Comments for Matt Forbeck http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck Just another Storytellers Unplugged weblog Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:20:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Matt Forbeck http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Matt Forbeck Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:20:42 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-137 <a href="#comment-135" rel="nofollow">@Dr. Curiosity </a> That's excellent. Thanks for the update. I hope you enjoy it! @Dr. Curiosity That’s excellent. Thanks for the update. I hope you enjoy it!

]]> Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Matt Forbeck http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Matt Forbeck Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:41:17 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-136 That's certainly another way to do it, Alma. As the title says, this is how I write, but that doesn't mean it works for everyone. I prefer to have a map that shows me the way toward my destination. Others like to just wander and trust that they'll have an interesting journey. I also mentioned that I always deviate from the outline should a better path open before me. The outline is just that, not the finished document by a long way, and it leaves me (at least) plenty more to discover in the course of the actual writing. That’s certainly another way to do it, Alma. As the title says, this is how I write, but that doesn’t mean it works for everyone. I prefer to have a map that shows me the way toward my destination. Others like to just wander and trust that they’ll have an interesting journey.

I also mentioned that I always deviate from the outline should a better path open before me. The outline is just that, not the finished document by a long way, and it leaves me (at least) plenty more to discover in the course of the actual writing.

]]> Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Dr. Curiosity http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Dr. Curiosity Sun, 28 Nov 2010 02:35:05 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-135 <a href="#comment-131" rel="nofollow">@Matt Forbeck </a>: It looks like it's available here already for NZ$24.95 (US$18.72) through <a href="http://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/book/amortals/12314372/" rel="nofollow">Whitcoulls</a>, one of the major book chains, and through some other smaller/independent stores. In the process of making inquries, one online retailer now also knows how your name is spelled ;-) I don't have any useful device for reading ebooks on yet, so I'm going to go and get myself a dead tree version for reading over Christmas. @Matt Forbeck : It looks like it’s available here already for NZ$24.95 (US$18.72) through Whitcoulls, one of the major book chains, and through some other smaller/independent stores. In the process of making inquries, one online retailer now also knows how your name is spelled ;-)

I don’t have any useful device for reading ebooks on yet, so I’m going to go and get myself a dead tree version for reading over Christmas.

]]> Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Alma Alexander http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Alma Alexander Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:36:30 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-133 I do THAT, and the real book never gets written. My back brain would ask, why bother? I've done all the writing already. The story's there. Why waste any more time on it...? I know that there are two kinds of writers in the world - the kind that can't write without a story bible, and the kind that can't write WITH one. I'm the latter. I find out what happens in a story the same way a reader does - by watching what's coming out from underneath my fingettips as I'm typing it. It's fraught, sure, and risky, and yes you can get mired in side-trips you never meant to take - but hell, that's what the rewrite and the edit are for. As for writing the actual story, the only way I can do it, the only way I know how to do it, is by opening the stable door and letting the storyhorse loose and then trying to follow as best I am able... I do THAT, and the real book never gets written. My back brain would ask, why bother? I’ve done all the writing already. The story’s there. Why waste any more time on it…?

I know that there are two kinds of writers in the world – the kind that can’t write without a story bible, and the kind that can’t write WITH one. I’m the latter. I find out what happens in a story the same way a reader does – by watching what’s coming out from underneath my fingettips as I’m typing it. It’s fraught, sure, and risky, and yes you can get mired in side-trips you never meant to take – but hell, that’s what the rewrite and the edit are for. As for writing the actual story, the only way I can do it, the only way I know how to do it, is by opening the stable door and letting the storyhorse loose and then trying to follow as best I am able…

]]> Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Writing on Wednesday « Imagination Run Amok http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-132 Writing on Wednesday « Imagination Run Amok Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:32:36 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-132 [...] How I Write: The Story Bible – The term, Story Bible was unknown to me before reading this article, but it’s [...] [...] How I Write: The Story Bible – The term, Story Bible was unknown to me before reading this article, but it’s [...]

]]> Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Matt Forbeck http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Matt Forbeck Mon, 22 Nov 2010 03:23:05 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-131 Thanks! I have no idea about New Zealand distribution, sadly. If you read ebooks, you can pick Amortals up that way now. Otherwise, if you do find it in a local store, let me know. I'd love to hear about it. Thanks! I have no idea about New Zealand distribution, sadly. If you read ebooks, you can pick Amortals up that way now. Otherwise, if you do find it in a local store, let me know. I’d love to hear about it.

]]> Comment on How I Write: The Story Bible by Dr. Curiosity http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/11/21/how-i-write-the-story-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Dr. Curiosity Mon, 22 Nov 2010 03:00:48 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2904#comment-130 Doing that kind of pre-writing for a story - and revising it appropriately as the story unfolds - seems to be a really helpful way of building a narrative and keeping it cohesive. I've only really used the technique for game-related writing work thus far, but I can definitely see how it'd extend to novel-writing use. What I've seen of Amortals so far looks intriguing, and no end of good praise from people whose opinions I respect. I don't know if UK/Australia distribution extends as far as New Zealand, but I'll be checking with some local retailers all the same. Doing that kind of pre-writing for a story – and revising it appropriately as the story unfolds – seems to be a really helpful way of building a narrative and keeping it cohesive. I’ve only really used the technique for game-related writing work thus far, but I can definitely see how it’d extend to novel-writing use.

What I’ve seen of Amortals so far looks intriguing, and no end of good praise from people whose opinions I respect. I don’t know if UK/Australia distribution extends as far as New Zealand, but I’ll be checking with some local retailers all the same.

]]> Comment on Gearing Up for Publication by Matt Forbeck http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/10/20/gearing-up-for-publication/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Matt Forbeck Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:39:05 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2902#comment-129 Thanks, Lyndi! I'll send you a note. Thanks, Lyndi! I’ll send you a note.

]]> Comment on Gearing Up for Publication by Lyndi Alexander http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/10/20/gearing-up-for-publication/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Lyndi Alexander Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:21:40 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2902#comment-128 Hi, Matt! Congrats on your soon-to-be-launched baby. :) I'm running a cross-promotion with blog posts/interviews from other writers on my site for my urban fantasy series, and I'd love to have an entry from you. Please contact me for details. Lyndi Hi, Matt! Congrats on your soon-to-be-launched baby. :) I’m running a cross-promotion with blog posts/interviews from other writers on my site for my urban fantasy series, and I’d love to have an entry from you. Please contact me for details.

Lyndi

]]> Comment on Gearing Up for Publication by Matt Forbeck http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/2010/10/20/gearing-up-for-publication/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Matt Forbeck Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:54:37 +0000 http://storytellersunplugged.com/mattforbeck/?p=2902#comment-126 Thanks, Darci! Thanks, Darci!

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