Story Lab: Advise to Writers

On the website Advise to Writers, I looked at rules and tips from writers. One article I really liked is "22 Rules of Storytelling from Pixar." The first rule is "you admire a character for trying more than for their successes." I thought this is something helpful to use in my future writing. Rather than just focusing on the outcome of my character's attempts, I think it would be fun to look more on the characterization of my character through their actions. I also liked the seventh tip, which is "come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get your working up front." I think one of the hardest parts of writing for this class for me has been to come up with the ending. By focusing on that first before I write the rest of the story, I will save myself from having to try to figure out an ending based on what I've written. Rather, I will be writing a story for an ending I have already decided. Another tip I liked is rule number twelve, which is "discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th- get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself." When I am reading stories, I write down my ideas for writing them as my own. Many times when I choose to write about that story, I use the ideas I initially came up with. I should go back and revisit my ideas, coming up with new thoughts.

Pixar by Lucius Kwok

Comments

Week 11 Story: How Flower Stole Sunlight

Long ago, when only plants lived on earth, Redwoods were the only ones who had sunlight. All the other plants wanted sunlight too, but Redwoods were taller than everyone else. They stole the sunlight before it could reached any of the other plants. The other plants lived in darkness and fear but Redwoods refused to share sunlight with anyone else. The other plants decided to hold a council to discuss the growing worry they had about living in darkness. Meanwhile, Redwoods held their own council in the light. They set up guards to protect themselves from having other plants try to come take sunlight from them. But Flower had taken root near where the Redwoods were having their meeting before the guards set up. While the Redwoods had their meeting, a small bit of sunlight crept towards Flower. Flower hid a little bit of sunlight in its petals and slowly started moving back towards the other plants' meeting. Before Flower could escape, however, the Redwoods no...

Reading Notes: South African Folktales, Part B

In the story "Jackal, Dove, and Heron," Dove lives on top of a rock. Jackal asks Dove for one of her children, and she says no. Jackal says he will fly up if she does not give him one of her little ones. She throws one down, and Jackal returns day after day to take more of Dove's children. Heron sees that Dove is sad and asks her what is wrong. She tells Heron than she must give Jackal her children or else he will fly up and take them. Heron calls Dove foolish and tells her that Jackal cannot fly. When Jackal returns the next day and asks Dove to throw one of her little ones down to him, she tells him no and tells him that Heron has told her that Jackal cannot fly to take them. Jackal finds Heron at the water. Jackal asks Heron how he stands in different situations, and when Heron bends his neck down, Jackal hit him on the neck and broke it in the middle. This is why the Heron's neck is bent. This story is almost entirely written in dialogue, and each line of dialo...

Reading Notes: Adam and Eve, Part B

The stories "They Die a First Time" and "Suicide and the Salvation" take place after Adam and Eve have eaten the fruit in the garden and have been punished by God. Both stories are written from a third person perspective. In my story, I could write from one the character's perspectives. In the stories, it is difficult to understand what Adam and Eve are thinking when it comes to their actions; telling a story from their perspective would be give some insight into why they do what they do. Telling the story from God's perspective would also be interesting. Like the reader, God watches Adam and Eve, but telling the story from his point of view might make the audience feel closer to the story. There are many recurring themes throughout these two stories. The first that stood out to me was death. There are several instances in which Adam and Eve die, come close to dying, look like they are dying, or think they are dying. The fear of dying is also very preva...

Shea's Myth-Folk Blog

Search This Blog