tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post380060982500903502..comments2023-05-05T11:15:58.903+01:00Comments on Emma Pass • My Blog: So, What IS a Story?Emma Passhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-52947436277789047412012-06-27T22:47:03.429+01:002012-06-27T22:47:03.429+01:00Thank you, Rissa. Glad you found it so useful. :)Thank you, Rissa. Glad you found it so useful. :)Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-19520180756910523672012-06-26T14:24:30.160+01:002012-06-26T14:24:30.160+01:00You completely resounded with me in this line:
&q...You completely resounded with me in this line:<br /><br />"And for a writer who was discovering she wanted to write ***fast paced, plot driven, commercial fiction***,"<br /><br />albeit right now my story is trying to be more character driven, but still having major plot points that drive the story forward.<br /><br />A very useful and excellent post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718454249954939092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-21966169301462249102012-06-21T22:46:30.278+01:002012-06-21T22:46:30.278+01:00Cool, hope you find it as useful as I did/do!Cool, hope you find it as useful as I did/do!Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-43003525137776968122012-06-21T22:46:03.802+01:002012-06-21T22:46:03.802+01:00That's really interesting, thank you! I'll...That's really interesting, thank you! I'll have to read that book. And I know what you mean about STORY - I found it quite hard at first too. But totally worth it!Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-54666923278813636512012-06-21T22:44:57.254+01:002012-06-21T22:44:57.254+01:00Thank you, Tom. Hope you find it useful - it's...Thank you, Tom. Hope you find it useful - it's hardcore story-geek stuff, but brilliant! :)Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-51219616418130902432012-06-21T22:44:21.154+01:002012-06-21T22:44:21.154+01:00Thank you, Amanda - glad it helped!Thank you, Amanda - glad it helped!Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-9009506258896936182012-06-21T22:33:49.388+01:002012-06-21T22:33:49.388+01:00Nice! On my list.Nice! On my list.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-33060698794146679032012-06-21T16:14:17.385+01:002012-06-21T16:14:17.385+01:00I read a similar version in Nigel Watts 'Writi...I read a similar version in Nigel Watts 'Writing a Novel and getting it published' He calls it the 8 point arc and it goes a little something like this...<br /><br />1.Stasis<br />2.Trigger<br />3.The quest<br />4.Surprise<br />5.Critical choice<br />6.Climax<br />7.Reversal<br />8.Resolution<br /><br />The diagram is nowhere near as pretty though - more a wibbly line!<br /><br />I have recently started reading 'Story' - finding it pretty tough going to be honest! Feels too much like school reading at the moment (where you have to read each page twice before anything sinks in!) Will stick to it though! I may be done by Christmas...Laura Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604133412050870730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-37543896365674327862012-06-21T11:05:58.024+01:002012-06-21T11:05:58.024+01:00This is a great post, Emma. I mostly feel my way a...This is a great post, Emma. I mostly feel my way along, but sometimes it's really helpful to get this sort of perspective. In fact, I think I'm going to buy that book, so thanks:)Thomas Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12987047131104943571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-52863380258570707072012-06-20T23:45:51.887+01:002012-06-20T23:45:51.887+01:00Emma, you've helped me figure out an issue the...Emma, you've helped me figure out an issue the short story I'm editing. Thank you for this post!Amanda Makepeacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01521280678666827075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-54731663488247136662012-06-20T21:28:37.434+01:002012-06-20T21:28:37.434+01:00Thank you, Cat! Really glad you liked it. I've...Thank you, Cat! Really glad you liked it. I've heard about James N Frey's book – I'll have to check it out.Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-107179675331828302012-06-20T19:12:59.288+01:002012-06-20T19:12:59.288+01:00Thank you for this wonderful post, Emma! I've ...Thank you for this wonderful post, Emma! I've received similar diagrams at writers conferences, and they're always such helpful reminders.<br /><br />One of my favorite writing advice books is HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL by James N. Frey. He offers tips about how to make each scene as compelling as it can be to propel a book's plot forward. I haven't read it in a while, but I always keep his info in mind as I write.Cat Wintershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05619242789804725197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-46488491244896460372012-06-20T18:28:52.262+01:002012-06-20T18:28:52.262+01:00Thank you, Jenny! I've found this structure to...Thank you, Jenny! I've found this structure to be a wonderful framework to sprinkle the fairy dust over, if you know what I mean. I think you *have* to have the fairy dust – of course you do – but without anything to prop it up, it would be like a beautiful building without any foundation – doomed to collapse (and I should know, because that's exactly the problem my stories had before I learnt how to tell a story!).Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-40657057869767190412012-06-20T18:17:35.527+01:002012-06-20T18:17:35.527+01:00What a wonderfully clear exposition! I came to plo...What a wonderfully clear exposition! I came to plotting via myths, and Campbell's classic 'Hero's Journey' - his ideas really clicked for me, as a writer, in the more recent book by Hollywood screenwriter Christopher Vogler, 'The Writer's Journey.' I needed these abstracts because I don't have massive reserves of fairy dust, unfortunately!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-86133231111530580542012-06-20T18:17:28.483+01:002012-06-20T18:17:28.483+01:00Thank you, Jennifer! Oh, I do plenty of rambling t...Thank you, Jennifer! Oh, I do plenty of rambling too… my first drafts are 50% ramble! But the structure stuff is very useful when it comes to sorting it all out in the rewrites.Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-6382420171883022782012-06-20T18:16:36.731+01:002012-06-20T18:16:36.731+01:00Definitely check it out, Rachel! It's really i...Definitely check it out, Rachel! It's really interesting – and very different from any other writing book out there. Off to look at your review now! :)Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-22691717264677640022012-06-20T15:45:30.914+01:002012-06-20T15:45:30.914+01:00P.S. I posted a book review (about a book on '...P.S. I posted a book review (about a book on 'the other side of the pond' :))Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18076907708483883575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-51992589425340870592012-06-20T15:41:57.626+01:002012-06-20T15:41:57.626+01:00Great post, Emma! I need to read this post each ti...Great post, Emma! I need to read this post each time before I sit down to write. So often all I do is ramble, ramble, ramble when I write.J. Albert Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14168128973413344329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-57957457193856817562012-06-20T15:26:38.338+01:002012-06-20T15:26:38.338+01:00You know, I've never heard of STORY before but...You know, I've never heard of STORY before but now I might have to check it out. We used to use a similar diagram in my literature courses to help us write an essay (in high school). Very useful stuff although I used to be annoyed we had to use it. "I KNOW what all that stuff is" I used to say. LOL I think it is from the habit of being a writer.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18076907708483883575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-41992289590183967922012-06-20T14:45:35.790+01:002012-06-20T14:45:35.790+01:00Thank you, Valerie! Really glad you found it usefu...Thank you, Valerie! Really glad you found it useful. And I know what you mean about feeling overwhelmed - there is SO much advice out there and I think you just have to find the stuff that works for you and suits your way of writing. Not always easy, though!Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-11999970945706574182012-06-20T14:39:40.493+01:002012-06-20T14:39:40.493+01:00This is such an insightful post! As a beginner who...This is such an insightful post! As a beginner who's been teaching writing for several years, I still struggle with telling a story. I've felt completely overwhelmed with options in the "how-to" section of a bookstore. You offer sound advice. I'm encouraged.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15081759661178260792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-42295853629010746672012-06-20T14:17:33.055+01:002012-06-20T14:17:33.055+01:00Thank you, Julia! It's definitely still my big...Thank you, Julia! It's definitely still my biggest challenge too, so I'm really pleased the diagram helps you. :)Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-68783248981874246462012-06-20T14:12:57.479+01:002012-06-20T14:12:57.479+01:00Thank you, Kate! Really glad you liked it. :)Thank you, Kate! Really glad you liked it. :)Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-26829426478406779112012-06-20T14:11:37.867+01:002012-06-20T14:11:37.867+01:00Such a great (and helpful) post! I love the diagra...Such a great (and helpful) post! I love the diagram, have printed it out to study and for reference! I'm not sure if I'm a natural or not... but I agree with you, I need to study "how to write" books to help me find my way. My earliest books (all middle grade fiction) got many positive comments from editors, but a persistent concern was "not enough conflict." It took me FOREVER to get a pulse on what this meant in my writing, and I think it's still my very biggest challenge. Which is exactly why I'm so happy to see your diagram. I'm of the mind that I can never have enough information and helpful hints, so thank you so much!Julia Munroe Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09798422149542791454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169809609802357406.post-2151552741264891282012-06-20T13:59:40.682+01:002012-06-20T13:59:40.682+01:00Fantastic post! I'm not a writer but there is ...Fantastic post! I'm not a writer but there is an aspiring writer deep inside of me, the only thing I write on is my blog and I'm not sure if I'll ever do more but his makes so much sense. I read your post and thought 'ahh I see what she means'. A really helpful post, even if I never use it, it was interesting :o)Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02352923647954339788noreply@blogger.com