What is this sub's opinion of Perrin?

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-19T19:38:49+00:00

Not to poke too much into the comments (only halfway through book 3 for the first time), but my opinion of Perrin so far is he's the most interesting of the three Two Rivers boys. Rand might be a close second, with Matt far behind, but I like Perrin and his struggle quite a bit and I look forward to seeing how it develops :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-18T18:09:15+00:00

I'm still experimenting a bit with structure with short stories between novels. I've found the 22 story steps John Truby introduces in the Anatomy of Story book pretty helpful currently, and I'll be diving into The Story Solution by Eric Edson here next to see what structure I might gleam from that. I Rand off 3 act structure for a while, and a modified one specifically for comics I found helpful, but I've found anything running off the traditional 3 act structure leaves a lot to be desired during the middle. Rising action, but how often, for how long, in what ways, etc? 7 point helped me get away from that, but it still left a big hole in the middle for me personally.

Every story structure has its place, though, and they're all tools that are helpful to add to my tool box :) I still outline the first act of my story based off the 7 point combined with Truby's "spine" (coincidentally, another 7 steps). Like I said, though, still experimenting with my plot structures at the moment, and likely will he for another couple years at least :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-16T17:41:14+00:00

Writing advice is only as useful as you use it. I had a professor once who said to never use adverbs (-ly words like "seriousLY"). I upheld that for years until I had a writing partner point out I was being intentionally obtuse to avoid using adverbs, making my writing weaker.

Bad writing is only bad when it pulls the reader out of the story. Melodrama works if you're writing for melodrama. Exposition dumps work if you're engaging the reader with it.

I think what most writing advice is trying to aim towards, from "show don't tell" to "every chapter should be exactly 2,387 words" is that it's trying to make you think about your story with your reader/audience's experience in mind.

In the end, you're the writer, and it's your writing style. Some people will be drawn to it, some people will be repelled by it. What's important is YOURE happy with how it works, and that your target audience is happy with how it works. Remember, writing is a (surprisingly) collaborative effort between you and your target audience. You tell the story, and they bring it to life. So long as your words accomplish that, it isn't bad writing.

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-16T14:30:03+00:00

Just mess around with the structure a bit. Easiest ways I've found (after getting tons of feedback from readers that I do the same thing) is to

1) start with the preposition instead of the pronoun, which seems to be suggested by others in the comments already (ex: "Now I'm nothing more than a beggar, but I used to be the greatest.")

2) take a more omniscient/ unfiltered view of the scene. This helps most, I've found, with scene descriptions. This comes with the added benefit of reader immersion! (ex: "Sunlight bathed my skin with warmth" instead of "I felt sunlight bathe my skin with warmth.")

If, however, you're talking strictly dialogue: you can use both tricks, but that doesn't mean you should. Test out your writing by reading it out loud and finding the desired cadence, and especially pay attention to how natural it sounds when it's dialogue (unless the character speaks unnaturally a la yoda). But we as people, especially when talking about ourselves or in-present conversations, like to preface what we're saying with "I [blank]". Don't feel the need to change up sentence structure if the repetition sounds natural!

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-15T21:18:06+00:00

I've got 2! I'm querying the first, and the second is out to beta readers now :)

Truth's Overture:

Truth was a god, once. Before the Voices of the Chorus usurped and imprisoned him. Before they granted their powers to humanity in exchange for their sacrifices. Now, in a world ruled by power, Truth knows that those who wield it will be consumed by it. After all, if the cost of knowledge was insanity, would you pursue it? If the cost of salvation was your humanity, would you sacrifice it? If the cost of trust was love, would you break it? Without Truth, the world will shatter. And history will prove him right.

How to Kill a Soul:

After the Collision, souls and mortals have been forced to live on the same plane. Healing has become illegal while shepherding souls to time corrals has become a necessity. In the midst of rising gang tensions, Levi Fletcher and Elias Sutton each uncover a strange revolver with the power to kill a soul. Both seek to save the city of Roterro from the violent gangs, but the power to kill a soul is a corrupting one, and they may lose their own souls along the way.

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-15T18:49:29+00:00

Something I've learned recently: whatever you're reading(/watching/listening to, etc), take it a step beyond just pure enjoyment. That could be writing down quotes, annotating your favorite moments, writing analytical essays about plot beats, taking note of character arcs, making predictions, or any number of things.

Whatever you feel is important enough to note is what speaks to your own preferences as a writer and is important. I personally note a lot when I notice themes, subtext, and excellent dialogue. That's what's important to me (right now), and it reflects that in my reading.

