Gather 'round…
Story Begins Here! Story Engineering Model (four-part story model): Part Two, the next ~25% of our story. Our second box is our response box. This is where the story truly begins. We're past the point of no return and we must plunge on. We've introduced our world, our hero and some other characters, we've alluded... Continue Reading →
Time to get things rolling... Story Engineering Model (four-part story model): First Plot Point, the turning point at the 25% mark of your story. The First Plot Point, the moment we've been working up to. But what have we been working up to? Here, we have a context shift, we go from setup mode into response mode.... Continue Reading →
OK... Nitty-gritty here we come... Story Engineering Model (four-part story model): Part One, the first ~25% of our story. Part One, or box number one, is our setup box. Our story has yet to be launched in earnest, and before it can do so, our readers must enter into our world. Part One is where our... Continue Reading →
To begin, we’ll take a broad look at the Story Engineering model Larry Brooks puts forth. Four parts, brilliantly named (wait for it…) Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part Four (you may applaud now), will form the main chunks of our story framework, The Four-Part Story Structure (yes, I’ll wait…). Once we’re seated... Continue Reading →
Well, maybe no plotting can be a fit for you if you're a die-hard pantser. But if you're like me, flying along on the wings of your whimsy, and you reach that terrifying point of realization that you're spinning your wheels, you'll probably find yourself searching out some advice of the plotting type - anything to help... Continue Reading →
I get ahead of myself sometimes. I'm sure you don't, but I do. I get excited, I get distracted, I get confused, and often I get out of my depth. I’m probably about to do all of those things spectacularly. I'm about to commence a series of posts about story structure, the holy grail of... Continue Reading →
I once thought that book reviews might be something fun for my blog. But then, as I explored a little deeper, it occurred to me what a slow reader I am. Seriously, shockingly slow. Not necessarily words-per-minute slow. More like pages-per-week slow. I enjoy reading. I do. But there is not enough time in life... Continue Reading →
So what is it about communication? Communicating an idea to another human being has the power to cement the idea in your own mind and heart; to really drive the thing home. This we know; it's not really up for debate. Depending on your learning style, this can be varying degrees of true, but in... Continue Reading →
There is no expedient to which man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking. ~ Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Josh has it right. It is amazing the things that we trick ourselves into out of sheer avoidance. Not necessarily consciously either; we are hardwired to turn to the easier task. It happens... Continue Reading →
What a wonder each day's sunrise! As soft rays of light peek over the trees, it is always as if for the first time. Dawn beckons with an invitation to begin anew, to see things in a fresh way. "Yesterday is past," it whispers; "you only have today and all its possibilities." Hope rises with... Continue Reading →
...Do not tell me you are a writer but have no time to write. I don’t have time for that (because I am writing)... Linda Lafferty on Finding Time to Write | WritersDigest.com. Ouch. Delivered to my inbox this afternoon was this article from Writer's Digest. Linda Lafferty is a busy woman. I daresay busier than... Continue Reading →
Again, Cast Light leaves me no choice but to reblog. What an excellent steward of the gift of words. Cast on…
“Sometimes I go about with pity for myself and all the while Great Winds are carrying me across the sky.” – Ojibway saying
On the days that don’t make sense, the ones that chip away at our core, rather our ego, we are being broken and remolded for something new. A slow releasing of what’s not important anymore, the arm wrestle of growth, a series of letting goes.
And in those moments of the mundane, we can let feelings and moods rise to the top and move through them to finish what’s been started. And in the midst of the dry days, the hollow is transforming into the hallowed. Faith holds our hand to the other side and gratitude shines the light of what is ours here and now.
Flowers bloom. The sun rises. Easter always comes.
Tales From the Nexus 