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Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024

11:13am EST

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Writing Blog Number 2

by S

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2311764

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

This will be a blog for my writing, maybe with (too much) personal thrown in. I am hoping it will be a little more interactive, with me answering questions, helping out and whatnot. If it falls this year (2024), then I may stop the whole blogging thing, but that's all a "wait and see" scenario.

An index of topics can be found here: "Writing Blog No.2 Index"

Feel free to comment and interact.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Kåre เลียม Enga

9 minutes ago
In response to "20241228 Messages In Writing"

It's the same with setting. There's no need to dump everything on the first page. Or describing the main character in minute details ad nauseum.

Is Narnia Christian? If it's a great story well told, does it matter?

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 21, 2024 at 12:34am
In response to "20241221 Kudzu Plotting"

IMO Anne McCaffrey does this well with the parallel Dragonriders of Pern and Harper Hall trilogies. Adults-with-dragons; youth with fire-dragons. Memorable world building. Wonderful characters.

Kudzu the plant... only a curse for those who don't know its uses: forage, food, fiber.

Dec 19, 2024 at 7:09pm
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

🐕GeminiGem🎁 - I chose Grease because it is so egregious and goes against everything Sandy had demonstrated up to that point. Dirty Dancing was set a few years later (early 60s), and, though Baby changes, it is gradual and is more a change of growing up, being true to herself. So, I think the time period can be used effectively without being so demeaning. As I see it.

🐕GeminiGem🎁

Dec 19, 2024 at 6:58pm
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

I agree that when a woman changes herself to attract a man shows misogyny and is annoying...but...using the movie Grease as an example it an interesting choice. Yes, the lead female changes her appearance to appeal to the male. I think it was more because of peer pressure, but the peer pressure happened because of the pervasive misogyny of the peers. Interestingly, the male character does the exact same thing for the same reasons.

The movie is set in the 1950's, a time where the misogyny we see now is even waaaay worse. So, here is a thought. If you are writing about a time period like that and are showing social interactions of the characters, something like the pervasive misogyny is going to be true to the time and place the story takes place. Does that excuse it? No, of course not, but having present-day sensibilities in an era like that would make the story seem really off.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Dec 19, 2024 at 3:57am
In response to "20241219 'Misogyny' In Writing"

In my travels I try to connect with most everyone. I wonder what my stats would be... but many contacts have names whether human or not, whether the boss or 'servant' or guest.

In my writings...

thinking.

I do have characters without names.

SAD Holiday Potato

Dec 18, 2024 at 3:54pm
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

As someone who is an Aunt to two children who have an age difference of four years, I can definitely tell you that they act completely different. Even though one of them is neurodivergent, the older one definitely acts more mature than the younger one.(also the older one has never tried to lick my feet.)

With very few exceptions, I've never had to tell an adult "stop eating my dress," "please don't lick me" or "stop pulling my hair," to anyone over the age of six. Yet within the last year or so I've had to tell my five year old niece these things repeatedly. She thinks this is hilarious.

Anyways, thanks for pointing out that kids aren't just miniature adults! I'll try to keep that in mind while writing.

Dec 18, 2024 at 6:44am
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

Elisa: Snowman Stik - Writing about those who are neurodivergent is not something I feel I can talk about comfortably. I am trained as a teacher of those on the spectrum, and so I would not write a character in that regard because I do not feel it is my story to tell. But, yes, that last point may not apply to a child with developmental issues.

1 Like

Elisa: Snowman Stik

Dec 18, 2024 at 6:28am
In response to "20241218 Children Characters"

I am curious if there is wiggle room for the last point for child characters with developmental disabilities. (I do recognize this kind of character presents its own set of development pitfalls in terms of depicting the disability without stereotyping. That said, I think this can be a reasonable exception to the rule when done with care.)

1 Like

Dave Ryan

Dec 16, 2024 at 1:26am
In response to "20241216 Poor Characterisation"

There was once a variation of "compressed vice" in an original episode of Star Trek ("Who Mourns for Adonais?"), where a landing party of the usual suspects + one random never-seen-before-or-since female crew member are captured by the god Apollo and they turn the usually gruff Scotty into a simpering, love-struck puppy to try to introduce some conflict when Apollo puts the moves on her. Why they didn't just have Kirk horndogging it as usual I do not know - at least then everybody would have remained consistently in character. It looks like Scotty, it sounds like Scotty, but WTF?

