Hey everyone! The Boss just informed me that it’s almost Thursday, which is always a nice surprise in the middle of the week. (Happy almost Friday to you Aussies and Kiwis and the like)
We’re happy to have friend of the show CC Wall and former Boss Carl Sinclair on this week to talk about the difference between letting your characters decide what they’re going to do within your work in progress, and having your overall plot decide what happens. Both of these guys are so smart and we’re glad they’re going to hang out with us for a while.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening, and I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!
–Michelle
Ah! First! Where’s Patrick when I need to rub it in?
michelleread shouldn’t you be ‘cooking’ dinner?
“Got a package, people!” -A.V. Heh-heh
YAY we haz countdown! 🙂
Must remember to turn the sound down from anime levels so I don’t deafen myself with SPRT
How much Nicholas Cage is too much Nicholas Cage?
xgranville ANY Nicholas Cage?
CateMorgan xgranville Depends. How long after Moonstruck did he start wearing all that eye shadow?
RChazzChute CateMorgan xgranville All the better to crazy eyes with.
X! Where art thou? I bid thee, COME FORTH!
Anyone doing JunoWrimo? http://junowrimo.com/
xgranville RChazzChute Personally, I liked the one where his head was on fire. Because Nicholas Cage on fire.
/me stands in the corner, whistling quietly and inconspicuously
BatmanErica I’m planning on July
BatmanErica I’ve been awfully tempted…
BatmanErica I am yes
RChazzChute Bonjour!
xgranville YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH!!!
RolandDenzel michelleread HEY NOW!
michelleread BatmanErica I finally ended a 4 month writing break today so kind of I guess.
michelleread RolandDenzel Tacos!
Just making the general announcement for my own personal food snob – I had a vegan protein shake for breakfast today! RolandDenzel
I don’t want to leave a review.
BatmanErica Fair – better no review than a bad review.
BatmanErica michelleread RolandDenzel Tacos on a Thursday? It’s not Tuesday, is that even legal?
BatmanErica LE GASP!
michelleread Ooh. Nice 😀
michelleread RolandDenzel I’m eating sushi for dinner
xgranville RChazzChute Bonjour, mon ami. Ou est vous? Allons-y!
michelleread had not considered leaving a bad review…
MrJohnRead michelleread RolandDenzel Cleanliness is next to manager-liness, Patrick.
Liam Kingman it’s Friday here. Just had beef soup and toast followed up with corn chips and salsa. Cause I can 😛
xgranville MrJohnRead michelleread RolandDenzel Oh my goodness!!!! I thought I was the only one who knew this quote.
Plot vs Character … do whatever the voices in your head tell you to
BatmanErica *especially* if it involves stabbing
Liam Kingman is here!!
BatmanErica Yes
Does anyone use Kindle Spy or something similar? If so, is it worth it?
Which (plot or character driven) would be better for a series?
BatmanErica I don’t know what this is??
JamesEThoenes might depend on the genre. What did you have in mind?
michelleread Liam Kingman Yeah, the internet Gods are being friendly tonight.
xgranville BatmanErica Le Frog
Liam Kingman michelleread Right?! I stand (sit) amazed.
BatmanErica JamesEThoenes Thinking fantasy
MrJohnRead xgranville BatmanErica LeFrog!
Weird. Feed didn’t work for a while. So, we have a show! Hi, CC!
JamesEThoenes BatmanErica I immediately think character, but that depends on what kind of writer you are I guess.
RChazzChute It’s being wonky for me too. But that’s probably because I’m loafing in the living room instead of hooked up to the internet like I’m supposed to be…
Sup, playas.
I just saw Xavier’s lower third.
JamesEThoenes hmm… not sure. I could see how both would work
matmorrisauthor Heyo! Did you get that work done today that you planned??
matmorrisauthor not much. You?
michelleread matmorrisauthor Let’s not talk about that, mk? 🙂
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor Bout to munch a burger for dinner… life is good.
michelleread that’s an odd euphemism o.O
matmorrisauthor michelleread Kayyyyyy
BatmanErica michelleread Oh dear. I can’t…..I can’t respond properly to that.
I came late, what happened to Carl?
michelleread BatmanErica Penis
matmorrisauthor hubby had burger for lunch and dinner the other day. He norty >.<
MrJohnRead michelleread BatmanErica *shakes head*
MrJohnRead michelleread I must now respond with: bewbs
MrJohnRead michelleread BatmanErica *and then high fives the hubs*
matmorrisauthor He’s down with the sickness. Ooh-ah-ah-ahAH!
matmorrisauthor Elder Gods. Big ones.
matmorrisauthor michelleread ate him
xgranville matmorrisauthor The Sickness?
JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor Preggers maybe
JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor kangaroo flu
CateMorgan matmorrisauthor My first guess was that he got “Australia-ed”. This is much more interesting.
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor michelleread nom nom nom
michelleread JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor Mpreg?
MrJohnRead JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor Dingo Fever
MrJohnRead JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor Koala Madness.
