Introducing-- Spare Me!

I can't tell you how many pins I've seen that link to articles that will educate you on the finer points of killing your characters and making it affect your readers in style. Interestingly enough, there is a classic comparison for this principle found in the Anne of Green Gables books. (Unfortunately, I can't remember which book this scene comes from. Rae, maybe you can help me! :)) Anne and her friends have formed a story club and Montgomery actually makes fun of her own character. When Diana runs out of ideas for her characters, she kills them off, leaving all her stories in disarray. In short, Montgomery represented this principle as lazy writing and taking the easy way out. Nowadays, it's a stroke of genius to have the strength to kill your characters off. Well, I'm here to kill the cliche and spare your characters. Introducing my Spare Me series. I'm going to become the voice of your characters begging for their lives. ;D With this series I'll be illustrating other scenes that engage your emotions; as that seems to be the intent of death scenes in stories today. I'll be kicking it off this November as they are posts I can schedule while I'm participating in NaNoWriMo.
In the meantime...

What are some of your favorite emotional scenes that don't include death? 

Yours truly,
Cordy

P.S. One day, I will get around to doing a detailed post where I will rant about the killing in media today. Until then-- STOP IT!! :P

Writing 101: Eyes, Eye Contact



There, I made your day already, right? ;D

I have this thing for eyes. (Thing, really, Cordy? You're supposed to be a writer, giving advice even, and the best thing you can say is 'thing'. Well, this is going well.) *sigh* Okay, because of this obsession of mine, one of the first things I notice about a person will be their eyes. And I'm not talkin' eye color. In fact, I couldn't tell you the eye color of some of my friends and family. The color is rarely what I'm noticing.

Eyes are fascinating because they are, truly, the window into your soul. Your eyes will say 5,000 things before you can say a single word. Eyes will betray both your humor as well as your pain. One of the hardest parts of your body to control is your eyes and eye contact leaves you open and vulnerable.

Personally, I will not look you in the eye while I'm talking and that's for two reasons. One, if I'm looking you in the eye, I can't keep my train of thought because I'm assessing yours. I have a hard time listening to people when they talk and remembering stories they told me because if I was watching them, I will remember their emotions, not the story details. Two, I don't want you reading my eyes. That's the simple truth. In fact, most in-person conversations that take place between me and someone else will happen with little to no eye contact on my part.

Now, with those bits of information, I just want to sum up the moral of the post. Have eye contact in your stories. Instead of adding another bit of dialogue, think of what could be told in eye contact. What could be explained in that moment of studying silence? Find the vulnerability and reveal the fear and truth in your character by forcing them to make and keep eye contact. Sooo, just a random little something for you to keep in mind while you're weaving your tales.

Now, *claps hands together* for the dessert of the post...

I have a few examples of this principle for you.

Kit and Cinderella:

This scene is a marvelous example! Thank. You. Disney!
Kit and Cinderella have just met on the dance floor. After exchanged greetings, of sorts, they are just staring at one another. Kit begins to ask for a dance and is left speechless looking at the beauty before him. He fumbles but literally can't keep his eyes off her and therefore can't focus on his own request. (And who can blame him? Happiness is radiating off her like light from a mirror!) What's so excellent in the scene, besides the stuttering, is he's not looking at the stunning dress he's completely captivated by her eyes. It is a beautiful moment! Love!!

Another small example comes from another Disney film. (Would Cordy have a blog without Disney? Hmm.) Anyway, a small detail from Beauty and the Beast. After the Beast's transformation into Adam, Belle only recognizes him because of his eyes.

And lastly, Darcy first starts to admire Elizabeth because of her fine eyes. (And he notices when they are brightened by exercise.)

Cheerio!
Cordy

Storming Prompt: Oct 2016

Alright, in the rush that was creating this blog, I feel like I didn't do justice to my thoughts. And that, is an obnoxious feeling. So I'm here for round two, and hopefully I'll get around to redoing my introductory page as well. (Which I did!) Anyway, here goes a better explanation of what these prompts are meant to be.

When I was first considering writing seriously, I was intrigued by prompts. But in truth I would just read them through and move on. When I actually started to let my mind explore the thought for a minute I was actually taken off guard by what my mind could do with the prompt. Now, getting ideas from prompts is good writing exercise for me. I've even outlined some stories because of them. But that's not all. I love to see different opinions that branch off the same idea. So choosing these prompts each month and reading what entries come in will expand my own imagination. (And maybe even yours too.)

Now, I want to present a newish set of rules--

1. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A WRITER TO PARTICIPATE! 

2.View/Read/Listen to the prompt with a mind primed to explore the possibilities! 

3. You don't have to answer all of the questions I pose. They are there merely to aid your mind in taking imaginative flight. 

4. Share what ideas you gained in the comments. This could include a bit of dialogue, a general scene sketch, a plot problem, character names and place, or even the 'history' of a prompt. (But, if the idea you create happens to be so great, you might want to save it for a future date!)

5. Read and perhaps add to the other replies and answers submitted. (Recommended not required)

Well, after all that to do, I'll share the prompt now--

I'm not a huge Halloween girl, however, I did try and choose some kind of prompt that could go along with the slightly spooky feel that comes with October. (But then again, it can do something totally different as well!)

What's happened in this greenhouse? Is/was it a greenhouse? Is it known locally? Who previously owned it? Who owns it now? Where is it? Why is attention being drawn to it now?

Yours truly,

Cordy