Writing Excuses
Mary Robinette Kowal, Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler and Dan Wells
writingexcuses.com
Writing Excuses is a master class creative writing course broken up into bite sized chunks. Hosted by three best-selling novel writers and one of the internet’s most successful cartoonists, each episode goes surprisingly deep on a topic of craft in a very short amount of time. Their tag line, “Fifteen minutes long because you’re in a hurry and we’re not that smart,” is falsely modest. Each one is packed with useful tidbits from leading spec-fic authors.
Essentially secrets of the pros for those struggling to make it, Writing Excuses is on its tenth season and has a huge back catalog covering a wide variety of writing related subjects. The current season has been examining the process of creating a book from outline all the way to revision.
In addition to being useful, this podcast is also surprisingly entertaining. The four hosts have an excellent rapport with one another, and they also have a great stage presence. They also have frequent guest authors for more perspective.
In addition to the topic, each episode ends with a writing exercise or homework assignment to further illustrate the lesson.
Writing Excuses is like the greatest creative writing course you never took, taught by a quartet of engaging experts. If you are looking for an informative writing podcast, this one should be at the top of your list.
Hugh Likes Podcasts: Writing Excuses
November 18, 2015
Hugh Likes Podcasts, Uncategorized HLP, review, Writing, Writing Excuses Leave a comment
The Gamer’s Guide To Writing: Final Fantasy VII and 3 Act Structure Part I
November 13, 2015
Gamer's Guide to Writing Cloud, FFVII, Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VII, Gamer's Guide to Writing, Gaming, GGW, Sephiroth, Three Act Structure, Writing Leave a comment
Three act structure is a form of plot found very commonly in film, but which can be used in just about every kind of story. As the name suggests, it consists of three parts: The Setup, the Confrontation, and the Resolution.
Final Fantasy VII was released by Square Soft for Sony Playstation in 1997. A breakout hit for the system, the game had a very cinematic style, and its clear narrative makes it a great example of a game with a classical three act structure. This might be at least partially due to the technological limitations of the system. FF7 originally came on three CD-Rom discs. We can look at each disc roughly equating to one ‘act’ of the three-act structure. Today let’s take a look at the first disc and how it introduces the story and characters. From here on in, we’re cutting right to spoiler territory
Disc one is the the Setup. We are introduced to ex-SOLDIER Cloud Stryfe, mercenary and former guard for the ruthless and world-controlling Shinra Electric Power Company, and Avalanche, the small band of eco-terrorists fighting against them. We meet them in Midgar, Shinra’s grimy, dystopian capital city, built in such a way that the poor are denied even sunlight.
The first act contains the Inciting Incident, the event in the story which changes the direction of the characters. In Final Fantasy VII, this is the murder of President Shinra. As the head of Shinra corporation, he serves as the main antagonist for Cloud and the others. They break into Shinra headquarters to confront him, only to discover he has already been killed by Sephiroth, a powerful SOLDIER thought to be dead. Sephiroth’s appearance as antagonist, and Shinra’s death, the trajectory of the story changes. Cloud and party escape the confines of the City of Midgar and follow Sephiroth’s trail across the expanse of the world, while they are pursued by the Turks, Shinra’s elite unit of special forces.
The first act ends with a plot point that again changes the direction of the story and propels the action into plot two. In Final Fantasy VII, this is of course another confrontation with Sephiroth and another murder. This is the infamous death of Aeris, a healer with an ancient lineage who may hold the key to stopping Sephiroth. Depending on the player, she is also probably Cloud’s primary love interest at this point. Aeris’s murder serves a dual purpose in the story. It is a setback which removes a potential solution to Sephiroth’s mysterious goals. It also raises the stakes by killing a party member and Cloud’s love interest, assuming the player chose her through his actions. This elevates the journey to find Sephiroth from a search for answers to one of revenge.
Next time, we’ll look at disc two, and discuss Rising Action as Sephiroth’s plan is put into motion, and Cloud comes face to face with who he really is.
If you enjoyed this article, please share it! Or, support my Patreon for more content!
Going beyond National Novel Writing Month
November 1, 2015
Writing NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, Writing Leave a comment
Today is November first, and for the first time in ten years, I’m not starting a novel for National Novel Writing Month. I’ve taken part in the 50,000-word writing challenge every year since I’ve heard about it in 2005. I haven’t always won, and a few years I bailed on the project early when other things in my life overwhelmed me, but I always went for it. But I haven’t done much of anything with the manuscripts, even the ones I thought had real potential.
I’m not sure where my fear of editing came from, but what kind of writer doesn’t finish what he started? So rather than start yet another new project, I’ve decided to dedicate this year to editing. If I can write that much in a month, I should be able to edit a good chunk of it. My goal is to have a beta-ready draft of my 2014 NaNo project, “Fabulous Powers” to hand off to beta readers by the end of the month. This might be a bit ambitious, but I want to try.
