Skip to main content

Write and Keep it simple

Below is one of my favorite quotes by J. Michael Straczynski. And to add to the quote EB White said, if there is a simple way and a complex way to say something, go with the simple. Decide for yourself.

"The more important the emotion is, the fewer words required to express it.
"Will you go out with me?
"I think I like you.
"I care for you.
"I love you.
"Marry me.
"Goodbye."

--writer J. Michael Straczynski

This morning I'm thinking about my new story. Yesterday was a good writing day. My characters Daisy, age 8, her adopted brother Jack, 5, her mother Lily, and old Frank Stutler are packed into Frank's 1985 Ford station wagon heading South to Florida. They're in snowy Beckley getting gas at a station near the Tamarack. Daisy wants to stop at the Tamarack but Lily has a reason to put miles quickly between herself and the small town in WV that they just left. Lily and Frank have no idea that Daisy has stowed away another passenger. Old Frank is unhappy as it is - he paid Lily to drive him to his FLorida home where he can hopefully die in peace in the sunshine, and the trip has become a nightmare with Daisy's endless chatter.
That's it for today folks. R has an appt in town and I'm the designated driver.
Be well. Stay warm and talk to you tomorrow. Blessings to you and yours.
Labels:

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 19, 2010 at 10:37 AM

    This is a great story, Barb. I love the premise and the story being told from the child's POV. Most of all, I can tell you are enjoying every sentence, every piece of dialogue, all the ups and downs a story needs to be something special.

    ReplyDelete
  2. B. WHITTINGTONFebruary 19, 2010 at 4:07 PM

    Thanks, Sher. I read over what I sent yesterday and of course in my grand excitement I didn't see the many mistakes, typos. Love you for being you and not pointing them out - yet. I'm in that newborn stage of creation. I do love the story.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Revolutionary New Diet...

Recently I went on a diet. Like most diets this one was scheduled around a major life event. My daughter's wedding. There would be no shopping for a mother-of-the-bride dress until the pounds came off. Typically I go on a diet on Monday and by Wednesday I've folded beneath the weight of a German chocolate cake. I've been hijacked by as little as a stale pink sugar wafer discovered in the dark recesses of the bread drawer. But this time things were going to be different. I could tell as I went to get the mail and discovered the first crocus of the season. Life was looking up. Even though an icy rain began to fall, my spirits weren't dampened. Not even when huge drops pelted me on the head and I had to dash inside. My latest plan would revolutionize dieting. If it worked for me it would work for the world. I smelled a book deal. I could see myself all made-over and liposuctioned sitting between Oprah and Dr. Oz. It was full speed ahead. Gone were those complex menus...
23 comments
Read more

Building a story vs building a house

My latest book! Dear Writer:  Writing a story is somewhat similar to building a house. Or not! Remember this: when we give a piece of our story to someone to read - we expect them to see the whole. It's like building a house and offering a single piece of lumber to another builder. “Here, see the house I'm building.” SOME CAN SEE IT AND SOME CAN’T. Here's the thing: MOST CAN'T. This step is as necessary to me as breathing.  I need to give you single boards as I create them. AND I expect you to be a visionary and say, “Why yes. I see.”   I need you to see how special the piece of lumber is that I'm using and to see that eventually I'll add more pieces to make the whole.  Choose people to read your work who like the kind of stories you write.  There are as many kinds of stories as there are houses to live in. If you give a brick ranch to someone who only appreciates a cape cod then he'll have a hard time fitting hims...
7 comments
Read more

MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE...

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 High School - Poca High School, Putnam County, WV What year was it? Fall 1960 - Spring 1963 What were your favorite bands, or singers? Sam Cook, Chubby Checker, Conway Twitty (It's only make believe), Johnny Rodriquez. Meatloaf. ELvis. What was your favorite outfit? Straight skirts, blouses, cardigans or jackets, little heels. Other Outfits? Jeans and a white Dr. Ben Casey shirt. What was up with your hair? Everything. I put peroxide on it. Lemon juice, thinking it needed to be lighter. I cut it, styled it, put it in a pony tail or a french twist. Hair was the most important thing in my life in high school. And hair spray, the stiffer the better. Who were your best friends? Patti Jones, Karen Mattox, and Susie Bailey all thru elem school. Then added on Donna Dailey, Sharon "Mouse" Hackett and Janice Wick and many others. Also Bonnie Kerwood who was older than me and lived near me so we hung out listening to records after schoo...
21 comments
Read more