The Social Club

[Ziggy455]

 

^ Thinner is pretty creepy. Especially what the protagonist does at the end!

c*nt.

 

 

 

User was warned for this post

[Cubanwhip]

GTA-King, what you're doing here, I f*cking see it.

 

Also, I'm reading The Sun Also Rises and rereading Cloud Atlas. Planning on reading Sirens of Titan when I finish up.

[Typhus]

Zig, did you ever read Thinner? It's by Stephen King too but is more bite-sized than his usual stuff. Crazily good story.

For those looking for other 'smaller' Stephen King works - try Cycle of The Werewolf.

Inisitally planned as bite-sized story snippets for a horror calendar, it evolved into a more intricate story and it just some good old-fashioned fun. The kind of book that's perfect for reading on a bright Saturday morning.

 

I loved Thinner! Fat dude starts losing weight, it was so messed up. That's what I love about King's work. He can spin anything on it's head. The Stand is probably one of his greatest in my opinion and after Night Shift, I might start on The Shining or 'Salems Lot.

Glad to see someone else is a fan of The Stand.

Was I alone in seeing Randall Flagg as the hero of the piece? He took a ragtag band of sociopaths, rapists and degenerates and gave them order, structure and prosperity.

The Boulder Free Zone - by contrast - allowed drunkards to drive cars into shop windows and was undisciplined and weak.

 

My brother never understood why I'd root for Randall Flagg, but he honestly seemed like the most heroic, admirable character in the whole thing. And I always sympathised with his idea that it never mattered where you made your stand, just that you were there - and still on your feet at the end.

[Cubanwhip]

I also thoroughly recommend Bret Easton Ellis. Rules of Attraction and Less Than Zero are absolutely wonderful. Gritty transgressive stuff really stirs my loins.

[Mokrie Dela]

User was warned for this post

Well gta-king is a bit butthurt i think.

 

at least ziggs censored the word!

 

 

 

Seriously though, i think it's best we leave this. Those that dislike gta-king, should merely ignore him. Those that don't give a sh*t, should carry on giving the lowest amount of f*ck possible.

 

In fact, they shouldnt give a f*ck about giving a f*ck.... wait what?

 

 

 

cookies for anyone who gets the reference.

 

But yeah guys, can we just ignore gtaking, or at least stop talking sh*t?

 

 

 

All this discussion of books - perhaps it should go here

[GTA-King]

Well gta-king is a bit butthurt i think

lol, I'm definitely not the one that's butt hurt.

 

[Typhus]

All this discussion of books - perhaps it should go here

I'm quite happy discussing it here, thank you.

[Cubanwhip]

Then what do we talk about here?!

 

So, what's everyone's favorite type of cheese? I've always loved Pepper Jack, though Muenster holds a special place in my heart. <3

[The Pizza Delivery Guy]

Then what do we talk about here?!

 

So, what's everyone's favorite type of cheese? I've always loved Pepper Jack, though Muenster holds a special place in my heart. <3

I second Pepper Jack.

 

I've been having difficulties writing out fighting scenes recently. I've found it difficult to detail fights so it doesn't sound like the fighters are just dancing around. Whenever I get into dense detail I just ramble. Here's an example:

 

The two men locked hands and began to brawl. The more muscular man tossed his opposition over a table, knocking over bystanders.

 

And here's all the details I came up with:

 

The sinister intentions of the darker skinned man erupted into a brutal war, that pit the darker skinned newbie against the lighter, more muscular veteran. They each locked hands, desperately trying to find a flaw in the other's stance. The darker fighter lashed out in fury, and the muscular one side-stepped, grabbing onto the darker, and lunched the two through a table, injuring an unsuspecting bystander, who had been thoroughly entertained by the two brawlers' battle before becoming a part of the altercation.

 

Both of the above snippets take only 5 seconds to occur, but the latter one takes about 12 to read. I want to be able to write fight scenes so the reader isn't overwhelmed with extra long paragraphs or bored to death with bare-bones details, all the while maintaining a reading pace as if the story were occurring in real time.

