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| Stella Cameron Writer's Workshop 4/20/00 |
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Laine - Great! Stella, do you outline the story progression before you begin--designing plot points to move the story from set-up to conclusion? If so, to what degree of detail?
Go back to Part 1
Stella - Laine: I don't outline the story before I begin.
Susanna - 
- 4/20 at 10:26pm EST
memock - 
- 4/20 at 10:26pm EST
Cissy - Hi Susanna 
Lori - Hi Susanna
Stella - I use the blurb I write for the editor as a jumping off point and write several chapters, sometimes quite a few. Then I start to look at the pacing and decide how I'm doing and where I need to work on emphasis and progression. At that point I outline a few chapters. Stop again when I've written
Stella - them and outline some more, and so on. I have huge notebooks full of scribblings
Stella - Have I answered the question or walked all around it?
Susanna - Hi everyone !
ramsy732 has timed out.
Stella - btw, an aside, you are all a wonderful group to work with.
Stella - Susanna, hi, now get to work 
kitty - - 4/20 at 10:29pm EST
Lori - Thank you! //smile
Stella - ga
Laine - You have answered the question. Thanks! I'm shocked that you do your work longhand--no laptop??
Cissy - Kagey, you're up next followed by me 
Kagey - 8-)In historical mysteries can you start in present and go back in past ok? Not time travel but diary, paper etc. without being too trite?
Stella - Oh, I work on a computer. I've got a laptop and replicator port, but the notebooks are a habit and just for
Stella - the pleasure of doodling around.
Stella - Sorry, Kagey. Now let me read what you've written.
Genie - - 4/20 at 10:31pm EST
Laine - I've enjoyed this workshop! Until next month...goodbye all
Cissy - Bye Laine - see you next time
Laine - - 4/20 at 10:32pm EST
Riley - - 4/20 at 10:32pm EST
Stella - Do you mean have a character in the present read a journal or whatever, then tell the story that's in the journal?
tatsrus - bye laine
Stella - bye, Laine.
Lori - Goodbye Laine
Stella - Kagey?
Kagey -
Kagey - Yes Stella
Stella - Where are you starting this story--if it's historical and not a time travel book it can't very well start now and move backward.
Stella - Okay, you do mean find the journal now, then tell the story.
Kagey - and then continue the story line in the past time.
Cissy - do you mean for the purpose of a flashback, Kagey?
Stella - Okay, If you're wedded to this and nothing is trite unless the writer makes it so.
Cissy - Oh, like a frame! (Okay, I'll shut up now)
Stella - In the Mayfair Square series--this is the best personal example I can think of
Kagey - I guess that would be a flash back but not for the person per sae
Megan - - 4/20 at 10:36pm EST
Stella - I (literally me) saw an old man who gave me an idea and then I started writing from that point. He is Sir Septimus Spivey and died many years ago.
Cissy - brb
Stella - O
Stella - I'm sorry, I'm not quite getting this. Who will tell the story.
Kagey - in mine or yours?
Stella - Cissy, we need time to get our topic for next month
Stella - Your story, Kagey.
Cissy - we'll do that next, Stella
Stella - Will it be the person who finds the journal, or the person who wrote the journal?
Kagey - A niece at present finds something that takes her mind back to 1915 in SF.
Stella - This is past life regression. You can do it, but it has to be in that context.
Stella - Yes, it's fine, the niece has a past life regression and I assume she returns again and again to pick up thestory. Could be great fun.
Kagey - No it is not her past but something she is reading about.
Cissy - So the neice is the frame through which another heroine's story is told?
Kagey - and relating.Or maybe your way sounds ok too., yess Cissy
Stella - The niece's life goes on while she reveals the life of the woman in SF.
Megan - logged on - 4/20 at 10:41pm EST
Stella - There has to be a strong pull between past and present though.
Stella - Kagey--are you getting any help here?
Lori - Wasn't Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine similar? Sorry to butt in...
memock has timed out.
Kagey - Thank you, that will help. If we have further questions can we email you?
Cissy - Okay, we have a few more questions to get to but before we lose any more people (or Stella! 
) let's choose next month's discussion topic.
