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Exercise #577: Craft
Posted 7/4/14
Today’s exercise is the first in a set of three, presented by B Paul Dean.
This three-week journey presents another way to formulate a story. Some writers say there are only four kinds of stories: Milieu, Idea, Character, Event; the MICE quotient. Maybe so, maybe not, but all these contain a story idea, a fabric to hold the course through the most far reaching and violent plotting tacks.
The last journey began with a character. The story developed from that. Many good stories obtained from that journey, and it is a good way to start. But not the only way. In order to get more from this forum, it seems apt to try other ways to develop a story. Admittedly, the way of this journey may be better suited to longer stories than our usual subs, but it seems helpful to become fluent in more than one method of approach.
Journey, step 1:
Preliminary work:
First, begin with an idea. Writers seem to reflexively find situations that spark the thought, "That would make a good story." Or perhaps you've had one all along you wanted to write. So get your idea humming. Take up your axe and whittle it into possibilities, then write some paragraphs to coalesce the basics of that wonderful, gestating story. Your story will need one or more character(s). Don't bother now with names, ages, gender. Just X, Y, Z them.
Second, decide where and when your story will unfold. Give it a place, and time.
Now begin your sub: Sharpen and fill out your idea. Then explain your idea to us and tell us why you think it will make a good story. Why did you choose the place, and time for your story? Remember, it's all in the formative stage, so you're not locked in for later parts of the journey.
Critiquers, along with the usual technical critique, you might answer these questions:
* Was this piece helpful to you as a writer?
* Why or why not?
Word limit: None
Please use the subject line
SUB: Exercise #577/yourname
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