Lynne Gentry's Blog, page 11

On Air with Living Joyfully Free

Author and radio host Lisa Buffaloe invited me to be on her show. The interview aired February 27, 2012.

In addition to sharing my story of starting over, Lisa Buffaloe shared how we met.

Lisa was diagnosed with Lyme disease a few years ago. Even though she was obviously sick and weak, she had a dermination to live by faith and a smile that drew me in. Every day Lisa must choose whether or not to start over. Every day she makes a little progress toward her ultimate goal of heaven. She is a woman of great faith. A woman of admirable character. A woman I'd love for you to meet.

If you are at a crossroads, this conversation could be just what you need today.

Oh, No. Not Davy Jones.

Was saddened to hear the news that my teen heartthrob died. I loved Davy Jones. And although I never met him … I was certain he was in love with me.

Amazing how some characters become bigger than life. Ebenezer Scrooge, Anne of Green Gables, Frodo. Davy Jones.

I filmed a girl the other day who was convinced she was Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games.

What is it that makes a character larger than life? Zany misadventures, talent, hard times, and a bit of luck.

Photo taken at a Davy Jones/David Cassidy concert I attended with Kellie Gilbert.

Oscar Buzz

I'm so glad Billy Crystal is gearing up to emcee the 2012 Academy Awards. Something about this talented star compels me to sit through the incredibly long and self-glorifying affair. What is it? I call it the Dan Blocker Effect.

When I was a junior in high school, I competed for the coveted title of Miss Cherryvale. I wanted nothing more than to be queen of our small Kansas farm community.

My talent, a rousing rendition of Chim Chim Cher-Ee from Mary Poppins, got me in the top five. But recalling the name of the only star I knew helped me win the tiara.

"Who is your favorite movie star?" One of the judges asked during the interview portion of the pageant.

"Hoss," popped into my head.

"Hoss Cartwright?" The judges conferred with each other and then one asked, "Don't you mean Little Joe?"

"No, I mean Hoss."

"Why Hoss?"

"Because he's kind." I said.

I didn't really know Dan Blocker. But his Hoss character communicated a generous heart and kind spirit with those twinkling eyes and easy smile. Billy Crystal communicates that same Hoss-like warmth, an empathy that endears a character to an audience.

I think the world could use a few more kind characters. Why not write one into your current story? Or better yet, work a little harder to write kindness into your own life?

Whitney Houston’s Final Moment in Time

As I watch the news coverage of a great talent’s final exit from the world stage, it caused me to reflect.

Each of us is granted a few moments in time. What we choose to do with our moments matters. Will we hang on to hate, or forgive and work toward reconciliation? Will we believe the lie that we have nothing to offer, or will we give everything we’ve got to make a difference? Will we write the story God calls us to write, or will we take the safe route to avoid our fear of failure?

Seize your moment. Live like eternity matters.

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Whitney Houston's Final Moment in Time

As I watch the news coverage of a great talent's final exit from the world stage, it caused me to reflect.

Each of us is granted a few moments in time. What we choose to do with our moments matters. Will we hang on to hate, or forgive and work toward reconciliation? Will we believe the lie that we have nothing to offer, or will we give everything we've got to make a difference? Will we write the story God calls us to write, or will we take the safe route to avoid our fear of failure?

Seize your moment. Live like eternity matters.

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The Language of Whitney

Some people were born to take the stage and claim it. Whitney Houston was one of those people. Like the rest of the world, I'm saddened by the loss of one so gifted.

I envied the way Whitney Houston could send a pitch perfect note through the stratosphere. I admired the way she could tell a story with a song. Whitney Houston understood the value of subtext (the real meaning of the words). She was a master at interpreting those words for us and communicating that subtext to her audience via her body language.

Watch this video. Notice the story playing in her eyes. It is as if Whitney visualizes what she is singing about in the distance. She sees the emotional conflict and she allows her facial features to shift to communicate that pain to us. Note the occasional lift of a single brow and the slight incline of her chin. Muscles tense and release in her jaw and around her lips. She even does a dangerous thing and closes her eyes for several measures. But we allow her to shut herself off from us because the rest of her body's muscular tension communicates that the entire struggle is playing out on the back of her eyelids. In fact, we get so caught up in the story, we're willing to step inside of her head, watch the movie, and take up the struggle with her. Toward the end of the song, Whitney shows us the character's turning point when she breaks into a smile. And we believe the words I will always love you right along with her.

That's not only Grammy winning entertainment, it's great storytelling at its best. If only the story would have had a different ending.

