Comments on: How to Write a Story (for Geeks)

By: m

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:29:32 +0000

Hello, I used to have a very good friend who would write stories back and forth with me…either I would start, or he would and our stories would take on a life of their own.
Sadly he is no longer with us. I don’t know if I am good, but that does not matter to me. I would like to find someone to write with. The fun is, you never know where the story will go. I do no have anyone to write back and forth with presently (I think, unfortunately, people are glued to TVs, computers or vegging out instead of doing anything creative) and would like to find someone. Any suggestions?
I am currently getting my masters in counseling and love the idea of writing to unwind and take my mind off some of the intense stories I hear throughout the day.
Any suggestions how I might find a writing partner. The beauty of the internet is that they can be anywhere….Look foreword to hearing back from you.
M Morgan

By: Zinzy Geene

Zinzy Geene — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:49:14 +0000

Hi Derek,

What a truly great post you got there!
I normally detest writing tips as I feel writing is something totally personal, but you aced it with this one. Really nice, straight-forward but not annoying tips for people who need to write essays (anywhere. I’ll be using this in class!).
The example you gave captures your writing style quite well, I think. You have very nice ways of telling stories. :)

By: myla

myla — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:02:57 +0000

Thank you so much for this.

By: RGP

RGP — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:28:11 +0000

This is a great article. I too would love to know what’s on the writing playlist. Music really distracts me when I’m writing and then I realize it’s because I’m singing along. Go figure.

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:36:45 +0000

Hey Derek – this is the guy from Vegas – hosing down ho’s and searching for Elvis. What a great article and I did not even think about the Matrix thing, but you’re right. My only advice is that a story is like a slot machine: It better have a payoff and the payoff better be worth it. And the story should be quick quick quick, like a virgin at a sexual-worker’s convention.

By: Indranil

Indranil — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:40:50 +0000

Grand advice! By the way, what’s in your writing playlist? I find one or 2 Moby tracks to be nice, but anything else always ends with me on the air-guitar rather than writing.

By: Julette Millien

Julette Millien — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:22:16 +0000

My heart’s still pounding, fingers can’t go fast enough. No joke.

That was some good stuff.

I clicked the link from your tweet out of curiosity, didn’t expect much, thinking it’d be pretty basic.

BULLET TIME — too too awesome! ( I know, that second ‘too’ was redundant)

I will no doubt follow your blog – a newbie so I regret not having heard…
Thanks for the refreshing sunday afternoon picker-upper.

One problem though, why did you end with “that’s another story?”

By: Lois

Lois — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:41:19 +0000

In teaching creative writing to adolescents, we always said, “Start with a hook.” You do that so well, and it is important in setting up a plot. I love the image of the bullets!
Well done!

By: Michael Craig

Michael Craig — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:33:08 +0000

Lovely and sage words of wisdom!

Following on your advice, I’ve noticed that, if stuck for ideas, you might recall a story/stories you’ve shared before.

If they are in the category of “well received” as opposed to “fell flat” or “death-grip” à la Ancient Mariner, you might just have something to put into written form.

(Even the “Ancient Mariner” stories might be considered, so long as nobody died of boredom from hearing them…)

Of course, this still require that you WRITE THEM DOWN!

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:51:21 +0000

I like that: lop off the beginning, start in the middle. Set a scene, then explain it. Great writing advice. I make lists and then expand them, but that’s another… right.