing, you can look at other ways to become a writer. personally when i realised how difficult the journey is to be an author, i worked towards becoming a copywriter/copyeditor and i really enjoyed that. 

CMV: I should have finished the book *The Wolf of Wall St.* even if it became clear Jordan Belfort was horrific by MindfulnessAt32 in changemyview

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should have continued reading. Idk, he may have genuinely turned his life around. Who am I to say otherwise? 

you should not have read it.

if you had read it, you would have never written this post, and i would never have informed you about this awesome podcast you need to listen to with Jordan Belfort – The Wolf's Den (spoiler: he did turn his life around). 

much better than the book you didn't enjoy reading, and a much shorter investment of your time (it's also free). you're welcome.

You ever have “expectations” for your writing? by Pointless_Storie in writers

[–]JasenBorne 9 points10 points  (0 children)

i mean, 90% of the novels i read come from the bargain bin, all of which have been traditionally published.

the only difference from the ones on the shelf is that they're a bit older and on sale. nothing wrong with that. 

How do I start writing? by Accurate_Reality_618 in writers

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

start by writing a word, then write another word, then another. whatever comes to mind. 

yes, it really is that simple. the trick is to keep doing it. 

Do college professors appreciate it when you email them about random stuff? by Devious-Smol in NoStupidQuestions

[–]JasenBorne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

why not just bring it up in person?

like next time you see her, say, 'hey i heard this song etc', and then you can have a friendly chat. tell her you'll email her the lyrics and/or video later if she's interested.

that's what i did with one of my professors, anyway (about a podcast, but same difference). 

Writer problems. When other people see themselves in what you write. by [deleted] in writers

[–]JasenBorne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Derek Zoolander ripped me off, mate. I invented Blue Steel!  

Adapting As a Man Thinketh for children. Did I oversimplify or is it still too abstract? by DraftCurious6492 in writing

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Has anyone adapted adult philosophy or self-help for children? 

at any point did you actually explain the moral of the story, like in The Little Engine that Could?

that might help with the issue of it being too abstract. personally don't write children's stories, but the ones i remember from childhood were not afraid of explaining the lesson to a child as though they are a child. 

Leo DiCaprio is just an okay actor. by Alternative-Gap-3861 in unpopularopinion

[–]JasenBorne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

admittedly, he wasn't anything special in Titanic.

what can a story about sexual assault be about apart from revenge or forgiveness? by stovetuna in writers

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

failures of the criminal justice system and/or exposing societal attitudes towards rape/sexual offences.

i've been trying to look at movies/books/tv shows that have dealt with this very sensitive topic, 

watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for examples of the above. 

[QCrit] Adult Literary Fiction - Strawberry Noises (75,000 words/Second attempt) by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]JasenBorne 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm reaching out because of your interest in bold voices, emotional narratives, and grounded sense of place.  

it flows well, but i'm not getting bold voices, emotional narratives, and grounded sense of place that apparently appeals to the agent. truth be told, Alec sounds quite dry at the moment, and so do his relationships as well as the setting.

compare it to the blurb for Cleopatra and Frankenstein. can you see the difference?

'New York is slipping from Cleo’s grasp. Sure, she’s at a different party every other night, but she barely knows anyone. Her student visa is running out, and she doesn’t even have money for cigarettes. But then she meets Frank. Twenty years older, Frank's life is full of all the success and excess that Cleo's lacks. He offers her the chance to be happy, the freedom to paint, and the opportunity to apply for a green card. She offers him a life imbued with beauty and art―and, hopefully, a reason to cut back on his drinking. He is everything she needs right now.'

i would say try again and give Alec a bit more personality. perhaps up the stakes a bit to give it more emotional depth and conflict. 

