By Bruce Sterling
Spread thin, mankind struggles to hold itself together.
Month: April 2017
Between Humility and Confidence
Writing is a wonderful hobby. It’s inexpensive, very portable, and it’s a skill we practice in our everyday lives. But then when writing became something more, it became a passion, something I wanted to really practice and refine. That meant making a profession of it. And a dream was born.
Addendum to 102-01
Once again I’ve realized something I should add to one of my old posts. This time I’m adding to 102-01 Creating Characters.
For those want it, here is the new excerpt:
Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Scifi, & Fantasy 109-03
Mystery
A good mystery is all about the question. If the protagonist is a criminal then the question is “how will they accomplish the difficult task”. If the protagonist is a detective then the question becomes “how did they do it”. In both cases the beginning establishes how difficult the task is or was, then spends the rest of the story gradually dropping hints and clues, giving audiences the chance to try and solve the mystery. The key is to carefully manage information so that audiences feel like they have a chance, but don’t solve the mystery before the end of the story. Many mysteries use comical side plots to break up what can be a dry main story.
Addendum 104-01 Changing Characters
There is always more to learn. Recently I’ve learned some new things that I’d like to add to 104-01 Changing Characters.
For those want it, here is the new excerpt: