Ian Dawson's Blog, page 4
March 20, 2025
Writing Tip of the Week: What’s Your Writing Schedule?
It’s that pesky thing that plagues writers when they’re starting out: finding the time to write. It can be a challenge to balance writing time with work, school, kids, family obligations, sleep, grocery shopping, and a myriad other things that occupy our days, weeks, and months. If you’re serious about getting your ideas down on paper, there’s always a way to make it happen.
Downtime Can Be Writing Time
Like most people, I enjoy binge-watching shows or movies and letting my brain turn off after a long week of work, coworker drama, and traffic. However, within this timeframe, you can find an hour or two to nurture your own creativity.
I’m often amazed at how much time I can spend watching YouTube clips and how many words I can write when I take the same time period and do something creative.
Should I Write Every Day?
If you can write every day, you should make the effort, but if you are busy and only have weekends to sit down and write, that’s fine, too. It is essential to find some time in your week to work on your creativity and the writing process, even if it is one or two days a week.
Currently, I mainly work on my writing projects on Saturdays and write as long as I can until I go cross-eyed and need to take a break. I’ve found that Saturdays and during a specific period during that day (7 pm to 3 am) are the ideal conditions for me to be at my creative best and remain focused.
What About Goals?
Should you use time, word count, or page count as a metric for your writing sessions? I suggest carving out time each day or each week to write at the start. That gives you a set allotment of time, but there’s no pressure to hit a word or page count.
As you fall into a routine, you can challenge yourself by adding a word count or page count goal and seeing how fast you hit that during your writing sessions. Can you raise the count and get more done as the weeks progress? If you can, give yourself the challenge to get more done. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish once you’re in the zone.
Because I’m a little crazy, I set a weekly goal of 10,000 words, which I can usually accomplish in my Saturday session. If I need to stretch my goal out, I have six other days to squeeze in time to get to that goal. The key is to meet or exceed the goal as often as possible so it becomes habitual.
Final Thoughts
Setting aside time and crafting attainable writing goals that can be increased and modified to challenge yourself continually is an excellent way to finish your writing projects. Take the time to see what schedule works best for you, then sit down and see how creative and productive you can be.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
Downtime Can Be Writing Time
Like most people, I enjoy binge-watching shows or movies and letting my brain turn off after a long week of work, coworker drama, and traffic. However, within this timeframe, you can find an hour or two to nurture your own creativity.
I’m often amazed at how much time I can spend watching YouTube clips and how many words I can write when I take the same time period and do something creative.
Should I Write Every Day?
If you can write every day, you should make the effort, but if you are busy and only have weekends to sit down and write, that’s fine, too. It is essential to find some time in your week to work on your creativity and the writing process, even if it is one or two days a week.
Currently, I mainly work on my writing projects on Saturdays and write as long as I can until I go cross-eyed and need to take a break. I’ve found that Saturdays and during a specific period during that day (7 pm to 3 am) are the ideal conditions for me to be at my creative best and remain focused.
What About Goals?
Should you use time, word count, or page count as a metric for your writing sessions? I suggest carving out time each day or each week to write at the start. That gives you a set allotment of time, but there’s no pressure to hit a word or page count.
As you fall into a routine, you can challenge yourself by adding a word count or page count goal and seeing how fast you hit that during your writing sessions. Can you raise the count and get more done as the weeks progress? If you can, give yourself the challenge to get more done. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish once you’re in the zone.
Because I’m a little crazy, I set a weekly goal of 10,000 words, which I can usually accomplish in my Saturday session. If I need to stretch my goal out, I have six other days to squeeze in time to get to that goal. The key is to meet or exceed the goal as often as possible so it becomes habitual.
Final Thoughts
Setting aside time and crafting attainable writing goals that can be increased and modified to challenge yourself continually is an excellent way to finish your writing projects. Take the time to see what schedule works best for you, then sit down and see how creative and productive you can be.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!
February 18, 2025
Reading Tip of the Week: Why I Love Non-Fiction Books
In 2025, we are bombarded by information and news 24/7. From social media to news sites, the barrage of stories, facts, opinions, and opinions disguised as facts can drive anyone crazy in the modern age of overstimulation. If you’ve ever seen a topic that interests you but are unsure if what you’re reading is truth or someone’s version of the truth, non-fiction books may be what you need to explore the topic that’s piqued your curiosity.
I love non-fiction books because I can dive into the nuts and bolts of a topic and truly understand what’s going on. All too often, a social media post or article may only scratch the surface of an issue, and what’s being stated could be incorrect or lack credibility. With non-fiction books, you can gain a solid grasp of the topic and a thorough understanding of what’s being discussed.
This doesn’t mean you don’t have to be aware of the author’s bias, but in a long-form space like a book you can utilize your critical thinking skills to determine whether the author is giving you the information straight, or if they have a particular leaning that attempts to sway you to one side or the other on a specific topic. These biased non-fiction books are pretty easy to spot these days, but it’s always good to go into a non-fiction book with your critical thinking cap on just in case.
