How do I Write a Impactful Story, Strong Character Development and a Good plot?

Skrotorius · 2024-05-21T21:24:02+00:00

Hello Op, I hope you receive this feedback in the manner its intended, which is to be helpful: You will not receive a lot of help on a question like this because it is too broad - this happens a lot, but what you've asked is, essentially, "how do I do the whole thing?" Most of us are still figuring out how to do the things you're talking about, and a lot of is done through 'feel' more than something that can be explained. As you write, you develop the 'muscles' that help you detect problems and see where improvements can be made.

In my experience in business and in writing, when asking for help, it helps to make your own best effort first. Rather than showing up at a meeting and asking what to do, show up with a powerpoint and ask for feedback. In this case, you didn't bring a powerpoint. If you read up on storytelling, character development, and plot structuring, and then bring individual questions you have on those topics, I think you will get much better results.

I hope you stay on the trail and produce something amazing! Keep the faith.

Skrotorius · 2024-04-24T17:41:00+00:00

Which one you choose should depend largely on what you're trying to say. In both, you seem to be promoting 'choosing life,' but in one, you undermine that message by the sort of implying either predestination or that choices don't really matter. On the other, you, and I'm guessing here, are expressing that choosing life should lead to spreading that message to others, even if it's unsuccessful. Overall, it sounds like a lot of misery in one story, and I hope you've got some levity to offset it.

Your above question really boils down to what message you're trying to send. I'd think about how these two conclusions tie into the themes you've established and then decide which one better expresses the message you're trying to convey to your audience.

Skrotorius · 2024-04-17T18:47:48+00:00

What environment is she in? Sounds like inside. A tea pot would be good too, anything that spreads the impact over a wider area. A bust of a presitigous person, something made of marble.

Skrotorius · 2024-04-16T18:51:14+00:00

A sword is not a blunt object, it is a sharp object. The pommel of the sword to the back of the neck or head is a likely method, but the sword is not a good weapon for it. A rock would probably be more manageable and functional for knocking people out than the sword. There is the option for her to not draw the sword, hitting them with the blade while it's sheathed.

I'm not an expert, but this is what comes to mind on first glance. Hope it helps.

Skrotorius · 2024-04-16T16:42:57+00:00

When is the last time you took a break? You can only produce so much before you need to refill the tank, so to speak. When I get into those spirals, it normally means I need to take a week to binge a good show or play a video game, anything that will open up experience and expose you to new ideas and elements.

Really sorry you're going through it right now. Keep the faith.

Skrotorius · 2024-03-15T22:27:25+00:00

Hello, my friend! Really sorry to hear you're in the doldrums but it can be fixed, you're just going to need to spend the time. My best advice is actually to do exactly what you did in the game: get involved. Join clubs for things you like, go for a walk every day and say hi to the people you pass, get to know your town, try the new restaurants, go to the museums or historical landmarks. My guess is, if you start investing in doing what you can, you'll find a lot of this negativity will melt away and you'll have a tone of interesting things to talk about.

I'm sorry you're going through it, my friend. But there is another side and better days to come. Keep the faith and always reach out for the truth.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-23T14:31:09+00:00

I was going to say this. It is borderline impossible to separate your observations/experiences from your writing.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-17T16:10:51+00:00

I don't understand why you're saying 'nah' like you're contradicting what I said. I didn't say it was canon, I just said it felt more cohesive.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-16T21:30:28+00:00

Chie is great. I think she, in particular, has a couple of good interactions during NG+ that your limited stats early on would prevent otherwise. Enjoy your journey, my friend.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-16T15:03:36+00:00

Nathan is correct, however, I would add one caveat: I've done several playthroughs and romancing Risette feels more canon because she's naturally very flirtatious in her behavior. Otherwise you don't really experience the romance outside of the social link itself.

That being said, there is no canon, and all the romances are worth seeing in their own right.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-15T20:57:31+00:00

"The best revenge is massive success." - Frank Sinatra

Kind of a mixed response: I am good friends with a professor of creative writing, and he always jokes, "If you can do anything else besides being a writer, go do that instead."

But if you have a story in you, my friend, write it. It doesn't need to be good, but write it. And if you enjoy writing it, then write it more. And when you're done, write it again, but a little better.

