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Writer's Guild: Going from action to personalities.
Original Content
| 06/22/2025
| By Laz A. Mataz
Posted on 06/22/2025 3:31:49 PM PDT by Lazamataz
Hello everyone!
I recently released my very first science-fiction, political-thriller novel on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. I've been told that the work seems to embody the writing style of a Tom Clancy or a Michael Crichton, blended with an Isaac Asimov. While this is high praise, indeed, I want to go to the next level.
Enter an analysis of a very quiet, very low-action scene in the first season of Game of Thrones. That analysis is here.
The analysis is stellar. The writing is stellar. The analysis talks about how:
- Robert Baratheon was not a lecherous drunkard, but actually a very shrewd man.
- He longed for a woman who died long ago, and his wife, Cersi, has been worn down by the fact that Robert truly loved someone else.
- It's also shown that Robert loved the IDEA of this woman, not who she truly was. This is something all of us to can relate to.
- The acting is also amazing. Cersi shows hurt and disappointment with facial gestures, swallows, and so on.
- This scene shows a incredible moment, when two jaded people finally drop their guards and are genuine and real with one another.
- This scene also wraps up decades of hurt into seven mere minutes.
The character development is incredible, and the dialog is so good that you can feel the feelings of these characters and you can understand their subsequent motivations with a small, quiet scene.
THIS is what I aspire to capture in my writing. My story telling is very good. My technical accuracy is decent. And I've found that I have a good skill in weaving various threads together and presenting it as a coherent and engaging work.
What I *don't* yet have skills in this arena -- the arena of character development -- and I intend to master it in my second novel.
As the narrator and analyst in the video says, "The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself." I may disagree with this a little, but it is more right than wrong.
Happy writing, my fellow authors!
TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: freerepublic; guild; literature; writing
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To: Windcatcher
It was a real challenge, because it means presenting the reader with a host of characters, mercenaries who largely don’t know each other at the start but are collectively hired for a quest. I had to work out personalities and origin stories for each of them and present them in a way that doesn’t confuse the reader.That's where this video analysis, posted on the original post, will help a LOT. The way these two characters are developed (Robert and Cersi) is masterfully done.
21
posted on
06/22/2025 5:13:52 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Lazamataz
Purchased on kindle; I figure the pittance you get from kindle unlimited’s parimutual scheme wouldn’t be enough to inspire the second, more character-intensive, tour de force.
Ping list too, please…
22
posted on
06/22/2025 5:15:17 PM PDT
by
umbagi
(Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it. [Twain])
To: umbagi
Purchased on kindle;I thank you! If you like the work enough, I'd love if you posted a review here. Also, there, but be aware Amazon posts reviews in several months time.
Ping list too, please…
Of course, you are added!
23
posted on
06/22/2025 5:17:47 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: BHI2025
Forgot to ping you. Wanted to talk about this topic in voice mode, author-to-author.
24
posted on
06/22/2025 5:19:45 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: umbagi
Correction: Reviews on Amazon post quickly!
25
posted on
06/22/2025 5:35:19 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Lazamataz
Ping list this frustrated author, please!
26
posted on
06/22/2025 5:42:45 PM PDT
by
notdownwidems
(Washington D.C. has become the enemy of free people everywhere!)
To: notdownwidems
You are added!
Don’t be frustrated. As I learn my craft, I’ll share what I learn right on Free Republic.
27
posted on
06/22/2025 5:44:32 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Lazamataz
I just watched it. A bit of it was lost on me because I never watched Game of Thrones, but I think I understand the points being made. It has certainly given me some ideas for the sequel I’m working on.
To: Windcatcher
I just watched it. A bit of it was lost on me because I never watched Game of Thrones, but I think I understand the points being made. It has certainly given me some ideas for the sequel I’m working on.That's what I like to hear.
It helped you.
29
posted on
06/22/2025 6:27:27 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Lazamataz
What was your first novel and how do we read it? If it’s about your Baratheon-like wenching across a treacherous land filled with pitiful pseudo-men desperately wishing for a tenth of your testosterone keep it to yourself. I have a full length mirror for such inspiration.
Seriously though; there was no link or information about your novel on your home page and some people here might enjoy reading it.
30
posted on
06/22/2025 6:42:55 PM PDT
by
MikelTackNailer
(Don't confuse me with the facts.)
To: MikelTackNailer
If you scan the thread, unlearner posted the location....
31
posted on
06/22/2025 6:49:52 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: MikelTackNailer
If it’s about your Baratheon-like wenching across a treacherous land filled with pitiful pseudo-men desperately wishing for a tenth of your testosterone keep it to yourself.No, it's definitely not that. :^)
It's a bit of both a political thriller and a science fiction novel. What would happen if aliens contacted us? How would things play out? And when we discover something very technically groundbreaking, then what?
32
posted on
06/22/2025 6:54:07 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Mathews
Please ping me! You have my interest!
33
posted on
06/22/2025 6:58:54 PM PDT
by
duckbutt
(I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery - T. Jefferson)
To: duckbutt
Please ping me! You have my interest!You are added!
34
posted on
06/22/2025 6:59:52 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Lazamataz
I wouldn’t mind being added as well!
To: Lazamataz
I've been told that the work seems to embody the writing style of a Tom Clancy or a Michael Crichton, blended with an Isaac Asimov.What else did your mother say?
Regards,
36
posted on
06/22/2025 10:35:41 PM PDT
by
alexander_busek
(Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
To: alexander_busek
What else did your mother say?My mother is dead.
37
posted on
06/22/2025 10:54:10 PM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Windcatcher
38
posted on
06/23/2025 3:05:41 AM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
To: Lazamataz
Any time. I will read the post. I’ve never seen GOT by the way.
39
posted on
06/23/2025 4:33:12 AM PDT
by
BHI2025
To: BHI2025
You need not have seen GoT to understand the video. The analysis is that good!
40
posted on
06/23/2025 4:35:48 AM PDT
by
Lazamataz
(I'm so on fire that I feel the need to stop, drop, and roll!)
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