If there is a topic you see a story or post about online that interests you, see if there’s a book that will expand your understanding and knowledge about it. If that book increases your interest, the bibliography at the back will lead you toward more books that will help you understand the topic even more.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
I love non-fiction books because I can dive into the nuts and bolts of a topic and truly understand what’s going on. All too often, a social media post or article may only scratch the surface of an issue, and what’s being stated could be incorrect or lack credibility. With non-fiction books, you can gain a solid grasp of the topic and a thorough understanding of what’s being discussed.
This doesn’t mean you don’t have to be aware of the author’s bias, but in a long-form space like a book you can utilize your critical thinking skills to determine whether the author is giving you the information straight, or if they have a particular leaning that attempts to sway you to one side or the other on a specific topic. These biased non-fiction books are pretty easy to spot these days, but it’s always good to go into a non-fiction book with your critical thinking cap on just in case.
If there is a topic you see a story or post about online that interests you, see if there’s a book that will expand your understanding and knowledge about it. If that book increases your interest, the bibliography at the back will lead you toward more books that will help you understand the topic even more.
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
February 13, 2025
Reading Tip of the Week: Why I Love Fiction Books
The practice of telling stories has existed for thousands of years. People are drawn to myths, legends, and other tales that evoke themes and messages best captured through a fictional narrative. While there is always a grain of truth and reality in all fiction, the writer's and reader's imagination can make words on the page come alive in amazing and awe-inspiring ways.
Even with millions of books in existence, we never tire of reading fiction, discovering new stories and authors, and learning about humanity through the fictional characters on the page. There’s something truly magical about opening a book and being transported to another place, being drawn into the world on the page, and staying up late to finish one chapter only to be left on a cliffhanger and have to read just one more.
That’s why I love fiction books. Sure, there may be those who aren’t interested in reading these days, but I believe a great book is just as exciting and captivating as any film or TV series.
If you’ve fallen out of love with reading, I encourage you to pick up a book by an author you may know or a genre that interests you and rekindle your interest in the written word. Finding a book or author that grabs you may take a few tries, but once you find something that clicks, you’ll be a book reader for life!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Even with millions of books in existence, we never tire of reading fiction, discovering new stories and authors, and learning about humanity through the fictional characters on the page. There’s something truly magical about opening a book and being transported to another place, being drawn into the world on the page, and staying up late to finish one chapter only to be left on a cliffhanger and have to read just one more.
That’s why I love fiction books. Sure, there may be those who aren’t interested in reading these days, but I believe a great book is just as exciting and captivating as any film or TV series.
If you’ve fallen out of love with reading, I encourage you to pick up a book by an author you may know or a genre that interests you and rekindle your interest in the written word. Finding a book or author that grabs you may take a few tries, but once you find something that clicks, you’ll be a book reader for life!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
January 23, 2025
Writing Exercise of the Week: Fun in the Public Domain
In my last post, I discussed media in the public domain and how it can inspire new ideas without the fear of dealing with copyright-protected media. Today, I present three writing exercises you can do as you explore public domain properties.
While you can easily do these with other media, if you use public domain works and are inspired to take your creative journey further, you won’t have to deal with any legal headaches in the future.
You can use this public domain site as a launching point:
https://publicdomainreview.org/
Let’s jump in!
Exercise #1 – A Free Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
Find a public domain photo, painting, or sign and write a 1,000-word story about it. You can either write a fictional story based on what’s in the photo, painting, or sign or write about why the piece grabbed your attention and what you might be able to use it for in a future project.
Exercise #2 – For the Love of Reading
Find a book in the public domain and read through it, noting any ideas, plot points, character moments, or story concepts that interest you. Jot down what you find and list what types of future stories these elements could be used in.
Take a few of the ideas and brainstorm a short story (let’s stick with the 1,000-word model). How can you enhance or transform these ideas into something unique but inspired by the original text?
Hundreds of public domain fiction and nonfiction books are worth a look and are excellent resources for mining ideas!
Exercise #3 – A World of Audio Awaits!
Explore public domain audio and find a song, speech, poem, or other audio clip that grabs your attention. Is there a quote you heard that you liked? Maybe it was the speaker’s cadence or personality that grabbed you.
Use that element as a springboard to write a 1,000-word short story.
Final Thoughts
The possibilities of what public domain media will inspire one of your future writing projects are endless. Explore and find photos, books, audio, and more that might give you your next big idea!
Happy Writing and Exploring, and I’ll see you next time!
While you can easily do these with other media, if you use public domain works and are inspired to take your creative journey further, you won’t have to deal with any legal headaches in the future.
You can use this public domain site as a launching point:
https://publicdomainreview.org/
Let’s jump in!
