tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622029434153478101.post7575024105055649801..comments2024-03-18T00:24:50.484-07:00Comments on Graham Smith Writer: Short Story or Novel?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622029434153478101.post-19186785260234339352012-03-01T12:35:06.418-08:002012-03-01T12:35:06.418-08:00My thanks go to David for writing this piece and t...My thanks go to David for writing this piece and to all who have commented. <br /><br />It's a very informative piece which has obviously rung a lot of bells with you all.<br /><br />GrahamGraham Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15561493204302079903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622029434153478101.post-84957388384170847392012-02-28T01:29:38.297-08:002012-02-28T01:29:38.297-08:00I also write short stories to train myself to writ...<i>I also write short stories to train myself to write leaner, that is, to trim off the fat of excess words that fails to advance the story. </i><br /><br />Agree wholeheartedly. It's amazing what you can cut if you pretend you have no choice but to excise 10% of your word count. Makes the writing stronger.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your process, David, and thanks for the post, Graham!Robin B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11471528485010071521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622029434153478101.post-5987002046146811252012-02-27T16:34:46.786-08:002012-02-27T16:34:46.786-08:00Tremendously informative this. It's something ...Tremendously informative this. It's something I have at the forefront of my mind each time I write. My motto: "Cut the bullshit, let's get it on!" :-)<br /><br />Thanks for your poignant take on leanness, David, and cheers to Graham for hosting.<br /><br />I'll be spreading the word on this.<br /><br />Respect,<br />ColAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17913040012695421077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622029434153478101.post-48440666038932645402012-02-27T13:47:44.690-08:002012-02-27T13:47:44.690-08:00Thanks guys. This rang so many bells in my head I&...Thanks guys. This rang so many bells in my head I'm having trouble hearing the radio.<br /><br />George Clayton Johnson (the author of Logans Run and Ocean's Eleven -- both so much darker and better by far than the movies made of thos titles, including the Rat Pack version and Clooney's movies and the weak ass adaptation done for Logan's Run disaster)told me once, "If a single sentence or even a single word in your story doesn't advance the plot -- you're doing it wrong."<br />The prime example of this philosophy, I think, is Elmore Leonard who does flesh out his novels more -- but not so much they lose the impact of his shorter works.AJ Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765836513403665199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6622029434153478101.post-87271450278760691452012-02-27T12:41:53.554-08:002012-02-27T12:41:53.554-08:00Interesting, David. Thanks for sharing these wise ...Interesting, David. Thanks for sharing these wise words. I read Stephen King's On Writing a while ago and the main tip it took from it was, "Omit unnecessary words." I try to do that in most things I write but, as you said, a novel requires a bit of fat. I'm working on my novel at the moment and I'm trying to include that...but I'm finding it hard. I'm sure it will come.<br /><br />Best,<br />David.David Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006533626998905560noreply@blogger.com