3 Ways Writers can Persuade a Reader

I watched this video of a blind, Autistic boy sing "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and bawled like a baby. Why? This child's faith, his determination, his joy at life tapped my pathos. His struggles made an emotional connection with me. I dare you to watch and not be touched.

Why does it matter if this video moved you in any way? Because tapping into a person's emotions is one way to effectuate a change in their behavior.

According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle the goal of persuasive writing is to convince an audience that an idea is valid and motivate them to take action.

Here are Aristotle's three tools:

Ethos: The character must be someone worth listening to, worthy of respect, and likable. For example: a hero who is a failure in romance doesn't exactly inspire people to seek his advice for Valentine's Day suggestions. But if you have a woman who's had a bit of success as a mother, she could conceivably give credible parenthood advice to a pregnant friend.
Logos: Keep the message consistent. Story can turn the abstract values and beliefs of a writer into flesh and blood heroes in the reader's mind. In the Hunger Games , the writer believes there are inherent dangers in a totalitarian world. Suzanne Collins consistently keeps that message before the reader with one gutting wrenching injustice after another.
Pathos: Make 'em laugh. Make 'em cry. Make their stomachs clench in fear.     Language choice affects the emotional response. Choose words that SHOW the reader and gain the most emotional impact. For example: If the above video didn't show you to appreciate your life, I don't have the words to tell you.

How can you use these ancient tools in your fiction?

SMASH

If you've ever dreamed of landing the lead in a Broadway musical, then SMASH will suck you in. This "backstage musical" tells the story of the drama/conflict that goes on behind the stage. Writers are at war with each other and their director. The producer (Anjelica Huston) battles her ex-husband for the operating funds she needs. And at the center of all of this conflict, two stunning actresses duke it out for the starring role.

Ivy (Megan Hilty) is a voluptuous Broadway chorus girl who's sick of never getting noticed. Karen (Katharine McPhee) is the naïve hopeful from Iowa. Both are triple threats, but only one can play Marilyn Monroe.

Vying for that one coveted spot sets up juicy conflict. But I think the writers did an excellent job of upping the tension by giving us a reason to pull for both girls in the pilot.

Ivy is obviously willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top, but in a brilliant scene in her apartment you see what drives her ambition. She's on the phone with her mother, excitedly telling about the callback, anxious for her mother's approval. But instead of giving Ivy praise, her mother changes the subject. The writer didn't have to tell us how hard Ivy's worked to get her mother's attention and how she continues to fail … we could SEE the disappointment on Ivy's beautiful face.

Karen's parents come to New York and proceed to dash her aspirations at dinner. And we SEE how conflicted she is about pleasing her parents or following her dreams.

When imperfect people strive for perfection conflict arises. How can you stir some trouble into your stories?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8cKn0YL37s

Wardrobe Malfunction

This year's Super Bowl halftime show was the costuming extravaganza Madonna promised.

If your eyes weren't glued to the cadre of muscled gladiators, then you noticed that the 53-year-old pop singer took the stage looking like Cleopatra in a glittery gold robe and an intricate headdress designed by milliner to the stars, Phillip Treacy.

"Great attention to detail has been paid to my wardrobe. There will be no wardrobe malfunction," Madonna said.

I appreciated how Madonna's black Givenchy dress with the Roman-inspired overskirt managed to keep her modestly covered, but I think the spiked black boots that nearly sent her toppling down the bleachers might have been a bit overreaching … even for the very fit and agile Material Girl.

Which made me ponder … maybe if I put my heroine in heels that were too high or placed her on a terrain that contradicted her footwear, I could set her up for an unexpected fall? Contradiction and surprise are good for any show.

Madonna, please don't break out the Easy Spirits. I love being kept on the edge of my seat.

Accessorize with Purpose

At first glance, this may seem like just a scarf, but in truth, this accessory has a story.

I think this scarf is so me.

Lynne peered inside the beautiful black and white gift bag. "For me?"

"For you." Her friend Kim beamed. "Try it on."

Lynne wrapped the scarf around her neck. Silky ruffles caressed her skin and soothed the jagged edges from her week. Thank you seemed so inadequate, especially when she didn't deserve to feel so … what did this scarf make her feel? Hopeful. That next week would be better. That she was blessed beyond all measure because God had seen fit to put wonderful people in her path. That she could get up and try again.

Kim fluffed the layered flounce. "It's you, don't you think?"

"Me?" Lynne fingered the ruffles that fell gently around her shoulders. "You know, I think it is."

When you accessorize your characters, put something on them that means something or causes them to reflect. Perhaps they're wearing shoes that a well-worn and broken in, kind of like they're feeling. Or perhaps they're wearing a necklace that's cutting off their air kind of like the man who's getting way to close. Accesorize with purpose and tap those emotions.