I saw a video of Matt Stone and Trey Parker talkiong aobut what makes for a great story, and when I first saw it I didn't get it. I even tried to get it, and I didn't. I have to say, when I read about it in this tweet that I've been writing about, I finally got it.
I've heard this before but in different terms. I've heard that conflict is key. We've all heard that. No one wants to hear a story about someone where everything goes well.
As I mentioned last week, Intuitive Writing suggests that we provide status updates on our writing on a regular basis. This can be done via writing buddy updates, updates to editors, or like I am doing it, writing blog posts that provide updates.
Last week I wrote about my work on my little welding novel, some chapter exercises, and some of my homework. This week, it will be mostly homework.
I'm not sure if I've written about this before, but I don't like libraries. I just don't like em! I don't know why my tax dollars have to pay for a building to house a bunch of old musty books. Now, as a book lover, I like the idea of libraries, and I think they had a place in our history, but I think that place is long gone. I think they're too expensive and outdated. I bet I could buy old Kindles for every public library user and it would be less administrative cost, more books, and easier for everyone involved. Want to read a book? Go to the city hall and sign out a Kindle. Download the book you want. No grubby old books with dog-eared beat-up pages, filthy and gross. No old women with stern eyes yelling at you about your book being late. Why not have private libraries. Public libraries . . . They're right up there with Doctors' Offices in my book.
I HATE doctors. I can't think of another industry where I could set an appointment with someone and then when I arrive they make me sign in and wait, then half an hour later they "seat me" or in their case take me to another holding room where I wait even longer. If I made people who came to visit me wait in the lobby, then wait in my office, then I pop in to speak to them for five minutes before dismissing them or handing them over to my assistant, I'd be fired.
I read a really great post on Twitter (HERE) which is so full of great advice that I plan to repost in many different ways over the course of the next few weeks. This first one is on Jenga Stories.
What’s a Jenga Story? Took me a second too, but it’s basically where you start with the end in mind. Nathan, in that link, brings up a couple of stories that use this form, Pulp Fiction, Saving Private Ryan, are his examples.
I ran into a meme today that I really wanted to share. I do this often. I'll hit things that I think are interesting, intriguing, compelling, or telling, and I'll catalog them HERE. It's been a while, but here's one.
It was a simple cartoon, but it hit me. There was an older fella, grandfather type, who was sleeping in his bed with his wife, also older, a grandmother. They're both smiling as they sleep. Then there is a second image, this time the man is alone and there is a definite lack of someone next to him. His wife, the grandmother is gone. And you can tell the man is sad that he's found himself alone.
I started reading another book on writing. This one is called Intuitive Writing by Jaqueline Fisch. It’s supposed to be a book about how to write more and with more focus. What I’ve found is that when she says “writing” she means all writing. Copy writing, writing emails, newsletters, etc. etc. Now she does talk about creative writing, which is why I picked this up, but the author means it all.
She also encourages the reader to complete the chapter exercises. So I’m going to use this space to do just that.
I'm reading a series of series. I've just finished a few and now I'm back into the Stranger Times series. This is the most fun of all of my series.
I've been into series books lately. So, since I'm in to series, I went back to a series I've read several times. Game of Thrones . . . or more correctly . . . The Song of Ice and Fire.
So, you read so much about not looking at screens before you go to bed, how it effects your sleep, that I decided a while back to listen to the advice and give it a try. The first book I read before bed was a book about Rangers, the next was a horrible book on Delta Force. The problem with these books is that in some respects I’ve lived the live, I know how hard it is, there is no mystique about being wet, muddy, tired, or pushed beyond your limits. And if you can’t actually write well . . . Pass.
So, you read so much about not looking at screens before you go to bed, how it effects your sleep, that I decided a while back to listen to the advice and give it a try. The first book I read before bed was a book about Rangers, the next was a horrible book on Delta Force. The problem with these books is that in some respects I’ve lived the live, I know how hard it is, there is no mystique about being wet, muddy, tired, or pushed beyond your limits. And if you can’t actually write well . . . Pass.
