[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Dig this version of Woodie Guthrie’s Vigilante Man by Ry Cooder. Cooder is probably best remembered these days for his work on the Crossroads soundtrack and The Buena Vista Social Club. I could tell you that he rips it up, but you can watch for yourself. Enjoy the how the tone […]
Ry Cooder, Tone, and Imagery Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] My earlier post about nuance in story, about delving into subtext and abstraction, did little more than scratch the surface. However, it brought me back to the the idea of showing rather than telling. Why? As writers, we hear this edict all the time. Sometimes I have a hard time determining
Finding the Show in Your Writing Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] I’ve been enjoying exploring the nuances of story telling, ideas that build on fundamental concepts such as story structure, word and punctuation usage, and writing discipline. Over at Tribal Writer, novelist Justine Musk has offers two great posts (among many, really) on microtension and theme. Both posts underscored my goal for
The Nuance of a Story Read Post »
Take some time, watch this and marvel. (Stolen from Bronx Banter): [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/qybUFnY7Y8w&hl=en_US&fs=1&] [tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] Now, take time to marvel at your WIP or whatever noble task at which you’ve been toiling (Parenting is a good one). You’ve put effort into the details, arranged things just so, and hopefully, when all is said and
You and Rube Goldberg Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] rev·er·ie \ˈre-və-rē, ˈrev-rē\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural rev·er·ies Etymology: French rêverie, from Middle French, delirium, from resver, rever to wander, be delirious Date: 1654 1 : daydream 2 : the condition of being lost in thought Did you ever notice that some of your best ideas show up unannounced? You
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=ow.ly] I’ve been cruising towards the finale of my second draft of Shadow of the Black City. Threads are coming together. The characters are poised to make decisions that cannot be undone. It’s just that I’m not exactly sure how it all goes down. I have the big idea, just not the
Writing the Right Ending Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=bit.ly] Word count is like Dr. Jekyll most days, going about its business, measuring my writing progress. A mild-mannered fellow, the Count seems to be the preferred choice for many, if not most writers. He watches over me as I strive for 2,000 words a day. Most days, Word Count is my
Word Count Jekyll and Hyde Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=bit.ly] I’m too busy pushing toward the grand finale of my second draft of Shadow of the Black City. No time to post clever semi-original thoughts. In my stead, enjoy a couple videos far more entertaining and clever than my own. How the Beaufort Scale was developed (via the good people over
Have a Laugh on Me Read Post »
[tweetmeme source=”jjdanz” only_single=false service=bit.ly] Every time I listen to the pile of music stuffed onto my hard drive, I am constantly reminded of the difficulty of good storytelling. In music, as in writing, it’s not only the story, but how the story is told. Below I’ve posted a few videos of those artists I hold