One more word about Vonnegut (and writing)

puppetmaker40 posted the following and I wanted to share. Some wise words here:

Some writing advice by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on the subject of short stories from Bagombo Snuff Box:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Think think think

This business of being on the other side of the editorial desk? Full of insecurity and landmines, validations and puzzles.

I've been poring over the editorial requests from Intergalactic Medicine Show, have written myself a bunch of notes and thoughts, and I've realized that I may be in for a larger revision than I originally realized. The requests make sense and ultimately will improve the story, but it will take some work to get there. I've realized that I let one cat out of the bag way too early, which is what prompted one of the requests. I've also realized that I perhaps chose the wrong character as the protagonist. I'm not changing that; that would be a full redraft. I can see a way to write this that that won't matter and will ultimately work in the story's favor but . . . Oh. My. God.

This writing thing? What was I thinking? :-)

Me. . . with short, straight hair!

Me. . . with short, straight hair!,
originally uploaded by scarlettina.

Had a cut and color today, and am blogging the picture of myself with the new look because I may never be able to duplicate it. Just really wanted it shorter, and really wanted to look a little less disheveled on a regular basis. We'll see how long it lasts or how long I can stand to mess with the quite necessary blow dryer.

And yes, the picture makes my face look blue. Ah well. Me and Evangeline Walton.