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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/4013-Technical-Difficulties.html
Fantasy: October 13, 2010 Issue [#4013]

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Fantasy


 This week: Technical Difficulties
  Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Murphy’s Law: “If anything can go wrong, it will.” ~ http://www.murphys-laws.com/

Not only will it go wrong, it will do it at the worst possible moment.



Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

I had an encounter with Murphy’s Law recently. It concerned the DSL modem, the CPU running at 100% and a deadline. On Thursday evening, two of the lights on my modem went out. The lights that went out were the DSL and Internet lights. It was about 10:30 PM and presuming that the issue concerned the telephone jack, I decided to wait until Friday morning to take care of it, I turned the computer off and went to bed.

On Friday, I turned my computer on and the virus scan, which is set to run at 11:30 PM unless the computer is off, began its run. I figured it would take about three hours to finish; I was wrong. Because the CPU was running at 100%, it took the scan seven hours to do its job. After the virus finished, I checked the modem’s connection to the phone jack, but the only lights on the modem were the power and ETHERNET lights. I called Tech Support and after resetting the modem and the browser settings my system is up and running. In addition, I learned something about myself.

This incident got me to thinking about Murphy’s Law, its interaction with technology, and the lessons the characters in a story can learn about themselves. When Murphy’s Law interacts with technology, it is through little unforeseen events. Two lights on a modem go out and there is no Internet access. Under the right or the wrong circumstances, this could have devastating and far-reaching effects.

Technology is an important part of modern life. It is such an essential part of life that the enactment of Murphy’s Law, can cause trouble or at least generate a story plot. I have a challenge for my readers; write a story about Murphy’s Law and a piece of technology. The deadline is November 15.


Editor's Picks

Stories and Poems


 Knowledge City Blues Open in new Window. (E)
What would happen if we forgot?
#1707198 by Michael Romeo Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1709018 by Not Available.


 Jovian Dreams Open in new Window. (E)
A lone man has trouble distinguishing reality from dreaming. (Flash Fiction)
#1709031 by Hyperiongate Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1708928 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1709457 by Not Available.


 Chapter 2 Open in new Window. (13+)
Why are we awake?
#1705615 by George R. Lasher Author IconMail Icon


Articles about Writing and Creating Characters


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1707627 by Not Available.


Submitted to the Newsletter


 Aether: After the End CH 1 & 2 Open in new Window. (13+)
After the End of the World, survivors wander in search of civilization.
#1647762 by Krish D. Author IconMail Icon


 Planet Animalus Book Summaries Open in new Window. (E)
Folder containing the summaries for my Planet Animalus Series.
#1662912 by BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author IconMail Icon


Contests, Polls, and Review Forums


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1530811 by Not Available.






 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Krish D. Author Icon writes: I'm very happy to have read this newsletter. I've been working hard behind the scenes on my highlighted story for so long and realized that I hadn't given it any thought on what type of plot it was going to have.

Now that I look back at all the notes of what will happen, I realize that the finished product will have a little bit of all 7 basic plots you mentioned!

While nature tries to take back the earth, Men struggle against each other for power, but Natural disasters cause problems. Advanced Tech becomes a focus, and problem, but the main characterconflicts with his values VS self preservation. Overal, the main antagonist is a group of "rightous" people on a type of "witch hunt"

I guess I have my work cut out for me!

BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon writes: Fantasy and Sci-Fi are very similar. The only difference is that Fantasy uses magic wands and Sci-Fi uses laser guns. *Bigsmile*

The Huntress ~ Finding Love Author Icon writes: Obviously plot is the vehicle for any story, any writing. Even poetry has some underlying plot, though it may be abstract. The trick to great writing is coming up with something original! So much of the time, it seems like it's all been done.

LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon writes: Hi Prosperous Snow! I enjoyed your newsletter and found the seven plot categories very interesting. I didn't realize religion was one. I'm not sure I've ever read one where the protagonist is fighting against religion or a deity - but I'm sure they're out there. You provided a good link and picked great stories to highlight. *Smile* – Laura

In the last newsletter The Premise and The Plot, I placed a period after the URL of The Basic Plots in Literature this produced an error when you clicked on the URL. Here is the address with out a period http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html
Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon

Has Murphy’s Law interfered with your writing?
Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon





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