EXERCISE: Turn That Bit Player Into A Major Actor!

[mbarker]

Original Posting 2022/1/20

Hi, ho... over here on Writing Excuses, https://writingexcuses.com/2022/01/16/17-3-chekovs-surprising-yet-inevitable-inverted-gun/ they have a bit of homework at the end of the podcast that I think deserves some attention. The rest of the podcast is a discussion of various examples based around the maxim that if you hang a gun on the mantle in Act I, you should fire the gun in Act III, or at the very least, do something with it!

But the exercise is fairly simple. Basically, take a work in progress (you have one of those, right?). Now, pick a character, a place, a thing, some bit that you included near the beginning that you did not intend to use later on the story. Perhaps a waiter at the diner where the protagonist had breakfast, or the gas station where they filled up the car, or... something that was not intended to be a major player. And... make it one! Write it into the big climax, revise things to make this a major part of the story.

Yes, you may have to do some revision earlier in the story, and in other parts, to really make this work. But that's part of what the exercise is pointing to, is the changes that are needed to make that gun on the mantle shoot someone in the final action.

Remember, as the actors tell us, there are no small parts, only small actors. So, let your character/setting/whatever take the center stage and show you what they can add to your story!

Write! 

EXERCISE: Life Passages?

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/1/21

Hum, just started reading another book, where the very beginning started simply "It was her birthday." Of course, then they wandered off into how different her birthday was from the normal cake and family celebration expectations, so we understood right away that things were going to be different. Which suggested something to me.

See, here's a few life passages (yes, I googled...)
1. Birth
2. Puberty
3. Marriage
4. Having children
5. Death

Or what about this list:
1. Rite to birthright
2. Rite to Adulthood
3. Right to marriage
4. Rite to Eldership
5. Rite to ancestorship

Or maybe Gail Sheehy's list?
1. Trying 20s -- trying work and partner
2. Catch 30s -- shake and bake
3. Forlorn 40s -- let's try again?
4. Refreshed/Resigned 50s -- let go and renew

Or take your favorite list of problems, starting/ending school, starting/ending work, starting/ending relationships, moving, crime... whatever you like.

Now, turn it inside out. That's right, let your character look at that normal expected stage of life or transition, but with a very unusual and special twist to it. What happened to turn that birthday, that first day of school, that start of a new job into... marvels and wonders? Fear and trembling? Shock and awe? You decide!

Then go from there. What happens next? And then...

Write! 

EXERCISE: Pick a picture, any picture…

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/1/23

On tv, they had a funny contest. Basically, they provided the tv talents with some pictures, and asked them to make drawings, paintings, art based on the pictures. Then they asked their resident artist to grade the results, and provide his own version…

So, I was thinking. If you wander over to google images (https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en ) and put a word, phrase, or whatever in, you’ll get a bunch of pictures. So, pick a word, phrase, or something from a poem or story, and see what google images turns up! Pick one of those that appeals to you.

Then, add characters, setting, action… whatever it needs, and make a story. Help us to see that picture, to step into the world you have found, and watch the play!

Okay? And of course, feel free to share the results here.

Write! 

EXERCISE: Take a (virtual) vacation trip?

[mbarker]

Original Posting 2022/1/24

Recently, a friend mentioned that they were feeling down, because they couldn’t go anywhere right now. Vacations, airplane trips, all that kind of thing seems to have disappeared, and many people are feeling somewhat restricted as a result.

I thought about it, and asked them to consider (a) take the little google maps figure for a walk somewhere that is interesting! Admittedly, you can't get the figure to walk inside a shop or have something to eat, but you can take a walk along the middle of the Vegas Strip, or perhaps downtown Paris, or someplace else that you find interesting. Also (b) check out travel websites, videos, and such about a place you are interested in. Heck, go ahead and plan that trip, figure out where you would go and what you would do and... do check YouTube, there are a lot of people putting up tours of their locales right now.

They thought about it, and said it sounded interesting. They admitted, they simply hadn't thought about doing something like that. I will admit, we may not be able to take a physical trip quite as easily as we could just a few years ago, but... there's a lot of access on the web! So take a vacation trip in your own living room!

Obviously, this also works for writers. Yes, a trip to that location would be nice, but... do it on the web, and see just how much you can learn that way.

Then, write! Sure, send us a card, tell us about your virtual vacation, and feel free to say, "Wish you were here!" (or there?) 

FILL: Friday? Already?

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/1/28

Oh, let's see. Not Robinson Crusoe's Friday, who was a helpful fellow, or even Heinlein's Friday, who is a bit of a wonder. Just another Friday...

Earlier today, I was wondering why we talk about orcs and forks and torques, but not orks and forcs and torks, but that's rather esoteric, I suppose. Although the line "He stuck a fork in the orc and twisted it with plenty of torque" does rather suggest an odd scene or two.

So, where were we? Ah, yes, wondering how to prompt some writing on a lazy Friday afternoon? Well, we do have the various categories to contemplate...

SUB and CRIT, for those wonderful submissions and comments in response? Hum, I suppose I could dig out an old tale or two and see if anyone bites?

TECH, of course, for the technical side of things. How do you twist a tale? What are the ingredients for stone soup? And similar walks on the DIY side of writing...

Which goes with EXERcise, when we need to practice those tricks and juggling and all that stuff. Give us a way to keep those writing muscles limber!

INTeractive, naturally, means we're going to play together! A round robbin, or some other group writing, to keep the words flowing!

WOW? World Of Writing? I saw something over there that looked interesting! And here's what it was...

And, of course, there's FILL, for all those odds and ends that don't quite fit in the other categories.

It's kind of a bare bones skeleton, but maybe you could put some on those bones?

A bit whimsical, but that's what Friday afternoons are good for, right?

Write?