Hello, writers. Just now I went for a walk to get myself into a writing frame of mind. When I was half a mile from home, it began to rain very hard. I’d been afraid that might happen. So instead of a writing frame of mind, I ended up in a soggy frame of mind, sloshing home throught the deluge.
We all probably have different things we do to get into a writing frame of mind. Walking’s been mine for years. I wasn’t able to walk much due to foot pain while I was working on Miss Ellicott’s School for the Magically Minded, and that made it much harder to write the thing.
What do you do to get into a writing mood?
There’s just one more Thursday to go before NaNoWriMo— who’s going for it? 50,000 words in November… or your own personal goal?
(Remember we’re also doing DaKoWriMo in January.)
Last night I watched the debate, which did not get me into a writing frame of mind at all. It made me tense and miserable, with an achy jaw from so much teeth-clenching. Anyway, even if you didn’t watch, you probably heard about teh Donald’s bizarre behavior. As usual, he said rude things and had blood coming out of his wherever, but he also had this great moment of villainy:
WALLACE: Your running mate, Governor Pence, pledged on Sunday that he and you — his words — “will absolutely accept the result of this election.” Today your daughter, Ivanka, said the same thing. I want to ask you here on the stage tonight: Do you make the same commitment that you will absolutely — sir, that you will absolutely accept the result of this election?
TRUMP: I will look at it at the time. I’m not looking at anything now. I’ll look at it at the time. ...We’ll find out on November 8th.
[snip]
WALLACE: But, sir, there is a tradition in this country — in fact, one of the prides of this country — is the peaceful transition of power and that no matter how hard-fought a campaign is, that at the end of the campaign that the loser concedes to the winner. ...Are you saying you’re not prepared now to commit to that principle?
TRUMP: What I’m saying is that I will tell you at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense. OK?
No. Not okay. But a very good illustration of what storytellers know about suspense.
First, the stakes are high. (Our 240 year old Democracy.) The possible consequences are terrible to contemplate. (See 1861-1865.)
Second, it’s very clear exactly what the audience doesn’t know. (Whether or not teh Donald is going to try to start a Civil War.)
Third, there’s a clear timeframe during which the axe is going to fall. (Evening of November 8th or soon thereafter.)
Remember youtuber star LonelyGirl15 talking about the mysterious ceremony in which she was to participate in a few days’ time? The internet went wild, thinking she was about to be sacrificed. (High stakes.) People weren’t exactly sure that was what was going to happen, but they feared it. (It was very clear what the audience didn’t know. And as the date of the ceremony grew closer, the internet freaked out more and more. (A clear timeframe.)
By contrast, my story above about getting caught in the rain isn’t suspenseful at all. While it was clear what I didn’t know (whether it would rain) and there was clear timeframe (during my walk) the stakes were just too low (soggy clothes).
Of course, teh Donald wasn’t speaking last night with a storyteller’s instincts but with a bully’s. Bullies plant their suspense firmly in reality. (“I’m going to beat up your democracy after school.”)
Tonight’s challenge:
Try out the three elements of suspense listed above.
A Callow Youth and his or her Stout Companion, stopping in to the Startled Duck because they’re frankly a bit thirsty after 6 ½ years of uninterrupted questing, hear some unsettling gossip from the bartender or another customer.
They hear about a threat.
The stakes are high. The timeframe is clear. And it’s very clear what information the Stout Companion and Callow Youth don’t have.
Try to limit yourself to 150 words.
Write On! will be a regular Thursday night diary (8 pm Eastern, 5 pm Pacific) until it isn’t.
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