Exercise #1 – A Free Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
Find a public domain photo, painting, or sign and write a 1,000-word story about it. You can either write a fictional story based on what’s in the photo, painting, or sign or write about why the piece grabbed your attention and what you might be able to use it for in a future project.
Exercise #2 – For the Love of Reading
Find a book in the public domain and read through it, noting any ideas, plot points, character moments, or story concepts that interest you. Jot down what you find and list what types of future stories these elements could be used in.
Take a few of the ideas and brainstorm a short story (let’s stick with the 1,000-word model). How can you enhance or transform these ideas into something unique but inspired by the original text?
Hundreds of public domain fiction and nonfiction books are worth a look and are excellent resources for mining ideas!
Exercise #3 – A World of Audio Awaits!
Explore public domain audio and find a song, speech, poem, or other audio clip that grabs your attention. Is there a quote you heard that you liked? Maybe it was the speaker’s cadence or personality that grabbed you.
Use that element as a springboard to write a 1,000-word short story.
Final Thoughts
The possibilities of what public domain media will inspire one of your future writing projects are endless. Explore and find photos, books, audio, and more that might give you your next big idea!
Happy Writing and Exploring, and I’ll see you next time!
January 21, 2025
Writing Tip of the Week: Exploring Public Domain Media
It’s the start of a new year, so it’s time for a fresh crop of books, plays, short stories, images, audio, and films to enter the public domain. Why is this important? It means there are hundreds of ideas available to adapt and bring new life to if you’re looking for an interesting story or concept that already exists.
Maybe you’re looking for a story to adapt for your next screenplay or short film. Perhaps you’re a novelist who wants to experiment with a new genre or story structure. You might find an image that generates ideas for a new story. Or, maybe you’re interested in finding plot elements that have been used before but want to find a unique way to use them for a new story.
This public domain catalog is a fun place to start.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you find something that piques your creative interest:
Check the Date
Copyrights lapse on different versions and editions of books, short stories, and films, but a later version might be under copyright protection. To protect yourself, ensure your version is still in the public domain.
What Version is Under Public Domain?
Winnie the Pooh, Popeye, and Mickey Mouse have fallen into the public domain over the last few years, but if you plan to use them, you must know what version of each character is now in the public domain.
There are specific designs of these characters that are free for you to use, so you must do your homework so you aren’t met with a cease-and-desist letter when your work is out to the world.
Inspiration for the Imagination
You may find a book in the public domain with a compelling premise or several compelling plot elements that inspire you to write a different story using these elements. That’s great, too, and shows how you can use these public domain properties as a springboard for your creative endeavors.
The same could happen with a drawing, painting, or photo in the public domain that inspires a new story idea based on the events in the image.
Final Thoughts
The public domain is a vast wonderland of media that can be overwhelming but can also spark creative ideas that empower you as you develop your next story idea. Have fun exploring this vast archive and see what inspires you!
Happy Exploring, and I’ll see you next time!
Maybe you’re looking for a story to adapt for your next screenplay or short film. Perhaps you’re a novelist who wants to experiment with a new genre or story structure. You might find an image that generates ideas for a new story. Or, maybe you’re interested in finding plot elements that have been used before but want to find a unique way to use them for a new story.
This public domain catalog is a fun place to start.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you find something that piques your creative interest:
Check the Date
Copyrights lapse on different versions and editions of books, short stories, and films, but a later version might be under copyright protection. To protect yourself, ensure your version is still in the public domain.
What Version is Under Public Domain?
Winnie the Pooh, Popeye, and Mickey Mouse have fallen into the public domain over the last few years, but if you plan to use them, you must know what version of each character is now in the public domain.
There are specific designs of these characters that are free for you to use, so you must do your homework so you aren’t met with a cease-and-desist letter when your work is out to the world.
Inspiration for the Imagination
You may find a book in the public domain with a compelling premise or several compelling plot elements that inspire you to write a different story using these elements. That’s great, too, and shows how you can use these public domain properties as a springboard for your creative endeavors.
The same could happen with a drawing, painting, or photo in the public domain that inspires a new story idea based on the events in the image.
Final Thoughts
The public domain is a vast wonderland of media that can be overwhelming but can also spark creative ideas that empower you as you develop your next story idea. Have fun exploring this vast archive and see what inspires you!
Happy Exploring, and I’ll see you next time!
December 28, 2024
Five Ways to Set Writing Goals for 2025
We’re in the final days of 2024, and if you haven’t thought about your writing or creative goals for 2025, now would be a good time. It’s essential to establish a few goals as we enter the new year so you can plan how to achieve them before the end of the upcoming year.
Let’s talk about it!
#1 - Set Achievable Goals
This seems logical, but it’s easy to get carried away and overreach with your goals at the start of the year. Much like the classic New Year’s Resolution, if you aim too high, you could grow frustrated and stop working toward your chosen goal if it’s too large.
