How Do I Make This Different?
Is your story too similar to another story? Or is to too similar to the inspiration?
Read more here.
How the Seven-Point Story Structure Can Help Your Writing
Read more here.
Wattpad
I’m going to try and post some fanfics (and original fics in Swedish) on Wattpad. I’ll see how that works out. I thought it might be fun. Does anyone have experience of publishing stuff there?
Defying Fate – Two Tales of the Warden by D. L Morrese
I have just finished reading the free ebook Defying Fate – Two Tales of the Warden by D. L Morrese.
At the beginning this seemed to be a very simple, but slightly humorous fantasy story, but after a while, I realized that there was more to come. As I kept reading, the story became more complex, but still, to some extent, slightly humorous, which is ok with me. Briefly, it’s the story of a young prince, Donald, who’s travelling around his father’s kingdom (and a neighbouring country) as a learning experience. He is accompanied by a guide/bodyguard, who’s an old soldier with a very pessimistic outlook on life. Later on Donald makes more friends. It turns out there’s even more to this story than I originally thought. One of Donald’s new friends, is really a several thousand years old android. Another is an equally old robot dog. Basically, the plot centers around Donald’s quest to stop an unnecessary war between his country and the ‘stoutfolk’ (dwarf) country Gotrox. At first it seems his task is hopeless, but Donald just won’t give up and his friends do their best to back him up.
Mostly, this is a well-written and fascinating, but simple story. My only complaint is about the grammar – the author seems to have an inexplicable dislike of the perfect tense. It’s only ever seen in some of the dialogue. Without exception, the author seems to have chosen to replace the perfect tense with the past tense (imperfect). It was driving me crazy. I found myself rephrasing each sentence in the way I felt it should have been. Other than that, this was a fun, light read, with many sympathetic and funny characters.
Kitty, by Catherine E Chapman
I have also just read the short story Kitty (an e-book), by Catherine E Chapman. It’s very similar to a Jane Austen story, so if you love Jane Austen’s books, you’ll love this one. The main character, Kitty, is the second daughter in a family with three girls. Mum is all set on marrying off her oldest daughter (who goes by several different nicknames) to a certain young, handsome captain. The story is simply about that, but as far as that goes, it’s a fun, light read. I can really recommend it to all Jane Austen lovers.
A story is not a vignette…
“Remember: a story is not a vignette. It has a beginning, middle and an end. It is not merely a snapshot in time.”
– Chuck Wendig
Finished an original story
I finally managed to finish an original story. If I could only write every day (or rather night) I’d feel a lot better. I only wish I’d get round to finishing my novel. Why is it so hard? I suppose I’m afraid I’ll ruin what I’ve already written. All I need is a sort of start. A couple of sentences to set the right mood. Usually I manage to think of something much sooner. I’m afraid that if I don’t get it finished soon, it will never happen. It’s just going to be pointless.
Weird slash
For some reason I got it into my head to wonder what’s the strangest slash (not grossest), but most unusual slash you’ve read. In my case, I think it’s a piece of original fiction by Selma Lagerlof (famous Swedish Nobel prize winning author). She would most likely have been astonished to hear her story described as slash, and she’d probably need an explanation of the term, but I get definite slash vibes from this one. A bit of BDSM too…
Her story is about two rivers who compete as they rush towards the sea, but eventually one submits to the other and they become one. LOL. Sounds a bit slashy, right?
I’m sure this isn’t the weirdest slash story that’s out there, but it’s what springs to mind right now (late, late at night, or very early in the morning, whichever way you’d like to see it).