 

Can anyone help?

[Eminence]

I've been having difficulties writing out fighting scenes recently. I've found it difficult to detail fights so it doesn't sound like the fighters are just dancing around. Whenever I get into dense detail I just ramble. Here's an example:

 

The two men locked hands and began to brawl. The more muscular man tossed his opposition over a table, knocking over bystanders.

 

And here's all the details I came up with:

 

The sinister intentions of the darker skinned man erupted into a brutal war, that pit the darker skinned newbie against the lighter, more muscular veteran. They each locked hands, desperately trying to find a flaw in the other's stance. The darker fighter lashed out in fury, and the muscular one side-stepped, grabbing onto the darker, and lunched the two through a table, injuring an unsuspecting bystander, who had been thoroughly entertained by the two brawlers' battle before becoming a part of the altercation.

 

Both of the above snippets take only 5 seconds to occur, but the latter one takes about 12 to read. I want to be able to write fight scenes so the reader isn't overwhelmed with extra long paragraphs or bored to death with bare-bones details, all the while maintaining a reading pace as if the story were occurring in real time.

 

Can anyone help?

I think you're focusing too much on physical description, especially in terms of how you reference each character. You're coming up with synonyms for each, which not only takes up word space but takes time to process:

 

 

darker skinned man... darker skinned newbie... lighter, more muscular veteran... darker fighter... muscular one... grabbing onto the darker... the two brawlers'

 

You see what I'm saying. Take out all these different references (which I know are largely the same - but they're all slight variants) and the paragraph immediately becomes much less padded. This is where it helps to have names - and to not be afraid of using them - but in some situations names aren't applicable. In that case, being as clear and concise as possible will help: choose a way to refer to each character and just stick to it.

 

As a part of this, it's all a little too specific. Try not to focus on each tiny detail as it happens, but instead to convey one lasting image - to get across the feeling behind the scene. With each and every word, think "what is this telling the reader? Is it necessary?"

 

Let us see the forest, not the trees.

[Tyler]

Fights are quick and brutal. Most people don't know what happened until it's over. Try and convey that same idea when you're describing them. You should also use shorter sentences - less padding. Keep the whole thing bare and quick, people are more inclined to reread it in interest rather than because they got lost in all the description.

[GTA-King]

Question: when a narrator is talking, is it best to just keep things in the protagonist's perspective... or the perspective of the overall story? Having a bit of trouble with this.

[Eminence]

Question: when a narrator is talking, is it best to just keep things in the protagonist's perspective... or the perspective of the overall story? Having a bit of trouble with this.

Narrative mode.

[GTA-King]

Question: when a narrator is talking, is it best to just keep things in the protagonist's perspective... or the perspective of the overall story? Having a bit of trouble with this.

Narrative mode.

Thanks! I'll look into that.

[Mokrie Dela]

All this discussion of books - perhaps it should go here

I'm quite happy discussing it here, thank you.

I was half-joking. I guess that wasn't clear

 

 

RE Fight scenes - i think, as with gun combat, you want to create a sense of chaos, and have the impact of the words/sentences hit as hard as the punches. You don't want the reader feeling like it's a bruce lee scene, but rather a dark encounter with a brutal attacker in an alley.

Last night for example, while playing football, I over stretched and ended up rolling backward on my head really slowly. I didn't really know what's going on. Being hit in the head/face with the ball also, i'm not sure what's going on. The same is with punches - someone punches you to the face, you're not likely to react instantly, you'd probably go down and then not get back up until he's done kicking you and you're in hospital.

 

Also be aware that often punching people hurts - both. unless you're a trained boxer or fighter, you'd come away with at least a bruised hand, maybe even broken knuckles.

 

My advice would be to try to show the chaos of a fight, and make sure it's not pretty, because fights - REAL fights - are far from it.

