Mechanics 101

[Insomniac]

Being a fellow mechanic I felt it my duty to comment on this new story. Jeff told me that this first chapter is actually one of a three part prequel to the actual story.

He said something in another thread about how if he wrote a story it would some like something out of a service manual, but I don't see any of that in his writing and honestly I don't think he should worry about being too technical either. Back in 7th grade I remember reading Joules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and I honestly had no clue about all the technical jargon about fish and underwater everything. Yet, I still found the book really enjoyable and even though I didn't understand alot I left feeling like I could pretend I did. I think Jeff should go ahead and throw in a few tid-bits here and there as long as it contributes to the story.

Really looking foward to the next release, keep up the good work

[Cole Parker]

Nick is right, of course. We're always encouraged to write about what we know, and most anything at all can be made interesting, especially if we feel any passion for it. Many, many books have details about some specific area of enterprise. It's simply the writer's job to make what he says about a subject fascinating to the layman.

And if you're really good, you make whatever you're saying about that subject integral to the story you're telling.

Cole

[DesDownunder]

Nick is right, of course. We're always encouraged to write about what we know, and most anything at all can be made interesting, especially if we feel any passion for it. Many, many books have details about some specific area of enterprise. It's simply the writer's job to make what he says about a subject fascinating to the layman.

And if you're really good, you make whatever you're saying about that subject integral to the story you're telling.

Cole

When Margaret Mitchell was encouraged, by her husband in 1924 to write a novel, she asked him,

"What shall I write about?"

He replied, "Write about what you know."

So she wrote "Gone With the Wind."

It took her some 12 years.

Yet the Civil War had ended 60 years previous to her beginning to write.

Margaret was of course familiar with the "Old South" and its ways. She had grown up with the stories from that era. There were still people alive that she could call on for research.

Margaret claimed she was writing about people who had the quality of, what they called in those days, "gumption."

To people the world over what she wrote and knew about was "Romance."

Many of the influences on her life and writing as well as her talent and intelligence are well recorded, no doubt because of the movie's fame and these can provide us with an insight into the conspiracies that make an author.

http://www.gwtw.org/margaretmitchell.html

Just don't take 12 years please.

Cole is so right when he says it is the author's job to make a subject fascinating for the layman.

Many authors make a detailed exposition of a subject without passion, or interest, or worse even relevance to a story and wonder why it falls flat.

Such explanations and expositions must be dramatically involved with the plot structure/characters to avoid the mechanics 101 syndrome.

Perhaps the answer to circumventing explicit erotic writing turning into tedious pornography, is to avoid anatomical biology 101.

[Madrigal]

Cole is so right when he says it is the author's job to make a subject fascinating for the layman.

Many authors make a detailed exposition of a subject without passion, or interest, or worse even relevance to a story and wonder why it falls flat.

Such explanations and expositions must be dramatically involved with the plot structure/characters to avoid the mechanics 101 syndrome.

Perhaps the answer to circumventing explicit erotic writing turning into tedious pornography, is to avoid anatomical biology 101.

Hope you don't mind, but I just copied this into a word document for future reference :eyes :P.

Maddy

[DesDownunder]

Hope you don't mind, but I just copied this into a word document for future reference :eyes :P.

Maddy

Mind? I am flattered beyond belief that anything I have uttered is useful to someone.

If you sell it though you have to give me half of what you get.

Go for it Maddy, and thanks for asking, that was really nice. You have made my day.

[Madrigal]

Mind? I am flattered beyond belief that anything I have uttered is useful to someone.

If you sell it though you have to give me half of what you get.

Go for it Maddy, and thanks for asking, that was really nice. You have made my day.

Hehe Only half? And I thought 10% was a good deal! Ha!

Maddy (:

[Lugnutz]

Thanks everyone. A few years ago, I was dared into writing having never written anything before, ever. Chapter 1 of Mech 101 is my first ever effort at writing. The three prequel chapters were writtin after the initial 10 chapters of 101 were done, I felt my guys needed to tell their story from before they met.

The story picks up technical wise in the next couple prequel chapters, and some in the regular story. I don't get too into the mechanics of things, but what is there is explained. The initial 10 chapters are being re-written as we speak to flow with the current chapters. Then, there is book 2 which I'm 4 chapters into. So, there is alot to post along with trying to write the current stuff.

Let me know what you think of the story, feedback is writing fuel. Flames will be laughed at and posted.

[Lugnutz]

Any comments on the last chapters?

[Trab]

I cannot tell a lie; okay, maybe that one.

Truly, I've been WAY too busy to even start on another story, what with about 6 being juggled right now, and real life intruding its ugly head, fingers, and other proddy bits into my existence. I'll get there, eventually. Sorry. This is just a very busy time for me.

[Tanuki Racoon]

Luggy, baby, I gotta' side with Trab -- readership this time of year plummets as people are distracted by other stuff. Wait until after the first of the year.

My readership has dropped in half (from 4 to 2 readers). Percentage wise that's probably accurate across the board.

[Graeme]

Any comments on the last chapters?

Is that enough comments? You know what I think about your story....

[aj]

hey 'nutz -

I didn't want to sound too sycophantic, so I held off on writing a note until others had commented...but, like Graeme, you know what I think of the story. I suppose you could say that, being your editor, it's in my job description to like this story...but it ain't nececelery so. I've told plenty of people I didn't like their story and why.

But I like this one. I've said it before...it's your literary voice, because it sounds just like how they used to talk back home, and that's comfortable for me to read. I like your characters, too: just ordinary guys trying to make it in the world.

cheers!

aj