If you’ve never written a novel before and want that to be your primary goal this coming year, that’s great. That’s an achievable goal. Then, once you know the steps and how to achieve writing one novel, you can add more goals the following year. The key is not to overwhelm yourself or self-sabotage before the goal starts.
#2 - What’s Your Schedule?
Along with setting achievable goals, it’s important to look at your schedule to see how much time you have to work toward your writing goals.
Be honest with yourself: How much time do you actually have to get things done?
Assess your schedule and see where you can fit writing time during the week. Plenty of hours are available to all of us, most of which are spent on our phones, binge-watching shows, or wasting time in other ways. Using these wasted hours and turning them into productive time to create can help you move toward your goals.
Can you swap out watching an hour of TV for working on your writing? Yes, you can.
If you have the drive to do it, you’ll find the time to make it happen.
#3 - Break It All Down
Planning out smaller tasks and aspects of the project that add up to a larger goal can help you stay focused and reduce stress. All projects have dozens of components that must be completed before the finished product is achieved.
When you sit down to plan, think about the varied tasks you can work on daily or weekly to help you move forward with the project and complete it by the end of the year. Having a big goal is excellent; smaller goals over time are the best way to reach it.
#4 - Set Milestones
Give yourself deadlines to reach specific project milestones. By breaking the work into manageable chunks, you can see where you’ll be in the project three, six, or nine months in advance.
Could you complete your novel's outline in three months, a first draft by the six-month mark, and a polished draft within nine months? Absolutely. These are achievable goals, but you need to plan out how you will reach these milestones.
It’s also important to reward yourself when each milestone is completed. Even if it’s something small, it’s nice to incentivize yourself to get things done.
#5 - Enjoy the Process
It’s easy to look at all the completed novels and screenplays and get intimidated, but remember that all these writers started where you are right now.
Completing a writing project is a great feeling, but you must train yourself to enjoy the writing and creative process to keep that momentum going to get you to the finished work. This will ensure you are motivated to attack your projects and goals each day and that your milestones and writing objectives are completed.
Happy Goal-setting, and I’ll see you next time!
Let’s talk about it!
#1 - Set Achievable Goals
This seems logical, but it’s easy to get carried away and overreach with your goals at the start of the year. Much like the classic New Year’s Resolution, if you aim too high, you could grow frustrated and stop working toward your chosen goal if it’s too large.
If you’ve never written a novel before and want that to be your primary goal this coming year, that’s great. That’s an achievable goal. Then, once you know the steps and how to achieve writing one novel, you can add more goals the following year. The key is not to overwhelm yourself or self-sabotage before the goal starts.
#2 - What’s Your Schedule?
Along with setting achievable goals, it’s important to look at your schedule to see how much time you have to work toward your writing goals.
Be honest with yourself: How much time do you actually have to get things done?
Assess your schedule and see where you can fit writing time during the week. Plenty of hours are available to all of us, most of which are spent on our phones, binge-watching shows, or wasting time in other ways. Using these wasted hours and turning them into productive time to create can help you move toward your goals.
Can you swap out watching an hour of TV for working on your writing? Yes, you can.
If you have the drive to do it, you’ll find the time to make it happen.
#3 - Break It All Down
Planning out smaller tasks and aspects of the project that add up to a larger goal can help you stay focused and reduce stress. All projects have dozens of components that must be completed before the finished product is achieved.
When you sit down to plan, think about the varied tasks you can work on daily or weekly to help you move forward with the project and complete it by the end of the year. Having a big goal is excellent; smaller goals over time are the best way to reach it.
#4 - Set Milestones
Give yourself deadlines to reach specific project milestones. By breaking the work into manageable chunks, you can see where you’ll be in the project three, six, or nine months in advance.
Could you complete your novel's outline in three months, a first draft by the six-month mark, and a polished draft within nine months? Absolutely. These are achievable goals, but you need to plan out how you will reach these milestones.
It’s also important to reward yourself when each milestone is completed. Even if it’s something small, it’s nice to incentivize yourself to get things done.
#5 - Enjoy the Process
It’s easy to look at all the completed novels and screenplays and get intimidated, but remember that all these writers started where you are right now.
Completing a writing project is a great feeling, but you must train yourself to enjoy the writing and creative process to keep that momentum going to get you to the finished work. This will ensure you are motivated to attack your projects and goals each day and that your milestones and writing objectives are completed.
Happy Goal-setting, and I’ll see you next time!
December 23, 2024
Home Alone Plot Structure – Part Three
We have arrived at the final act of Home Alone. Act Three of any story is the shortest since the story is wrapping up, and the plot should arrive at a resolution.
In the last post, we left Kevin being surprised by Harry and Marv as he opened the basement door at his neighbor’s house.
Is it curtains for Kevin?
HOME ALONE - ACT THREE
An enraged Harry and Marv finally catch the devious 8-year-old who caused them so much trouble throughout the evening. The battle-scarred duo tells Kevin their plans to do to him what his traps did to them.
Unknown to them, their plans will never happen.
