Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I'm a full time pantser and that's one of the things I love about it.

http://cowboysndragonscafe.blogspot.com ... ntsed.html

Don't know how to help you.

But, I want to point out that it is possible to edit a story to death.

I hope the solution comes to you.

I've been told that publishers, booksellers and even agents want to know where the book will be shelved. Emphasizing the unsci-finess of your creation might be counterproductive. If it's got aliens, it's sci-fi. Embrace that. I wrote my first book, just started writing on a whim and in chapter two a...

Some of my critique partners and I launched a blog awhile back. Stop on by.

http://cowboysndragonscafe.blogspot.com/

I'd put enough in to make the readers a little uncomfortable. Even if your audience is opposed to cursing, they have heard it. They probably consider people who curse bad in some way. So if the character is bad, cursing will reinforce that. Unfortunately, I don't know how much is too much. I have a ...

Bottom line: She asked for the review. She got the review. She went bonkers. I've had critique partners like that. It's bad form to go off on the person giving their opinion even if you disagree vehemently. I doubt her work, though I have not read it and will not, is so good that some industry mucke...

I think if circumstances change, the goal could change. I can't think of any examples right now but I'm sure it's been done.

Use the carrot and the stick.

Set a goal, daily is probably best, that'll keep you from procrastinating. If you make the goal, treat yourself. If you don't use the stick.

Like a warm relaxing bubble-bath if you make it, cold shower if you don't.

I write in order because I don't know what's going to happen until I write it. If I were to write a scene near the end of the book I would have to steer the story to it. That's not the way it works for me.

I often start writing with no idea what is going to happen. If I get 30 pages in and nothing interesting is going on, I do something bad to the characters, more often to the main character. It gives him/her/them something to deal with and a motivation and that's where the story really starts. Antago...

I usually find that when I finally get unstuck, I was heading in the wrong direction. So now, when I get stuck, I back up a few pages or even a chapter and try it again. I don't start writing immediately, I think a little and let it come. If it doesn't come I back up a little more. This doesn't happ...

Not me. Never. Pure genius, that's what mine is. I never get tired of it. My critique partners never get tired of it. Not never, no how.

That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

I like the cat thing, it's almost right for me. What I was thinking before I got to that post is that I have a tumor in the creative part of my brain that compels me to be creative. I write, I've acted and directed plays, I woodwork, I've painted and sketched, made jewelry etc. Writing is the latest...

I'm going to second Hillary's comments.

I would also add a question. What's the point of the scene?

If you need it to justify something the father is going to do to the murderer, then write it.

If it's to show the father's pain or what a bad man the murderer is, show us the aftermath.

I have to admit I'm a bigger fan of workshops than conferences. Free Expressions does some very good ones with Donald Maass, James Scott Bell, and a variety of other sort of guest teachers -- sometimes romance writers, thriller writers, sci-fi fantasy writers. Prices vary considerably by type of wo...