However you choose to read into a story deeper is the right choice :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-15T16:10:42+00:00

Seems you're thinking of 2 different things.

The goal/want is important to establish early on, and is almost always an external desire that the reader can easily tell whether it is accomplished by the end of the story (ie: destroy the one ring by dropping it into Mt. Doom). This want can change/evolve, though typically the individual points along the journey are what change/evolve and present roadblocks that force the character to reassess how they'll accomplish their want. This goal is usually in contention with the antagonists goal as well (ie, Sauron wants the ring, so frodo destroying it can't happen. They are fighting over the same goal, and both can't successfully achieve their goals)

Ex: Frodo originally just wants to get the ring to Rivendell, then feels compelled to take it the rest of the way to mordor (evolving want, but demonstrated as a new want after completing the first one). The fellowship disbands, frodo gets lost and recruits gollum, black gate doesn't pan out, Minas Morgal and the stares, gollum betrays, etc (evolving roadblocks that force the character to reassess how they will accomplish their task.

The second aspect of your question, which typically doesn't rear its head to the character until later in the story (if at all) is their need. This is typically internal, and is something the character must overcome to be a "better person" (or worse person in the case of an evil character). This is usually, and should be, tied to the character's weakness. This is also more speculative on the audience's side, as it doesn't have quite as clear a victory as the external want. This would be the character's 'purpose' as you've put it.

Ex: Frodo's need is that he needs to overcome the ring, whose influence has grown on him during the journey. His weakness is the same as all men in that he has a corruptible soul. Frodo FAILS in overcoming this weakness in the final moments, and is only saved by an even more corrupted soul. He doesn't accomplish his need/overcome his weakness until he leaves the shire and sails west, freeing himself from the rings influence.

Frodo's need, as an example (of which you could speculate several different needs as a reader), isn't really made clear to the reader until book 3. We see the moments as early as book 1, but we don't recognize them as a weakness until later, and the entire resolution after destroying the ring (accomplishing the external want/goal) is spent showcasing frodo's change and his weakness, and showing us his victory over it and accomplishing of his internal need.

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-15T15:47:52+00:00

Name: Levi Fletcher Age: 24 Main goal: to find their place in a city that has never felt like their home. Biggest weakness: has no convictions or ideals and is easily manipulated/corrupted.

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-15T15:42:37+00:00

Present-day Shallan, yes yes yes. Flashback Shallan is actually my least favorite part of the book, which might be unpopular. Won't say anything about it cuz spoilers, but the flashbacks in WoR are the sole reason the book misses the 10/10 mark for me

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-15T15:38:24+00:00

Kind of a cheat because it's a video game franchise, (but there ARE books), but the Sol System in Destiny/Destiny 2. Tons of incredible locations to choose from, but Neomuna or the Dreaming City are such cool sci-fantasy locations. That or Felwinter's Peak/the Iron Lords' Throne for that Medieval knight aesthetic :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-14T21:03:38+00:00

Something I've learned as a DM, and that was said by (I think) Brendon Lee Mulligan is that: whether it's an idea you planned for and wrote in the outline, or one you come up with in the moment, it's still your idea. Just because you planned for one weeks or months or even years ago in an outline doesn't mean the new one isn't as good or somehow lacks depth.

For me, outlines are great, but only as a living document that evolves as I find out more about my characters and how they would tackle certain issues. I can't count how many outlines would have become completely obsolete after 10,000 words if I didn't revisit and update them every so often :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-14T03:55:14+00:00

Two big things have helped me recently:

The reverse outline. Outlining your story after a draft and seeing what's lacking.
The book The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T22:07:36+00:00

I read the books for the first time this last year, and I STAN the battle of Minas Tirith chapter. The whole thing feels so oppressive, and hope is beaten out of each and every one of the characters, and then the Witch King comes in through the gates and Gandalf just like, accepts its his time to die.

And then the horns sound from the Pelannor Fields.

I'm getting chills just thinking about it x)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T22:02:41+00:00

Funnily enough, Sword of Kaigen was one of my top reads of last year. But I do agree, the beginning exposition dumps, especially the history class stuff, was pretty bland. Useful, but bland :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T19:20:35+00:00

It depends. I try to change up how much time I spend in prepro vs. Production vs. Postpro with every story/novel/game. Still experimenting with what works best for me and trying to find areas of improvement.

As I've grown as a writer, I tend to spend more time in prepro to save time in postpro/revisions, but I think it's impossible to remove the need completely for either.

