Extras

Assorted blog posts covering early concepts, nonfiction articles, and more

Writing Status: Journal and S&P Revisions

by Cindy Rae

I’ve spent more time in my journal than anything else this month.  I’m just thankful to be writing something, and the journal has been valuable in a number of ways.

I’ve also tried a few self-assigned writing exercises, and I’m still eyeing the outline of S&P on my desk.  I’d like to get the calendar of events in the novel straightened out.

It’s been fun editing for the whole participle phrase thing.  Now, in addition to writing at least three more scenes, I’d like to expand my current dialogue with more action in light of this advice.

That’s probably enough work for the next month, although I’d love to fit in some scene overhauls and consider making some scenes more emotional with different word choices.

 

Essay Ideas #1

by Cindy Rae

Here are few very loose ideas for essays or stories down the road:

  1. Respect: earned versus always given.  

    For instance, should we not give respect to a person in our lives until they earn it, or should we give every person the respect due to them as a human being?  Do we give respect to those in authority because they are in authority or because of values?  Do those in authority have to earn it?

  2. Types of Prisons: of our own making versus prison cells of debilitating conditions, prison cells of mental distress, of hurt and fear, of anger and violence
  3. Conservative vs. conventional
  4. God, time, and the attempts by man to fit God into man’s notions of time
  5. Do you want to be a sheep?

Childhood Sun, Sea, and Wind

by Cindy Rae

Take either the short ferry from Port A. and drive down Mustang Island, or cross the Intracoastal Waterway from Corpus.  Take Park Road 22 south down Padre Island, passing by beachfront parks and condos and Bob Hall Pier.  Keep going until buildings disappear and sandy flat vegetation stretches out on either side.  Keep going as the road ribbons onward.  Keep going to the entrance to a little known national park, Padre Island National Seashore.

2016 Poker Run at Bird Island Basin

2016 Poker Run at Bird Island Basin

Pay your entrance fee, and keep a sharp watch out for the first turn westward, away from the Gulf and the pounding surf.  A short drive, a cluster of cars, then  you see colorful sails dancing like butterflies across the water.  The sailboard rigs fill the water as they skim, race, flutter, flip, and tip.

Welcome to one of the best windsurfing spots in the world: Bird Island Basin.

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Character Arcs and Story Structure

by Cindy Rae

In addition to writing, I’ve been doing more research into story structure.

The problem is, my story doesn’t quite fit the standard model, as each of the three character arcs is well-formed enough to have its own introduction-conflict-resolution — but not at the same points in the overall story.  I think I can strengthen each character’s arc to be more of a solid story, though.

As with all writing advice, I’m going to let it sink in and discard what doesn’t apply.

I also may have too many scenes that are too short.  I’ll be looking at scene structure over the next month.

 

 

by Cindy Rae

Why was she always such a dork in front of this man?
She went on.
“We were in the office. I was giggling with the other two office girls, typing away on a laptop. I was about to connect the special laptop when suddenly a manager came out of his office (it was a pocket office, not off the main corridor we had checked). We had no idea anyone else was left!”
“I had done a lot of giggling, explaining I had to fix the laptop before Monday.”
“The guy grabbed the special laptop to put it away. I looked at the time, saying I had to go, to come back the next day. My boyfriend (the same one I had chatted up with the girls about my mom not knowing about) was coming.”
“The guy was so suspicious. He found a bug on the edge of the keyboard. I was so wide-eyed and surprised.”
“I thought I wouldn’t make out, but Matt strolled right in and collected me. He was pretending to be the boyfriend.”
The elevator doors dinged.
“And where is he now?” he growled.