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writercises Original Posting Feb. 28, 2019
Wait a minute. Disturbance, care package, argument against the transformation, trouble brewing, doorway of no return #1... these all sound good, but that’s not a whole story? I mean, it’s not even a whole beginning.
Step back and think. Signposts, stepping stones, pick your metaphor. These are important pieces that you can use, but, yes, you will need to mix in other stuff. If you are doing a short story, say of the thriller variety, you might even try to do a couple of these together. E.g., you might have the disturbance and the care package together, right there at the start. Let’s face it, the common bit with the girlfriend/wife/daughter missing/kidnapped/whatever right at the start brings in the disturbance and a hint of a care package. The hero may very well sneer and tell us they aren’t going to change, even as the phone rings and the villain laughs... yep, an argument and trouble brewing? And we’re only a few sentences in!
On the other hand, a novel may very well spread these out, adding in plenty of other material. Scene and sequel, action and reaction, side stories and minor characters... you don’t have to do it all on the first page.
So. At least as I see it, James is recommending these as structural members for your story, which you get to place within your story, along with the rest. Nowhere near a complete plot outline, but... that means you get to do it your way!
Whether you build it as an outline, and then write, or just dive in and write, looking up occasionally to see whether you've gone past the signs or not, these are useful pieces for you to incorporate.
Nice.
(No, this will not be included on the test. What test?)
Wait a minute. Disturbance, care package, argument against the transformation, trouble brewing, doorway of no return #1... these all sound good, but that’s not a whole story? I mean, it’s not even a whole beginning.
Step back and think. Signposts, stepping stones, pick your metaphor. These are important pieces that you can use, but, yes, you will need to mix in other stuff. If you are doing a short story, say of the thriller variety, you might even try to do a couple of these together. E.g., you might have the disturbance and the care package together, right there at the start. Let’s face it, the common bit with the girlfriend/wife/daughter missing/kidnapped/whatever right at the start brings in the disturbance and a hint of a care package. The hero may very well sneer and tell us they aren’t going to change, even as the phone rings and the villain laughs... yep, an argument and trouble brewing? And we’re only a few sentences in!
On the other hand, a novel may very well spread these out, adding in plenty of other material. Scene and sequel, action and reaction, side stories and minor characters... you don’t have to do it all on the first page.
So. At least as I see it, James is recommending these as structural members for your story, which you get to place within your story, along with the rest. Nowhere near a complete plot outline, but... that means you get to do it your way!
Whether you build it as an outline, and then write, or just dive in and write, looking up occasionally to see whether you've gone past the signs or not, these are useful pieces for you to incorporate.
Nice.
(No, this will not be included on the test. What test?)