 Action/Adventure: April 19, 2006 Issue [#988] |
  Action/Adventure
This week: Edited by: W.D.Wilcox  
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The evening wind made such a disturbance just now, among some tall old elm-trees at the bottom of the garden, that neither my mother nor Miss Betsey could forbear glancing that way. As the elms bent to one another, like giants who were whispering secrets, and after a few seconds of such repose, fell into a violent flurry, tossing their wild arms about, as if their late confidences were really too wicked for their peace of mind, some weather-beaten ragged old rooks’-nests burdening their higher branches, swung like wrecks upon a stormy sea.
--‘David Copperfield’ by Charles Dickens
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Adventure Writing: Live it/Love it
If you want to write a realistic adventure story, you have got to be familiar with the adventure you’re writing about. If not . . . you should not attempt it. If you press it, you will be writing in the dark and will not likely create anything that will meet with more than indifferent acceptance.
No one can properly present the sport of fishing, who is not a fisherman, and who has not associated with fishermen. It is impossible for anyone to place upon paper a vivid description of the woods, unless they have lived in them and tramped through them. And if you’re unfamiliar with wild beasts, your best bet would be to stay out of the jungle.
I’m not saying you’ve got to be James Bond to write a spy novel, but look at the background of such writers as Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, or Michael Creighton; and then look at the types of stories they pen. Their entire life and training parallel their writing—they write what they know.
While experience with danger and with adventure is not, in itself, sufficient for writing a good adventure, it becomes obvious that no amount of ability will produce an acceptable story unless the writer is in close touch with what he is attempting to portray.
An adventure story must be vivid and strikingly realistic, and should, as a rule, have a happy or successful ending. The adventurer, or the principal characters in the story, should not be killed, but, should come out victorious.
Occasionally it is possible for a good writer to produce an acceptable story of adventure, perhaps by taking pointers, or ideas from someone who has actually experienced what danger is; but familiarity with real danger - danger you have faced in your lifetime will better enable you to write from the heart.
Therefore, I would say that you had better not attempt this class of writing, unless you have experienced the unusual, the impossible, the extraordinary, and have a temperament that will allow you to write out the facts and impressions boldly and vividly.
Perhaps writing a regular or ordinary type of story would be easier for you. You know, something a bit safer. Adventure writing takes guts, courage, and the ability to laugh in the face of death. 
Are you up to the challenge?
Until next time,
billwilcox
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ADVENTUROUS PICKS
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And here’s a great place to showcase some of those old stories you wrote and love, but nobody reads anymore.
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ROUGH AND READY FEEDBACK
Nikola~Thankful Library Lady 
Submitted Comment:
Wow! And I had to follow THIS with my first A/A NL? I love to write dialog. I think it's one of the more fun parts of writing. Showing how two, or more, interact rather than telling. Good stuff Bill!
dizzyduck
Submitted Comment:
I am glad to have been sent a newsletter like this. I find dialogue (yes, I spell it that way too!) to be the most interesting part of a story. Sometimes you can learn so much more from speaking characters than you ever could through narrative!
Starr Phenix 
Submitted Comment:
Hi W.D.! Great article! 
concrete_angel
Submitted Comment:
Hi, W.D.! I love your thoughts on dialogue! LOL...I spell it the same way.  Dialogue is so important to writing, and I think it's great that you addressed it in a newsletter.
cursorblock 
Submitted Comment:
Great newsletter! You've really helped open my eyes to using my dialog more effectively. Thanks.
Nimue 
Submitted Comment:
Great newsletter, W.D.!I love to read (good) dialogue, but there are instances where I could have done without.Take ‘Wuthering Heights’ for instance. The Joseph character has quite a bit of dialogue, but to me (English is not my first language) it is indecipherable. For example: `Whet are ye for?' he shouted. `T' maister's dahn i' t' fowld. Go rahnd by th' end ut' laith, if yah went tuh spake tull him.' It doesn’t help the story along any either. So in this case, I’m with the experts.However, in ‘The Secret Garden’ the same Yorkshire dialect is used, only in this case the main character doesn’t understand the dialect and the maid has to speak ‘proper’ English to make herself understood to her. For example: "Canna' tha' dress thysen!" she said. … "Eh! I forgot," Martha said. "Mrs. Medlock told me I'd have to be careful or you wouldn't know what I was sayin'. I mean can't you put on your own clothes?" It is integrated into the story and adds some flavor to it.Nim.
super sleuth 
Submitted Comment:
This was a really informative newsletter I printed it out for future reference. Now all I need to do is learn how to read, write and spell in a foreign language. What other little bits of info can you share. How do you underline words or cross them out without erasing the letters? I see it done all the time. Ginger
Karen Bristow
Submitted Comment:
I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure I've printed or saved each and every one of your newsletters... at least the ones I've gotten since my join date!This one is joining the ranks of the oft-read newsletters sitting on my desk.Thanks again for another information packed edition!KS
The Critic 
Submitted Comment:
Ah, man you have no idea how long I've needed to know these ALT key codes for typing accents in a few languages that you included in this newsletter. NOW, I just have to find a place to put them where I will remember where to find them when I need them - I not only need more memory - I need a better filing system/house/kitchen table Geez... Sincerely, THANK YOU... The Critic
kelly1202
Submitted Comment:
A great and helpful newsletter, Bill. Great job!
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