Thinkin’ on Thursday: Picture This!

Easy as A, B, C . . . from BB

At times in the past, I have modeled characters’ looks, fashion sense, even personality on unknown models in magazines. I’ve even cut them out and then built characteristics for that person on the same page or on a 4×6 card. Or I’ve envisioned an old time actor (or a current one, for that matter) as my “hero,” “villain,” “sidekick,” or whomever.

I’m going to suggest another way to utilize pictures of unknowns from magazines or books to help your writing (and the above paragraph has some good ideas too: if you’ve never tried it, give it a go and see what you think). Look through a magazine or illustrated book, preferably one you haven’t read already, or an old one you’ve forgotten all about. Find a picture with at least two main “characters” on it. THINK of these two as major characters in a story you haven’t yet thought through.

Just allow them to begin interacting with each other. Don’t “plan” ahead (this will be a good one for all of us ‘pantsers’), because this is designed to give us practice in a more “organic” method of plot construction. Just start “recording” the story’s events and let them spin out in front of you. Pay attention to other props or objects that appear in the ad or picture. If there are other people in the picture, ignore them for the moment. See how or why the two might interact with the props, objects, bits of scenery, in the picture with them. Record items and events as faithfully as possible without thinking about the “rules” of story plot structure.

Once you’ve recorded the scene, note whether your characters interacted with or used any of the props, etc., given them by the picture. What did they do with items there? Twiddle nervously with papers on a desk? Pick up a coffee cup and look for a refill? Grab a hammer or bucket of paint, intending to use it as a weapon?

How did your characters interact with each other? Were they friends or strangers at the start? What relationship was forged during the scene: adversarial? Conciliatory? Pleading? Helpful? and so on.

Go ahead. This is just a writer’s PLAY ground. Have FUN in it ! ! !

(And, at the end, is there anything salvageable there? Can it be incorporated in your current WIP? Is it the beginning of a short story? An article? An editorial? A children’s book? Even a brand‑new novel?)

See you next for Saturday’s Spellbinder!

Tips on Tuesday: You Two Need to Break Up!

Easy as A, B, C . . . from BB

Ann Cannon, who writes for the Salt Lake Tribune, writes books, works at The King’s English Bookshop, and leads interesting workshops from time to time at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers (WIFYR) Writing Conference, had an excellent tip today (Monday, 6/16) in her afternoon session.

Her topic was “Reading Like a Writer: Learn to Hone Your Skills While Reading Works by Other Authors. She suggested “dating” a book for a short time — give it 30 pages. Then, if you’re not liking it, tell it “good-bye” totally without guilt!

Sometimes in the past I’d start reading a book and realize I didn’t care for it. But I had somehow drilled into my head that what I started must be finished. So, I couldn’t just read a different book. I’d dip back in to the undesirable tome, get disgusted with myself and it, put it on hold again . . . and sometimes go for weeks at a time not reading, because I hadn’t finished the one I was stuck in!

I’ve been waiting years for someone to give me that permission to cut my losses.

But Ann further suggested that then we study the why’s and wherefore’s after we abandon some book: Why did it not appeal to me? And did I ever make these same mistakes in my own writing? Wise suggestions. This way, when we “break up” with a book, we will stlll have learned something from the experience.

Thanks, Ann ! ! ! I’m free to read the next one, and the next . . . and the next . . . and . . .

See you next for Thinkin’ on Thursday!