Writer's Club, Persecution, a Family of Friends [Update]

I learned a lot in this month's meeting. The point of view is an important structure, but may be hard to control. Many authors may write within their limit, like a male author might just make novels with a main male protagonist. Though, it is great to write about stuff that's out of your comfort zone, like an exercise.

I also learned that people of today's age now expect the hook of novels to be within 30 pages, sometimes some expect the first page. It's not like how in the older days where people just kept reading, and most of the time finding the hook on the 100th page. As for me, I read books, but I won't give much opinions if I haven't read cover to cover.

You also need to know your world inside and out when you're creating a fantasy world...It was a while ago, I can't remember all. I'll probably remember it after tonight's sleep, where the memories go back together and piece themselves. But I suppose I'll do my best of my ability to summarize the stories I heard.

1. A Native American's account from his memories of the 1913, when he received his first American money. It had really good characterization and description. It didn't give a whole list of historical information, which people avoid to not make it too much of a nonfiction book, but it was really good.
2. Another memoir story. This is where I learned about point of view being very important to stretch. The author was a petite, young woman, but the story was a man's memory of a girl he liked from when he met when they were five. She was actually good at characterization of something she wasn't of. The story was where this guy remember the time when he was five, nine, around high school or college, and when the girl was dying. Romance isn't really my taste, but it was really good.
3. Half of the first chapter of a novel an author's creating. It was of fantasy. Really great descriptions, but I sort of was confused, which made me curious to read more. So a great hook.
4. This script of a dysfunctional family. The writer said he made the script so long that film makers decided against it. He later shortened it to, I think, close to but less than 200 pages. People said it was still too long, but I don't think it should be refused. It was of something that happens normally now, but people don't decide to write about, like "The Catcher in the Rye." Set in the '80s, a married couple with money problems argue constantly about jobs and everyday stuff. The writer's trying to get it into a film or something like it.
5. This three-paged intro of two friends going into a cave. The setting's in a parallel universe to ours. There's like this terrorist group, or something along the lines, that were in the cave though. It's something like fantasy and sci-fi.
6. An excerpt of five pages of a novel someone's working on. It's about this person who trying to look for people who will adopt him. There's talking animals and some Native American folklore, but very interesting. It didn't tell us what the animals were other than two. It was the description that helped us piece together what animal was what. Like a bear, an elephant, and an octopus.

After the meeting, I went to the mall for a social gathering... These two friends of mine are dating, and has been for a few years. It's like they still don't know much about each other, yet enough to seem like they've been acquainted for ten years or so. I wasn't saddened by the thought that my friend had love while I didn't. In fact, I don't care about dating. I was just thinking, when I do find love like they did, how would it be? I'm probably just thinking too much. The couple played with each other like they were elementary kids, yet mature... Everyday thoughts are scary.

*Sigh,* I blame walking the ten miles around the mall made the blood rush through my head, causing me to think sort of differently. I feel a bit different actually.

No, I'm not desperate, but I have been told I worry too much. Maybe that's one of those moments. Maybe the stress the school set upon the students about course selection for next year was more of a hassle than any other year. Maybe the feeling of forgetting to take my medicine last night or the side effects or forgetting for one day has something to do with it.

*Sigh*

Life is life. This is just something I have to take care of and move on. Worrying too much about it won't do good for my health... Crap, I remembered I have to run a mile Monday...