@ethryndal
Active 1 year, 3 months ago-
Sarah Burns commented on the post, 4 Tips to Help You Overcome the Crippling Terror of the Blank Page 3 years, 8 months ago
Difficult things usually are simple when you take them apart piece by piece. They just like to dress up in scary costumes to frighten us from doing them. 😉
I relate. That practice is the one I tend to implement the most.
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, 4 Tips to Help You Overcome the Crippling Terror of the Blank Page 3 years, 8 months ago
Thankee and thankee! I’m glad you were encouraged! Henceforth, may all blank pages quake at the sight of you.
(And the bio compliment made my day. I wanted to write one people would truly enjoy reading, so it’s nice to hear I’ve succeeded.)
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Sarah Burns wrote a new post 3 years, 8 months ago
I have a phobia of blank pages. No matter how excited I am about a project, as soon as I open a new document, my creativity seizes up. My eyes twitch. And cowardice disguises itself as procrastination, urging me […]
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Explain Your Story's Premise without Getting Tongue-Tied 3 years, 9 months ago
Thanks, Martin! I count this as high praise. I was endeavoring to write the kind of article I personally needed but couldn’t seem to find, and fortunately, it worked. 😅
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Explain Your Story's Premise without Getting Tongue-Tied 3 years, 9 months ago
Ah, thank you Rachel! It took many awkward moments to learn this, but I’m glad something useful came from the pain. 😅
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Explain Your Story's Premise without Getting Tongue-Tied 3 years, 9 months ago
Who woulda thunk, indeed. It’s too bad they can’t just do things for no reason. That would save so much time.
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Explain Your Story's Premise without Getting Tongue-Tied 3 years, 9 months ago
Thanks! Hope it helps!
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Explain Your Story's Premise without Getting Tongue-Tied 3 years, 9 months ago
I deeply relate. Explaining the theme used to be my go-to when put on the spot. Glad this could be of service!
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Explain Your Story's Premise without Getting Tongue-Tied 3 years, 10 months ago
GO FORTH AND DO IT!!
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Sarah Burns wrote a new post 3 years, 10 months ago
A few years ago, an inquisitive stranger cornered me with a seemingly innocuous question: “What’s your book about?” Instead of rattling off a zinger, my brain blanked, my tongue tangled, and I stuttered somet […]
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AHH THIS IS BRILLIANT!!!! *darts off to try this*
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GO FORTH AND DO IT!!
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Thanks for writing this! It will be useful. A couple months ago I was asked about my book, and I could only manage to talk about its symbolic nature 😂. Now I shall be prepared…
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I deeply relate. Explaining the theme used to be my go-to when put on the spot. Glad this could be of service!
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Wonderfully said, Sarah! When we can articulate our stories to ourselves, we can articulate them to others. You’ve provided a fantastic formula.
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Ah, thank you Rachel! It took many awkward moments to learn this, but I’m glad something useful came from the pain. 😅
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Thanks! Hope it helps!
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Who woulda thunk, indeed. It’s too bad they can’t just do things for no reason. That would save so much time.
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Nice work! This might be the best summary of what a log line is, and how to make it, that I’ve seen in – well, long enough that I can’t remember a better one. XD
Also, your writing style is so robust. It’s a pleasure to read. Compliments to the chef!
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Thanks, Martin! I count this as high praise. I was endeavoring to write the kind of article I personally needed but couldn’t seem to find, and fortunately, it worked. 😅
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Sarah Burns wrote a new post 3 years, 11 months ago
I have a confession to make that may shock anyone who beta read my first novel, which sported a gruff, pipe-smoking wizard, a quest involving a mythical object of doom, and the line “All we have to decide is w […]
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I was wondering that myself, Emma 😂
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, 3 Common Problems Writers Must Avoid to Craft Realistic Parents 4 years ago
Rachel! Thanks for the encouragement! Yeah, there’s definitely a wealth of possible traumas that are simple and easy to connect with — they just take a little extra thought.
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, 3 Common Problems Writers Must Avoid to Craft Realistic Parents 4 years ago
Conclusion: The Wingfeather Saga is superior. 😉 Alas, including parents will never be easy, but at least it can be done. Thank you for reading!
