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Thu, Dec 11, 2025

6:54pm EST

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Writing Blog Number 2 (continued)

by S🤦‍♂️

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2348964

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. It follows on from the old one, which is now full.

An index of topics from old and new can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact. And to suggest topics!

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

AbbyAG

Dec 8, 2025 at 3:46pm
In response to "20251128 Turns Of Phrase"

My late husband and I both love Britcoms - That kind of stuff is always prevalant in them. In large part, that's what makes them so funny.

Jeffrey Meyer

Dec 5, 2025 at 6:25am
In response to "20251205 Borrowing Ideas"

It is worth noting that there are no original ideas. In one way or another, every idea we have in writing or movies is based on the shoulders of something else. For instance, even lightsabers are based on the concept of swords. It's not new; it's just a different perspective. A perfect illustration of this point is that many over the years have identified that there are only seven true storylines (which I won't delve into here), and that all stories and movies are based on one or several of those patterns.

Every idea we have is an iteration, permutation, or evolution of an already-existing idea. It might be helpful to pass the message to Creatives: there's no sense in fighting it. Total originality is not possible; just write your story and make it your own—derivations, warts, tiaras, and all.

🌻 pwheeler ~ love joy peace

Nov 26, 2025 at 11:08pm
In response to "20251126 ONE HUNDRED"

Congratulations, Steven!

Dave Ryan

Nov 12, 2025 at 4:47am
In response to "20251112 Hemingway's Iceberg"

There's an author I quite like for his sheer inventiveness - Neal Stephenson - who, apart from his occasional inability to land the ending, is obsessed with including a shit-ton of detail that can be an appalling slog to get through (Anathem being a prime example). I often think Stephenson's books would benefit from a harsh application of King's rule, with a 10% cut being on the conservative side - 20% would be more like it.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Nov 11, 2025 at 2:37am
In response to "20251110 Setting The Time"

Beloved Queen Sirikit just died. Thailand is officially in mourning. That doesn't even affect ex-pats. Yes, the party is dimmed a tad, but truly? She was in her 90s. Any Thai middle aged knew her well though. She was very active in the community. Still, lots of folks wearing black.

I watch Thai series... the historical ones have issues being correct. Of course, what would I know! Actors have commented on having to speak differently. Me? I loved hearing the music and seeing how people dressed and how they portrayed the change in class attitude.

Schnujo

Nov 6, 2025 at 3:24am
In response to "20251106 Books For Writers"

Oh, wow! #1 sounds awesome! I tried to find it on Audible, but it's not there. IDK if it's not really a book that would translate well to Audible or if it's just too old to be there, but it wasn't there. However, I don't do well with reading a lot. (Yeah, if you are wondering how I'm going to edit my books, me too. I think I will mostly have to edit as I go, then rely on others to help with the rest. lol) Maybe this is a book I can just read bits and pieces of as I need? IDK, but it sounds great!

Well, 2 for 2 -- #2 also isn't on Audible. Disappointing.

I didn't bother checking to see if the dictionaries were on Audible. lol But #6 wasn't. That's too bad.

I already have The Elements of Style, #7, though it is possibly the 3rd edition. IDK. And IDK where it is, so I guess it doesn't really count anyway. Hahaha!

I was pretty sure my thesaurus was Roget's, but also didn't think it was 1972. IDK. It's in a box, probably with The Elements of Style. lol When my apartment is only 220 sqft, there's no room for such luxuries, especially if one isn't actually writing. What do I need those for? lol

I do have and have listened to and even reworked my NaNo project, I think my very first one that I won with, based on advice from #10, On Writing. You're definitely right -- excellent book, for sure!

Thanks for this list! I'll have to check out that book in #1 at the library and see if it's something I want to buy. I dream of writing fantasy, but in reality, I know sweet romance is just easier. lol And I am told if you write fantasy, you should write romantasy, which would be great. I've got ideas. But if you write romantasy, you should write high heat. And I'm not willing to do that, so maybe I need to stick to my little sweet romance stuff and just be fine with it. Ugh.

Anyway, again, thanks!

Kåre เลียม Enga

Nov 5, 2025 at 12:28am
In response to "20251105 Character Jobs"

I think Anne McCaffrey's Pern explores that to an extent... including warriors without a war (bored dragon riders) that must be supported (and the resentment that creates).

In Real Life... solo explorers need support, clothes that can hide gold and diamonds, a skill that is universal (like a teacher or nurse). Nowadays, it's easy-peasy... kinda-sorta.

I'm no hero but I still need to have a place to stay. I still need to eat.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Nov 1, 2025 at 11:16am
In response to "20251101 Author Voice"

Yes, you have a voice. I say that after listening to you on the radio.

That said... your drabbles may not read like your novels and novelettes.