Stella - Absolutely, e-mail me or post on the writers' board at my site where others can add their opinions, too.
Stella - ga
RobinH - have we done a topic on Character development? Like how does Stella make her characters so alive and the men so yummy?
Cissy - I want to remind everyone that you can read transcripts of these workshop sessions on the chat transcripts page. Also, as Stella just said she has a Writer's Board at her website (http://www.stellacameron.com) specifically to talk about writing questions. Might be a great place to continue these sessions.
Danyelle - For a topic - how 'bout one of those pov sessions?
TessaMae - POV would be a good one.
april - I love POV!
tatsrus - pov would be great!
K - Definitely POV
Stella - Robin--I think we need another character session, but we did one last month so should probably wait a month or so.
Elizwrite - I like the idea of character development
Cissy - POV seems to be winning
Stella - POV is fine with me. We'll need to revisit this one, too, as we grow.
Joanney has timed out.
Lori - POV sounds good. Plotting does too, although that could be too broad an issue.
Stella - How do you feel about that, Robin?
Kagey - character
Lori - Hmmm, I like the idea of character development too. . .
RobinH - Okay, I'll check out the transcripts for now.....thanx
Stella - Plotting can be great fun. We'd do it as a long session and I have a way of setting that up.
julesh - POV sounds good....TTFN 
)
Stella - Robin, I meant, are you okay with POV?!
Cissy - Also, we wanted to see how people would feel about, at some point later on, trying to do some mini-critique sessions of each others writing in these workshops
Megan - I'm up for POV or character, they're both equally great subjects!
Lori - Great Stella!
april - That would mean I'd have to share, Cissy? I'm a much better reader.
Stella - That would be fun--the critiques.
julesh - - 4/20 at 10:47pm EST
Danyelle - Cissy, I'd love to do a critique session . . .
Lori - Oooh, I like this idea, Cissy. //: )
RobinH - yep, I'm fine with anything, I am sure I have questions for all aspects...LOL
Stella - April! I don't believe it. You mean you won't share?
tatsrus - absorbing takes all my concentration much less sharing
Megan - Cissy: mini-critique sounds fun
april - Um... maybe I'll drink a little before that chat.
Stella - Okay, is it POV for next month?
Cissy - lol, april!
Cissy - POV for next month
Lori - Where we have such a large group, should we sign up for critiques==first come first serve?
Stella - Then back to Characterization.
Cissy - Stella, do you have time for any more questions or have we pooped you out?
Stella - Then some mini Critiques?
RobinH - I like the critique session too!
Cissy - Yes, Lori - it will definitely take some advance planning. And some "outside" work for all of us
TessaMae - Critique sessions would be great...I think
Megan - Sounds great! Looking forward to them all!
Stella - Is there a way to allow someone to write their piece for critique ahead of time?
Lori - I've gotta go. 5:30 a.m. comes early. . . 
Stella - Yes we can do a few more questions.
april - Good night, Lori.
Stella - Lori--I'm on the West Coast but I get up at 3a.m. for work!
Danyelle - Stella, we could post our chunks on your Writers BB.
RobinH - I think I need to go too 
. Thanx Stella and Cissy!
Alice - An idea for the future? Baen books (Sci Fi) has a slush pile discussion area for critiques. Could writerspace do something like that?
Cissy - Stella, maybe we can eventually start choosing one person to submit a small piece for critique and that piece can be related to that night's topic (POV, characterization, pacing, etc.)
Stella - Night, Lori.
Lori - Night all. Thanks so much Stella for your great advice. See you on the Writers Board!
Cissy - to post online you mean, Alice? I'm sure we could
tatsrus - ivillage does too, have area for critique
Megan - Stella: thanks for a great workshop, I'm about as "beginner" as it gets, and you've been a great help, and have a great site! Have to go for now, Ciao everyone!
Stella - Yes, Danyelle--post the chunks on my board. Very good idea.
april - I like that, Cissy.
Alice - Yes
Stella - Night Lori.
Susanna - It's been fascinating - thanks Stella!
Kagey - 8-) thank you Stella and Cissy.......ta
Stella - You're welcome, Megan, you won't be a beginner for long.
tatsrus - thank you stella!
