tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post1405657388866218502..comments2024-03-08T15:14:31.312-05:00Comments on Landless: That first story idea - skeleton or scaffolding?Tony Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-44473571443069268012012-05-31T07:36:18.071-04:002012-05-31T07:36:18.071-04:00Thanks, guys. After starting with the initial idea...Thanks, guys. After starting with the initial idea, knowing what to keep and what to throw away makes all the difference. I've hung onto some concepts long after the story didn't need them anymore.Tony Nolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090583562737225942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-6696620070694775472012-05-26T13:49:44.045-04:002012-05-26T13:49:44.045-04:00This is a compelling way to look at it. I like it....This is a compelling way to look at it. I like it.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01425418200940737247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-43572789269551275392012-05-25T07:02:59.422-04:002012-05-25T07:02:59.422-04:00The skeleton is there to help me get through the f...The skeleton is there to help me get through the first draft - when the words aren't flowing it helps to have bones in place - all I have to do is flesh out the bullet-pointed scenes and fill in the gaps. But when it comes to rewriting it can change so much, you would have no idea it came from that skeleton. That's always what I hope will happen, anyway. It's a sign of the story having a life of its own, which I believe to be vital.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-4946904310006943202012-05-24T21:09:26.573-04:002012-05-24T21:09:26.573-04:00I've always seen the novels of Kurt Vonnegut m...I've always seen the novels of Kurt Vonnegut more about the negative space, as you put it, than the actual goings-on. I suppose I am a skeleton guy - though sometimes I may start with a human skeleton and end up with a rhinoceros wrapped around it.ZT Burianhttp://amightypen.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797188666559531190.post-23658906783069992272012-05-24T10:25:47.228-04:002012-05-24T10:25:47.228-04:00I always think I have a skeleton, but it ends up b...I always think I have a skeleton, but it ends up being more like a scaffolding once I realize my initial idea ends up making the story look cluttered and ugly. (Taking down the ugly scaffold in a short story right now)<br /><br />And I completely get and understand what you mean by great works defined by their negative space. The best stories are told subtextually, and the only good way to get that done is to use the scaffolding. Great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518183823230864763noreply@blogger.com