These rules will come in handy next
November. God bless you, Mr. Vonnegut.
1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things — reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. Now matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages. — Kurt Vonnegut |
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Wow, I’m surprised to be the first person writing a comment to your tribute to Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut’s practical, no nonsense, humorous and satirical style was something to behold. And so on.
I wish you well in a few months when you begin your second Nanowrimo quest. When do we get to read excerpts from round 1?
Too bad the Lost writers skipped over many of the points on this list, especially last season.
Very good advice here.
Jesus wept! You are back to entering content here! It is a miralce! (What does Vonnegut say about miracles?)
I shall peruse and comment with great frequency again!
Master Vonnegut was a card carrying member of the ACLU. Just a little known tidbit. He, like the Dixie Chicks, is a hero! Down with W and his whole stinking regime! There is a special corner in hell for all of them!