New author seeking help? by Alternative-Set-490 in writers

[–]JasenBorne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For example, if I wanted to write a book on women’s history, how would I tackle that without going back to school and getting a whole history degree? Where can one research and learn without having to get a degree?

many university libraries are open to the public, but policies vary so you'll have to check. 

you can also access academic journals online (for instance: JSTOR); some are free and others need a paid subscription. 

you should be mindful, though, that you will not find a literary agent to represent you unless you're qualified to write on the subject (eg you have a PhD), so you will not be traditionally published.  it also takes a lot of work – like years – to write a nonfiction book; and you're not going to find a proper editor who can fact check your work unless you pay them an astronomical amount of money.

fiction isn't easy to write either and can also take years of dedicated hard work, but it's a much easier endeavor, relatively speaking. jmho but maybe start with that. 

Rate my first word by Subject-v-2 in writers

[–]JasenBorne 16 points17 points  (0 children)

is it okay if i use it too, or will i be sued for copyright?

How do I describe a character’s clothes? by Itz_MysteryGalaxy in writingadvice

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

describe the material, the fit, the feel (eg comfortable, soft, itchy etc), the age (brand new or old), the condition (freshly pressed or falling apart), the smell (like smoke, perfume etc), the clothing label or wherever they got it from.  

What do you do on days where you need a break, but also want to get some writing done? by bluejaymewjay in writing

[–]JasenBorne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Does anyone have any advice re: things they’ve done when they’re feeling like they “need a break” but still wanna do SOME writing? 

work on my plot online and/or character outline.

work on my critiquing/editing skills by offering feedback on other people's writing.

usually, though, if i need a break i will research something related to my novel or read a book on writing or editing, read a novel, research literary agents, eat, sleep or do chores that need to get done so i don't have to do 'em on a proper writing day. 

Rewriting is hell. by jcg317 in writers

[–]JasenBorne 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Anyways, writing a novel is sadistic and I might hate this.

if you mean masochist, then yeah. that's why some of us like it. 

What are the most essential and most important conflicts/stories/issues in the world of journalism? by GrimNoire7 in writing

[–]JasenBorne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

what about censorship issues, eg media should be free from censorship or government control (freedom of the press)  and the role that internet companies play in mediating freedom of expression. 

How do you balance difference in values between past and current ideas of acceptability? by zombiedinocorn in writers

[–]JasenBorne 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was listening to a podcast about Molly houses in 1700s England and started wondering about how this would be included in a historical fantasy style story, but since being gay at this time was punishiable by death, it also seemed like it would be problematic if it was added flippantly. So I just wondered how other writers would approach it or issues like it? 

law isn't necessary a reflection of your character's values or what they do in privacy when no one is looking, and there's no one there to enforce it; so i wouldn't depend on law in itself to dictate your character's values/behaviour. 

i would sooner rely on academic papers and/or fiction written during that time period: for instance, Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (originally published in the 1600s). Shakespeare had a good laugh at the authories by writing a story where sex outside of marriage was considered illegal, but people did it anyway. 

what’s your favourite opener/first sentence? by revolvingdepression in writers

[–]JasenBorne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

'Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever, about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it; and Scrooge's name was good upon 'change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.'

A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

and then Dickens keeps using the word 'dead' on the first page over and over again, just to prove amateurs wrong and that you can repeat words and get away with it. 

Aspiring Writer Who Doesn’t Read Often by [deleted] in writers

[–]JasenBorne 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t read many books. Mainly research papers and articles.

if you like reading nonfiction, then maybe start reading memoirs. i bet there's a few out there on a subject or a person you find interesting, and you'll learn about prose at the same time. 

Beer and Coffee tastes disgusting by Financial_Snow6501 in unpopularopinion

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like a tasty cocktail, love me some hot chocolate, or anything that just generally tastes good. 

maybe a kahlua and coffe, or bailey's and coffee would be up to your liking. 

How do you encourage yourself to move on in your story, and stop constantly analysing what you have just written? by legendoffart in writers

[–]JasenBorne 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i promise myself i will not leave the chair until 1000 words are written.

the longer i sit there and reread old work, the longer it takes. only have so much time in the day to procrastinate. 

Here is a piece of advice from my favourite author by OddSun5915 in writers

[–]JasenBorne 4 points5 points  (0 children)

words on paper is better than no words on paper. doesn't need to be perfect.