EXERCISE: and a time for every purpose, under Heaven...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting: Mon, 31 Dec 2001 22:00:00 -0500

(Still turning?)

Backgrounds and Projections

Let's consider more additions to what you are communicating to your audience about the turning points in your life.  First, what is it about your background that makes the turning point you selected significant for you?  Is there an event in your past, or maybe more than one, that really provides the setting for this turning point?  Or suppose you wanted to foreshadow this turning point in something that happened to you earlier -- perhaps a similar opportunity that didn't work out?

Make a list of two or three background points that lead into this turning point.  Consider whether you want to write up one of these points as a flashback.  What would be the scene, and the action, and the characters that would help your audience understand the background of this turning point?

Or, you may want to consider projecting the results of this turning point into the future.  You may not have experienced yet all of the benefits and costs involved in this decision or choice, but you may be thinking ahead, expecting that out of this will come something special.

As with the background, think about several possible future points that may come out of this turning point.  Then consider writing one of these as a flashforward.

EXERCISE: and then...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting: Thu, 31 May 2001 22:22:55 -0400

He knew something was wrong when he found the front door open.
Then he...

a simple sort of beginning, and yet the reader is likely to keep reading just to find out what was wrong.  What is the "something"?  Why was the front door open?

What happens next?  Does he find something else?  Does he do something?

Here's one way that it might go:

He knew something was wrong when he found the front door open.

Then he found the visions on the floor.

The day had started out normally enough. ...

After he found the visions on the floor, he started yelling, "Margaret?"

And so on and on, until the ending.

What kind of a story could you write, starting with that simple sentence and two words?

He knew something was wrong when he found the front door open.
Then he...

Go ahead, make my day and write!