WD Express

[Eminence]

 

 

 

Let's kick things off with a bang with a new feature...

 

Exclusiv3's Writing Tips

 

This is Exclusiv3, on behalf of WD Express. It’s time for the very first "Exclusiv3's Writing Tips"! Today, we’ll be talking about the “antagonist”.

 

Now, your antagonist DOES NOT fulfill the same role in a story as your villain does ..."antagonist" is not a synonym for the word "villain", in other words. Your villain is the guy in the story that wants to reach his own (usually diabolical) goal with little regard to the rules placed forth by the society around him and to the people within that society. Destroy the world. Take over the world. Get the gist? Your antagonist is a little different.

 

Your antagonist serves as the main obstacle to whatever your protagonist wants to accomplish. Your antagonist doesn't necessarily have to be a bad guy. In fact, your antagonist could even be the good guy depending on the perspective of your story.

 

What I find makes an interesting antagonist is his or her motivation. I'll tell you what I mean by this. It's not enough to have a powerful antagonist. Sure, he could be the "king of the underground" or "the most powerful force to be reckoned with"... but define your antagonists.

• How did your antagonist become so powerful in the first place?
• Does anything scare your antagonist? Germs? The Opposite Gender? Death?
• Are the goals of your antagonist reasonable for the situation at hand? (If your antagonist wants to kill everyone around 'em because somebody slapped they mama... then you might be in trouble.)
• Does your antagonist even have goals? He/She should have a life independent of your main character, after all.

Creating any well-defined character is a process, but an enjoyable one. It's only as deep as you allow it to be. See, that's why you have so many people who love creating the characters, but then they loathe writing the story. The most important thing that I can possibly advise, and this goes for most characters, is to make your antagonist relatable. This way, when he/she does something vicious it translates that much better to the reader ...because they were invested in your relatable character.

 

The best way to create a relatable character is to make them well-rounded. So, if you have your antagonist and she's a rich, mean-spirited yet perky, popular cheerleader then there won't be much long-term investment... and that's the kind of investment you want. Okay, she's popular but how about putting some not-so-good things in there to make her interesting? Maybe she sleeps around and recently finds out that she's pregnant? Maybe she's afraid of a particular teacher at school? There's very little reason why your antagonist would be one-dimensional. Play around with your antagonists.

 

Until the next issue, this is Exclusiv3, on behalf of WD Express, saying have a rough-and-tumble tonight and a pleasant tomorrow morning.

 

 

 

 

Up next, let's continue with the winner of this month's SSOTM: major underscore's Going Postal! A very deserved winner, clinching the competition with 4 votes to 3, rounding off a comeback from 3-2 down that exceeded the initial voting deadline. To whet the appetities of those who have yet to read the winning piece, here's a little excerpt:

 

 

Sunny beaches. As far as the eye could see there were sunny beaches. And people… on sunny beaches. At least Jeremy thought that this was what people meant when they spoke of beaches. Jeremy had never visited any himself, but they sure looked nice on postcards.

 

Flipping the postcard over, it read “Greetings from the sunny Caribbean!” and the name and address of some woman in Clarkesville. Jeremy had a vague notion that Clarkesville was probably named something else nowadays, if it was recognized under any name at all. Such names were a thing of the past, he knew, but the picture was nice, so he could probably use it for trade.

 

 

 

 

 

Interview with Lochie, Conducted by Masterkraft

 

This time it was decided I'd interview Lochie "live", or "over MSN" if you want to get technical. It felt a little more easy and I got some good material.

 

 

Q: Lochie, my fuzzy little man peach. How are you?

A: Mothertruckin' A, I got exams coming out of the rear but I couldn't really give two sh*ts, even if this is the final year. Yourself?

 

Q: I'm good thanks. 2009 has already been a big year for you, what with ideas flying left, right and centre from your nostrils. What have you got planned that you could tell us, right now, under oath?

A: Honestly, you know me, I'm the last minute man, I never set a piece in stone and one minute it could just be the spiteful husband being given the silent treatment, and the next moment it turns out shes been dead for a long time. But I guess I've been working around a general theme lately, which is family. Most of my 'freestyles' usually connect to a bigger idea that I've been planning out. It involves a car crash, a book store, a girl and a dead father. Two girls, too be exact...

 

Q: Sounds exciting to say the least. Speaking of excitement, which new writer has you most excited?

A: I think Chunk has something tucked away up his sleeve with Red. and Exclusiv3, for sure, this guy seems to be the very real deal when it comes to writing.