 

The Pizza Delivery Guy, I think you want a fight scene that lasts five seconds to take about that to read - kind of. It'd be hard, but as has already been said, you want it short, snappy, like a punch. You want the readers to feel the speed, to feel each hit, which can be challenging, but be patient when writing it.

 

 

@gta-king - ok, maybe you're not butthurt, but someone reported ziggy, and you're the only one who has a reason to.

[Master of San Andreas]

Everyone should give King a break, I don't like him much either but I think some of us have gone too far.

[Typhus]

Fights are like the fumbled copulation of two virgins - sweaty, clumsy, embarrassing affairs.

Most fights consist of grabbing onto whatever comes to hand, going round in some absurd dance, lots of screaming and a few glancing blows. Eventually, both combatants walk away - shouting threats at each other even as they retreat.

 

I'd say that the foolishness of it all should be embraced - defy expectations and make it comical, because fights are funny things. Not beautiful or elegant, just very crude and ugly things that we play up as glorious once the fighting's done and our bruises fade.

[orbitalraindrops]

I have very little experience with fights. I've only ever been in one just over a year ago and it was more me having the sh*t kicked out of me than actually fighting. It was during the local fair and me and my friends were in the local take away when a guy who used to bully me came in. He'd been expelled from school ages a go and had gone to prison after that for mugging someone. He was basically a class A c*nt. He had just gotten out and was rolling with his "boyz" around town looking for trouble. They were pretty drunk as were we and they came into the take away we were in and started running there mouths off about us having stolen one of there drinks. Obvious bullsh*t. I'm pretty skinny, pretty drunk, a massive pussy and I was this guys previous victim. Either way he was looking to start a fight and he dragged me out into the street. One of his mates (surprisingly) actually stood up for me and tried to get him to lay off me. Those two started fighting, rolling around in the street punching each other. One of his other mates went to start on me and my mate got in a fight with him (There was 7 of us and only 1 of my friends stood up for me. There was about 4 of them). I was feeling pretty relieved at this point when another one of the guys who had just been watching came up and pushed me. I was pretty drunk and I suppose I was spurred on by seeing the other two fights going on. I punched the guy who had pushed me which was a big mistake (first time i've properly punched someone and it was a weak punch) as he and his mate then just knocked me to the ground and kicked the sh*t out of me. I went home after that. I cant remember much of what happened and I only know this much so far from what my friends told me. Ironically the ones who didn't try to help me or diffuse the situation all had plentiful excuses as to why they didn't join in. I was a bit bruised and my mouth was bleeding but I think the lack of memory eased the pain of it all. I was more worried about any of them carrying knives than actually getting beaten up as I'd pretty much resigned myself after I threw that first punch that I'd made a mistake. I think to be an effective fighter you need to be incredibly brave or be incredibly stupid. Anger and intoxication of some sort probably help.

Edited April 12, 2013 by orbitalraindrops

[Mokrie Dela]

Orbital, that's a brilliant thing to draw from - use your feelings if you write a fight scene. Remember your fear or panic, the 'wtf'ness of it and put it to paper

Take us to that moment make us feel the same way and you've cracked it

 

Good point above about some fights - they can either be comical as said or down right brutal. Real fights aren't artful dances between Eddie gordo and Marshall law...

[VProductions]

 

Everyone should give King a break, I don't like him much either but I think some of us have gone too far.

#DuplicateAccount

 

 

Also, everyone seems to be doing concept threads lol. (I might catch on it ) After Vice ofcourse.

 

 

 

EDIT: Am I liked here? Seriously, this isnt an attention whore publicity stunt I just wanna know if I'm another GTA-King to you guys. Am I a c*nt?

Edited April 13, 2013 by VProductions

[Doublepulse]

Everyone should give King a break, I don't like him much either but I think some of us have gone too far.

#DuplicateAccount

 

 

Also, everyone seems to be doing concept threads lol. (I might catch on it ) After Vice ofcourse.

