Kasem Kharsa

Inventing Characters

Hey Ariele, I'm reaching out to former students who posted a class project to let them know I just started a teaching newsletter. It'll allow me to have a more direct connection with serious students as I try to organize new classes and workshops to better support their ambitions. If you'd like to sign up you can do so here: <a href="http://www.kasemkharsa.com/newsletter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.kasemkharsa.com/newsletter</a>

Hey Ariele, I posted this on the discussion forum of my other class a while back, see if it helps: Sharing Your Project with Google Drive Unfortunately Skillshare doesn't allow you to upload a pdf directly into your project space, instead you have to provide a link where readers can gain access to it. If you're a using Google Drive here's how to do that: 1. Export your script as a PDF and save it somewhere you can find it later 2. Log into your account at drive.google.com 3. Click on 'New' and then 'File Upload': <img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/fd055121" alt="fd055121" /> <img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/ca4e91b0" alt="ca4e91b0" /> 4. Upload the PDF version of your script 5. You should now see that PDF file in your list of Google Drive files 6. With that file highlighted, hit the 'Get Link' icon: <img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/f7384a5f" alt="f7384a5f" /> 7. Hit 'Sharing Settings' <img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/0929a79f" alt="0929a79f" /> 8. Hit 'Get Shareable Link' in the dialog box <img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/a94f689a" alt="a94f689a" /> 9. Copy the address that appears <img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/8b1a96d3" alt="8b1a96d3" /> 10. Now go to your Skillshare project page, and paste that address in your desciption. Now your fellow students will be able to download your project.  I know, that's a lot of steps, but it should work, let me know if this doesn't make sense -  Thanks -

Hey Ariele, I really enjoyed your piece. It definitely seems like you put a lot of time and thought into this. It is very vivid, and I like how you use a couple of visual refrains like the black clouds and truck to connect the different phases of Lib's life. I also enjoyed this feeling of things coming full circle in the end - a sense of hope. Even though the scenes are short, you do a good job of both building the character and the world and the three scenes together feel somehow like a complete story. I don't have any suggestions, more questions of curiosity: where do you see yourself taking this? are you more concerned with Lib as a child or her entire life? are you seeing this as the seeds of a novel, short story or film? You had also asked in the discussions about a future class on world building - in the context of your piece what area of world building are you trying to learn more about or improve? As far as linking a PDF, are you able to create a PDF? If so, let me know and I can show you how to create dropbox or google link to it. Also, try uploading a cover image for your project that is somehow related to the piece. Again, great job - I want to read more!

Hi Kasem,

Thanks so much for taking the time to read through my project. I'm so glad to hear enjoyed it!

I've been working on this story for a while and plan to continue writing in the hopes of creating a longer form piece or a novel. I've really enjoyed learning more about the characters and their world. I've begun logging those I know so far in a journal. 

Now, I'm more interested in writing majority of the story from Lib's late teenage perspective. So far, I've gotten about 16,000 words down from that point of view. But I'm certainly up for suggestions!

As far as world building, I've got a few concerns. My start point was describing characters and the larger systems and historic events in Lib's world. But I'm interested to know how others have tackled world building and kept their universes organized. Are there any common mistakes you see writers make/things they forget to consider while world building? And how does world building vary (or remain the same) genre to genre?

And I've been able to download PDFs from both Dropbox and Google Docs. I would love to know the secret to creating links for them!

Also, the cover photo has been updated!

Thanks so much,
Ariele


Hey Ariele, I think you're going in the right direction in terms of describing the world and your characters in an organic way. Within these individual scenes you do a good job of going back and forth in time to add dimension and context to Lib's surroundings. So I do think you're on the right path and I don't have any concrete advice, clearly you're self-motivated and far along in your craft - so keep going! In terms of world-building, I don't have too much experience - I have written a sci-fi piece but it deals with time-traveling to the past. But it does seem that there are genre 'guidelines' or a checklist of things the writer might address. For example in science fiction that deals with the near future, if it is dystopian the writer usually will give the reason for what actions in the present lead to this possible future. In a zombie story usually the writer will have to go over where the outbreak came from, the symptoms, a cure, etc. - in a series like 'The Walking Dead' you can see the writers touching on all these genre points but at the same time adding their own unique take of the zombie story (i.e. the idea that all the survivors are already infected). One mistake I do see is not getting the 'rules' of how your fictitious universe works out of the way early enough (I'm thinking of 'Inception') or making the rules more complicated than they need be. Again, I don't see either red flag in your writing so far. I do think it's important to read work in your genre area, and break down for yourself how the writer balances the world-building with the plot and characters. I don't know if you've read McCarthy's 'The Road', if not it's a very spare post-apocalyptic story that you might like. Also, there's an interesting book that has a chapter on world-building you might want to check out (but keep in mind a lot of the contributors are fantasy writers: <a class="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Wonderbook-Illustrated-Creating-Imaginative-Fiction/dp/1419704427/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Wonderbook-Illustrated-Creating-Imaginative-Fiction/dp/1419704427/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8</a>

also, you might want to check out this title that has a section on world-building: <a class="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Science-Fiction-Fantasy-Horror/dp/039916555X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479405022&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=now+write+science+fiction" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Write-Science-Fiction-Fantasy-Horror/dp/039916555X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479405022&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=now+write+science+fiction</a> - For PDFs, what program are you using to write in?

Hi Kasem, Thanks so much for sending these resources my way! It's helpful to have an idea of what to keep in mind while world-building. I've heard great things about the The Road, but haven't read it myself yet! I started about a week ago and am already enjoying it -- super dark, but interesting. Also, I'm writing my story inside Google Docs. Making a PDF - easy. Making a link to a PDF - not so much (for me, at least). 

Hey Ariele, no problem - I just posted another comment on how to upload your PDF to Google Drive, let me know if that helps - after you figure it out you can delete my post if all the screenshots are cluttering your project page

Hi Ariele, I'm sorry to be "late for class." The descriptions of natural and unnatural are compelling. I just finished reading "Fahrenheit 451", and your piece reminds me of that book. 


Hi Kasem,
I'm having trouble figuring out how to link&nbsp;a PDF, so I've included a couple other ways to view/edit/comment on the document.
This&nbsp;project focuses on&nbsp;a main character from a science fiction (I know, I'm sorry to do this to you) story I'm working on. In the story, we meet her at age 17. That said, her childhood and twilight memories are her before and after.
Please see the linked Dropbox document:&nbsp;https://paper.dropbox.com/doc/Lib-Hall-Three-Memories-oNwYFtfeLk0N56s6bicvc
It can also be viewed/edited via Google Docs:&nbsp;https://docs.google.com/document/d/12hF9kaXf0A4kMr3WFzQNybVIVdZTnIsNuxRahgF86_Q/edit?usp=sharing
Please feel free to leave any constructive criticism! And thanks so much for your time.
Sincerely, Ariele Vaccaro&nbsp;

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Lib Hall - Three Memories

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