tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post1460882797345432115..comments2024-03-17T09:14:10.329-07:00Comments on Laini Taylor's blog: The Known & the Unknown ... DanceLaini Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14064837312936707024noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-24176043856020690942013-08-20T02:09:47.751-07:002013-08-20T02:09:47.751-07:00Laini, I love your writing and I love the way you ...Laini, I love your writing and I love the way you write about writing... You're so inspiring and reassuring - thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-25309560169109522702013-08-18T22:19:40.595-07:002013-08-18T22:19:40.595-07:00That metaphor works a lot for my style of writing ...That metaphor works a lot for my style of writing as well, except that the Known and Unknown aren't dancing. It's more like an interrogation.<br /><br />The Known is sitting across a table from the Unknown, demanding to know some missing detail about the plot or the characters. So the Known will try various bribes, tortures, and lines of questioning until it gets a satisfactory answer.Curiosity Inc.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-1087884205046075732013-08-10T10:14:01.760-07:002013-08-10T10:14:01.760-07:00I loooooove the metaphor. But I always enjoy your ...I loooooove the metaphor. But I always enjoy your metaphors (especially in Lips Touch). <br /><br />A few years ago, when I first found your blog and read your Not For Robots essay thing (not sure if I commented there, but I've lurked for a while--so hi), I tried writing a few exploratory drafts. It went badly. The Unknown harassed me mercilessly, leaving my story in scattered seeds of possibility. <br /><br />What I'm saying is, I'm distractible and enthusiastic. So whenever a new story idea presents itself, even if I already have a dozen good ones and am working on one of them, I must explore it. This is not productive. (Random book chapters do not short stories make.)<br /><br />I'm thinking perhaps I need bridle my imagination into very detailed outlines--my talismen? I've been reading a few books about it, and I'm going to see if it'll help.<br /><br />Anoymous -- LOL the Kim Wilkins metaphors are gross! But then, they're funny, so it's okay. I love them, too.Kaitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-83397870084134196062013-08-04T08:59:04.096-07:002013-08-04T08:59:04.096-07:00interesting to read I love your beautiful blog goo...interesting to read I love your beautiful blog good job Thanks lot for this useful articletoko baju muslim murahhttp://toko-baju-muslim.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-69667960326374260042013-08-02T12:54:39.341-07:002013-08-02T12:54:39.341-07:00Local Portlander here. I on Alberta Street last ni...Local Portlander here. I on Alberta Street last night and went into the Guardino gallery where there are some prints by Margeret Van Patten. One caught my eye because it was a drawing of woman. With antlers. Having read your books, it caught my attention and when I looked more closely at the picture I saw that there were a bunch of pulled teeth next to the figure. Seriously. I actually took pictures and sent them to the email you have listed on your blog so you could check it out. Very Karou/Madrigal. Anyway thanks for your wonderful books and for writing on your blog about writing with kids. As a full-time professor and mother of two, my writing time is always either serendipitous or doggedly claimed. But always enjoyed.Undercover YA Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10914077219381755507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-48395352809750022232013-08-01T10:18:38.719-07:002013-08-01T10:18:38.719-07:00Interesting. I follow the blog of another writer, ...Interesting. I follow the blog of another writer, Kim Wilkins, who has just posted about how she prefers to plot. It's fascinating to read both points of view.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-16121215608957385722013-07-31T14:14:13.439-07:002013-07-31T14:14:13.439-07:00I love your vision of a dance between the Known an...I love your vision of a dance between the Known and the Unknown. How apt...I'm so relieved to read that you don't outline. I don't either and, like you, choose to navigate through the Mist sometimes with unerring ease, sometimes with the sinking feeling of not knowing what comes next.Laurence Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04203917547976474882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-66116228101124993082013-07-31T08:07:08.555-07:002013-07-31T08:07:08.555-07:00What a beautiful metaphor! I think you and I opera...What a beautiful metaphor! I think you and I operate on a fairly similar system - one brain that wants order and an idea, the other that wants to run with things and see what happens. I like your metaphor much better than anything I've ever used to explain anything though! xDCharley Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09542608515324640174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-66297396604593965412013-07-31T00:00:08.063-07:002013-07-31T00:00:08.063-07:00By the way, there is a new synopsis for Dreams of ...By the way, there is a new synopsis for Dreams of Gods & Monsters on Goodreads. Someone updated the old synopsis. I just read it and the story looks even more promising. Just like Days, Dreams will surely exceed expectations. Aaaand, there's a proper release date, April 29th 2014. Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-43547349733985376072013-07-30T22:40:57.477-07:002013-07-30T22:40:57.477-07:00The knowns and unknowns are there in every story. ...The knowns and unknowns are there in every story. For me, it's like I have to start with some known and gradually use the knowns to build a bridge to get to the unknowns. The Unknowns could be hiding just behind the curtain or they could be miles into the darkness and they would suddenly jump out at me and reveal a tiny detail about themselves teasing me, daring me to write about them. And then there are some very well-behaved Unknowns. You're writing a simple scene. There's the crunch of gravel outside which means you have a visitor. And the visitor just walks up to you and TELLS you "You're writing about me, aren't you? This is my story!" Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-87909305928495698872013-07-30T11:11:38.592-07:002013-07-30T11:11:38.592-07:00Oh, I so needed this today! I have a deadline (bab...Oh, I so needed this today! I have a deadline (baby number two) and need to finish my book before sleep deprivation steals my creativity, but I've been terrified. I have no idea what's going to happen. I know what I have is good...and it is going somewhere...but the more I think about how to outline, the less writing I get done. Here's me, going back to the dance instead. :)--jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02613132276745441850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-17456964906422245122013-07-30T10:54:06.837-07:002013-07-30T10:54:06.837-07:00"the more constraints you have, the more crea..."the more constraints you have, the more creative you have to be. So restrictions are actually our friends"--I never thought about this, Kristan, but it's so true.Katehttp://lettuceandlibraries.weebly.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-3861019733162410062013-07-30T09:53:17.775-07:002013-07-30T09:53:17.775-07:00Laini, you have a way of saying exactly what I nee...Laini, you have a way of saying exactly what I need to hear just when I need to hear it. After my second cup of tea, I'm off to dance with the unknown. Wish me luck.KarenChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134819145578972980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-76130202561639998452013-07-30T09:09:48.610-07:002013-07-30T09:09:48.610-07:00Fabulous post! It's nice knowing that authors...Fabulous post! It's nice knowing that authors who write incredible books don't even know which way they are going to go. I love thinking of this process as a dance and a crazy one at that!<br /><br /><a href="http://whatsontheshelf.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">Vyki @ On The Shelf</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-70209931739206690922013-07-30T08:46:15.114-07:002013-07-30T08:46:15.114-07:00Wonderful post! I loved the cobweb tutu best. ;)
...Wonderful post! I loved the cobweb tutu best. ;)<br /><br />But ditto what Stephanie said. I outline my projects to various degrees -- sometimes I have 3 plot points, sometimes I have 30 specifics scenes sketched out -- but always there is discovery in the writing.<br /><br />In other words, I think most plotters believe in dancing with the Unknown too. :)<br /><br />Related: One of the principles I learned in design class was that the more constraints you have, the more creative you have to be. So restrictions are actually our friends. It seems to me that with writing, plotters just put constraints on their project ahead of time, whereas pantsers run into constraints as they go. Either way, you've got goals and you've got restrictions, and you have to creatively navigate between the two.Kristanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04771013578685419826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-2125729557890840822013-07-30T06:11:36.345-07:002013-07-30T06:11:36.345-07:00I think you can still have surprise and discovery ...I think you can still have surprise and discovery in outlining. I plan out the events, but I'm always surprised how each one works out. The discovery, for me, is in the details.<br /><br />It's like I have a map through fairyland. I know where the road twists and turns. But I have no idea what the enchanted forest will look like, or how the forbidden fruit will taste, or whether the creatures lurking in the shadows are friendly nymphs, or an imp waiting to lure me off the path.<br /><br />I think the known and unknown are always present. They just show up in different places. :)<br /><br />LOVE this post. LOVE the dance metaphor so much.Stephanie Mooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588798330873011415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-894308790449016642013-07-30T03:11:14.861-07:002013-07-30T03:11:14.861-07:00I love your metaphor - especially because I can so...I love your metaphor - especially because I can so empathise with it. I only had the barest outline in my head of the book I've just finished, and now am in the position of trying to plan book 2 while 1 is with the agents. As much as I try to be sensible, I simply can't come up with a strict chapter by chapter plan. Instead my pen wanders off into character sketches or ideas for strange societies or possible trials to be faced down. <br /><br />Looking back at my first book, I had to let the characters tell me their story and they weren't going to do that until I understood them as people. I guess like you, that meant several substantial rewrites. But I'm beginning to think that's the way I work and probably always will. <br /><br />Anywho, thanks for this post. I hope you find your way through the Dance :)Lucy Claire Hounsomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18323962723383039792noreply@blogger.com