Comments on: Not So Much Maass Information

By: 2nd Chance

2nd Chance — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:26:50 +0000

Di R, I’m going to finish my present edit the way I have it set up, linnear. But then I’m gonna try the scatter method he recommended. I’ll let the blog know how it goes!

Kate, I enjoyed the workshop a lot and when I win that big lottery prize, I’d love to take one of his week long intensives… I think it would be worth it!

By: Kate Diamond

Kate Diamond — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:48:17 +0000

Someday, I would love to take a Donald Maass workshop! Sounds like it was really helpful… in the mean time, I’ll have to be content with using his workbook at home.

By: Di R

Di R — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:12:20 +0000

Great blog-very thought provoking.

I read it yesterday morning, and wanted to let it percolate for awhile, and never made it back. *sigh* I love the idea of doing an edit out of order.

By: 2nd Chance

2nd Chance — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:22:45 +0000

Wow, sorry to hear about the weather alert across the country. We’re having a rare day of sunshine…new rain expected day after tomorrow. Not complaining! Rain is needed!

Everyone get those shutters nailed down tight and stash some batteries for those important appliances.

Radios, crew. Radios.

By: Bo'sun

Bo'sun — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:08:03 +0000

I’m satisfying my desire for my own house by painting my apartment so I’ve been out picking up samples. Three colors chosen, three rooms to paint, now to figure out what I need.

There’s just a lot of info here to take in. And I’m guessing the middle and southern parts of the country are all either hiding from the crazy weather, or bracing for it. We’re supposed to get 6 to 9 inches tomorrow, which would be the first time I’ve seen snow here since arrived in 2004.

By: 2nd Chance

2nd Chance — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:41:04 +0000

Knew this would be a very slow blog. More a food for thought blog than a frollic and play blog… Now, I must haste back to my mother’s house and see about playing the driver to her Miss Daisy.

I’ll return in some hours to see if any further discussion rises!

By: 2nd Chance

2nd Chance — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:47:51 +0000

I wonder if it’s possible to have a scene where nothing of particular importance is happening… Just wondering… You know, an informative scene, done dynamically… But then again, if you, the writer, is presenting information, then something is happening…

This could get pretty interesting, in a word play sort of fashion…

By: Hellion

Hellion — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:40:55 +0000

Maybe.

Yes, I suppose make sure something is happening in the opening scene. And something is happening in EVERY scene. But it’s also important to show the ordinary world of the hero in the opening scene as well. The contrast is needed to show how monumental this inciting incident is in the hero’s life .

By: 2nd Chance

2nd Chance — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:29:21 +0000

Yeah, called Loser’s Town…
http://www.amazon.com/Losers-Town-Daniel-Depp/dp/0143171011/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264782341&sr=1-1

Amazon gave it a midlist rating. But he’s writing about Hollywood, which I imagine he’d know well…

I just find it instersting how trends move…no more starting a book with three chapters of the geography of how an island rises from the ocean, ala Hawaii by Michener!

By: Bo'sun

Bo'sun — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:14:01 +0000

That’s it, make sure something is *happening* to one or both of your characters in the opening scene. Usually something that shifts the path they’ve been on. (Which means I need to reconsider my opening scene. After I get the first draft done though.)

I’ve never heard of this other Depp either, so you’re not alone.