 

 

 

EDIT: Am I liked here? Seriously, this isnt an attention whore publicity stunt I just wanna know if I'm another GTA-King to you guys. Am I a c*nt?

I don't know man..I don't know lol.

 

Its hard asking that question or even answering it. It is always easier asking a question like that to yourself than to other people

[VProductions]

I just dont know anymore

[Cubanwhip]

EDIT: Am I liked here? Seriously, this isnt an attention whore publicity stunt I just wanna know if I'm another GTA-King to you guys. Am I a c*nt?

No. In fact, I hate you so much, I'm going to switch from Creative Writing and becoming an author, to dedicating my life to finding a cure for world hunger. And when I do find that cure for world hunger, I will be revered and rich. And with my new found fame and money and power, I will hunt you down, find out who you love most, and pay them tons of money to sh*t in a bag and leave it burning on your front porch. Then me and them will stand outside of your house and laugh. Laugh while you cry. Then, I will lick your salty tears and post on the Writer's Discussion board what a big baby you were. I hate you VProductions. I hate you so much. Now I have to wait until Monday to switch my major. Dammit.

[The Pizza Delivery Guy]

Now that's harsh Cubanwhip.

 

Thanks for the feedback, I think I've got it covered now.

 

Tony gripped Lance's bloodstained hands, and lurched toward Lance, throwing the two into the nearby table.

 

[VProductions]

EDIT: Am I liked here? Seriously, this isnt an attention whore publicity stunt I just wanna know if I'm another GTA-King to you guys. Am I a c*nt?

No. In fact, I hate you so much, I'm going to switch from Creative Writing and becoming an author, to dedicating my life to finding a cure for world hunger. And when I do find that cure for world hunger, I will be revered and rich. And with my new found fame and money and power, I will hunt you down, find out who you love most, and pay them tons of money to sh*t in a bag and leave it burning on your front porch. Then me and them will stand outside of your house and laugh. Laugh while you cry. Then, I will lick your salty tears and post on the Writer's Discussion board what a big baby you were. I hate you VProductions. I hate you so much. Now I have to wait until Monday to switch my major. Dammit.

Hard to know whether you're serious. Lol.

[Ziggy455]

Well I'm back from my two day temp-ban because some people are just gutless, spineless, babies. And no, VP- Nobody hates you because you're willing to learn. You're not stuck up your own arse and you're willing to learn at least, which, compared to others that we know, is the way to be. Don't sweat it, you're not the most hated person here.

[VProductions]

Well I'm back from my two day temp-ban because some people are just gutless, spineless, babies. And no, VP- Nobody hates you because you're willing to learn. You're not stuck up your own arse and you're willing to learn at least, which, compared to others that we know, is the way to be. Don't sweat it, you're not the most hated person here.

Thanks, that means a lot

[Typhus]

Anyone else consider writing a comic book? I'm in the middle of such a project myself.

Nothing professional of course, just for my own gratification.

[Ziggy455]

Anyone else consider writing a comic book? I'm in the middle of such a project myself.

Nothing professional of course, just for my own gratification.

I figured you'd need artistic skills to write a comic, and in that sense, I'd suck ass. So not really. It'd be so cool to create something like that but I don't have the skill with the pencils.

[Typhus]

Anyone else consider writing a comic book? I'm in the middle of such a project myself.

Nothing professional of course, just for my own gratification.

I figured you'd need artistic skills to write a comic, and in that sense, I'd suck ass. So not really. It'd be so cool to create something like that but I don't have the skill with the pencils.

It's pretty damn hard, I'll grant you that. But there's a certain pleasure in seeing characters you wrote being visualised precisely based on how you imagined them.

The best thing is that the comic medium can convey emotions that would take an entire paragraph to articulate. Little facial tics can imply so much, even hint at the later actions of a character.

 

I really think it's an incredible way of telling a story. I wish it was seen as more legitimate.