BatmanErica michelleread JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor Yes like man PMS
michelleread JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor that’s Pissy Man Syndrome. Hubby gets that.
Any other questions – doesn’t have to be about characters or plot….we’re keeping it casual tonight
BatmanErica michelleread JamesEThoenes xgranville matmorrisauthor Midol for daytime, Benadryl for nighttime.
I just noticed that writerwade ‘s wee bit is apparently Irish
MrJohnRead his wee bit? Is that another euphemism?
BatmanErica MrJohnRead Always with John.
michelleread MrJohnRead not sure how his wee bit could be irish unless the rest of him is
I like Xavier’s “Concept vs. Plot” That’s kind of how I do it.
BatmanErica michelleread MrJohnRead Secret science transplant. Like Face/Off, but with bits instead of faces.
monsterjavaguns BatmanErica michelleread MrJohnRead Grosssssss : ) Not a PG film, I’d imagine.
monsterjavaguns BatmanErica michelleread MrJohnRead That’s the most brilliant thing I have heard tonight. Also Nic Cage…
monsterjavaguns that was probably the porn parody.
My dad is posting old youtubes that have been debunked years ago. *sighs*
I step away for a second and we’re talking about racial and religious topics? …. Did I miss something?…
matmorrisauthor No, scroll down…
MrJohnRead matmorrisauthor My scroll button is sticking.
…..
Don’t ask…
“How do you tell that story without regurgitating the same thing”
You change it.
matmorrisauthor MrJohnRead Eeeew.
matmorrisauthor MrJohnRead napkins
matmorrisauthor Stikki Minaj!
matmorrisauthor MrJohnRead Because it’s sticky.
matmorrisauthor MrJohnRead Solved it.
Mimi Werebeaver matmorrisauthor MrJohnRead Mimi!! Also known as Mrs. Detective Pants
matmorrisauthor The mystery genre is about catpoop jokes. We all know that!
matmorrisauthor Do you really need to change it?
JamesEThoenes matmorrisauthor Change the formula if you hate success!
My muse is holding itself hostage. Negotiations have broken down.
JamesEThoenes matmorrisauthor Oh, I wasn’t commenting on whether or not you *should* do something. I was just answering his question.
BatmanErica Troubleshooting step 1: is document open? 😀
BatmanErica shoot it and get a new one
BatmanErica Demelza always has a solution for that. Usually involving handcuffs.
Maybe should have invited Libby Hawker on here
BatmanErica I have a very difficult time when my document is closed or when the cat is sitting on the laptop. And sometimes I don’t even know where my laptop is!! Then it’s really tough.
Mimi Werebeaver BatmanErica This does work surprisingly well
BatmanErica My muse tends to hold my Infernal Editor at bay with a crossbow. She’s kinda badass.
BatmanErica Slap her and tell her to act like a daughter of the mighty Zues!
Drop the word “driven” and plan both plot arcs and character arcs. One will have more dominance over the other. In the end, focus on the tropes of the genre you’re writing in. Stick to those tropes. Change them by a very small degree (in an interesting way). Sell books.
Nicholas Cage is the funny guy.
Damn, Almost missed this…Hello everyone
matmorrisauthor how do I like many times?
BatmanErica or Zeus…..whatever
David Anson Nahhh…you’ve still got twenty minutes left! Hi David.
MrJohnRead BatmanErica That’s what a good editor is for.
michelleread David Anson Hi Michelle
matmorrisauthor I feel like it’s only one or the other in the first draft. During revisions, character gets whooped by plot and plot gets whooped by character, it all gets better, and if you’re doing it right, you end up in the correct place anyway. A well-revised book should never reveal its brush strokes to the reader.
michelleread MrJohnRead BatmanErica I need one, because now they both look wrong
Some of my characters are lucky to get last names, let alone a first one or even eye colour 😛
michelleread *Insert Nicolas Cage type here*
Mimi Werebeaver matmorrisauthor Well said.
BatmanErica I forget to give mine last names, too! I have to consciously think about it.
MrJohnRead michelleread BatmanErica Hahaha!!!
michelleread BatmanErica I finished my first draft and my main character still has no last name
michelleread I have two characters in a series where they don’t have names in the first book. In the second book the hero reveals his working name (he’s not an escort) and in the third the heroine gets a nickname and a new character is dubbed “Dumbass”
JamesEThoenes michelleread BatmanErica Then it’s not necessary, as far as I’m concerned.
Mimi Werebeaver matmorrisauthor I just think the term “driven” confuses the conversation. In the end, I think the discussion comes back to the individual element that is keeping the reader’s interest. A plot “driven” story is very different than a character “driven” one, but your genre should dictate which of those you lean towards. In the end, make it interesting and well balanced and life will be pretty okay.
BatmanErica You give your characters eyes?!? I’m doing this all wrong…
But you said he was shot!
I would personally love to see how matmorrisauthor outlines and does his plot for all of his books. Don’t you have a podcast on that? Did I miss that one??
michelleread matmorrisauthor I’ve talked many times about my general approach to “outlining” and plotting. I say “outlining” because my outlines tend to not be too detailed, these days.
matmorrisauthor michelleread I like bullet points
matmorrisauthor michelleread Ahh.
