Last week we talked about reading critically, reading as writers. This week we decided to apply that critical reading skill to Watchmen, the Hugo award-winning graphic novel by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins. We start (once we get past the donuts in our mouths) by breaking it down into character, … Continue reading Writing Excuses Season 2 Episode 28: Applying Critical Reading: “Watchmen” →
Writing Excuses 12.4: Hybrid Viewpoints From https://writingexcuses.com/2017/01/22/12-4-hybrid-viewpoints/ Key points: Hybrid viewpoints mean we’re mixing first and third person, or present and past tense, or otherwise tinkering with the structure. Frame stories. A journal entry, 1001 Arabian Nights, stories in a bar. Story within a story. The dynamic between the two stories can help establish untrustworthy … Continue reading 12.4 →
Writing Excuses 10.39: Q&A on Plot Twists with Kevin J. Anderson From https://writingexcuses.com/2015/09/27/writing-excuses-10-39-qa-on-plot-twists-with-kevin-j-anderson/ Q&A Summary Q: Genre twists as a plot twist. Good, bad, or ugly? A: Part of the audience will love it, part will hate you forever. We can learn a lot from other genres. Make sure you fulfill promises and expectations, don’t … Continue reading 10.39 →
Writing Excuses 10.24: Hooking Younger Readers From https://writingexcuses.com/2015/06/14/writing-excuses-10-24-hooking-younger-readers/ Key Points: What hooks younger readers? A familiar voice that is relevant to them. Both the syntax and the character’s point of view. Popular picks do get checked out again and again. Book trailers do work! Are there differences in boy and girl reading habits? Boys do … Continue reading 10.24 →
As we did with The Dark Knight and Watchmen (the comic, not the movie), once again we turn our searing critical insight on a major work of successful storytelling talk about what they did right. If you loved the new Star Trek movie, or even just kind of liked it, we’ll tell you what the … Continue reading Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 8: What Star Trek Did Right →
