tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post8309826472248136621..comments2024-03-29T04:56:23.027-04:00Comments on Cockeyed Caravan: Storytelling Rulebook #181: Know the Three Levels of Tradecraft Matt Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07319984238456281734noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-31613355620428777892013-04-18T16:15:13.489-04:002013-04-18T16:15:13.489-04:00In one of their "Writing Excuses" blogs,...In one of their "Writing Excuses" blogs, authors Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, and Howard Something or Other make a very similar point, in respect to fantasy worldbuilding.<br /><br />They say that a shortcut to create verisimilitude is to describe one really big important thing in passing, and to go into great detail about one very small thing. <br /><br />This creates the illusion of depth ("hey, look at this big thing that everyone knows so much about that they don't even talk about it"), and of mastery ("hey, look at this trivial little thing, the author really knows his stuff if he can describe such minor details.")<br /><br />The big-as-small seems to map to your #1 very nicely, and the small-as-big maps to your #2 equally well. And now I can add #3 to that list :).<br /><br />JD Paradisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07945134213244873038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-6542922328370364682013-04-16T21:41:15.653-04:002013-04-16T21:41:15.653-04:00Thanks. That helps. There seems to be an implied...Thanks. That helps. There seems to be an implied layer of irony in most of your type three examples. As in: the actual expert way to solve this problem is simpler than you might think. Because if the inside tip required extraordinary skill, knowledge or resources, then the average viewer couldn't really apply it.p.s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-47163962833838069482013-04-16T20:53:07.027-04:002013-04-16T20:53:07.027-04:00Type two is just facts about the con-man world: &q...Type two is just facts about the con-man world: "The guy who funds it is called 'the bank'" "The guy who squeezes into tight spots is called 'the grease man'". <br /><br />Type three is stuff that con men do that the viewer can also do at home, like lying more effectively. <br /><br />In the spy world: <br /><br />Type 1: "I spent last night digging thought every piece of HUM-INT, MAS-INT, SIG-INT, OS-INT and IM-INT I could find-- we've got nothing!"<br /><br />Type 2: "If you want to stay on the payroll, you'd better give me something, because they're running an asset-scrub next week, and if they don't think you're valuable enough, I gotta cut you off!" <br /><br />Type 3: "If you want their password, don't try to guess it, just call them up and tell them that their account's been hacked and you need their password to confirm they are who they say they are."Matt Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319984238456281734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-46111703074334052842013-04-16T20:20:21.017-04:002013-04-16T20:20:21.017-04:00A bit unclear on the differences between types two...A bit unclear on the differences between types two and three. Right now it seems like three could just be the dialogue specific version of two. Maybe one or two more examples?j.s.noreply@blogger.com