tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post5764048309686972393..comments2024-01-17T22:00:41.839-08:00Comments on Full Throttle and F**k It: A Strong SpineSteve Malleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-34485574513610448052008-02-07T11:08:00.000-08:002008-02-07T11:08:00.000-08:00Lana, you're right. It *does* sound organized and ...Lana, you're right. It *does* sound organized and effective when I write it down like that. In practice, well, that's another story...<BR/><BR/>CS, the spine is indeed golden. Many's the time I wished I built from the spine up, like you plot-outliners!<BR/><BR/>Avery, great to see you back, and well put! You are seriously eloquent!Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-39657541172573510192008-02-07T07:18:00.000-08:002008-02-07T07:18:00.000-08:00The spine is key, no doubt. But that changeable m...The spine is key, no doubt. But that changeable matter, the muscles and tissue that support our spine, that's where we get to build a living thing, to move beyond a universal theme and show ourselves as individuals. The settings, characters and words we choose are the embodiment of us, the reflection of our selves as writers.AvDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16574481780173046619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-33504057594328357162008-02-06T13:18:00.000-08:002008-02-06T13:18:00.000-08:00Interesting approach and metaphor. And as your ill...Interesting approach and metaphor. And as your illustration suggests, the spine is golden!cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-80740471503855121662008-02-04T22:26:00.000-08:002008-02-04T22:26:00.000-08:00Interesting insight into your creative process. So...Interesting insight into your creative process. Sounds like an effective plan.Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-10920399197699085022008-02-04T12:21:00.000-08:002008-02-04T12:21:00.000-08:00I think I might post on theme next. It'll take som...I think I might post on theme next. It'll take some thinking!Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-90106286989236712032008-02-04T12:20:00.000-08:002008-02-04T12:20:00.000-08:00SzélsőFa, you're right. In fact, I did call it 'co...SzélsőFa, you're right. In fact, I did call it 'core' a few times. I just use spine for the idea that what I keep is sleek and muscular and helps it stand. That, and a chance to use that cool graphic!<BR/><BR/>Bernita, thanks!<BR/><BR/>Shauna, my method grew out of drawing comics: rough sketch, proper drawing, black ink. <BR/><BR/>2nd draft is where (among those other things I mentioned) I'm looking for arcs and themes. They're always in there, even though I spend the first draft going 'he does this!' and 'ooh, that means she does THAT!'<BR/><BR/>Charles, if we could only teach the idea to Hollywood directors, we might get better movies!<BR/><BR/>Lisa, I always figured 'theme' was a unifying idea that pops up throughout the work. To me, it's bigger and more abstract: <BR/><BR/>Can murdering thieves ever trust each other? --Double Indemnity<BR/><BR/>America is no great place to be a god. --American Gods<BR/><BR/>Sons must one day part from their fathers. --American Gods<BR/><BR/>Never trust a grifter. --American Gods<BR/><BR/>A theme (and books can have more than one; American Gods certainly does.) threads its way in and out of a story. The spine/core is what you cannot take out without bringing the story crashing down. <BR/><BR/>eg. What if we made Bridget Jones married, but unhappily? Then, when she meets Darcy, there's a 'forbidden love' thing going on? <BR/><BR/>Not saying that story can't be written, but...Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-54616361441256750002008-02-04T08:39:00.000-08:002008-02-04T08:39:00.000-08:00Would you consider the spine to be the same as the...Would you consider the spine to be the same as the theme/s, or is it something even more concrete? The photo is stunning -- you have a way with creating great visuals to complement your written ideas, but I guess that should come as no surprise.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-19778584531652311042008-02-04T08:33:00.000-08:002008-02-04T08:33:00.000-08:00Very good point about how in a story some things c...Very good point about how in a story some things can come out or be changed while others are core, or spine. This is one of those things I kind of knew but hadn't verbalized. It helps to make them conscious.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-30832887819246160062008-02-04T07:49:00.000-08:002008-02-04T07:49:00.000-08:00Interesting metaphor. Interesting, too, that you h...Interesting metaphor. Interesting, too, that you have one easy-to-remember measure for judging each section of your work. Do you go back later to check each character's growth arc and to strengthen themes, or do you nail those in the first draft?Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-80176493797902683712008-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:002008-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:00Good advice.I'll try to remember it after I'm thro...Good advice.<BR/>I'll try to remember it after I'm through adding vertebrae.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-12659269864827682102008-02-04T02:41:00.000-08:002008-02-04T02:41:00.000-08:00Thank you for this useful post on the various phas...Thank you for this useful post on the various phases of revision.<BR/><BR/>I think what you call 'spine' som might call 'core' or 'main message', perhaps...?SzélsőFahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600289147447182465noreply@blogger.com