We’re entering what’s known as…
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
At 1:30:18, Marley arrives and knocks Marv and Harry unconscious with his snow shovel, then picks Kevin up and takes him home.
But wait. Isn’t the story's hero supposed to save the day and defeat the bad guys? Yes. Kevin wins the day since he has already called the police before escaping his house and running to the Murphy’s. It was lucky for Kevin that Marley arrived, but the cops would’ve shown up anyway and arrested Harry and Marv, which means Kevin’s actions resolved the story.
We watch from Kevin’s point of view as the Wet Bandits—spelled W-A-T by Marv – are arrested and driven away by the cops.
Now, there’s one more story thread to tie up, which brings us to the…
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
At 1:35:51, Kevin and his mom resolve their previous conflict and hug it out. Then, the rest of the family arrives home and is amazed by Kevin’s ability to survive independently. We get a nice emotional moment when Marley reunites with his family before Buzz yells, “Kevin! What did you do to my room?” and the movie ends.
It’s a tidy finale for all the chaos that’s transpired, and I’ve always wondered how long it took Kevin to clean and repair all the damage to the house.
Final Thoughts
As writers, it’s important to remember the importance of plot and plot elements that help keep the story moving and create conflict and drama for your hero. Kevin definitely drives the action in Home Alone, and his antagonists, Harry and Marv, get what they deserve by the story’s end.
What did you come up with for your plot elements for Home Alone? Were they similar to mine or different? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you next time!
In the last post, we left Kevin being surprised by Harry and Marv as he opened the basement door at his neighbor’s house.
Is it curtains for Kevin?
HOME ALONE - ACT THREE
An enraged Harry and Marv finally catch the devious 8-year-old who caused them so much trouble throughout the evening. The battle-scarred duo tells Kevin their plans to do to him what his traps did to them.
Unknown to them, their plans will never happen.
We’re entering what’s known as…
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
At 1:30:18, Marley arrives and knocks Marv and Harry unconscious with his snow shovel, then picks Kevin up and takes him home.
But wait. Isn’t the story's hero supposed to save the day and defeat the bad guys? Yes. Kevin wins the day since he has already called the police before escaping his house and running to the Murphy’s. It was lucky for Kevin that Marley arrived, but the cops would’ve shown up anyway and arrested Harry and Marv, which means Kevin’s actions resolved the story.
We watch from Kevin’s point of view as the Wet Bandits—spelled W-A-T by Marv – are arrested and driven away by the cops.
Now, there’s one more story thread to tie up, which brings us to the…
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
At 1:35:51, Kevin and his mom resolve their previous conflict and hug it out. Then, the rest of the family arrives home and is amazed by Kevin’s ability to survive independently. We get a nice emotional moment when Marley reunites with his family before Buzz yells, “Kevin! What did you do to my room?” and the movie ends.
It’s a tidy finale for all the chaos that’s transpired, and I’ve always wondered how long it took Kevin to clean and repair all the damage to the house.
Final Thoughts
As writers, it’s important to remember the importance of plot and plot elements that help keep the story moving and create conflict and drama for your hero. Kevin definitely drives the action in Home Alone, and his antagonists, Harry and Marv, get what they deserve by the story’s end.
What did you come up with for your plot elements for Home Alone? Were they similar to mine or different? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.
Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you next time!
December 13, 2024
Writing Exercise of the Week: Watch Home Alone
In my last post, we discussed the plot elements of crafting a compelling story. These included utilizing the traditional three-act structure and its components to ensure the plot and main character are active and moving toward their intended goal.
The Assignment
I want you to watch Home Alone and see if you can identify the following plot elements as they happen involving Kevin:
ACT ONE
Inciting Incident: “a single event that either happens directly to the protagonist or is caused by the protagonist” (McKee 190).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 1: “the arrival of some event or dramatic reversal that creates a moment of shock for the Hero and drops the curtain on the first act – while immediately raising is again on the second act” (Edson 118).
ACT TWO
Mid-Point Sequence: “The Hero reaches a Point of No Return beyond which turning back is no longer an option…Conflict with the Adversary becomes deeply personal…A ‘ticking clock’ time limit is set in motion…An unmasking takes place, literally or figuratively, and an inner truth gets revealed” (Edson 219-220).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 2: “comes out of the blue and changes everything. It signals the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three…frequently the primary additional punch of Stunning Surprise #2 is that it completely destroys the Hero’s plan for victory and announces that sweeping improvisation will now be required for the Hero to have any chance of besting the Adversary” (Edson 129).
ACT THREE
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
Grab a piece of paper, and as you watch, list what you feel best fits each plot element. Remember: only Kevin’s actions and the plot elements related to him matter in this exercise since he is the main character.
Next Time…
In my next series of posts, we’ll explore these elements as they relate to Home Alone and see if what you picked is the same as what I chose.
Happy Viewing, and I’ll see you next time!
