Shadows of Things to Come December 4, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Magick & Mystery, Word Play, Writing & Writers.comments closed
Last February, I’d been peppering a novel with foreshadows of things to come and got stuck . . . I didn’t know what the shadows would reveal.
What disclosures would fit the characters in a believable way, and still allow the story to move forward?
Some “bombs” would have completely decimated the landscape, forming a permanent rift between my two main characters.
That’s not what I wanted because I like happy endings.
Others were so inconsequential that they seemed more like “burps” than “bombs” ~ hardly worth the effort of leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for readers to follow.
My writing stalled in the shadow of things to come because I felt I needed to have the “bombs” figured out before tossing any more clues at the reader.
Then, with perfect synchronicity, Rik wrote a post on Uphill Writing, Foreshadow. I Knew You’d Say That, about Stephen King’s practice of foreshadowing.
King explains (in On Writing) that he often adds the foreshadowing after completing the first draft.
During the second or third re-write he adds in a sprinkling of breadcrumbs for readers to chew on as they digest the story.
Brilliant!
Write foreshadows backwards . . . to keep moving forward.
Arctic Babies December 4, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Humor, Nature, Sustainable Living.comments closed
Since 1960, Sierra Club members and supporters have fought to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and its residents from threats like oil drilling.
By designating the Arctic Refuge as a National Monument, President Obama can permanently protect this national treasure and leave a wild legacy for all of our children and grandchildren.
Please share the video with your friends on FB, Twitter, and Stumble Upon. Let’s work together to protect the Arctic and its amazing wildlife for future generations.
To learn More: I Heart The Arctic
Exploring Mind Caves For Hidden Gems December 4, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Blogging, Mindfulness, Writing & Writers.comments closed
Writers often reveal secret passageways leading into the dark (and light) recesses of their minds as they write.
The subject matter chosen, the specific observations made, and even the individual words drawn upon are all clues to the writer’s inner most thoughts.
Traipsing through their thoughts can be fascinating, amusing, insightful, thought-provoking and even down-right S-C-A-R-Y . . .
Depending upon the writer in question.
Sometimes a few words from the author’s pen is all it takes to warn us away from the entrance to the author’s mind ~ we read a line or two of an illogical debate or an angst-ridden poem and decide to explore someone else’s writing instead because we realize that we are not likely to find any hidden gems which can be easily excavated.
There are, undoubtedly, gems within that writer’s mind, but they are buried beneath so much dirt and debris that the effort of excavating them will far exceed their value on the marketplace.
So, we move away from the entrance of that mind cave, and skip off to find another to explore.
In the virtual world, we can explore mind caves for hidden gems without lugging about a bunch of heavy equipment which is both tiring and messy.
We can go spelunking through each other’s thoughts without carting pick axes, shovels, ropes, tents, or flashlights.
With few notable exceptions, we are not likely to lose our way and require search parties to head in after us . . . except maybe for Larilie’s brain. We might be able to get a bit lost in there.
For those who don’t know Larilie, exploring Larilie’s Mind Caves is a bit like being in an amusement park during an earthquake, treading lightly upon constantly shifting terrain designed to throw us a bit off balance as we giggle madly toward the EXIT.
Despite the relative safety of exploring hidden mind caves, readers should condition themselves for extended excursions by taking short forays followed by periods of rest, and should carry sufficient provisions (Gummi Bears, Necco Wafers, or Gummi Bears Cosmos) to sustain their energy and enthusiasm while exploring through dark recesses, alley ways, and more than a few dead ends.
Historic Note of Interest:
Admiral Byrd took 2.5 tons (or tonnes) of Necco Wafers with him when he explored the South Pole.
Amazing! That’s 5,000 pounds of sugar! I wonder if they used it to sweeten their tea? If it was just to munch on, why not 5,000 pounds of chocolate?
Mmm . . . chocolate.
Related post: Down the Blog Hole
Spirit Lights The Way 