Elements for a Good Story
In the 1990s, I taught a college course focused on the elements of a good story or book. Naturally, in addition to material read and discussed, some elements had to do with theme, structure, figurative language, and basics such as grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Most of this was taught repeatedly in grades 7-12, if not earlier. Anyway, the course served its purpose for students who needed reminders about the basics of writing for profit or for pleasure.
One element I had to stress was that when writing fiction, dialogue is important, telling my students that people don’t speak in complete sentences. This always posed a problem for strict grammarians. Now with texting, most elements we focused upon in the 1990s are largely ignored. Texting is convenient, and I like it, but I also delight in reading a sentence that has been beautifully constructed. Generally it is concise, precise, and not wordy. Probably in the future we won’t even text but will communicate by impulses flashed from somewhere in our brains to another person’s brain. Will there be any need for speech? Will one person’s brain chip communicate to a large group? What about church services? Will they be totally quiet? What about theaters? How will the actors communicate their lines to an audience? What about songs that need to be sung? There will always be music but will it be heard in our brains? Oh the mysteries of one’s imagination?
I digress. I will stop long enough to let you know I’ve been writing a monthly blog since 2013-- August to be exact. Prior to that, I wrote a weekly personal opinion column for a 4-county newspaper, and many times, I had feature articles in magazines or op-eds in large newspapers. Now -a -days, the newspaper has become almost obsolete. It gets thinner and thinner, yet I subscribe to them. I don’t even know how many magazines are still published, but I know almost everything is “on line.” I do not know how much longer I will continue this sort of writing, but if I miss a month or so as I did in June and July, be patient. The process of writing is addictive to a writer. I can barely “think” unless I have pencil and paper in hand. I make lists. I write letters and notes. I can’t think of not putting down words to express my thoughts.
People adapt. We get accustomed to new ways of doing things. And we will continue to do so. As my life changes, new ways are demanded. Many of my dearest friends have left this world. I miss them. I remember their quirks, personalities, laughter, accomplishments, recipes, visits, music, and works of art. I hope to see them again “someday.” A friend recently commented that her world has become “smaller, narrower,” and I concur. But, “there is no frigate like a book,” to quote Emily Dickinson. I am happy to have had opportunities to travel, meet new people, and experience a number of cultures.
Life is good. Life is difficult. Life is frustrating, especially after a person listens to the news and learns about man’s inhumanity to man. I tell my family what we see on the news is but a miniscule of all the goodness “out there.” News and headlines focus on the negative, the bad, the tragic, but ninety-five percent of all population is wholesome, helpful, and peace loving. I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately and I know what a good plot requires—tension and conflict. But there can be peace, and let us hope soon there will be peace. Enough of these thoughts. In a book or story, however, there must be tension and conflict and memorable dialogue.
One element I had to stress was that when writing fiction, dialogue is important, telling my students that people don’t speak in complete sentences. This always posed a problem for strict grammarians. Now with texting, most elements we focused upon in the 1990s are largely ignored. Texting is convenient, and I like it, but I also delight in reading a sentence that has been beautifully constructed. Generally it is concise, precise, and not wordy. Probably in the future we won’t even text but will communicate by impulses flashed from somewhere in our brains to another person’s brain. Will there be any need for speech? Will one person’s brain chip communicate to a large group? What about church services? Will they be totally quiet? What about theaters? How will the actors communicate their lines to an audience? What about songs that need to be sung? There will always be music but will it be heard in our brains? Oh the mysteries of one’s imagination?
I digress. I will stop long enough to let you know I’ve been writing a monthly blog since 2013-- August to be exact. Prior to that, I wrote a weekly personal opinion column for a 4-county newspaper, and many times, I had feature articles in magazines or op-eds in large newspapers. Now -a -days, the newspaper has become almost obsolete. It gets thinner and thinner, yet I subscribe to them. I don’t even know how many magazines are still published, but I know almost everything is “on line.” I do not know how much longer I will continue this sort of writing, but if I miss a month or so as I did in June and July, be patient. The process of writing is addictive to a writer. I can barely “think” unless I have pencil and paper in hand. I make lists. I write letters and notes. I can’t think of not putting down words to express my thoughts.
People adapt. We get accustomed to new ways of doing things. And we will continue to do so. As my life changes, new ways are demanded. Many of my dearest friends have left this world. I miss them. I remember their quirks, personalities, laughter, accomplishments, recipes, visits, music, and works of art. I hope to see them again “someday.” A friend recently commented that her world has become “smaller, narrower,” and I concur. But, “there is no frigate like a book,” to quote Emily Dickinson. I am happy to have had opportunities to travel, meet new people, and experience a number of cultures.
Life is good. Life is difficult. Life is frustrating, especially after a person listens to the news and learns about man’s inhumanity to man. I tell my family what we see on the news is but a miniscule of all the goodness “out there.” News and headlines focus on the negative, the bad, the tragic, but ninety-five percent of all population is wholesome, helpful, and peace loving. I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately and I know what a good plot requires—tension and conflict. But there can be peace, and let us hope soon there will be peace. Enough of these thoughts. In a book or story, however, there must be tension and conflict and memorable dialogue.
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