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Books by D.J. Butler
Monthly Archives: May 2011
Camouflage
Light weekend fare: some great storytelling from Stan Ridgway, one of America’s great noir craftsmen.
Posted in Song
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Subplots Mapping: the Chronicles of Surfer Dude…
My next step usually is to start mapping out the various plot strands by character. Rather than try to explain it, I will return to Surfer Dude and show you. Character Plotline Beginning Middle End Surfer Dude Recover the Artifact … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write, Tools
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You Need to Read a Lot
For various reasons: To know your market, both the classics and the current hits. What is successful with the audience you are trying to reach? What fails? What has not been tried yet, and should be? What has only been … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
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Dave Butler Reworks Traditional Material
Genius? (Special birthday shout-out to my friends in the Blackdown area, for whom I wrote this lullaby.) Baa baa, black sheep, have you any wool?Yes sir, yes sir, three bags fullOne for my master, one for my dameOne for the … Continue reading
Posted in Song, Writing Sample
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Brainstorm Document: the Chronicles of Surfer Dude
Surfer Dude fights evil. What kind of evil will he fight? Could be coastal bases of evil natural/human enemies, like COBRA. Or he could defend goodguy coastal forts, that works for a surfer, but it makes him passive. What about … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write, Tools, Writing Sample
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Starting from a Blank Page
My experience is that you get one thing free from the Muses. After that, it’s all work. Okay, that’s accurate for a piece of writing as short as a song, but an exaggeration for a novel-length piece of writing. Still, … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
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The Lion of Missouri
The wild beasts of the Great Green WoodThe bison, the sloth and the wolfLearned to hear his footstep and light out in a hurryHis blade was sharp, his arm was strongHis eye was keen and his shot was longThe Lion … Continue reading
Posted in Song, Writing Sample
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Know Thyself: Abstract Plots
Another problem I have is that I tend to conjure up, as a first effort, characters with abstract needs or needs readers do not naturally relate to, e.g. strong devotions to principle or needs to grow. (This may have something … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
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