Today’s Ponder:
what writers can accomplish is pretty amazing!
But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew, upon a thought produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think.
–Lord Byron
Happy writing and thanks for following WordsmithSix!
Functions of Dynamic Pairs
PROTAGONIST <—> ANTAGONIST
GUARDIAN <–> CONTAGONIST
REASON <–> EMOTION
SIDEKICK <–> SKEPTIC
Archetypal pairs represent a broad analogy to a human mind dealing with a problem. The Protagonist represents the desire to work at resolving the problem. Its Dynamic Pair, the Antagonist represents the desire to let the problem grow. As with the Archetypal Characters, we all face an internal battle between making decisions based upon Reason or upon Emotion. Like the functions of the Sidekick and Skeptic, will contain a struggle between Faith and Disbelief. And finally in an Archetypal sense, the Mind will be torn between the Contagonist’s temptation for immediate gratification and the Guardian’s counsel to consider the consequences.
Dramatica, A New Theory of Story — Copyright (c) 1993 – 2001
Plotting a Story
Once upon a time there was: _____________________________________.
Every day, _________________________. (regular world)
One day, ___________________________. (normal world changes)
Because of that, ______________________. (conflict)
Hero/heroine reacts how, ________________________.
Because of that, ______________________. (conflict)
Finally, he/she ___________________________. (resolution)
What does your character want more than anything in the world?
You, as the writer, must do everything you can to prevent them from getting it.
Happy ending or not? You decide.
Happy writing in 2015!
Natalie Bright
A room without books is like a body without a soul.
–Marcus T. Cicero
The Basics
By Natalie Bright
Noun – names a person, place, or thing.
Pronoun – takes the place of a noun, e.g. I, you, they.
Verb – shows action.
Adjective – modifies a noun or pronoun by telling how much, which one, what kind or describing it in other ways.
Adverb – modifies a verb similar to how an adjective it in other ways.
Preposition – shows a relationship between nouns or pronouns and is often used at the beginning descriptive phrase.
Conjunction – connects two words, phrases, clauses. The most common; and, but, or.
Interjection – often just one word injected into the sentence to show emotion, such as yea, uh-oh, or alas.
Learn from Every Possible Source. Good writing can be learned from many different venues, yet one of the keys to application of this principle is your attitude. Successful writers commit to a continual path of growth for their craft.
-W. Terry Whalin
We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Here’s to discovering your inner child of fun and writing more stories in the New Year!
Outtakes 180
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
By Cait Collins
I love the holidays. The hustle and bustle, social events, end-of-the-school-term concerts make me happy. But there is one thing I hate…food, glorious food.
I’m not officially on a diet, but I am trying to watch what and how much I eat. I definitely do not want to gain back the ten pounds I lost last fall. So what do you do when everywhere you look there is food?
It’s so unfair. Your co-workers bring goodies from their kitchens and let you know to help yourself. If you don’t partake, feelings are hurt. However, if I eat, my backside suffers. Is there no middle ground?
This is a sampling of the holiday feasting.
It started before Thanksgiving with a food day at work. I don’t remember the menu, but I do recall the table being overloaded and the team eating from the start of the day to the end of the shift.
Then there was family Thanksgiving at the church building. (The kitchen is bigger than at any of our homes and we can all sit together.) Let’s see, turkey, lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing, salad, pickles, olives, dinner rolls, candied yams, desserts; more food than any of us could or should eat. We all took leftovers home.
December rolled around and the parties started. My sister’s jewelry party provided chips, dips, crackers and cream cheese spread, apple slices, grapes, pineapple chunks.
A shopping trip ended in dinner out with two of my nephews. Shrimp was a great change of pace. The congregation’s holiday adult party was catered. I could not eat everything on my plate. Nor could I sample all the home cooked brunch fare the morning after the party. And we brown-bagged dinner the night we filled the holiday baskets for our shut-ins.
Family Christmas dinner was early so that we could all be together before kids left to spend the holiday with their dads. The scent of Mexican food filled the church fellowship hall as we scarffed enchiladas, tamales, queso and chips, fajitas, and desserts.
The day before my vacation began we celebrated our short association with co-workers from our Manila office. The tables in the conference room were loaded with Mexican food. Everything from queso to taco soup tempted the stomach.
My sisters and I celebrated December birthdays with Cheryl’s famous chicken salad sandwiches, chips, and ice cream. Then I joined my in-laws for filet minion on Christmas Eve. Janet made stew on Christmas day, and New Year’s Eve, we waited for the end of 2014 with snacks and desserts. New Year’s day, I spent quietly eating grilled chicken and black-eyed peas.
Man, was I glad to see the holidays end.
You’d think the New Year would bring an end to the obsession with food. Not so my friends. The food train continues to roll with homemade goodies making their way to the food cube at work. And on Friday, there is another food day.
Mexican food.
Again.
I raise my eyes heavenward. “Please, Lord, make it stop,” I beg. “I’ve had enough of food, glorious food.”
In the musical Oliver, Oliver and his friends sang of Food, Glorious Food because he and the other orphans were starving. I complain because there’s too much of a good thing. The point is anything you dream can be a story.
Writing Endorsements
By Rory C. Keel
Ask for endorsements from readers that enjoyed your writing. Simply say something like, “Would you provide me with a positive comment I could use as a testimonial for my book?”
Use the positive comments as headlines for your writing on your website and other promotional materials such as bookmarks and brochures.
Take note of unsolicited positive comments and remarks about your writing in e-mails and personal conversations. If individuals say something positive about your writing, ask to quote them.
Collect testimonials in a notebook and you will have them readily available when promoting your writing, stories and books.
Realize that testimonials from your readers will generate excitement and create interest in your work and draw more readers for your material.
POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE
Look Around
By Nandy Ekle
Last night was critique night. We sat around the conference table and presented our stories to the group, then we gave some constructive ideas of how to make the stories better. My dear friend’s story reminded me of something I guess I had forgotten during the chaotic days of what I call “Hallowthanksmas” (which I’m stealing from a greeting card I once read). My friend’s story was a humorous piece about all the eating we do during that period of time.
Her story was charming, well written, timely and very enjoyable. But the thing I got from the story was the reminder that every moment of every day is something to write about. There are stories in successes and frustrations, no matter how trivial they may seem. There are histories of objects around you. There are adventures of even getting out of your chair to walk to the trash can.
One day, back when I was an office manager for two businesses, there was a minor crisis with the fax machine and the postage machine. The whole entire episode lasted about 30 minutes, but when it was resolved, a cute picture came in my head where the postage machine gained a personality and hijacked the fax machine to enjoy a day of freedom on the phone lines and cyberspace.
I also wrote a short essay one time describing the shrieking blizzard taking place outside the window. I’ve written deep explicit descriptions of a room while waiting for an appointment. I’ve even written stories about how my inspiration to write something shriveled up and died on the floor in front of me like a pet.
So I’m passing my reminder on to you, my readers. The challenge is to find one moment today that makes you say, “There’s a story there.” Go ahead and post your story in the comments below and share it with the rest of us. Who knows, it could be the start of something bigger.
Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.
