Comments on: Prologue

By: Dary

Dary — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:47:47 +0000

How much detail you should use depends on the scene. It’s like the whole “show don’t tell” rule that gets bandied around, which is actually pretty bad advice!

Detail/showing slows down the pace. If you’re writing an action scene (and I mean that in a general sense, not just a “things blowing up” one!) then you want a fast pace, so you cut down on extraneous details and descriptions. You use shorter sentences. Simple ones.

But then you can also use description to achieve a ‘slow-motion’ effect, because in a sense a sentence is like a shot in a movie and the longer it runs on, the longer the shot focuses on that one detail.

It’s all very much an art-form, and one you only learn with practise!

By: DoofDaGoof

DoofDaGoof — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:27:28 +0000

I hear ya there. MY problem is that because I can see a scene clearly in my head, when writing it down I find I often omit details that would make it clear what’s going on but a friend of mine inundates his work with so much detail, it gets boring to read even though the story is good. So hard to find a nice, even middle ground.

By: Iradesca

Iradesca — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 04:46:59 +0000

Don’t worry. I’ll never stop. I’ll go crazy with all of these ideas in my head if I did. {D Luckily, I have a lot of support from my family. I’ll get it out there one of these days. I have to stop revising it before I do though. I don’t know if that will ever happen though. I’m sort of a perfecionist. ‘{D

By: Dary

Dary — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:03:06 +0000

This started in 2001, though I didn’t start writing until 2005, or publishing til 2009. And some elements are from things I wrote in the mid-90′s. I think the lesson to be learned here is NEVER GIVE UP! I know way too many people who wanted to be writers who have just let their ambitions fade

By: Iradesca

Iradesca — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 04:23:43 +0000

Oh trust me, I know. I’m on my third draft in three years, and I ‘m constantly going over and revising it as I learn new things in school. I have a long wait ahead of me.

By: Dary

Dary — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:35:33 +0000

Thanks If there’s one thing I can say right now, it’s that you should try not to worry about how rubbish you’ll inevitably find your early chapters a couple of years down the line (as I do with these!)

By: Iradesca

Iradesca — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 02:27:16 +0000

I love this already! There’s a sense of mystery that always grabs me. It’ll be interesting to compare this to my own work. I’m also working on writing a series, though I still have much to learn. I know your story will be one of my resources. Thanks!

By: Dary

Dary — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:14:37 +0000

I think the ambiguity is something I might address when I revise this bit (although Sabeen would put himself down like that – his heart really isn’t in teaching XD)

Hope you enjoy the story

By: Cafe O'Lay

Cafe O'Lay — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 06:46:13 +0000

Re: Self-deprecating vs. self-depriciating. According to Oxford On-line dictionary, self-depricating means “modest or critical of oneself, especially humourously so.” Self-depreciating means “disparaging or belittling oneself.” Although the words can be used interchangeably, in my opinion, self-depreciation has a negative connotation. Which leaves me to question, why would a teacher disparage himself to his students. Does he have low self esteem?

Anyway, in my quest to find something to read (I kept examining my bookshelf, hoping something new would jump out at me) my son directed me to your web page and story. I like the fact that you accept comments from your readers and sometimes reply to them. I’m going to read on to find out what happens next.

By: Dary

Dary — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:52:19 +0000

It’ll be interesting to see how you view things in retrospect. I do strive for foreshadowing when possible. It’s one of the advantages of knowing where things go in advance!

Thanks for any past and future typos. Those things sneak by no matter how many times I proof read something!

Re: deprecation/depreciation. Though the common term is self-deprecation, self-depreciation is more accurate in this case. Deprecate = criticize, Depreciate = belittle. Pedantic, I know… (and technically the example Sabeen uses in this section is more sarcasm than either XD)