Sources:
Edson, Eric. The Story Solution. Michael Wiese Productions, 2011.
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
The Assignment
I want you to watch Home Alone and see if you can identify the following plot elements as they happen involving Kevin:
ACT ONE
Inciting Incident: “a single event that either happens directly to the protagonist or is caused by the protagonist” (McKee 190).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 1: “the arrival of some event or dramatic reversal that creates a moment of shock for the Hero and drops the curtain on the first act – while immediately raising is again on the second act” (Edson 118).
ACT TWO
Mid-Point Sequence: “The Hero reaches a Point of No Return beyond which turning back is no longer an option…Conflict with the Adversary becomes deeply personal…A ‘ticking clock’ time limit is set in motion…An unmasking takes place, literally or figuratively, and an inner truth gets revealed” (Edson 219-220).
Plot Point/Stunning Surprise 2: “comes out of the blue and changes everything. It signals the end of Act Two and the beginning of Act Three…frequently the primary additional punch of Stunning Surprise #2 is that it completely destroys the Hero’s plan for victory and announces that sweeping improvisation will now be required for the Hero to have any chance of besting the Adversary” (Edson 129).
ACT THREE
Climax/Obligatory Scene: “third-act final showdown between Hero and Adversary that resolves the main plot question once and for all” (Edson 137).
Denouement: “wraps up the plot loose ends and relationships” (Edson 137).
Grab a piece of paper, and as you watch, list what you feel best fits each plot element. Remember: only Kevin’s actions and the plot elements related to him matter in this exercise since he is the main character.
Next Time…
In my next series of posts, we’ll explore these elements as they relate to Home Alone and see if what you picked is the same as what I chose.
Happy Viewing, and I’ll see you next time!
Sources:
Edson, Eric. The Story Solution. Michael Wiese Productions, 2011.
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
December 9, 2024
Writing Tip of the Week: What is Story?
Every day, we are surrounded by fiction and non-fiction stories. They are part of the human experience and have the power to shape who we are as individuals and alter the views of the masses. Stories are how we communicate good and bad information and channel empathy, sympathy, and connection with others.
We seem to know and understand what a story is from childhood, and our hunger for story only grows over time. Often, we go from being told stories to being the storyteller, which harkens back to ancient cultures and communities.
But what exactly defines a story, and how does it differ from the concept of plot?
Story Defined
Think of a story as a completed puzzle. There are hundreds of pieces involved that interlock to create a finished picture, and a story is similar in design. As John Truby writes, “a story is made of subsystems like the characters, the plot, the revelations sequence, the story world, the moral argument,” and many other elements to complete the full picture of a story (Truby 9).
Most stories have a singular focus, concentrating on the action of a main character for the majority of the story, which is “expecting a useful reaction from [their] world, but instead the effect of [their] action is to provoke forces of antagonism. The world of the character reacts differently than expected, more powerfully than expected, or both” (McKee 144-145). Having this focal character in a story helps the audience identify and connect with them so they have someone to keep track of as the story unfolds. They are the audience’s proxy within the world of the story.
So, a story provides us with the entire roadmap of events that will unfold on our hero’s journey. It comprises many events and elements that combine to create a complete narrative for an audience to follow and connect with. These elements weave around each other, giving the story more depth, meaning, and conflict.
Story Design
A story has structure. Simply put, a story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
When you tell a story about something that happened to you, it follows these basic principles. A fictional story should as well; our brains expect and even crave this type of uniform structure when it comes to storytelling. It’s one of the reasons why some people get upset when a story ends on a cliffhanger and nothing is resolved.
Robert McKee states, “A story is a design in five parts: The Inciting Incident, the first major event of the telling, is the primary cause for all that follows, putting into motion the other four elements – Progressive Complications, Crisis, Climax, Resolution” (McKee 181). We crave these elements and even subconsciously expect them to exist in whatever story we’re being told. We’ve all either been told a story or seen a movie where nothing seems to happen, which frustrates us. That’s because we are conditioned to need these story elements to enjoy the story we are seeing or hearing.
Western storytelling employs the traditional Three-Act Structure, which I’ll explain in an upcoming post. This structure encapsulates all the conventional elements that audiences expect.
Stories & Communication
Stories have a purpose. They have a reason for existing and a reason why they are told. Even if the storyteller is the only one who truly understands the story's meaning, the transmission of the story from storyteller to audience increases its overall meaning and connection with others. A story can connect with an audience when it “expresses the dramatic code” (Truby 7). This underlying “dramatic code, embedded deep in the human psyche, is an artistic description of how a person can grow and evolve. This code is also a process going on underneath every story. The storyteller hides this process beneath particular characters and actions” (Truby 7).
We can feel this dramatic code as we listen, watch, or read. It’s how a story connects with an audience on a deeper level, drawing them in and keeping them mesmerized throughout.
We’ve all encountered stories that make us ask, “What was the point of that?” To have a lasting impact on an audience, a story must have a purpose and meaning beyond the surface level.