 

Q: Which current story has you coming back to WD?

A: Right now nothing has really caught my eye, I've browsed through a few pieces, but I can say I'm looking forward too the following pieces of '09; Oxi finally finishing his two snuff-extraordinaires, Ghost II and mark-2007 finally writing another story. Actually, if I may say, mark-2007 seems to be a very underrated writer. He's posted about four pieces in WD, but if you've ever got the chance to head over to the SA boards, check out some of his writing for the Leones in BUYG. f*cking excellent.

 

Q: Well pull my tassel if he didn't slip you a 20 to say that! But I agree with you. Okay, super fun happy laugh time; you're trapped in an airplane bathroom with another member of WD. There's very little room but you're both armed with pens, water, some sandwiches and a notepad each. You decide to document your 4 hour adventure (it's a flight from Heathrow to Italy by the way) in the form of a little tale involving the both of you. Who would it be?

A: I'd like to say Cand but I do not want to be eyef*cked with a pen. Probably a fine fellow like yourself or saltinespike.

 

Q: I don't think he'd eyef*ck you with it. There'd be most likely an instrument or a pipe of some sort constructed by the very end. You've been around the forums for a good while, nearly 4 years now. When did you dip your toe into WD and what pieces were your main focus?

A: I think back when I was 12/13 I tried writing a GTA-inspired fanfic, of course inspired by PresidentKiller's script. That failed so I didn't come back until about '07 to post some description thing. Then I came back after suffering a heavy blow in RL (girls, lal) and posted "Love Rhymes with Hideous Car Wrecks". I think Ryan (saltine) was the only fellow who replied. If I don't mind tooting my own horn, I think my best story would have to be Dial Tone.

 

Q: Here in WD we're all about tooting horns. Let's talk about SSOTM, which is something I believe you actually brought to WD. What inspired you to start the contest?

A: I just thought it'd be something fun, y'know? I think most people are enjoying it, although theres some big deal with the voting system right now. Bah, I wouldn't really know, when I handed it over to Ryan and you to run it, that was my last real involvement.

 

Q: A man has just entered my living room is trying to tear my clothes off, so I'll round this up. If you could travel back in time, kill an author and take over his work as your own, who would it be?

A: Joey Comeau. He then hands me a piece of paper with this link on and smiles.

 

Thanks Lochie.

 

 

 

____________________________

 

 

Interview with TonyZimmy, Conducted by The Unvirginiser

 

 

So, Tony Zimmzy!

It's been a while since you graced writer's discussion with your presence, you been in a comea or what?

 

Yeah, I've been pretty busy, I haven't really written anything in a while, or read anything for that matter. I've mostly been working on music mixing and production, with a splash of recording my own sh*t here and there. Own a home studio now. I'm sure I'll be around sooner or later.

 

-

 

Good to hear. I remember that youw ere trying to write a version of 'changing of the times' as a book, did that plan go down the sh*tter or what?

 

It's on hold, but I wouldn't say it's gone down the sh*tter, haha. I'm focusing on work, music, and progressing with life right now. Believe me, before my life is up, The Changing of Times will be in all good bookstores and webstores everywhere!

 

-

 

That's good. As many will know, you wrote an impressive trilogy of game scripts which have inspired a great deal or work throughout writer's discussion. Apart from obvious films, did anything else inspire you to take on the mammoth task?

 

Definitely. I read a gamescript similar to mine back in 2006, and I fell in love with the entire idea. I laid out a storyline, characters, plots, key elements and viola. I'd created a gamescript of my own. I never expected it to be such an inspiration for other writers to start their own gamescripts, but I'm definitely glad it did. I love reading those things and imagining it all playing out.

 

-

 

I know you're a big fan of Canderelli's work, and I also know you're very impatient and like me, don't read as much as you should on WD. But is there any other writers you're a fan of, where you make the effort to read their work?

 

Of course. I came to the forums mostly for Cubanwhip and PresidentKiller's amazing work. They knew dead on how to tell a story and captivate you. I stuck around for writers such as Oxidizer, with his phenominal(sp? haha) snuff work, and of course, your incredible gamescript work. Every writer in that forum I'm a fan of. Except one. He knows exactly who he is.

 

-

 

What the hell happened to Roberto? I noticed the other day the lack of dick jokes floating around

 

He passed away in December of last year.

 

-

 

I was about to say I bet he's dead... the picture of his dick that was floating about will live on.

So, Writer's discussion is a tight community, who would you say your 'friends' are?

