Now is essentially 4 hours before any reasonable bedtime judging by my internal clock. Nevertheless some form of virus purports to throw it out of whack. My entire day has been a mixture of grumpiness and serenity, an insight into the obscure shadowy world of people who do not involuntarily analyze every waking moment.
I finished Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card. All that's left now is to check out his website, listed at the back of the book oscIGMS.com
I'm not giving a book review here, I'll do that properly when I feel like it and have the time. Instead I'll give an update on writerly insights (because I absolutely love his work). There's a passage, about two pages worth that is completely taken up by developing internal conflict, within a timeframe of a heated beration by Allessandra's mother. He only concentrates on the history, what it means to A, and the resultant course of action. There was certainly a lot to consider. Much of it was cool objective calculation, something that at the time required a precise weight measurement so that it could be placed against the personal feelings of herself and other people involved, which were aggravated and hard to pinpoint. He included as much as possible in the introspection and gave it a certain structure that flexed under the pressure of observation, as it should, resulting in something that was entirely uncertain but a decision nonetheless. To unassuming readers this may seem like no great feat, but base decisions happen all the time in other books and this is a good benchmark to set as an 'adult' fiction - the degree of explanation. Often motivation can be gleaned and/or is not welcome in the flow of the book (especially if you're only dealing with minor characters (the sheer concept!)). But motivation is a fleeting specter, never entirely understood even by the decision-makers.
Orson Scott Card wrote at the end of his book that the format for creation was first to present a novelette to his friends and then improve on it and factor in several opinions. I had never truly conceived of this method, thinking that it went from strategic plan to complete scenes and language refinement instead of small scale to scene refinement. I like the idea, and intend to use it, soon. It ought to make many things a lot easier, quicker, more manageable in chunks but never losing sight of the overall picture.
I was at a bookstore yesterday and slightly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of books being printed. How can anyone hope to read them all? That's one of the things about common culture, when a book really takes off then everyone reads it and can comment, similarly with movies. I find it a little disconcerting that so many books will go through life untraded, simply because anyone that has read the book has a low probability (hah, even less considering how many people actually like to read) of finding someone else who has also read it, and if they do recommend it to someone then there's often a time gap etc. ugh lots of trouble. I never get to discuss any of my favorite books. We may be doomed to be steeped in the classics until end of days.
Aside from writing novels, what else is there?
* Team up with a manga artist.
* Write for a newspaper, interact with your readers.
* Magazine articles. I wonder how many people like to read those. At least depending on your area of expertise you'd get a readership of like-interest people.
* Movies
* Plays and theater
* Song lyrics
* Poetry
* blogs :P
* Speeches?
Okay, there are decent options everywhere. What I choose to do will end up to be a fluke of circumstance or a natural ability - something that I love. Food for thought.
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