National Novel Writing Month has always been about quantity over quality, but I’ve taken the ethos a bit too much to heart, I think. I’ve produced a lot of words, and never shown them off or polished them. So I’ve put my formal announcement here. Gentle reader, please hold me to account. Notice the widget on the side of the page, charting my progress to 80,000 words.
And if you are an aspiring writer, let me urge you to take the plunge in my stead this year. It still isn’t too late to sign up. National Novel Writing Month is a challenge, and it isn’t an easy one, but it was the push that inspired me to write in the first place. It gave me the opportunity to meet an incredible group of writers in my area, who gave me encouragement, inspiration, and companionship on my writer’s journey. NaNoWriMo was the starting gate for my journey as a writer, and while I’m not as far as I would like to be, I’d have never gotten there without it. See you at the end of November.
If you enjoyed this article, please share it! Or, support me on Patreon for more content!
Hugh Likes Podcasts: Writing In Suburbia
September 7, 2015
Hugh Likes Podcasts HLP, Hugh Likes Podcasts, Jake Bible, podcasting, Writing Leave a comment
Writing In Suburbia is a podcast for professional writers. Except that it isn’t. It is, like a lot of other writing podcasts, by a professional writer for aspiring professional writers. But it is still a damn good one, and well worth your time.
A very informal solo cast, WiS comes from the brain squeezin’s of indie horror wunderkind Jake Bible. The author of the Dead Mech, as well as half a dozen more series from small press outlets, Jake is a master of ebook horror with a herculean work ethic. Bible is incredibly prolific, releasing book after book on an almost monthly basis. On the podcast, he shares the secrets of his success, which mostly boil down to planning well and putting in the work, which he can do as a full-time writer. He also gives the audience a look into the life and lifestyle of novel writing as a day job, and gives a lot of insight on daily life as well as the pitfalls of being your own small business. And he ends every episode with a mean blues-harp performance.
Fans of Jake Bible’s writing will already be familiar with his bombastic, and often not safe for work, style. His off the cuff manner is occasionally meandering, but equally charming and easy to listen to. He pulls off the rare trick of making a solo podcast sound like a conversation. If you want to really know what it’s like to write for a living, or you want some tips to improve your work (as opposed to your craft) Writing in Suburbia is a podcast well worth checking out. Find it at jakebible.com or your preferred podcatcher.
A Status Update and an Announcement!
July 26, 2015
Uncategorized podcastsing, status update, summer, working, Writing Leave a comment
Hello readers and listeners!
Welcome to the end of July! It’s been pretty crazy around here, and I’ve been juggling a lot of stuff, both creatively and in real life. So here’s a refresher to bring you up to speed on what’s been going on with me.
First, the good news.
Last month, I launched The Freelance Hunters podcast! I’ve posted a few Freelance Hunters stories here and there over the last few years, and now I’m collecting them in audio. Check out TheFreelanceHunters.com every Monday for a new installment of serial fantasy fiction. Season one will be going on a while, with print and eBook editions coming this fall!
The Way of the Buffalo will be moving to Fridays. The Dark Wife is on hiatus until I have the editing fully complete, then will be appearing on Wednesdays. I’m hoping for a launch in September.
On the writing front, you can still find my short story “Prompt Succor” in the Dirty Magick: New Orleans anthology.
I’ve also been invited to a few other anthologies, one of which you can help get off the ground now!
The Kickstarter for Elysian Springs: Adventures from the Superhero Nursing Home is ongoing and needs your help to reach its goal. This is such a clever and unique idea, and the confirmed talent includes Gail Z. Martin, Tee Morris, and Jason Strutz! It’s going to be a really cool book and I want to be a part of it, so please give it a look!
The bad news is that to keep all these plates spinning, as well as a few secret plates that I can’t talk about here, I’m putting The Voyage on the back burner. I’m not giving it up entirely, but I’m not able to devote regular time to it every week the way I’d like. I’m going to put it on hiatus until it is complete and edited.
So that’s what’s going on with me. Thanks for reading!
The Gamer’s Guide to Writing: An Introduction
January 5, 2015
Gamer's Guide to Writing, Gaming, Writing Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy IX, Gamer's Guide to Writing, Gaming, Writing 2 Comments
IMG courtesy of Gamefaqs.com
Like many genre writers, I enjoy playing video games, and I often complain that my gaming addiction is taking time away from my writing, and vice-versa. But I’ve found that in some ways, my love of gaming has had a great impact on my writing. Even in a genre that is generally panned for its presentation of script and plot, an observant writer can still pick up pointers about what to do, and what to avoid. This blog is a look at some of the lessons I’ve picked up in my many years behind a game pad.
A game I’d like to look at first is “Final Fantasy IX.” Launched in the U.S. in November of 2000, it is often overlooked because of the timing of its release. It came out at the tail end of the Sony Playstation’s lifecycle, a full month after the blockbusting premier of the Playstation 2. Even though the game pushed the console to its limits, it was competing against more dazzling technology. It also has an awkward place in the franchise, between the panned “Final Fantasy VIII” the next year’s revolutionary “Final Fantasy X” for the PS2.