Stella - Thank you all. Cissy, if you have a question, ask away.
Megan - - 4/20 at 10:52pm EST
april - I go to the Fan Fiction board and hooked up with a writing buddy (although, I have yet to share with her).
Lori - - 4/20 at 10:52pm EST
Stella - April, we also have a continuing story on my site--consider posting there.
Stella - Many thanks to all of you. I hope you take something useful away.
Susanna - - 4/20 at 10:53pm EST
april - Oh, I read it!
tatsrus - night all
Cissy - Okay, I have a question, and then I think Elizwrite & K had questions. Earlier you said we should "learn to sense when the action drags" - how exactly do you do that? Is that when you find yourself skimming your own work on a re-read? Or is that normal?
Stella - ATTENTION, CISSY! DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
tatsrus - - 4/20 at 10:53pm EST
Stella - okay//bashful
Cissy - ATTENTION, STELLA! YES! 
april - I love that face. I think it looks like me.
Stella - I think we all do some skimming when we re-read. I think this is the result of re-reading too soon after the original composition.
Stella - April, Cissy is always mean to me.
Cissy - 
Stella
Stella - But there's an inner sense of dragging, a slowing down. When I'm writing, I feel as if I....write....a ....word....and....then....another--andnothing is happening.
Stella - Now she's making up--sheeesh. 
april - ? quick yes or no
Cissy - I have to keep you on your toes!
Cissy - go ahead with your quickie, april. Then Elizwrite & K, if they still have questions
Stella - ga
april - Oh, I just wanted to know if you recommend reading out loud.
april - Even though I feel stupid doing it.
Stella - Yes
Cissy - Elizwrite, go on with your question. THen K
Stella - You can even read my books out loud
Stella - ga
Elizwrite - Stella, how can I tell if my pacing is too fast? Is that possible?
april - I do.
Cissy - Not unless we want to draw a crowd, Stella
Stella - No, Elizwrite. Not unless the work is jerky, or feels "he said, she said." The faster the pace the better as long as everyone
RobinH has timed out.
Stella - is clear and caught up in the story. I love fast-pacing.
Stella - ga
Elizwrite - Thanks.
Cissy - K, you're up
april - Got to sleep. Thanks so much to you all for insightful questions and answers!
K - Stella, I think that too much backstory and too much detail are detrimental to pacing, although necessary to the story... Any other clear-cut pitfalls to look for?
Stella - night, night, April. See you soon, I hope.
Stella - ga, K
Stella - K--I agree absolutely. You only need as much backstory and detail as the story requires. Also, remember that you never have to reveal everything at once. Drizzle info in as you need it. Reading is about finding out, not knowing now. The internal monologue can be a killer. When a character "talks" to the reader for pages it is stultifying.
Kagey has timed out.
Stella - Argh--it's almost 8 here. I gotta go to bed. Any last clean up stuff before I love you and leave you?
Cissy - Well, that's everyone who was in line for a question and we're now rolling on to 2 hours. Should we call it an evening?
Cissy - Great workshop everyone!
Stella - K, the comment about internal monologue was the other pitfall you asked about.
Danyelle - Thx for coming out to chat, Stella! Cissy, thx for moderating! It's been great fun . . . . see ya next time!
TessaMae - Thanks Stella and Cissy. I learned alot and look forward to next month.
cinsu has timed out.
Stella - Gasp, gasp. I've had such fun but I'd better crawl away.
Elizwrite - Thanks so much, Stella. Looking forward to next month.
Cissy - I'll send you all reminders next month. Thanks for coming! And thanks for everything, Stella. You're a trooper
K - Thanks Stella and Cissy. See ya next month.
Stella - I will look forward to next month and POV and to seeing some questions on the board.
myrtle - Thanks a bunch!!
Danyelle - - 4/20 at 11:07pm EST
Elizwrite - - 4/20 at 11:07pm EST
TessaMae - - 4/20 at 11:07pm EST
Stella - You're all welcome. Night, night and God Bless and Happy Easter!
Stella - - 4/20 at 11:07pm EST