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, 3 Common Problems Writers Must Avoid to Craft Realistic Parents 4 years ago
Thank you so much! And I agree; bad/absent parents are definitely a thing and have a necessary place in children’s literature, when done correctly. (Kate DiCamillo comes to mind… I think everything she’s ever written focuses in some way on children coping with broken families, and her books are absolutely gut-wrenching.) But more often than not…[Read more]
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, 3 Common Problems Writers Must Avoid to Craft Realistic Parents 4 years ago
I think to some extent drastic differences make sense, as people do change depending on the stage of life they’re in, but I get what you’re saying. Even if a person grows out of their childhood traits, they still have the same base personality. (Just a more mature version.) It makes no sense to expunge all personality in favor of a flat…[Read more]
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Sarah Burns wrote a new post 4 years ago
Distracted, diabolical, or dead is the standard for most fictional parents. If they don’t perish in a horrific accident (thus giving the protagonist an excuse to dress in black for eternity), they masquerade as t […]
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ARGH YES!!! WHY IN THE WORLD CAN WE NOT HAVE PARENTS IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE!?! Like, the Wingfeather Saga wouldn’t be the Wingfeather Saga without Nia and Artham and Podo and others I can’t say because of spoilers. Janner wouldn’t have seemed 12/13 without his adults, and it all would have been incredibly unrealistic. I think including the parent/guardians in the story gave it a large chunk of the unique bling AP is known for.
So.
Yes. I highly agree.
But is adding parents easy? *snorts* I wish.
Anywho, great article!! Looking forward to more from you. 😉
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Conclusion: The Wingfeather Saga is superior. 😉 Alas, including parents will never be easy, but at least it can be done. Thank you for reading!
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EXACTLY.
True. I will say you’ve inspired me to try my hand at it, though. 😛
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Such a good topic, Sarah! I particularly like the solution to corrupt good intentions. It’s relatable and there’s so much to work with. And it allows for the possibility to have healthy parental relationships still be a part of the story. Like you said, death and abuse are not the only options! Thanks for sharing your insights.
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Rachel! Thanks for the encouragement! Yeah, there’s definitely a wealth of possible traumas that are simple and easy to connect with — they just take a little extra thought.
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I think to some extent drastic differences make sense, as people do change depending on the stage of life they’re in, but I get what you’re saying. Even if a person grows out of their childhood traits, they still have the same base personality. (Just a more mature version.) It makes no sense to expunge all personality in favor of a flat stereotype.
Three cheers for Puddleglum. 😊
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Thank you so much! And I agree; bad/absent parents are definitely a thing and have a necessary place in children’s literature, when done correctly. (Kate DiCamillo comes to mind… I think everything she’s ever written focuses in some way on children coping with broken families, and her books are absolutely gut-wrenching.) But more often than not unhealthy families are portrayed as the healthy normal and/or as a cop out so the author doesn’t have to deal with the parents, and that’s a p r o b l e m.
“I wonder if part of the solution is not to keep writing nasty parents, but to show examples in literature of what good families look like.” Exactly this. 100% agree.
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This is super helpful for me as I’m trying to incorporate more parents into my stories. It inspired me to really dig deep and start fleshing out the parents of my characters and bringing them into the story.
Great article! -
YES, Sarah! I loved this article of yours SO. MUCH. You warned that it would be much more serious than your normal blog posts, but it was exactly the sort of article I’d expect from you. Witty, engaging, down-to-earth, and brilliant. I am so excited to read more of your articles here at Story Embers!!
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Sarah Burns commented on the post, How to Write Characters Who Are Smarter Than You 4 years, 1 month ago
My sickly brain cells are blessing you for these words of wisdom. My characters are blessing you for not having to inherit their author’s lacking intellect. This is a fabulous article. 🎉
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Sarah Burns changed their profile picture 4 years, 2 months ago
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Sarah Burns's profile was updated 4 years, 2 months ago
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Sarah Baran started the topic The Elements of an Eerie Antagonist – what makes a villain frightening? in the forum New Wessex Writing Discussions 6 years, 8 months ago
Okay, folks, I want to talk about VILLAINS.
(Wow, so surprising.)
I was wondering why some villains have the power to terrify us while others are more like a tired and sarcastic uncle in background. I see lots and lots of complex & sympathetic baddies (Kylo Ren, Loki), and tons of deranged psychos (Thanos, Mother Gothel, the White Witch), but…[Read more]
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I never write the first paragraph of an essay first. I can only introduce something after I know what in the world I am talking about!
Same! It just works to write the introduction last.
Let’s go, Team End-With-the-Intro! 🥳
I’ve found these principles useful in my writing. The other day I had two hours and a book to start writing. I had no clue what to do with that beautiful blank page even though I knew where the beginning of the story was going. To make myself start I just wrote about little mundane things.
It’s encouraging to know that it wasn’t my own madness, but a method to the madness of writing! 😂
Writing and madness are intrinsically connected. Can’t have one without the other. 😉
I think our creativity is like a boulder sitting on the edge of a cliff, and the little silly scribbles nudge it over the edge so it can hurtle into the real work. I’m glad this method works for you!
Thankee and thankee! I’m glad you were encouraged! Henceforth, may all blank pages quake at the sight of you.
(And the bio compliment made my day. I wanted to write one people would truly enjoy reading, so it’s nice to hear I’ve succeeded.)
Difficult things usually are simple when you take them apart piece by piece. They just like to dress up in scary costumes to frighten us from doing them. 😉
I relate. That practice is the one I tend to implement the most.