Everyday Canvas

Tragedy of Kids' Beauty Pageants & for NaNo-Tips from WD

Prompt: Jon Benet Ramsey Murder. 9-11. What are some tragic events you think about and wish you could have done something to make a difference?

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I really don’t like to think or talk about the tragedy of Jon Benet Ramsey. First, it is past history. Second, an entire family was destroyed, and it doesn’t matter whether the murderer is the brother, parents, or an outsider.

What matters is the existence of beauty pageants for children. I think they shouldn’t be allowed in the first place. They give the little contestants the wrong idea about life and themselves. They open the children up to public view and especially to that of perverts. Whether it is the exploitation of little girls or their parents seeking validation through their children’s successes, the entire idea behind the whole thing is hurtful.

What is right is the encouragement of inner beauty in little people. If families want to secure their children’s future, they should pay more importance to their education and their behaviors.

As for other tragedies in our present day history, I wish someone could have stopped 9/11, but I am not saying that I could. I have no such powers. To even think that I can stop anything from happening would be a ridiculous idea. Surely if I could stop any tragedy, I would, but I doubt I can ever do that or that I'd even have a chance to do so.

Now a few bon mots extracted from Writer’s Digest’s August 2016 issue, since NaNo is just around the corner :

• A major mistake a lot of writers make is thinking that all a first line has to do is to be cool or shocking. That’s effective, but what makes a first line truly great is that it makes readers want to read the next line.

• No matter how compelling your characters are or how tight your plot, the first chapter must hold to an even higher standard.

• Your first chapter is itself a promise you make to your readers. Your first pages set the tone and ground rules for how you will tell the story.

• The key to using backstory wisely, from Chapter One onward, is showing how inner life and outer action are inseparable.

• Every time you flip to a new POV, reorient readers. Don’t leave them wondering.

• [ (For the main character) After changing a POV ] Delve into her current mindset every time you return to her POV.