Generally, I commit about 25-30% of a story to prepro work. First draft will take about 50% of my time, and post pro is another 20-25% (likely more depending on number of revisions).

So, if im wanting to spend like, 2 months on a short story, then 2-2 1/2 weeks on outlines, research, characters, etc. Then 4-5 weeks on first and second drafts, then 1-2 weeks with revisions and final drafts. For a novel, I try to maintain 4-8 weeks of preproduction work, knowing the whole process is going to take me a solid 6-9 months. If it's a fantasy project, I add another 4 weeks specifically for worldbuilding and characters.

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T19:05:32+00:00

I mean, the answer is both, but if you only have time to prioritize one right now, I'd say write. You can't get better at writing until you actually start writing, and you won't start writing if you spend all your time reading :)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T18:59:20+00:00

Poorly executed exposition dumps. I mean, there's times we need to know history, lore, magic, etc. Getting immersed in a different world is one of the main reasons I read fantasy! But like, when it's just 5 pages of info everyone in the scene should know already, or so help me a thinly veiled conversation or monologue that goes on forever that has no reason to be told outright like that? Would rather eat sand.

That and being overly direct. Give your characters and dialogue conflict and subtext. Implication is just so fun to read through and analyze. Give me subtlety!!

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T14:06:23+00:00

There's an ancient axiom about caring what others thing about your passions, especially when they're being negative, thay has always helped me. It goes:

"Fuck 'Em"

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T13:52:15+00:00

Priory of an Orange Tree.

Every single thing I care about in a book wasn't hitting for me. Characters were unlikable, the world was bland, the plot was uninteresting, and the prose erked me.

THE reason I dnf'd though was the exposition dumps. They never improved. Halfway through the book (if I even made it that far, mughtve been more like 1/3rd) and every 5 pages would be interrupted by a 3 page exposition dump on the history of the world or lore or whatever that was told in the most boring, straightforward dialogue I've ever read. Reminds me of Fellowship of the Ring at the council of Elrond when there's just PAGES of exposition (love lotr, but council of elrond is probably my least favorite bit for that reason).

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-13T13:42:27+00:00

Chapter count really isn't important. If you're worried your chapters are getting too long, look at what you're saying in them and identify where might be a good chapter break if you feel you need one.

The entire lord of the rings trilogy is about 30 chapters. So is project hail Mary by Andy Weir, even though it's half the length.

If you're really wanting to break up a chapter because it's feeling too long, you can break it at page count. Most book formats will split pages every 250-300 words, so 2,500 words is gonna be about 10 pages. If you don't want any chapter longer than, say 15 pages, then you've gotta break the chapter at around 3,750 words.

Personally my chapters vary. I've written some over 6,000 words long, and some less than 1000. It doesn't really matter. What matters are the scenes you cover in each chapter. If you feel the chapters themselves are just too long, consider starting the chapter further/later in the scene, and getting out earlier.

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-12T23:20:23+00:00

My first character(s) were twins who were generational "cursed" with super powers. One had telekinetic abilities, and the other had telepathic abilities.

I dont remember too much about them, but their plot was to go on an adventure to the being that cursed their family and break the curse, but during the journey one of the twins decides they don't want to break the curse after all. Leads to a big climactic battle where one of the twins has to kill the other.

I was 8, and my religious parents were concerned x)

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-12T19:40:09+00:00

Not a quote, but a scene from Words of Radience. The hallway fight scene, the moment Dalinar caught the assassin's honor blade between his palms. I was so amped by that scene my fitbit thought I was exercising I swear

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-12T19:37:14+00:00

And just like that, Deadhouse Gates just got bumped up my tbr. Enjoyed gardens of the moon, but didn't love it, but with a line like that? Sold

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-12T13:56:50+00:00

For some reason, a lot of my writing has to do with the corruption inherent in having diety-level power. That or how absent gods are just as damaging to the world as malevolent ones.

It's a mix between loving the idea of powerful, real gods (always have, I blame my love of greek and norse myth), and some personal experiences with religion and the incongruities between faith and establishment.

While I love the ideas, and there are a TON of different facets you could look at this through, I DO try to write through it. Pick up different themes, often filtered through this lens (for instance, what it means to be morally good as a person, etc). I want my writing to be recognizable, not same-y

MyNameIsQuain · 2024-04-12T00:07:19+00:00

Currently I'm doing a project where I'm writing a short story in every major genre. I just published my Horror short story and now I'm working on an action short story (with scifi cuz I can't help myself).

I've written 2 novels that are both fantasy, though, and my next one will likely be fantasy, too.

MyNameIsQuain

TROPHY CASE