driftee has a short, comedic story posted here. All commentary appreciated.
--Driftee

Well guys, I know we've all been busy recently. I know I've been working on six different things at the same time. I think that, given the level of interest, we should put this off until people have more time.

While preparing for this, I got research from several books, and if you're interested working on it until we start again, let me recommend the following:

For breaking writers block and generating ideas - The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron
For learning process (how to write different types of fiction) - The Everything Creative Writing Book by Carol Whiteley
For just great writing - On Writing by Stephen King

If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, my door is always open. You can post it here, or send it to me directly. I won't be shutting down the blog.

Thanks guys.

wildlotus3 Also suggests Narcissism in the Text and Goal Motivation and Conflict by Debra Dixon

I'm out of town this week, and since we've only had a couple of assignments turned in, I figure you guys can use the extra time. I will have a new class for next week, but for this week, just use the time to get more assignments in. This is one of the most important things to learn. Once you can develop a story, you can write much faster.

-Brand

Working Title: Conversations Never Had.

(I am SO thinking of changing that, though).

Purpose: Mostly to broaden perspective, maybe to help people be less judgemental? And to tell a story; entertainment.

Size: Hopefully, nothing longer than a novella. I think a short story is too short, and a novel is much too long. Maybe 200 pages max.



Format: Not sure what is meant by "format" but I'd like to keep the style broad and a little vague: not heavy on adjectives, and somewhat conversational, so that it sounds like something someone might actually speak. I think it could be turned into a play with relative ease.

Audience: I really hate thinking who my audience is, because I think tuning work to specific people creates bias and cuts off potential readers. I use the Internet a lot, and realize that just about anyone could be reading your work: if they can't relate, they tend to go away. Anyway, if I had to gear this specifically, I think I'd end up writing to "average" people. By this, I mean people who've had at least a grade-nine education, get kinda peeved by huge words, and, generally anyone who has sat, bored, in a cafe more than once and looked at other people.

Characters: Right now, I can only think of two: the main character, and the ex-piano teacher.

Main Character: (aka: "MC" ) I'm not sure about gender, but I'm leaning toward male. I think having him female would seem too typical (people might think, "Oh, of course, only women would bother thinking about these things," or "I bet she only talked to him because of physical attraction.". But, again, I'm not certain.. MC will probably be in university (so, 20 years old?), or maybe even his graduating hear of highschool (because I have little idea what university is like). I think, if he is too old, it will seem he has nothing better to do with his free time than to talk to hobos, and it's too unlikely if he's in highschool.
MC will be somewhat artsy (he plays piano for a hobby, but realized he should stop unless he's serious....which he isn't). I think his biggest conflict is "growing up" or "deciding what to do with his life." He, sadly, realizes he'll need money when he grows up, but he's also interested in many things: music, martial arts, computers, some books, cars... He swims every Thursday, and is trying to be a life guard. He's like Captain Urban Youth in the Information Age. He wants to know more, but he also knows what stress is.
At school, MC has a few "buddies": people he talks to a lot, and he does stuff with them, but they're probably not quite "true friends." One or two of these people will probably mean more to him than others, and he'll talk to these two about "stuff" (more philosophical things), and the Piano Teacher.

Piano teacher: (aka: "PT" ) Artist. Artiste; he's passionate, or at least, he was. He will definitely be a man, in about his late 30s to mid-40s. If he's too young, he won't be as wise as I need him; if he's too old, he won't be as liberal/open-minded as I'd like him to be.
His story will mostly be about balancing Art and business. He was a performer, who taught piano a few days a week to keep steady money. Eventually, he got carried away with money. This probably happens after a great concert he puts on; and he slowly starts his decline. I wouldn't say it's greed, but he begins to forget why he became a performer: because he loves music.
Eventually, he winds up homeless. He wanders through the city, begging. Sometimes, he'll get enough money to rent an instrument, but few places trust him enough. When he can convince them, he busks on the street (but finds he makes less money that way). It drives him kinda crazy, this whole "money" issue. He decides to "make" only enough money to get a sandwich and soup at this nice-looking cafe. That's where he meets MC again.

Voice: First person. I really want to be able to show MC's inside-voice, but I don't want it to be full of thoughts. I'm not sure how to describe... I don't want every thought to be written: just enough that the reader gets an idea of what's happening, and can accurately guess what MC is thinking without writing: "I thought about the colour purple."

Plot: First Iteration

1. MC is grauduating this year, but he needs money for University. He gets an afterschool/weekend job at this cafe/doughnut shop not far from home.
2. As he works, he notices this hobo who always comes by. They talk, and MC feels this hobo is familiar, somehow. The hobo always seems to talk about money and passion. Eventually, MC asks the hobo's name, and is shocked to realize he was MC's piano teacher!
3. The two talk often: MC often gives Piano Teacher a discount on his soup. PT talks about just about everything. When MC wants to impress a girl, PT has his advice. When MC has an exam, PT tells him what he should study and how.
4. MC is graduating in one week; he has a prom date, enough money for University, excellent marks (well, excellent for him at least), admiration from his peers and teachers, and a great friend in PT. He wants to thank PT again, but PT doesn't show up. MC thinks it's strange, but shrugs. Three days pass; still no sign of PT. I'm not sure how, but MC discovers PT is dead.

Second Iteration:

Act I
a: It's about half-way through the school year, and MC is graduating. He wakes up with a grunt, gets dressed, goes to school.
b: During school, he reflects on the past year and how/why he got a job.

c: He goes to work afterschool.
d: He sees the hobo. MC reflects on how this hobo started showing up last month when it got cold, and thinks lowly of him.

Act II
a: MC fails a test. His family is going to upset when he gets home.
b: Hobo tells him how dishearted MC looks, while ordering soup. This leads to more conversation, and the hobo gives some vague advice. MC goes home a little less upset, and then ponders the mysterious hobo.
c: More conversation with the hobo.
d: The hobo is PT!

Act III
a: More talks with PT. MC gives discounts on his soup.
b: Lots more talking (girls, cars, music, test-taking, how to make good soup...).
c: MC is graduating next week, and he's so successful. ...PT is dead.
d: MC opts out of the prom, deciding instead on a long walk. He thinks about success: by all standards, he's bloody successful and the envy of everyone. But isn't this what ruined PT? MC contemplates more: "I should be successful so I can survive in this world. But success killed PT. Can I handle success and remain in control--not let it get to my head? But if I'm not successful, how can I feed myself? Can I live this 'full' life without plenty of dates, a high-paying job, plenty of pals...?"
e: Story ends in a contemplative mood...hopefully.

PS: Sorry it's so late! I haven't time at the moment to think through another story... But after I finish this Chem Lab prep, we'll see.