Ben Bova spoke to us today and the tract with Terry Brooks is awesome. I am getting so much information and I hope some of it sticks.
It is cloudy, hot and muggy and the ocean is right outside the front door...I may stay here and go native
Mariane
What a hoot. (Sorry, just pointing out a get turn of phrase) Back to your regularly scheduled posting...
)
quote:
they don't let you see what you are responding to....
Took me a while to notice that it was there.
I'd like to hear what they had to say.
Ni!
Anyway, would love to hear what Bova had to say.
=)
Kwsni’s right about the thread going off on a tangent being no big deal. We can point to dozens of instances on the entire site, and it’s never stopped anyone from posting back on target.
So don't be huhu. Hang loose. Post your nuggets and let those who will, glean from them. The others? Ho' omanawanui. Be patient with them.
[This message has been edited by Kolona (edited August 26, 2003).]
I myself have not read Terry Brooks' novels, but I have read his book on writing and he is an incredible teacher. I saw improvement in every person in the class. He stressed the importance of writing every day if you want to be serious about writing...the best way to learn to write is to do it.
Time for bed...bye
I grew up in Hawaii, and was very excited, when I started exploring writing as a "career" (potentially), to discover that such a writing conference existed on Maui. If I ever get to move back home (and I am homesick for Hawaii every day), I would be interested in this conference.
Are there any details you care to share about your experience in attending in general or specific, other than what you have already posted? Something we can't learn from reading about the conference on-line?
Mahalo!
P.S. - I'm sorry Sei has had a poor experience, and that it threw you off. I personally am glad that there are a few Wal-Marts out in Hawaii now... Our traditional shopping centers, such as Ala Moana, have been redirected towards tourists, which is good for the economy, but hard for locals when it comes to finding what we need for reasonable prices. When I returned to Oahu for my mother's memorial, Wal-Mart was the only place I could find an appropriate muu muu that was also affordable. Sounds like a story!
I hope that you do get a chance to experience Maui, tourist style: walk in Lahaina, swim in Ka'anapali Bay, do the drive to the Seven Sacred Pools (small car!), experience sunrise at the top of Haleakala, snorkle at Molokini, try the pineapple wine at Tedeschi Vineyard (if it is still there), eat a manapua and a malasada and some kalua pig (so onoliscious), try poi (it's ok not to like it!)... you get the idea. And if you are too busy, aole pilikia - no trouble - maybe just the manapua, and hit the ocean you see from your front door.
[This message has been edited by punahougirl84 (edited August 27, 2003).]
[This message has been edited by punahougirl84 (edited August 27, 2003).]
Marianne
See if you can get someone to drive you up Tantalus - best view of Honolulu there is, day or night - from Diamond Head to Ewa. I imagine you'll go snorkling in Hanauma Bay - you'll love it. Don't forget lots of sunscreen on the backs of your legs, especially behind the knees. Can't tell you how many tourists we saw with "lobster legs," in lots of pain. Enjoy!
I got back last night. I had promised myself that I wouldn't get on the net, not even to check email, and I'm truly glad that I did (or did not as it were).
For a tract I had Ben Bova's class on science fiction writing, and everyone in my class felt they walked away better writers for it. All of us had to submit writing, and the first day Ben asked us how far we were in the stories we had submitted, then told us to ignore what we brought, and started us with new stories. - it was a great exercise and it was nice because that meant we all started on even ground - as opposed to some manuscripts being more polished than others because of the number of rewrites, etc. - so we started with him giving us an item in our universe, and we had to come up with a decent background by the next day (2-3 pages min). then the day after that, it was to take that background and create characters, the following day, have a short story (or the first chapter of a novel) done. --- so it was definately write write write.
The bad thing was that Ben was sick for the first few days (and I mean SICK), but he got over it, and our days of little work were quickly over. - I was averaging about 3 hours of sleep a night.
In the mornings, a classmate and I would go swimming for an hour before getting ready for the day (which worked out fine, since I kept automatically waking up about 5:30am). After that a quick breakfast, and off to the morning keynote speeches - a quick break then homerooms for most of the rest of the days. There were also critique sessions in the evening, and movies which were diseminated, to show screen writing, etc.
Elizabeth (Liz) Engstrom - who was in a magazine (I think SF&F) recently is the director, and she taught some also. - I got a great amount of emotional support from her.
By the time of the break between the retreat and the conference, I really needed one. I went took a nap and then kicked it on the beach with camera(s) in hand for the rest of the afternoon. - I really needed a breather from writing.
When writing a story always think of whose story is it and what is at stake. (one of the instructors said that when she teaches, she has people write a story, then write it from two other POV's) The writer much convey what is at stake, and why they reader should care.
~ 4 pages is the farthest you can get into the story and not tell the reader what is going on.
Try to impress with conflict, not with information.
You should set a time bomb on the first page. (this actually ties in with the fact that you should never go more than 4 pages without telling the reader what is happening.)
If a character is strugglinw with a problem, it should be obvious, and grevious.
Steal from the best. (we are talking ideas here, not blocks of text - though it was commented on more than once, that copying an published author in wrote form will help to get rhythm - not for submission)
Heinleins rules for writing are indeed good to follow.
and most importantly: IF YOU CAN CONCEIVE IT, YOU CAN WRITE IT
After having been to the conference and retreat, I would say unless someone doesn't want to learn the craft, but only to sell what they have done, then go to the conference alone. Otherwise, by all means take the retreat and conference. - if you can only afford one, then I would say the retreat definatley is worth the cost.
I met a a good dozen plus people there who have been to the retreat multiple times, and a few people who are published authors who are still participants in the retreat.
The instructors push you, and it would be really hard for someone to not be better by the end. - and best of all, there are others who feel your pain with you, so it makes it easier to swollow down.
Edited to add: Thanks for the link, Mags!
[This message has been edited by Hildy9595 (edited September 03, 2003).]
the url for the MWC is http://www.mauiwriters.com/ - they don't have the tracts set up for next year yet, but a few of the tracts seem to be every year.
Part of the reason for the direction, is that I have no idea how much it will be next year.
[This message has been edited by mags (edited September 03, 2003).]
I do have a question -- what did you mean when you wrote that the writer should set a time bomb on the first page?
quote:
Approach maniac and repeat demand in even more assertive tone. Add the words, "or else."--Procedure for subduing a maniac that has responded to police demands with a scornful remark; San Angeles Police Department