Misc.

[stgulik]

Last week when we were down to our last $50, I did a very short but very strategic grocery shopping. Now that we're flush, we still have the remains from my last trip. Am wondering how long we could really go without another trip to the store.

I think we could get along on spaghetti noodles and cans of sauce and green beans for some time. But without coffee and toilet paper? Let's not get crazy.

Oh, well. I'm off to see, and be fed by, my mother today. So the refrigerator situation will be somebody else's problem.

Found this yesterday on Reddit's writing forum: How to write a scene in 11 steps. Now, I am in no way endorsing the steps, nor am I saying you must take the internet's advice on writing scenes. Please do not take offense in your comments. I just got a lot of brain energy out of the exercise, and I thought you might, too.

Thinking back on the scene I told you I was trying to write, the one with the uncooperative secondary character, it may be time to show some tough love.

Comments

[garonne.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks for that. I think there's a gem of a question hidden in that list, which is "What's the worst that could happen if this scene were omitted?" I'm going to be asking myself that every time now!

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

I liked that question, too. Gives a writer the opportunity to tighten up the narrative whenever necessary.

I also liked "What's the most surprising thing that could happen in the scene?" I am sort of a status quo writer. I think that's from a lifetime of writing nonpartisan papers. In switching to fiction, I need to remember it's good to put my characters under pressure.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's time that you had a heart-to-heart with Secondary Character and told him that he IS, after all, secondary, and therefore replaceable if necessary. Depending on whether you think it will make him fall into line, you may tell him that some time in the near future, you will write a vehicle for HIM, and then he can dictate his actions with impunity. Until then, unless he wants to go on the dole, he'd better do as you say because you are The Author.

[irishredlass.livejournal.com]

I routinely subsist on about $200 a month in groceries. Then again I am one person, but this does include cat food and cat supplies too. Prince would say he counts as a mouth to feed. I have found living in TX much more cost effective!

[delphipsmith]

That "how to write a scene" is really kind of fun, thanks for the link! And may you always have coffee :)