None the less, FFIX is an excellent source for writers looking at plot, structure, character, and theme. Over the next series of posts, I’ll be drilling deep into the plot of the game, examining the presentation and hunting for literary gold, as Dave Robision would say. Think of this like a very different sort of walkthrough. Instead of looking for secrets to success in the game, I’ll be looking for hints to improve writing craft. Spoilers obviously will be a part of this project. So if you have an old set of discs gathering dust, or a few bucks of Playstation Network credit lying around, come join me as we examine how a classic game tells a great story.
Next week, we’ll look at compact character introductions, and what we can learn from the title screen!
Final Fantasy IX was originally released for the Sony Playstation and is also available as a digital download on Playstation Network.
Patreon
January 4, 2015
Writing Goals, podcasting, Publishing, The Page of Awesome, Writing 1 Comment
It’s finally 2015! The ball has dropped, the champagne has been drunk, the s’mores have been eaten. But however you celebrate the new year, the festivities have ended, hangovers have been nursed, and it’s time to get down to the business of the new year. As such, I’m resetting the Page of Awesome and setting new creativity goals for myself in 2015.
400 Blog Posts:
This year I will be continuing to blog my serial Drabble story “The City: A Story in 140 Characters.” When that finishes, I’d like to begin a new story with a similar premise. In addition, I’ll be continuing to post “Hugh Likes…” entries throughout the year, updating my status with appearances, announcements, reflections on writing, and more! I’ll also be unveiling a brand new article series in the near future!
50 Podcast Episodes:
I haven’t always been the most regular when it comes to updating The Way of the Buffalo, but with a new year and a new season launching this month, I am back on the bandwagon. The podcast’s new schedule will look something like this:
One audio fiction episode, one interview episode, and one special episode, which could be anything. These will be panel discussions, audio from conventions, bits of my own writing, and more! We’ll also be presenting one episode The Dark Wife in the feed per month until it’s finished. There are a few more things on the horizon, but it’s a bit too early to unveil them yet.
5 Self-Published eBook Launches:
My primary goal for this year is to increase my editing. I have plenty of novellas and longer-form projects that just need a few coats of polish and cover art. At the very least, I’d like to get these into your digital hands this year:
The Freelance Hunters: The Shadow Over Ironwood
The Freelance Hunters: Bingo’s Charm and other Tales
The City: A Story in 140 Characters ebook edition
Fabulous Powers Vol. 1: Where There’s Smoke…
Scum and Villainy (Working Title)
Most of this content is working its way through the editing process. There will be more details as they get finished up.
50 Traditional Short Fiction Submissions
While I will be working on a lot of self-published work this year, I still want to keep submitting to magazines and anthologies. While I’m not singularly focused on earning my SFWA qualifications this year, completing short stories and sending them out is good practice for a variety of writer’s skills, the most important of which are meeting deadlines and dealing with rejection.
So that’s what I’ll be working on this year. What are your plans and goals for 2015. Leave a comment below, or say hello on Twitter and Facebook!
Follow Me on Twitter!
Support me on Patreon for more content!
The City: 016: Govad
October 20, 2014
The City, Writing 140 Characters, Drabble, Govad, Midas Corp, The City, Writing Leave a comment
From his office on the 48th floor, Govad read the reports. They were not good news. He was looking at a situation so outlandish, so downright impossible, that he didn’t even have the barest bones of a response for it. To make matters worse, he could not get ahold of his superiors for instructions. It was like the entire Board of Directors took a vacation at once. Things like this didn’t happen in The City. But he was Director of Mass Transit, and this was what they paid him to do. He called up the messaging system and began typing.
The City: 014: Ingmar
October 15, 2014
The City, Writing 140 Characters, Dawn, Drabble, Ingmar, The City, Writing, Xue Leave a comment
Dawn hadn’t been very specific, but it sounded like they would need a car, at the very least. The only friend Xue knew that had one was Ingmar, but he and Dawn did not get along. Great. She booted her phone’s translator and connected.
“Hi, it’s Xue. I need you to do me a favor…”
Traffic was glacial all throughout the city. It took them nearly two hours to reach the financial district. The sight of Dawn dangling helplessly from a gargoyle was worth it though. Ingmar laughed so hard he could barely record her annoyed frown without camera shake.
The City: 013: Cleopatra
October 15, 2014
Free Fiction, The City, Writing 140 Characters, Cleopatra, Drabbles, Fiction, The Cheshires, The City, The Smiling Man, Writing Leave a comment
Cleopatra watched the commotion in the train station with interest. She liked these kinds of gatherings. All the people, the noise, the chaos. This was why she was in The City. Citizens and Daytrippers ignored her, and she preferred it that way. All the better to watch them in their rushing patterns. The City was a different beast to her, and she knew all it’s hidden passages. Maybe that is why only Cleopatra saw the man with the smile frozen on his lips. Then he turned and quite impossibly, vanished. The little calico cat did not understand, but only watched.
Hugh J. O'Donnell 