Final Thoughts
As humans, we crave stories. They are integral to our daily lives and help create meaning and understanding of our world. Stories are an amalgamation of dozens of smaller elements that come together to form a completed story that delivers a beginning, middle, and end that keeps the audience engaged and intrigued from start to finish. Through this structure, we connect and empathize with main characters and can follow their trials and tribulations as they succeed or fail.
Next Time…
So, if story includes everything, what exactly is plot? We’ll explore that in the next post!
Sources:
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
Truby, John. The Anatomy of Story. Faber and Faber, 2007.
We seem to know and understand what a story is from childhood, and our hunger for story only grows over time. Often, we go from being told stories to being the storyteller, which harkens back to ancient cultures and communities.
But what exactly defines a story, and how does it differ from the concept of plot?
Story Defined
Think of a story as a completed puzzle. There are hundreds of pieces involved that interlock to create a finished picture, and a story is similar in design. As John Truby writes, “a story is made of subsystems like the characters, the plot, the revelations sequence, the story world, the moral argument,” and many other elements to complete the full picture of a story (Truby 9).
Most stories have a singular focus, concentrating on the action of a main character for the majority of the story, which is “expecting a useful reaction from [their] world, but instead the effect of [their] action is to provoke forces of antagonism. The world of the character reacts differently than expected, more powerfully than expected, or both” (McKee 144-145). Having this focal character in a story helps the audience identify and connect with them so they have someone to keep track of as the story unfolds. They are the audience’s proxy within the world of the story.
So, a story provides us with the entire roadmap of events that will unfold on our hero’s journey. It comprises many events and elements that combine to create a complete narrative for an audience to follow and connect with. These elements weave around each other, giving the story more depth, meaning, and conflict.
Story Design
A story has structure. Simply put, a story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
When you tell a story about something that happened to you, it follows these basic principles. A fictional story should as well; our brains expect and even crave this type of uniform structure when it comes to storytelling. It’s one of the reasons why some people get upset when a story ends on a cliffhanger and nothing is resolved.
Robert McKee states, “A story is a design in five parts: The Inciting Incident, the first major event of the telling, is the primary cause for all that follows, putting into motion the other four elements – Progressive Complications, Crisis, Climax, Resolution” (McKee 181). We crave these elements and even subconsciously expect them to exist in whatever story we’re being told. We’ve all either been told a story or seen a movie where nothing seems to happen, which frustrates us. That’s because we are conditioned to need these story elements to enjoy the story we are seeing or hearing.
Western storytelling employs the traditional Three-Act Structure, which I’ll explain in an upcoming post. This structure encapsulates all the conventional elements that audiences expect.
Stories & Communication
Stories have a purpose. They have a reason for existing and a reason why they are told. Even if the storyteller is the only one who truly understands the story's meaning, the transmission of the story from storyteller to audience increases its overall meaning and connection with others. A story can connect with an audience when it “expresses the dramatic code” (Truby 7). This underlying “dramatic code, embedded deep in the human psyche, is an artistic description of how a person can grow and evolve. This code is also a process going on underneath every story. The storyteller hides this process beneath particular characters and actions” (Truby 7).
We can feel this dramatic code as we listen, watch, or read. It’s how a story connects with an audience on a deeper level, drawing them in and keeping them mesmerized throughout.
We’ve all encountered stories that make us ask, “What was the point of that?” To have a lasting impact on an audience, a story must have a purpose and meaning beyond the surface level.
Final Thoughts
As humans, we crave stories. They are integral to our daily lives and help create meaning and understanding of our world. Stories are an amalgamation of dozens of smaller elements that come together to form a completed story that delivers a beginning, middle, and end that keeps the audience engaged and intrigued from start to finish. Through this structure, we connect and empathize with main characters and can follow their trials and tribulations as they succeed or fail.
Next Time…
So, if story includes everything, what exactly is plot? We’ll explore that in the next post!
Sources:
McKee, Robert. Story. Harper Collins, 1997.
Truby, John. The Anatomy of Story. Faber and Faber, 2007.
November 24, 2024
Five Ways to Plan Your 2025 Reading Challenge
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 is winding down, and 2025 is quickly approaching. With all the other end-of-year/start-of-year events, I thought now would be a good time to discuss ways to plan a reading challenge for yourself in 2025.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked about why it’s important to read books, and challenging yourself to read a certain number of books over the course of a year is a great way to stay motivated and keep reading. Let’s talk about five ways to plan your reading schedule for 2025 and ensure you meet your goal before 2026!
#1 - How Much Time Do You Have?
If you have a busy schedule and your free time is filled with errands and other activities, keep your reading goal small. I recommend planning to read six to eight books over the year, seeing how that goes, and then extending the amount moving forward.
If you have time to binge-watch seasons of TV in one weekend, you have time to read more. I suggest attempting to read 12 or more books during 2025. One book a month may sound daunting, but you'll quickly reach your goal once you get into the reading rhythm.
