Tuesdays with Story

Tuesdays with Story
October 10, 2013

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach

Notes from 10/8/2013
We welcomed back a few members who had been absent for several meetings – Rebecca, Karen and Jack, welcome back!

Deb Kellerman’s “The Crossing Guard.” Carol liked the interaction between the girls, and Holly pointed out that the dialog was good, and they still sounded like kids. She loved the line about the “how could you possibly be so stupid stare.” We wondered, though, shouldn’t the reader get some more details on why, exactly, the girls are all worked up about this new crossing guard? We knew, because we had the explanation from the author before starting the story, but Krisitn said it’s best to firmly establish the conflict before the end of the first chapter.

Holly Bonnicksen-Jones read Chapter 2 of Coming Up for Air. Rebecca found the story exciting. Jack was concerned that Liza was being both angry and logical. At this point logic should probably wait. Deb thought the husband came off as a bit wishy-washy, and Carol agreed, thinking he needs a specific reason to tell Liza about the affair – and that reason isn’t to get her approval, it’s to tell her that he’s moving out. Jen felt that in the passages describing Liza’s emotions there was a bit too much telling and not enough showing of a physical response. We debated the use of the term “Honda Girl” as a derogatory label for the mistress, and felt there should be major heartstring pulls when the guy takes the dog with him. Ouch!

Kristin Oakley brought in Chapter 1 of God on Mayhem Street. Holly really liked the last paragraph, where Leo makes his decision what to do. She did have trouble with the flowers being tucked in the pocket, though – they’d get crushed. Deb liked the setting, really felt a part of it, and Rebecca wondered if Leo had ever actually considered what he would have to do in order to forgive his father. Jack struck down a few cliches in the cemetery and urged Kristin to use more cinemagraphic descriptions. Carol wanted the father’s anger ramped up a bit, too. Don’t let him ask questions (even angry ones). Turn those questions into cruel accusations instead. Ruth was concerned that Leo was dreading talking to his father, but then he simply shut down. He became passive, and we weren’t entirely sure why – if it was how he handled his father, maybe there’d be more tension regarding his lack of reaction?

Carol Hornung presented scene 10 of Ghost of Heffron College. Folks are getting antsy for some answers, but it’s only chapter five! Answers will start rolling in. Jack pointed out some early scene cliches, and Holly suggested that the first couple of paragraphs could easily be cut entirely. Start the scene sooner. Probably should have been more of a reaction from Kyle when Brandi suddenly appeared, and Jack felt there was an opportunity for humor as the ghost fades to nothing in a beam of sunlight. Still some uneasiness of the feminine name with the masculine character. Need to work on that (though in two more scenes you’ll get the source of the name!).

Other Odds and Ends
Kristin Oakley brought in a flyer for the UW Continuing Studies’ “Weekend With Your Novel” class. More details can be found here: http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/conferences/weekendwithyournovel/index.html

A GREAT article- thanks to Carol for this- source http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/pixars-22-rules-of-storytelling/

How to make people care about your charcters: 22 things to remember when writing
#1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
#2: You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different.
#3: Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
#4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
#5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free. ( I so agree)
#6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
#7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
#8: Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.
#9: When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.
#10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.
#11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.
#12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.
#13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.
#14: Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That’s the heart of it.
#15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.
#16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don’t succeed? Stack the odds against.
#17: No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on – it’ll come back around to be useful later.
#18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining.
#19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating.
#20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d’you rearrange them into what you DO like?
#21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can’t just write ‘cool’. What would make YOU act that way?
#22: What’s the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.

Coming Soon…
October 15: Lisa McDougal (chapter 4 rewrite, Tebow Family Secret), Bob Kralapp (???), Andy Pfeiffer (chapters 4, The Void), Pat Edwards (poems), Judith McNeil (chapter 6, My Mother, Savior of Men), and Betsy Draine (chapter 2, Twins: A Love Story). . . . *Note: First-and-third group returns to Barnes & Noble Westside.
October 22: Katelin Cummins (chapter, Battle of Sista). Holly Bonnicksen-Jones, Coming Up For Air; Ruth Imhoff, Motto of the Hound; Karen Zethmayr, pop-up book; Carol Hornung, Ghost of Heffron College; Jack Freiburger, ?
October 29: Lisa McDougal (chapter 7, Tebow Family Secret), Aaron Boehm (???), Millie Mader (chapter 48, Life on Hold), Ruth Imhoff (chapter, Motto of the Hound), Cindi Dykes (chapter 2, North Road), and Amber Boudreau (chapter 21, Noble).
November 5: Fifth Tuesday – really – at Mystery To Me Bookstore.