Apparently there is a contest for Shaastra [IITM's Techfest], which involves making a site that'll top google search for a given term. Why they would do that beats me, but then I am used to people doing stuff that means nothing.
Our readership, by which I mean Priya of the Numbskulls has requested that this link be put up on my blog, so my other readers (she is delusional) will help her win.
If you feel that there was nothing weird at all, try this - coecelanth shaastra zeppelin equivocate and durbatuluk
Time whizzes by and I, I write of glimpses I steal
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Cerebration Part - 2
10 Basic Rules of Writing from Trudi Canavan's workshop
1. Show don't tell
2. Use strong verbs (He walked slowly/he strolled)
3. Avoid overdoing adjectives and adverbs - including qualifiers (very, rather, just, quite, really)
4. Use dialogue for immediacy:
Avoid too many adverbs (he said loudly/ he shouted)
But don't overdo the 'speech' verbs (ejaculated, muttered, whined, etc.)
Using said is OK
Accent and slang - not too much
If in doubt, read it aloud
5. Don't complicate point of views unnecessarily
Avoid too many povs in a novel
Avoid too many povs in a scene
If you must change from one pov to another within a scene, be careful you don't cause confusion
6. Avoid infodump by delivering background with
Dialogue (but not as "As you know Bob..."
Lessons/ stroytelling/ records/ letters/ books/ recollections/ dreams/ vision
If you deliver background via narrative, it is more dynamic if related from pov of character than a narrator
7. Avoid too many made-up words. Explain your concept as briefly as possible, always avoiding infodump
8. Get your facts straight. Research! Research! Research!
9. Avoid clichés (eg. roaring fire, raging desire). Avoid plot clichés (like sheperd who is the missing heir)
10. Perfect third person before using first person
And then one rule to rule all rules
11. Stick to the rules for starters and break them later when you are a skilled writer
1. Show don't tell
2. Use strong verbs (He walked slowly/he strolled)
3. Avoid overdoing adjectives and adverbs - including qualifiers (very, rather, just, quite, really)
4. Use dialogue for immediacy:
Avoid too many adverbs (he said loudly/ he shouted)
But don't overdo the 'speech' verbs (ejaculated, muttered, whined, etc.)
Using said is OK
Accent and slang - not too much
If in doubt, read it aloud
5. Don't complicate point of views unnecessarily
Avoid too many povs in a novel
Avoid too many povs in a scene
If you must change from one pov to another within a scene, be careful you don't cause confusion
6. Avoid infodump by delivering background with
Dialogue (but not as "As you know Bob..."
Lessons/ stroytelling/ records/ letters/ books/ recollections/ dreams/ vision
If you deliver background via narrative, it is more dynamic if related from pov of character than a narrator
7. Avoid too many made-up words. Explain your concept as briefly as possible, always avoiding infodump
8. Get your facts straight. Research! Research! Research!
9. Avoid clichés (eg. roaring fire, raging desire). Avoid plot clichés (like sheperd who is the missing heir)
10. Perfect third person before using first person
And then one rule to rule all rules
11. Stick to the rules for starters and break them later when you are a skilled writer
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Cerebration - Part 1
This weekend was the Canberra Readers and Writers Festival. The festival brought together many Australian writers and a few from overseas as well. I couldn't attend much of the festival, which was a shame, but I did attend a few 'Author speaks', a book launch and one of the workshops. This being my first festival, I am gratified to observe that books are still held in great affection by all age-groups.
The book launch wasn't spectacular in the way an Indian film has a muhurat. It was a small book, self-published by a Canberran writer. There was a lot of wine, bread and snacks though, and I think half the people just turned up for the free food (the other half being family and friends). I would be surprised if the book sold more than a thousand copies.
Met Kathryn Fox, who is considered by many as 'Australia's Patricia Cornwell'. Like in the Kay Scarpetta novels, Kathryn's Dr.Anya Crichton is a forensic pathologist solving puzzling crimes. Having read and enjoyed novels of both, it was very exciting to hear her speak about her books, her personal experience fighting crime and her take on writing.
The highlight of the show though was one of the star overseas writers invited to be part of the festival, the Canadian writer, Stuart McLean. He is a bestselling author and the host of his own CBC program, Vinyl Café and is quite a popular guy, from what I hear. I heard him read from his comical series and he was simply hilarious. I have never enjoyed a book reading as much before. He brought the characters to life with his narration so well, that we could almost 'watch' everything happen on the screen behind (being projected from the back of his head)
"Toilet Training Galway the cat" and "Morley hits a racoon" were nostalgically R.K.Narayan-ish. I think Stuart was what columnist V.Gangadhar ('Slice of life' in Hindu) would be like, if I ever get to meet him in person.
A good weekend. Very good weekend.
The book launch wasn't spectacular in the way an Indian film has a muhurat. It was a small book, self-published by a Canberran writer. There was a lot of wine, bread and snacks though, and I think half the people just turned up for the free food (the other half being family and friends). I would be surprised if the book sold more than a thousand copies.
Met Kathryn Fox, who is considered by many as 'Australia's Patricia Cornwell'. Like in the Kay Scarpetta novels, Kathryn's Dr.Anya Crichton is a forensic pathologist solving puzzling crimes. Having read and enjoyed novels of both, it was very exciting to hear her speak about her books, her personal experience fighting crime and her take on writing.
The highlight of the show though was one of the star overseas writers invited to be part of the festival, the Canadian writer, Stuart McLean. He is a bestselling author and the host of his own CBC program, Vinyl Café and is quite a popular guy, from what I hear. I heard him read from his comical series and he was simply hilarious. I have never enjoyed a book reading as much before. He brought the characters to life with his narration so well, that we could almost 'watch' everything happen on the screen behind (being projected from the back of his head)
"Toilet Training Galway the cat" and "Morley hits a racoon" were nostalgically R.K.Narayan-ish. I think Stuart was what columnist V.Gangadhar ('Slice of life' in Hindu) would be like, if I ever get to meet him in person.
A good weekend. Very good weekend.
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