BatmanErica Libbie.
Action vs reaction
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor michelleread I do lots of bullet points.
matmorrisauthor I thought it might have been. Too late to edit now >.<
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor michelleread OH. Good idea. That actually would work better than what I do, for my brain.
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor michelleread Thanks Erica!
michelleread BatmanErica matmorrisauthor As Mimi Werebeaver once explained to me, if in a different manner… “If it ain’t workin’–change it.”
matmorrisauthor will you be at the afterparty?
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor I like to think of it as a continuation of the main party. But, probably.
michelleread my mind is boggled. What had you been doing up til now? I’m a list writer, bullet points and check boxes are my friend.
matmorrisauthor it’s the only party 😛
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor IDK, some might claim I was partying it up in the actual interview last week 😛
matmorrisauthor BatmanErica As you should.
matmorrisauthor BatmanErica There was a real difference between during and after I thought
matmorrisauthor I wouldn’t know. I still haven’t watched it 😛
Watch Broadchurch, not Gracepoint
He’ll timey wimmy it
I caught Broadchurch on Netflix.
BatmanErica I couldn’t get past the first episode of Gracepoint. Soooooooo slowwwwwwww…
You know, it looks like someone is outside that window behind Michelle
Wait… there’s a podcast going on?
Throw me an invite, I can fill 10 minutes of talking time with just talking to myself. 😛
JamesEThoenes She wont sleep for days
CateMorgan I’ve not seen that version. Heard it’s bad and it was cancelled 😛 In a lot of British / European mysteries the setting plays a main part in it, even if it’s a fictional location. I don’t know if many American shows do that.
matmorrisauthor I’ll be there
MrJohnRead JamesEThoenes OMG I just saw this. SO actually true! Thanks a lot guys.
MrJohnRead JamesEThoenes OR nights…
matmorrisauthor Hey man! If I had the link I would. The world needs more of you talking.
monsterjavaguns haha!
michelleread matmorrisauthor Falser words have never been spoken.
BatmanErica I was going to ask you and Cate – I couldn’t remember which one to watch.
BatmanErica matmorrisauthor
What’s so great about great american novels?
michelleread Broadchurch.
BatmanErica They’re American.
But when people talk about a book, do they more often talk about “that cool thing that happened” or do they talk about “that badass who totally wrecked the place”?
xgranville So is Snooki
BatmanErica ‘Murica
MrJohnRead BatmanErica “Shoot shoot bullet bullet gun!”
MrJohnRead BatmanErica “No no. Stools don’t talk.”
I’m not saying one trumps the other, BTW. It’s a taste thing. Think about when kids play make believe. One type of kid imagines they’re Spiderman. Another plays house. That’s where it starts. The *interesting* story is trying to see Spiderman play house.
16 your old female + different setting + romantic interest = $$$
Something like that according to David Farland
michelleread BatmanErica Definitely Broadchurch.
monsterjavaguns the places I hang out go on and on about the sex and the hot guys 😛
So… Since I have only been here off and on. Are they talking about giving the characters different voices in the first draft or the second?
David Anson as far as I know this has not been mentioned at all.
monsterjavaguns I’ve been trying to answer this question you presented since you posted it. Three minutes ago. And I dunno. Depends on the —-no I think probably the baddie that blew the place up.
JamesEThoenes pretty much that’s the main trope 🙂
David Anson No, about thinking about the characters first when you write. Or about designing a plot first and putting characters into that.
michelleread is a ghostwriter? I might hire her for some erotica… 😛
BatmanErica michelleread She told me she doesn’t write romance, so I think you’re in the clear.
BatmanErica michelleread Erica nooooooo. I will literally just write “bewbs” 50K times.
matmorrisauthor BatmanErica michelleread This is a correct statement.
michelleread matmorrisauthor BatmanErica Erotica isn’t romance.
I think we should all expect Michelle to write her own stuff.
michelleread reminds me of Rimmer writing ‘I am a fish’ 500 times on his test
JamesEThoenes Nahhhhh now I can just hire a ghostwriter for it!!
I don’t revise much. How about everyone else?
BatmanErica I revise as much as is needed.
Ohhhhh. Erica…..
Should get my hubby on 😛
I revise to find more jokes on subsequent passes.
Oooh michelleread ?
Is your RSS feed fixed yet for iTunes? Audio doesn’t seem to get posted there.
monsterjavaguns From what I’ve heard, the problem is not the feed.
AFTER PARTY! Click here! https://plus.google.com/hangouts/_/hoaevent/AP36tYcCXSYosnJq_cf5H5aFLXGBdI3H7b_MsniYuQFxt6spKrI9bQ
monsterjavaguns Though I will say, without a podcast being released on iTunes, it’s hard to get iTunes reviews.
matmorrisauthor Strange… I looked at the feed a couple weeks back and it seemed to be missing bits.