Writers in Action 10

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Writers in Action 10

• Mistakes

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MistakesWeight of the word is on your shoulders
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Mistakes

• One mistake you recall from the last 2 weeks
• One mistake you recall from the last 2 months
• The biggest mistake youve ever made.
• Pick one that you think has story in it
• What I shared with my students.
• Memory Mining - Do an inventory sights, sounds,
  smells, etc can you recall from the event

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Mistakes - Memory Mining

• Elderly
• Metal Arm
• My Wife
• Sidewalk
• Blood on jacket
• Pride
• Embarrassment
• 911 Call
• Grandfather

• Crossing Light
• Couldnt get up
• Someones Dad/My Dad
• Torn / Shredded
• Blood dripping from nose
• Drs appointment
• Arrival of friend
• Very heavy (dead weight)
• I should have stayed

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Mistakes - Leads

• Write three leads
• Action
• Dialogue
• Thinking

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Mistakes - Leads

• Write three leads
• Action
• The metal hand glistened as I watched the body
  lumber into the asphalt. It was as if life
  paused. He tried to get up but his knee would no
  longer carry his weight. He tumbled again.
  Instinctively, I flung open the car door and
  moved towards the man.

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Mistakes - Leads

• Write three leads
• Dialogue
• Is there anyone with you? I asked as I
  supported his weight with my knee.
• My wife is going to take a heart attack he
  said, as the crimson drop fell from his nose. I
  could tell, by the echo of his voice, that his
  hurt was something more, something deeper.

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Mistakes - Leads

• Write three leads
• Thinking
• How could I have driven away?

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Mistakes - Leads

• A good lead should do five things
• Catch the readers attention
• Introduce the main character
• Introduce the conflict
• Establish Setting
• Establish point of view (who is telling the story)

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Mistakes Plot Helpful Tips

• Bringing the Story to Life
• Draft a plot (story line) for your reader. Here
  are some quick tips that will help.
• Your story should not span too much time
• Begin as close to the end as possible
• Provide background information when the reader
  needs it
• Use a variety of ways to convey information

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Mistakes Story Start

• How could I have driven away? It had only been
  minutes before when it unfolded in front of me.
  It was like a song replaying in my head.
• The metal hand glistened as I watched the body
  meet asphalt. It was as if life paused. He tried
  to get up but his knee would no longer carry his
  weight. He tumbled again. Instinctively, I
  flung open the car door and moved towards the
  man.

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• Is there anyone with you? I asked as I
  supported his weight with my knee. My wife is
  going to take a heart attack, he said, as the
  crimson drop fell from his nose. I could tell,
  by the echo of his voice, that his hurt was
  something more, something deeper.
• The man reminded me of a farmer, with broad
  shoulders and a thick set of hands. Get me
  outta the street guys. Im in the way here, he
  said.

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Mistakes Next Mini-lessons

• Character Development
• Revision
• Responsible Endings