1 Like

SAD Holiday Potato

Dec 14, 2024 at 3:41pm
In response to "20241214 Punk Genres"

This is interesting yet confusing. So basically it's like world building but with the word "punk" in there to make it sound cooler.
Maybe I misunderstand.

February 23, 2024 at 3:52am

#1064723

20240223 Telling Stories Everywhere

A Different Sort Of Story

People often ask me why I did professional wrestling (and for some of my exploits, well, "Ring Rusted"

). Was it the physicality? The chance to entertain? The joy of slamming a grown man back first onto the ground? Getting hit by a chair? Bleeding everywhere? Yes... to all.

But there is something else, something that only fans might realise.

A wrestling match is a story. It's fine to do moves and be impressive, but unless you tell a story in that ring, unless your match is part of a greater story, the crowd will not be invested. Even an awful match can keep a crowd rapt if the story is strong enough. I give you Hulk Hogan v Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania III. The match was terrible, but the story of Andre turning on Hogan to get a shot at that title and Hogan struggling to slam the largest athlete in the USA had 93000 (allegedly, let's say the real number was closer to 80,000, but that is still a huge crowd) people in attendance. The story, that one story, drew them into that arena.

Then there is my favourite Wrestlemania match ever, from Wrestlemania VII (and we're about to hit #40 in April this year) - Randy Savage v Ultimate Warrior. Savage came into the (then) WWF as a bad guy (heel), an arrogant heel with amazing skills. After WM3, though he slowly became a good guy. See, he was always accompanied by Miss Elizabeth, a very pretty lady. And some other bad guys tried to harm her, so Savage fought them, but the numbers advantage was theirs. Enter Hulk Hogan, champion and all-round good guy (face). He helped Savage and they formed a team - the MegaPowers.

Then, through shenanigans, Hogan lost the title and it was held up, to be fought at a tournament at WM4. Savage won the title, and there he was, soaking in the adoration of everyone, Miss Elizabeth on his shoulder, the crowd loving him. There were many trials and tribulations over the next year, and Hogan grew closer and closer to Miss Elizabeth and Savage lost it, so at WM5, the MegaPowers exploded, and Hogan had one of his best career matches when he beat Savage for the title. Savage stalked away... leaving Elizabeth as well.

Savage soon won the title of King of the Ring, and became the Macho King, taking on Sensational Sherri as his valet, Elizabeth disappearing. Hogan would go on to WM6 for another of his very best matches when he faced Ultimate Warrior for the title. Warrior defeated him, winning his first world title. However, on the undercard, Savage and Sherri faced Dusty Rhodes and a non-wrestler named Sapphire. Rhodes brought out Miss Elizabeth in their corner and she helped Rhodes and Sapphire win in what was a truly terrible match, but one that, again, had the crowd in the palm of their hand.

Savage had fallen to the absolute bottom of the pit, the lowest of the low, losing to a non-wrestler, and an overweight, over-the-hill wrestler.

At the Royal Rumble the next year, Savage asked for a title shot of the winner of the Sgt Slaughter-Ultimate Warrior match. Warrior told him never. So, in the middle of the match, Savage belted Warrior in the head with a sceptre, costing Warrior the match and his title.

Thus we come to WM7. Warrior v Savage. Career v career. Loser retires. Warrior's best ever match; my favourite WM match. And the match told its own story. Warrior worked Savage over slowly and methodically, but every time he tried a higher risk move, Savage took the advantage, using Warrior's emotions against him. After a great match, Warrior won. But it wasn't over. Sherri saw that her meal ticket was gone and she attacked Savage, already beaten senseless by Warrior. Miss Elizabeth came out the crowd and made the save.

In the middle of the ring, Savage and Elizabeth reunited. People in the crowd were literally crying. Long term story telling - the rise, fall and redemption of a beloved wrestler, culminating in the release of genuine emotion.

Does that story sound familiar? Like, maybe, the rise, fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the first 6 Star Wars films?

Stories are our bread and butter. We write the stories for others to enjoy. But do not sell short the stories of all the arts (and, yes, professional wrestling is an art - a violent art, but that is what it is). Everything can tell a story. And we should be open to it all.

2 Like • Comment

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