#2 - What Counts as a Book?
Reading a book to your kids? That counts. Like comic books? Those count. Reading for class? Yep, textbooks or other assigned readings count. If you prefer digital to paper, eBooks count as well.
Don’t be afraid to include all types of books and reading material in your reading challenge. You’ll find that you’ll read much more during the year than you initially thought.
#3 - Is Listening to Books Okay?
Around this time each year, I see people on social media announce they have read 300+ books, and I often wonder how that’s possible. Then it dawned on me: audiobooks! Yes, these 100% count as books read over the year, and if you can listen to them on your commute, at work, at home, or anywhere else, you can knock out a lot of books in 365 days.
If this is a more viable option for you and fits your lifestyle, go for it!
#4 – Make a Game Plan
Once you decide how many books you’d like to tackle in 2025, determine what you plan to read. Things can change over the year, but having a list of books you want to work through beforehand will set you up for success.
Maybe there’s an author you enjoy that you’d like to read more from. Or maybe it’s a genre you’re curious about. Perhaps a non-fiction topic piques your interest or a historical period.
Alternate between physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks, or stick to one medium for the whole year.
Or, maybe you’re like me, with more books than space, and you need to read through what you have!
Whatever you decide, it’s always good to have a basic idea of what you want to read over the next year so you don’t have to guess what’s next. It’s okay to change things if another book interests you, but having other books ready to read is helpful.
#5 – Track It
You can do it on your own with a list on your computer or paper, or you can use one of many reading tracking apps or sites like www.goodreads.com, where you can join their annual reading challenge and write and post reviews of the books you read throughout the year.
These reading challenge trackers also tell you how many books you have left to go and how many books you are ahead or behind in your stated challenge.
Other apps include Bookly, Bookmory, StoryGraph, TBR, and many others you can check out on your phone’s app store.
Final Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of reading, and I want as many people worldwide to read and enjoy books as much as I do. Challenge yourself to read as many books as you’d like throughout 2025 and be amazed by how much you read and learn from January 1 to December 31!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Over the last two weeks, I’ve talked about why it’s important to read books, and challenging yourself to read a certain number of books over the course of a year is a great way to stay motivated and keep reading. Let’s talk about five ways to plan your reading schedule for 2025 and ensure you meet your goal before 2026!
#1 - How Much Time Do You Have?
If you have a busy schedule and your free time is filled with errands and other activities, keep your reading goal small. I recommend planning to read six to eight books over the year, seeing how that goes, and then extending the amount moving forward.
If you have time to binge-watch seasons of TV in one weekend, you have time to read more. I suggest attempting to read 12 or more books during 2025. One book a month may sound daunting, but you'll quickly reach your goal once you get into the reading rhythm.
#2 - What Counts as a Book?
Reading a book to your kids? That counts. Like comic books? Those count. Reading for class? Yep, textbooks or other assigned readings count. If you prefer digital to paper, eBooks count as well.
Don’t be afraid to include all types of books and reading material in your reading challenge. You’ll find that you’ll read much more during the year than you initially thought.
#3 - Is Listening to Books Okay?
Around this time each year, I see people on social media announce they have read 300+ books, and I often wonder how that’s possible. Then it dawned on me: audiobooks! Yes, these 100% count as books read over the year, and if you can listen to them on your commute, at work, at home, or anywhere else, you can knock out a lot of books in 365 days.
If this is a more viable option for you and fits your lifestyle, go for it!
#4 – Make a Game Plan
Once you decide how many books you’d like to tackle in 2025, determine what you plan to read. Things can change over the year, but having a list of books you want to work through beforehand will set you up for success.
Maybe there’s an author you enjoy that you’d like to read more from. Or maybe it’s a genre you’re curious about. Perhaps a non-fiction topic piques your interest or a historical period.
Alternate between physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks, or stick to one medium for the whole year.
Or, maybe you’re like me, with more books than space, and you need to read through what you have!
Whatever you decide, it’s always good to have a basic idea of what you want to read over the next year so you don’t have to guess what’s next. It’s okay to change things if another book interests you, but having other books ready to read is helpful.
#5 – Track It
You can do it on your own with a list on your computer or paper, or you can use one of many reading tracking apps or sites like www.goodreads.com, where you can join their annual reading challenge and write and post reviews of the books you read throughout the year.
These reading challenge trackers also tell you how many books you have left to go and how many books you are ahead or behind in your stated challenge.
Other apps include Bookly, Bookmory, StoryGraph, TBR, and many others you can check out on your phone’s app store.
Final Thoughts
I’m a huge fan of reading, and I want as many people worldwide to read and enjoy books as much as I do. Challenge yourself to read as many books as you’d like throughout 2025 and be amazed by how much you read and learn from January 1 to December 31!
Happy Reading, and I’ll see you next time!
