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Thanks for the reponse.
One thing I'm curious about....
Assuming I just decide to start writing - is there some special format? Like an outline or college paper? Or do I simply open Word & start typing?
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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I opened Word & attempt to write, but that's how I attack most things. Getting stuff out of my head helps me figure out how I need to operate, personally. Getting it in front of others helps refine that stuff into interesting stories.
From what I've seen & experienced "how to write" varies greatly. It kind of makes sense; writing is a purely creative act. Programming (at least) tries to solve a specific problem. I’ve heard of others start a story with no idea how it’ll end; I think it’s called “exploratory writing.” I’ve found some success with an outline of an outline of an outline, etc… I’ve started with a single paragraph of the story; expand that into scenes, then chapters. Somewhere along the line I find interesting characters with which to tell the story though. I try to give the interesting characters an arc (change from one emotional state to another via the story) & get the reader to like them.
I keep a folder in my skydrive specifically for story ideas. I've been in the checkout line getting groceries and typed a quick idea from my phone that I'll work on later. It might be a character idea/arc or a scene or whatever.
I need to get my stuff in front of others but I'm also struggling on exactly how to do that. I'm currently thinking using writing contests or hunting down some kind of writing blog... I'm not sure. (just google, but make sure to read the fine print. I'm still a bit leery of them in general.) I've even hit the print button, put it in a nice folder, and hand it to family/friends. While that was encouraging I don't believe I got objective feedback... with the exception of my wife. When I can get a story somewhat finished I’ll probably pay an editor to review it. At least then I can get a professional, genre specific objective feedback. (I recall lulu.com had editing services?)
I’ve picked up a ton of stuff from the Writing Excuses Podcast. They also hold an annual writing retreat I’d love to attend.
- great coders make code look easy
- When humans are doing things computers could be doing instead, the computers get together late at night and laugh at us. - ¿Neal Ford?
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Wrong forum. Use the WPF forum
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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RIP Tom[^]
I love his books, well the one's HE actually wrote, a lot of the later ones were ghosted.
Ever so well researched and fantastic to read when lazing by the pool whilst sipping gulping gin when one is on holiday.
Alas no more Jack Ryan.
---------------------------------
Obscurum per obscurius.
Ad astra per alas porci.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur .
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I just learned of this a few minutes ago; a great loss to those of us who still read. It was quite sad to me that, other than The Hunt For Red October, not one of the movies based on his books bore any resemblance to the books. It's as if the producers never read the books at all.
It was eerie to me to read some of his stuff, as the accuracy was incredible, and some of what was published is detailed information I'm still not allowed to talk about, as far as I know. I've been out of the defense biz for over 20 years now, so I'm sure much of that old stuff is open news now, but no one's told me I can blab yet. 
Oh well, maybe it was time. After all, what's left for Jack Ryan to do? He and Mr. Clark have saved the Free World so many times; they deserve a peaceful retirement.
Will Rogers never met me.
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If I remember right, wasn't he investigated by the FBI asking where/how he got all his intel?
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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Yes, turns out he read every declassified gov't document.
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Hard to make a movie that will match the book. Not many have. There are issues with cost, length, and viewpoint, to mentiona few. Still they were fun movies and a large part because of Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.
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Clifford Nelson wrote: Harrison Ford
He's no Jack Ryan. "Clear and Present Danger" was horribly cast. 
"Red October" is awesome.
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: Clifford Nelson wrote: Harrison Ford
He's no Jack Ryan. "Clear and Present Danger" was horribly cast.
"Red October" is awesome.
Not nearly as bad as Afflack in Sum of All Fears.
Psychosis at 10
Film at 11
Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
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I'm fairly sure I skipped that one entirely.
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: I'm fairly sure I skipped that one entirely.
Good call.
Despite how it has been said that the movies did not follow the books, I thought they did a good job. You'd be going along knowing the scenes from the book and then they'd diverge, which to me, I took as something to keep the book readers engaged. Other times for the sake of budget and/or "movie making", but I did not feel they had violated the spirit of the books. (alright the climatic battle with Harrison Ford/Jack Ryan in Patriot Games was stretch, but I'm sure the producers felt that the "action hero" had to have a heroic moment as opposed to the Coast Guard cutter catching the bad guy)
Sum of All Fears was a screenplay by someone who read the book on acid and then tried to recreate it from memory.
Psychosis at 10
Film at 11
Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
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So who did you like at Jack Ryan. I was not impressed with Alec Baldwin as jack Ryan. Sean Connery just dominated the film, and he was not supposed to be the main character. Do you have someone you would like to see as Jack Ryan.
I know that I was totally disappointed in Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, and hated what they did to the female characters that were strong in the book, but wimpy in the movies and made Robert too spiratual. Think that Russell Crowe would have been much better, but would have to fix a whole lot of things to make them the movies I think they could be. Tom Hanks has never impressed me except Forest Gump.
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I very much liked Alec Baldwin in Red October. I can't stand him now though. 
And changing actors made no sense.
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Sometimes it is unavoidable. It can be quite disconcerting. I know I really liked Bill Murray in as Bosley, the best ever, but he is in demand. Don't know why that did not keep Alec Baldwin, except he was never much of a draw. Hunt for Red October had Sean as the big draw, and maybe that was the only high price actor they wanted to pay for. Recently Sean has not played in much significant.
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My favorite author. He'll be sorely missed.
He's got another moving coming 12/13 starring Chris Pine as Ryan.
If it's not broken, fix it until it is
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The one author I really enjoyed. His books are several cuts above everyone else.
He will definitely be missed...I wonder if he has any 'unreleased' books.
Common sense is admitting there is cause and effect and that you can exert some control over what you understand.
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I read that there is another coming out in November.
Psychosis at 10
Film at 11
Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
modified 3-Oct-13 10:35am.
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Sounds like there is another movie and book coming out this year (the only good news here).
What I haven't heard yet was the cause of death?
Common sense is admitting there is cause and effect and that you can exert some control over what you understand.
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S Douglas wrote: What I haven't heard yet was the cause of death?
Political assassination. 
The book I'm reading now seems to have the bad guys as a thinly veiled Obama and George Soros.
I thought it was bad in his last books where he started wearing his religion on his sleeve, but this latest one, he's added his politics. It seems he is a fan of extraordinary rendition and enhanced interrogation techniques.
Psychosis at 10
Film at 11
Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
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You do realize that his death was peculiar.
He began writing a book this past summer which was quite telling of the US NSA's technology spy snooping efforts and how a rogue President was manipulating the various executive departments and judicial branch to his own agenda.
Jack Ryan would "come out of retirement" to lead a small mercenary team to save the Nation.
"Tom Clancy .... died after a brief illness."
Yeah, right.
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