Jeffrey Meyer

Oct 31, 2025 at 10:50am
In response to "20251031 External Writerings October 2025"

Tank was really punk-y, like the DiAnno years with Maiden. Also really reminiscent of Lemmy & Co (who put on a good show, but were kind of 4$$holes). Hadn't heard Tank before, but I quite like it!

Jim

Oct 27, 2025 at 12:32pm
In response to "20251027 Conspiracy Theories"

I was working at a Firestone Tire Plant when that Firestone tire recall started in 2000. I'm not sure this qualifies as a Conspiracy Theory, but here's my take, and belief, on it.

I did not realize that it's the manufacturer who sets the tire pressure for a vehicle. The recall initially centered around the Ford Explorer. It had a rough, bumpy ride. Ford then lowered the manufacturer's recommended Tire Pressure. It wasn't enough, people still complained about the bumpiness of the ride. The tire pressure was lowered again.

Harvey Firestone and Henry Ford were close friends, and Firestone was the tire manufacturer for all Ford vehicles. When Ford lowered the tire pressure a second time, Firestone objected vigorously. After all, today's tire are just glued together until they are vulcanized (or baked) in a mold, it's called Curing it (that's where I worked as a maintenance technician before becoming a Supervisor). A tire running with low pressure will eventually explode. Why? The low pressure causes the tire to overheat, the tire cannot withstand the heat, and fails.

Initially Firestone agreed to replace any failed tire on a Ford Explorer. That idea expanded, and Firestone agreed to replace failed tires on any vehicle. The plant that made the majority of the tires was in the news, in a bad way. That plant was the plant I worked at in Decatur Illinois. Now you have to understand that the Union and Management did not get along at that plant. They were constantly butting heads over very minor issues, and some major issues.

My Conspiracy theory about all this is not proven, nor will it ever be,. I felt that Firestone sort of encouraged the tire recall. Other plants made the same tires, but they weren't in the news. Only the Decatur Illinois Firestone plant was. Firestone wanted that plant closed, but that would most likely mean that they would have to move any Union members who wanted to remain with Firestone to new plants. Closing it because of the recall solved that problem. For some reason, Union members wouldn't have to be moved. But, the tire recall exploded far more than they planned, costing the corporation a lot of money, and severing the tie between Firestone and Ford.

By the way, I still insist on having Firestone tires installed on any vehicle I own. I feel Firestone Tires are excellent, and are high quality tires. Our Campervan now runs on Firestone tires.

December 5, 2025 at 1:26am

#1102977

20251205 Borrowing Ideas

Borrowing Ideas

I have mentioned before that ideas are not copywritable. You can steal an idea to your heart’s content. You cannot steal story beats, you cannot steal character names, but ideas – fine!
How far does this extend? This question came up on Discord, and I thought I'd answer here.
That is an interesting question, and one that was tested in a court of law. A film company (okay, it was Asylum) was sued by Disney for having a space adventure where the characters used “laser-swords” which were light-sabers from Star Wars in all but name. The ruling was that although it was copied from Star Wars, the name was different, and it is an idea or concept. Now, this is Asylum, and their entire oeuvre is based on being derivative of the works of others. But what about others who want to be taken more seriously?
An example is Eragon by Christopher Paolini, which is Stars Wars taken away from SF and put into epic fantasy. It is so Star Wars as to be laughable. I have talked about it before ("BOOK #11 – ERAGON"

), and received blow-back because some people are fans. Awesome. You can like crap. I enjoy the film Gymkata! But Eragon is Star Wars. And this book has a lot of fans, so the use of the ideas of others works for some.
This brings me to the biggest issue a creative will have when borrowing ideas – being accused of theft, of being imaginatively bankrupt, or all sort of other things. Sometimes it can come across as fan fiction, and there are all sorts of issues with putting that into a public sphere.
But sometimes it can be done quite wonderfully. Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire borrowed ideas and story beats from Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Dracula by Bram Stoker and The Vampyre by Polidori and created something that came across as wholly original and ended up being one of the best vampire books ever written. The original vampire mythos of Eastern Europe was shunted right to the background; she took from those who came before her in fiction.
No-one is decrying her book as being derivative. No-one is accusing her of theft. Where Paolini suffered both accusations, none were thrown at Rice. It all comes down to delivery and how the influences and borrowed ideas are utilised.
Another example is Kurosawa’s classic film Seven Samurai. Every idea and most of the story beats were taken and used to create the classic 1960 movie The Magnificent Seven, with the major difference being a shift from feudal Japan to the Wild West of the USA. Then Corman made Battle Beyond The Stars which shifted Kurosawa’s story to a Star Wars influenced science fiction setting. Remakes or reinterpretations of ideas? It’s a fine line.
So, borrow ideas to your heart’s content. Remember to change words and names. But be original at the same time, in setting, delivery, tone and/or message. Don’t let it be an issue.

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