 

I think just you and Andy these days. I don't really talk to anyone else from there anymore. Roberto, God rest his soul, will always be my fwiend, though.

 

-

 

Got any future work planned out in your head?

 

Really, only converting the Heart City trilogy into novels, and The Changing of Times into a novel, too. You'll see them all one day, patience is virtue.

Thanks for taking time out to ask me the questions. Good to know I'm still thought about within the community. Hope you enjoyed the read!

 

 

 

____________________________

 

 

Interview with The Unvirginiser, Conducted by TonyZimmzy

 

 

Hey Will, how're you tonight?

 

I'm fine thanks, I won the pub quiz yesterday so I'm happy! £50 bar tab, get in there! 

 

-

 

Wouldn't happen to of involved questions about writing, grammar, etc. would it? Cause I think you should've been banned from that quiz, being a writer and all.

 

There was a few about the first lines of books, which I did quite well on.

 

-

 

I can imagine. Speaking of writing, how goes thy San Andreas Stories? I see it's caught quite the attention of many readers.

 

Well, it's slowly drawing to an end. It hasn't got the fan abse that it had at one point. The excitng missions that come at the end of GTA games arn't far off.

 

-

 

That sounds exciting. Do you think taking a large break from the story halfway through attributed to the loss of fanbase?

 

Yeah, one of the major problems was literally hundreds of people reading the chapters and not posting feedback. That annoyed me, I had nobody telling me I was doing well, what they liked, what they didn't like. It felt like I was just writing it on paper then wiping my arse with it.

 

-

 

Bluntly put, but understandable. As all writers who're reading this can surely agree. Do you feel having currently the largest story running in writer's discussion has put unneeded pressure on your writing ability? Do you feel you have to meet a higher standard in fear of losing more of your fanbase?

 

Yes, in a way. A few say... 'The last chapter wasn' as good as the one before', yes, same as some GTA missions don't have you singlehandedly taking on half a polcie force, as others do. The script is suppsoed to be a game, with a certain level of realism and story building, much of which a lot of people don't appreciate. Plus, a script isn't a novel, if I wrote SAS in the same style I wrote narrative pieces, then it would be a lot more difficult to read. Especially for a lot of the younger readers. I try to counter that with writing certain, key cutscenes as narratives.

 

-

 

As a fellow former gamescript writer, I wholeheartedly agree with that whole statement. Hopefully the fanbase will pickup more towards the end. Have you got the entire ending planned to a T? If so, can we expect a happy ending or a sad ending for our (obviously, future) doomed protagonist Billy?

 

Yeah, I've got pretty much every mission planned out in my head from now onwards.

I don't wanna' give too much away, but the future death of Billy and Andy, that's mentioned in San Andreas will play a part.

 

-

 

Have you grown fond of the characters you've delved into and built up? At the start I can imagine they were just names from the 2004 videogame for you, but now I'm betting they're a whole lot more. Are you sad to know that their fate has already been decided, and at the end of the day, there is no happy ending for them

 

Yeah, definatly. I mean, these characters mean so much to me. We've got Billy, the 6 ft 6 gangster who looks like Lennox Louis. Andy, the little brother who always seems to be getting in to trouble and looks like Tupac. Then Brian, the character that never was, who's different to how players would imagine.

 

But then  I've made characters like Oxi, and Tyrone Madden. Oxi's a terrible murderer who films pornstars f*cking and then kills them... but I've managed to make him likeable, which I'm so proud of. He's easily my favourite character, and he's getting his own spin-off.

 

-

 

His own spin-off? I'm sure the readers and I are wanting you to spill some info about that right about now.

 

Well, after San Andreas Stories, they'll be a narrative story; Oxi. Then after Oxi, will be my second script, set in Britain. Both will directly link with the events of San Andreas, and the GTA III canon in general.

 

Oxi will take place before San Andreas Stories, and probably end with his death, protecting Billy from Damien King and Peter Leone. But he'll have his own story and will explain what brought him to San Fierro. We'll go through lots of exotic lcoations such as the Middle East, Africa, Britian, and maybe even Vice City, before we end up in SA.

 

Now the second script will be set in Manchester, that'll take place over several time periods. I've got a rough idea in my head, it'll follow a character from a child, to his teenage years as a football hooligan, up to his criminal life, featuring the King twins, a few characters from GTA... and of course, Oxi. The three stories will all tie in with each other.

 

-

 

That sounds exillerating!(sp lol) Oxi is definitely a good character to go for on a spinoff level. You mentioned a second script in Britain. How would the several time periods idea work exactly? A child protagonist seems farfetched, even for GTA!

