Stories have a rhythm to them. They have their characters, usually the protagonist and the antagonist. They have their devices: repetition, foreshadow, metaphor. They have their climaxes and anti-climaxes. Depending on the type of story, the story might have a moral to it – think Aesop’s Fables – or it might cause a reader to understand a culture, a way of thought, a product, or a service. Yes, stories have a rhythm.
Communications
How to Have a Meeting with an Introvert
Anyone who knows me knows I can talk for hours about subjects that interest me. It’s hard to get me to be quiet. I’m the exact opposite when I’m in a situation where talking is mandatory, I have little knowledge, or I have little to no interest.
Remember the Writing Rules
In the past few weeks, I’ve stumbled upon articles that suggest a person forget the basic rules of writing, grammar, and punctuation. The authors suggest that a person should focus on voice at the expense of those rules. I can’t argue against the necessity of voice – it is important – but I can argue against forgetting the basic rules.
You Can’t Rush a Story
Today’s world hurtles at breakneck speed. I’m almost certain that other people thought the same thing in previous decades and centuries, but today’s world is different. Information is at one’s fingertips. People expect to gather information within seconds, not days.
Remove Yourself from the Equation
In Tron: Legacy, Sam asks his father what Quorra is doing when she allows herself to be captured by Clu and his henchman. Sam’s father responds that Quorra is removing herself from the equation. She puts aside her own desires and fears so that Sam and his father can escape.
How to Critique a Creative Person
As a creative person, I’ve received both good and bad criticism. At its worst, it kills the creative spirit. I know. I quit playing piano when I was fourteen because of negative criticism. At its best, it fosters creativity. It pushes the creative person to try something new, to explore different facets, to embrace the terror of the unknown. That criticism may be harsh at times, but it’s given in a spirit of good will. It isn’t given simply to be given.