Day 16
Word count: 31,256 words
Word count goal: 32,000 words
Mapping the Hero’s Journey: Ordeal
Save The Cat: Bad Guys Close In
A master of circular logic, Ben was sure he could cure a broken heart. It included a revenge fantasy and never falling in love again, but Alice was so nice; she never got mad at his attempts to hurt her and over time, she only got more beautiful. Soon, he knew, she would break his heart.
Today’s scene is part of a sub-plot. I decided to do a reading of The Ordeal between two secondary characters. As you can see, it’s going to be one hell of a scene. 🙂
The Ordeal: The Devil- bondage, the key to your freedom is in your own hands
The lowest point for secondary character: Seven Swords- futility, hopelessness
The thing your secondary character will lose or thinks he loses during the ordeal: Magician upside-down- a lack of confidence or perhaps too much, under-skilled or inadequate in this situation, lacking the right tools and a workable plan to make it a success.
My interpretation: This reading couldn’t be more literal. My scene for today includes a man being tied up and questioned, most likely tortured. Thus, at his lowest point he will give in to the futility and hopelessness of his situation. He got himself into this mess by boasting and laying false claim, so his lesson learned is to stop taking credit for things that have nothing to do with him. He finally sees consequences for his actions.
from Writing for Self Discovery: A Personal Approach to Creative Writing by Myra Schneider and John Killick
Do you have particular expectations from relationships?
Do you feel the need for intimacy with a lot of people or only a few?
Do you enjoy spending periods of time on your own?
importune: v. to plead or beg for persistently
anticipated cleared counseled examined
increased monitored rendered structured
The PAD (poem-a-day) Chapbook Challenge from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides on Writer’s Digest. As the Chapbook manuscript requested for the challenge only includes 10-20 poems, it’s not too late to join in.
I like the prompt from yesterday: take the phrase “Stranger (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “Stranger Danger,” “Stranger Than Fiction,” or “Stranger Things.”
Such negative thoughts in my head
Make me not want to get out of bed.
Years of “No”s and “You can’t”s created a stranger inside.
A battle of wills for free will.
The hateful words spin like a drill,
A display of the strength of the stranger inside.
I don’t recognize that voice.
I would not have made that choice.
Sometimes I lose to the stranger inside.
I didn’t open that door.
Why is the stereo in the middle of the floor?
Wouldn’t I hear a stranger inside?
Why come at me with such rage?
The child didn’t unlock my cage.
You should have listened to the stranger inside.
Awesome Sentence Challenge
Inspired by Crafting Dynamic Dialogue: The Complete Guide to Speaking, Conversing, Arguing, and Thinking in Fiction (Creative Writing Essentials) by The editors of writer’s digest.
Create a dialogue exchange in which information is being revealed. Try adding an interruption to the scene so the most important information is delayed, perhaps even to another scene.
Sudden attack by antagonist!
Have your MC write his or her obituary. Then let him or her plan the funeral and memorial service.
This writing prompt came in the PNWA Newsletter. I’m going to try it, so I thought I would share.
Setting through your character’s perspective
Consider the room you’re sitting in right now. Take 5 minutes to describe that room from the point of view of someone who is blissfully happy. Now, take another 5 minutes and describe the room from the point of view of someone who is frustrated and angry. Notice how the descriptions are different?
Now, think of a setting in your book. How does your character feel while they’re there? Nervous? Relaxed? In a hurry? Take 10 minutes to describe that setting from the perspective of your character, taking into account their emotional state.
I finished Lunatics by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel. It was a zany adventure and a fun read. Two anti-heroes are thrown into one strange situation after another, leading to a series of international incidents and ending at the republican national convention as guests of Donald Trump, at the time, not a nominee. The book came out in 2012, so prescient? Possibly.
Happy Reading and Writing!
#NaNoWriMo Day 16: An Ordeal for Secondary Characters Day 16 Word count: 31,256 words Word count goal: 32,000 words Mapping the Hero’s Journey: Ordeal…