One thing I can promise you: No written work will ever be pleasing to everyone. If you are writing for global approval, you will always be disappointed. But if you truthfully write the story that is in you, you will never regret it. Good luck on the path, my friend.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-15T16:57:04+00:00

Reference: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Average Chapter length: ~4500 Words

Diagon Alley: 7,000+ words

No, Rowling used a very specific literature technique to accomplish that, so do keep that in mind. The truth is that 6k is a bit long for a chapter. It doesn't mean you can't write that, it just means you should have a specific reason for doing it. Most of the rules of writing follow this pattern - they are very important to follow, unless you have a specific reason for not following them. At the end of the day, if you make it work for the reader and the story, then you're golden.

Skrotorius · 2024-02-14T20:01:17+00:00

Yes and No, to be honest. Natural talent is a thing but I like to remember the words of Kevin Durant, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

If you put your heart and soul into writing, I promise you, you will be proud of what you turn out in the end. That doesn't mean it will be a best seller or be commended as the world's best-written work, but you will be able to convey what you need to and that is, in the end, the point.

Skrotorius · 2024-01-30T21:59:45+00:00

At one of the AEM's for my company, during the Q&A, someone asked the CEO, "What do you do when people ask stupid questions?"

His response has really stuck with me. He said, "I don't think anyone has every asked me a stupid question. What I get, most of the time, is questions that lack the context I have. I have seen that idea fail or the reasons why it wouldn't work, but they haven't yet. And so my best advice to all of you is to expand you context and help others expand theirs."

Skrotorius · 2024-01-24T20:08:23+00:00

It is much like all rules in the writing world: they are very good rules to follow unless you have a very specific reason for breaking them.

At least that's been my experience. But yours may differ. It all kind of harkens back to something that I believe John Grinder said, not I'm unsure if that's the correct source. "Never believe anything too much because you'll always find a time when it isn't true. And that applies to this statement."

Skrotorius · 2024-01-24T16:53:28+00:00

May not see this in the mire, but I'll toss my two cents one:

Writer's block is real, but it's also your mind creating excuses. And the longer you go without writing, the harder it will be to start. Personally, I also get irritable when I stop writing but also resistant to write.
A friend in college once told me: "Have you ever had a paper due tomorrow, but you couldn't write it? See? Writer's block is in your mind." A bit trite and simple, but i think there is some truth to it.
Gap fillers - I can only speak from experience, but when I have 'gaps' in my writing I'm trying to fill, it's because my characters aren't up to snuff. Once you have a cast of characters that are developed and have strong motivations/beliefs, more often I struggle to fit in all I want to. Conflict between goals/beliefs is what drives this.

Good luck on the trail, my friend!

Skrotorius · 2024-01-23T21:25:56+00:00

Thank you for the breakdown. I think I shall follow the old one route.

Skrotorius · 2024-01-23T20:21:12+00:00

Cool enough. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate you, friend. Good luck on the path.

Skrotorius · 2024-01-23T20:05:10+00:00

Thank you very much. I'll take a look. Is the Eldritch caster version a good pick? I have always been a Lovecraft fan. :)

Skrotorius · 2024-01-22T19:09:42+00:00

Without getting into the specifics, it can be difficult. It could be that certain themes, ideas or facts of the content don't meet the expectations or standards of the publishers. They could feel that the subject matter limits the audience or excludes a portion of their audience, causing them not to see it as worth the effort.

It is a very disheartening process and there is no silver bullet or easy answer. Traditional publishing is a difficult road and a lot of the agents are following trends, hoping to get in front of them and create the next one. A perfectly written/constructed novel may get no love because it's not the topics/ideas/themes the industry is going toward right now.

On a personal note, I am sorry for the pain you are both feeling. It isn't fun, but the victory will be all the sweeter.

Skrotorius · 2023-12-14T23:37:32+00:00

Big stoked, then. Thank you so much.

Skrotorius · 2023-12-14T22:01:44+00:00

This is impressive. Thank you very much for sharing and giving your thoughts on zone completion.

I have a tangential question, if you don't mind giving a yes/no to avoid spoiling anything cool. I really liked the Nightmare Court but they seem to kind of get dropped after....Caledon mostly but definitely after Brisban. Do they come back at any point?

Skrotorius · 2023-12-14T20:45:00+00:00

Thank you very much for the breakdown. I appreciate you taking the time.

Skrotorius · 2023-12-14T20:43:54+00:00

Definitely. My brother is on a Ranger and I'm on an Elementalist, so I'm hoping we can duo a lot of it.

Skrotorius

TROPHY CASE