 

Well, it's all a very rough idea. Watch a film called 'Rise of the Footsoldier', that'll be one of the themes I'm going for. I think maybe you'll have a criminal uncle, who sends you on little missions in the local neighbourhood, as the tutorial at the beginning of the game. Maybe, drug running and learning the combat system.

 

The thing is, guns arn't as easy to obtain as they are in the USA. And the game will reflect that, melee combat and standard fighting will play a big part, like games such as The Warriors, Bully and The Godfather. The script will probably be split in to different chapters, such as 'The Eighties', 'The Nineties'... as the main character grows older and gets invovled with different criminals. The main character has also been featured in one SAS mission, which will be an in game mission, that you'll play from his perspective.

 

-

 

And clues as to which mission that might've been? So we're going back to the eighties to begin with? Will we be seeing anything like Vice City was?

 

I can't give away clues Go read SAS and find out Yeah, I think it'll be the eighties, I'm sure some of the same music and style of Vice City will be thrown in there. And each chapter will have it's own radio stations and characters, relevant to the time.

 

-

 

The eighties always were a big hit in the GTA games. Any writer's discussion pieces you're partcularily fond of? Past, present, possibly even future if you know of a story coming out soon.

 

Lovers and Madmen, that's out at the moment is brilliant. Canderelli has had some fantastic work, and at the rate he churns them out, they don't get as much attention as they should.

 

-

 

That's a shame. He's a very talented writer. Has his work been inspirational for yours?

 

The more macabre styled pieces are, as well as an upcoming piece of mine called 'The Fear'.

 

-

 

Care to elaborate at all on the upcoming piece?

 

It's about some teenagers who go camping in the dick end of the wilderness. And they're attacked by '28 days later' type zombies. One escapes and makes a run for it through the woods and encounters all kinds of horrors. But he has an internal battle with his mind, trying to decide whether what he's experiencing is real, or a result of a ficitonal psychadelic drug he's taken.

 

-

 

Well thanks for playing Wheel of Fortune, I'm Bob Barker, goodnight

 

That wheel's filled with blood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2009 WD Express, All Rights Reserved

[Chunk]

Great issue again Phil, a nice comeback after skipping the last issue. I forogot to contribute on this issue, but I'll make up for it, I promise.

[Lochie_old]

Phil, give me an angle to write and I'll help contribute to the next issue

 

Overall, good job as always. Might try some of Exlusives writing tips.

[Rhoda]

Constantly growing eh, Phil? Really shaping up, though I need to start to start contributing myself if I'm to call myself any kind of area moderator for these parts. Maybe a detailed SSOTM section.

 

Kudos Phil and all the contributors for this issue.

Edited May 5, 2009 by Masterkraft

[El Zilcho]

Damn, I wanted to contribute but I thought it wasn't coming out for some time. Nice work.

[Rhoda]

Damn, I wanted to contribute but I thought it wasn't coming out for some time. Nice work.

Anything contributed will be included eventually. If there's an excess of new content, it's simply pushed back to a later issue, so don't let anything stop you, everything will be added.

[Face McDougal]

Nourishing. I'd like to rent out a small lot of this here land for the fifth. I got an idea. Interesting stuff indeed here.

[mark-2007]

Cheers Loch, I'll have to slip you that twenty some time. ALmost makes me want to write again.

 

But nah, things are getting hectic with exams and stuff, and as much as I'd like to write something, this combined with really bad writers' block/laziness means it might be a couple of months before I begin writing again.

 

Nice issue you got here. Maybe flesh it out a bit more to weight interviews with other articles. I liked Exclusiv3's piece, some nice tips that I hadn't heard before.

[Omnia sunt Communia]

Another great issue gentlemen. Props go to Phil for organizing the entire thing and obviously to everyone else who was involved in this week's issue. I'll be looking forward to Exclusiv3's Writing Tips in future, defiantly something I'll be keeping track of.

 

I'll hopefully get something submitted for next week - though I'm the biggest procrastinator on this board (it's a competition between me and Andy) - so I doubt it.

[saltinespike]

 

A farewell letter to you all next issue.

 

[Oxidizer]

 

A farewell letter to you all next issue.

 

You're off to kill terrorists and turn them all into hamburgers, aren't you, Mr. Marine?!

 

Be sure to bring me back a hot Arab as a souvenir.

[TonyZimmzy]

Roberto [Cubanwhip] really did pass away, unfortunately. You can message me for details if you wish.