Episode 208 - Testing Your Writing
Mar 1, 2015
In this Quackcast Banes and I discuss some methods for testing your writing, well mainly your characters, to see how well you really know them. We use a comedic character creation template that we have found is perfect for testing and learning more about your established characters, no matter how serious they are. It consists of four interrelated elements: Point of view; Exaggeration of the point of view; Faults; Relatability / Humanity. We also talk a little about the dreaded dangers of the Mary Sue... you never want your writing to fall in that putrid, cancerous hole of smelly excrement where your main character is perfect and all the others worship them. And lastly the very useful Bechdel test for seeing how rounded your female characters are. There are 3 rules: You have to have at least two named women; They who talk to each other; It's about something besides a man. We were both a bit sad about the death of Leonard Nimoy. R.I.P. Mister Spock.
Topics and Show Notes
Topics and Show Notes:
Featured comic:
Sweets and Giggles - http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Sweets_and_giggles/
Character template:
Point of view
Exaggeration of the point of view
Faults
Relatability / Humanity.
Mary Sue - http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MarySue
Bechdel test:
It has to have at least two named women in it,
who talk to each other,
about something besides a man
More info - http://bechdeltest.com/
Wiki definition - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test
Special thanks to:
Gunwallace Costansa, musician - http://www.virtuallycomics.com
The theme song by Gunwallace this week was for:
DeadFingers - Music: http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/DeadFingers/ by Peipei.
BonesOfRuin at 1:29AM, March 5, 2015
"SPOCKPOCALYPSE" to soon guys, to soon lol
BonesOfRuin at 12:48AM, March 5, 2015
Here we go! lol
JustNoPoint at 10:20AM, March 4, 2015
When I 1st heard of the Bechdel test months ago I had no idea it could possibly be a thing that was even needed. Since Prologue starred 2 females it was kinda hard to not pass though :P The Mary Sue thing is something I worry I tread close to but meh. I suppose as long as I'm aware it's okay XD
Ozoneocean at 6:39AM, March 4, 2015
Asimov was a great writer... I's a shame he couldn't do more female characters.
tupapayon at 3:55AM, March 4, 2015
this reminds me... I read a very long time ago that once Isaac Asimov was talking to a girl fan of him. She asked why there were so few female characters in his stories. So he tried to explain that he used to be a shy boy growing up, and he didn't interact enough with girls, so he didn't know how to portray female characters in his writings. To this she responded: that's no excuse...
ejb at 4:24AM, March 3, 2015
Great tips. I've always wanted to improve my writing through StarTrek.