Write about...(4)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting: Sun, 16 Jan 1994 18:35:01 JST

Scary times ahead...

CHALLENGE: Most of us understand fear. But think of your most frightened, scared, horrified times, and consider how a phobic person feels when they face (pick one of the following)

• a kitten
• the dark
• a bird
• an open space
• dream up your own...

Now write up that meeting. Make your reader feel the stomach-churning agony of the phobia. Does your phobic person turn and run? Hide? or face the phobia and try to overcome it?

shivers running up and down the spine...

Caught in a Cleft Stick

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting: Sun, 23 Jan 1994 18:35:02 JST

This is an oldie, but still a goodie...

First, pick a character - any one you like. Got that person firmly in mind?

Next, pick two (2!) of these:

- a relationship (love, sex, etc.)
- family relationship
- career
- friendship
- adventure, excitement
- fame, honor, rank
- safety
- freedom
- wealth, financial resources
- social status
- keeping a promise
- marriage
- justice
- make one of your own (something needed, something wanted, something new, something blue...)

Okay? Got them picked and written down?

Now - your character wants... NEEDS... HAS TO HAVE... both of these. But picking one means discarding, breaking, damaging the other. Your character may want to be greedy and have both, but only one will fit.

Write it up. There are probably four major scenes here. First, show us why this character wants one of these. Second, show us how much they need the other one. Third, show us why and how picking one means destroying the other. Fourth, show us the decision, and the consequences.

Of course, you might add some scenes between the third and fourth ones. Let your character wiggle on the horns of the dilemma, and show us the blood and sweat of that agonized goring. You might also be able to combine the first three in some way, presenting the two alternatives and the dilemma in one fell swoop. Or you can expand on the need, delving back into the roots of your character.

But make sure you show us how badly your character wants both, and why the choice is limited to one. While some writers might leave us agonizing in front of Monty Hall's doors, I think it is easier to open the door and show us the prize your character has chosen...

Okay - WRITE!

[Bonus: pick three and make your character really sweat!]

Hark, what writer through yonder block breaks?
It is the eastern nut... grinning at all the busy fingers

For Women Only

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 18:35:02 JST

(if you men reading this want to try, go right ahead. but you'll have to stretch your imagination hard, I think)

Mitsuko, my wife, and her sister were talking the other day. I'm not sure what brought it up this time, but they wandered into one of their attempts to describe to each other the physical sensations preceding menses (i.e. how's it feel before/at the start of? your period). This is the lower back.. pain? heaviness? heat?? - they tried those words (roughly - in Japanese) and decided they didn't really describe the sensation.

As usual, after a while they asked me how to describe it in English. I ducked hard and fast... asked a few questions about what kind of feeling it is, suggested a few notions (all rejected as no, not quite), and then reminded them that I really don't know what it feels like (I am handicapped here - the body isn't equipped that way).

They do this every now and then. Sometimes I think the main point of this little exchange is to reassure each other that they do feel something, and that the other person knows it is a funny feeling. Sort of mutual sympathy through bafflement? I suppose I feel honored that they include me in the session.

Hokay. The challenge, or exercise, is to describe the sensation(s) in such a way that (a) any woman reading it would clearly know exactly what you are referring to and (b) any man reading it would be able to learn to understand what you are talking about.

[bonus - I think some women or times may have different sensations. You might split up the descriptions if you need to both as reassurance for women who have a harder/easier/different feeling and to illuminate those differences for your male readers]

I.e. - roughly half the human race is color-blind in this spectrum. You have a chance to tell them about the rainbow. Take the lead now, ok? hey - do a good job on this, and there are lots of feminist markets popping up that might buy it...

(hot pads, backrubs, and hot baths help sometimes.. that much I know...)

Don't Look! Don't...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting: Tue, 22 Mar 1994 18:35:01 JST

You looked! And now the demons in the message are going to run wild...

Another well-aged situation, but still timely. I usually remember it as the Pandora gimmick (bet you heard of it, eh?)

Start by picking your character. Go ahead, anyone you like.

Now, the action starts with someone saying "Don't do this." Up to you as to what "this" is - going downstairs, going out after dark, staying home alone, hitchhiking, opening a box, looking in the attic, wearing curlers in your sleep, voting republican, taking the sales sticker off the mattress... that's half the fun.

The other half is coming up with the reason for your character breaking the rule. Is it simple curiosity, accidental, or just time for youngens to break loose?

Then you get another half - what happens? Do they get their just rewards? unjustly overwhelmed? or perhaps nothing?

In case you think this is too old and tired - Gremlins is one recent story based on this situation. Don't... and they did... and look what happened!

Oh - since I believe in having double fun, you need another half. Tell you what - you write the piece and submit it here, and your last half will be the big smiles from your readers!

[bonus - flip it over - start with a DO (brush your teeth, love your neighbor, feed the dog), let your character forget, and then...!!!!]

Don't...
(but you did, didn't you!)