Ge-ge-ge no nyobou 9/2

a.k.a. what's missing?

Kinuyo looked at Fumie across the kitchen table and said, "Sudden braking can be dangerous." Fumie frowned and said, "What? What do you mean?" Kinuyo said, "One of the doctors at the hospital told me that the other day." Fumie smiled. "Are you learning to drive?" Kinuyo shook her head. "No, of course not. I was talking about Shigeru. He's been so busy, working so hard for so long. Stopping suddenly like this isn't good for his health." Fumie nodded. "I can see that." Kinuyo smiled at her. "He needs to eat right. So..." Kinuyo set a small package on the table. "I got him some eel. And you can't pay for it, this is my treat."
( no brakes? )

Later, Shigeru sat in his office, with a pile of his manga. He pulled them over and read them, page after page. He compared his early work with later work, and looked at them carefully. "What has changed?"

<to be continued>

Writing Excuses Season Four Episode 34: Q&A at Dragons and Fairy Tales

Writing Excuses Season Four Episode 34: Q&A at Dragons and Fairy Tales

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/08/29/writing-excuses-4-34-qa-at-dragons-fairy-tales/

Key Points:
Time management: what are you willing to give up? Set a goal and times. What is important to you?
Process to get published: Write. Submit. Research. Network.
Team dynamics: position the heads in different locations. Make characters distinctive: visual cues, dialogue cues, unique motivations, roles, jobs.
Super characters: what's important to them? What problems can't be solved by superpowers?
Transition from fan to original fiction: create your own problems and personalities for characters. Build on what you already know.
Reader interaction: it's all about community.
Large cast: kill some.
Stumbling blocks to creativity: poor physical condition. Lack of reading.
( And here's the nitty-gritty! )

[Austin] OK. You walk out of a bookstore to a torrential rain and Howard attacks you with the power of thunder.
[Howard] And lightning?
[Brandon] Little did... we have to expand on that. Thunder is his pet cat.
[Howard] I get a kitty?
[Brandon] This has been Writing Excuses and we went way too long. You're out of excuses, go write. Thank you for another wonderful season.
[Applause]