can't help telling stories
Like it or not, there appears to be something to the idea of “formulaic” writing. And it appears to apply in ways Kurt Vonnegut understood pretty well without the sort of statistical analysis discussed here.
The idea focuses less on the activities and events of plot, and instead on the emotions of a story.
Can a Novel’s Plot Be Reduced to Data Points?
http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/02/04/man-in-hole/
Really, how cool is that? I love that she’s as thrilled as any of us would be.
And I want a copy.
Harper Lee, Author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Is to Publish a Second Novel – NDTV
http://m.ndtv.com/world-news/harper-lee-author-of-to-kill-a-mockingbird-is-to-publish-a-second-novel-736797
This wasn’t exactly my path to editing, but I certainly shared the reading — a lot — step. I didn’t focus on quality reading. But reading badly written material can be educational, too. If you’re looking for an editor, you might want to ask how many of the steps he or she took.
How I Became an Editor (and Advice If You Want to Be One Too) – Next Step Editing
http://www.nextstepediting.com/how-i-became-an-editor-and-advice-if-you-want-to-be-one-too/
Darcy Pattison offers a few good answers in this essay. I think my favorite is about audience. I remember struggling with this concept when I was taking college classes. I read almost anything, so whatever “audience” was, I was pretty sure I wasn’t typical. Pattison’s explanaton would have saved me a lot of time back then.
Is My Story Good or Bad? Wrong Question | Fiction Notes
http://www.darcypattison.com/revision/is-my-story-good-or-bad-wrong-question/
Here’s a reality check that’s both accurate and encouraging.
On Writing With A Day Job, and Expectations Vs. Reality
http://observationdeck.io9.com/on-writing-with-a-day-job-and-expectations-vs-reality-1682791792/+rtgonzalez
sharon p. lynn 