Daniel Thompson

@perfectfifths What I would recommend is don’t think of this as if you need to plan a plot. Plot carries the connotation of something big. Just write one scene (i.e. a firefighter rescues a girl from a burning house.) It’s really not that hard to keep one scene short.

The thing then is making the scene meaningful. You can think of this scene as…[Read more]

@northerner Ah, I suspected that was your reason. Ok, well first, I don’t think your genre will change a whole lot. I’m suspect you’re right that there are fewer e-readers there, but there’s still a significant amount. However, that doesn’t affect the issue of hypocrisy much. Well, here’s the question. Why are you against e-readers? If it’s a…[Read more]

Looks good, @ethryndal

@northerner Basically, yes, though the answer’s not quite so simple.

Let’s say when you initial launch your book, you selling a lot of paperbacks but not many ebooks. I’d first ask, what’s making you sell a lot of paperbacks? Well, you’re probably in bookstores or catalogs where people who buy paper books browse. That might be your only…[Read more]

@hope Ooohhh, ok. Success sounds like a good theme then.

@Daeus This actually isn’t Fidelyon (though I’ve already filled out a similar outline of Fidelyon, with the theme being identity, and the focusing question being ‘of what does a man’s worth consist’).

The homework above is for a futuristic trilogy I’m working on where the MC goes through disillusionment arc on how things don’t always end well (at…[Read more]

@hope Hmm. Toughy. Well, success sounds like it might work. Another one I thought of is power. Then maybe your focusing question could be, what gives one the power for success. Ethaniel goes from thinking he has to make himself succeed to knowing his only success is through God’s power. The villain’s belief is that he finds the power to succeed…[Read more]

@aratrea

The theme is the one thing I’m not quite sure about. The idea is that man cannot succeed on his own. Man is finite and there is a limit to what he can do and know – as compared to God, who is infinite, and in Whom true success and final victory lies. Themes themselves are naturally broad, but I’m thinking I might be able to focus mine…[Read more]

@northerner Ah, I guess I didn’t catch that. Well, I caught the part about heaven and earth and philosophies, but nothing else.

@northerner Hmm. What’s that a parody of?

The subject matter is really horrendous (I’m a metaphor fanatic), but I’m interested to know if there was anything particularly witty about it.

@northerner No. What’s it about?

@emma-flournoy Here’s the original.

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That f…[Read more]

@aratrea

Story: Lord of the Rings

Theme: Hope and Perseverance

Focusing Question: Is there ever a time one is justified in giving up?

Message: One must fight and persevere through every darkness, doing what one can whether there is hope or not.

I have a feeling there is probably more themes in LotR, but those are the main ones that I think…[Read more]

Theme: Finite ability of man

Focusing question: What constitutes success?

Possible answers:
a. Protection of loved ones
b. Personal power
c. Survival
d. Memorable acts
e. Relationship with God

Message: Success is not measured by if we win or lose earthly battles, but rather in our relationship with God.

@Aratrea
@Daeus

@aratrea Theme is exciting because it is the life of the story; the reason the story exists. It can be woven in so subtly and exploration of a theme can go in so many directions. I am always excited when I find books that are exciting and yet present a message or prompt thought-provoking questions without shoving the morals down your throat, and…[Read more]

A better understanding of how to create and fully develop themes. And to just understand themes in general. I’ll figure out a basic theme and message, but when it comes time to untangle all the fine points of the theme and work it into the story, it can become a confused mess.

@northerner Well, to start with, I haven’t made money doing it any way because I haven’t published, but there are a few clear facts. First of all, a lot of traditionally published authors don’t make money either. Second, with so much more of the profits you actually keep, it’s easier to make money self-publishing. Third, there are a lot of…[Read more]

@gabriellemassman Mmm… yeah. Boy, I love that. I’ve got some basic ideas, but I can’t wait to do an in-depth brainstorming session and let my imagination run wild.

The bestistest thing is just something I came up with once and ever since then it’s been a tradition to greet people that way.

@audrey-caylin Close. It’s bestistest.