This week: The Quest Edited by: Kate - Writing & Reading More Newsletters By This Editor
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When you catch an adjective, kill it. No,
I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them --
then the rest will be valuable."
Mark Twain
Greetings and welcome to this week's edition of the Action/Adventure Newsletter, where we explore how action creates adventures. |
ASIN: 197380364X |
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Amazon's Price: $ 15.99
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Greetings,
There is no story without action, and we can create an adventure anywhere ~ whether climbing a mountain, diving for a lost ring, or dodging panhandlers on the way to work (the second obstacle course above). Action brings an adventure story or poem to life, engages taste, smell, touch, sight, mind, to make it real and visceral for the reader - staying in the moment as the story is revealed through the actions of the adventurer.
My favorite adventures begin with a quest, and the action is the journey the hero or protagonist takes to attain the quest, determined and focused, battling (or avoiding) adversaries that would deny him/her the goal. Along the way, the protagonist may encounter help or hindrance, doubts and verification, but does not digress from the focus on the goal (or plunge into a plethora of adjectives or adverbs to describe what he sees or perceives or imagines), and experiences his/her surroundings with immediate visual, aural, sensory impact on the way to securing his/her quest.
Action/movement keeps the reader involved and anxious to turn each page, as eager to attain the quest as the protagonist, involved in the fast-paced 'otherworld' real or imagined, whether in the past, present, or future, the writer develops with economy of words to propel the story or poem (and the reader) forward along the journey.
So, for me, my favorite Action and Adventure stories and poems give me the following:
A quest
A reason the quest is necessary or important to the protagonist
Adversary(ies) to thwart the attainment of said quest
Action that focuses the protagonist's journey towards the quest (with economy of distracting ancillary verbiage)
Attaining the quest - or failing to - and how - by the adventurer
Carve an adventure from the woods, a city street, outer space, inner space, where you imagine, you can travel. Keep it active, keep it real (though fiction{e:wink), engage the senses, elements to weave an experience for the adventurer - and reader.
{u}What elements make a journey a quest? {/u}
Consider asking your character the following questions ~ the answers your character gives will help define the story or poem - give it sentient life. You may or may not show all the answers in the story, or reveal them as the adventure unfolds, but your adventurer knows them, your reader may intuit them, and they actively guide the adventurer (and your pen).
What is the goal?
What is the significance of the goal?
Why Must the adventurer attain this (emphasis with intent)?
Are others vying for this goal? If so, will they do battle or set up obstacles?
Is it a race? What happens if someone/something else wins?
How will the adventurer benefit personally from attaining the goal?
Will others benefit from the adventurer's attaining the goal?
What is the danger of not attaining the goal?
Is attaining the goal the end? If not, then why do it?
As the story or poem takes on its life, more questions will come to mind, and your adventurer's answers will guide your pen to actively share the adventure with your readers
There is so much action and adventure in life, past and present, and future - to incite the muse creative to wax prosaic and poetic. I hope you enjoyed our brief journey today and maybe there are some questions you have for your adventurer that will incite an adventure in response to a quest.
Write On !
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading |
Now, what you've been waiting for, some adventures for your summer reading, and reviewing, pleasure then take us on one of your own {e:wink{
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| | A Summer Quest (E) Stuck at his grandmother's for the summer, Lloyd discovers a surprising secret. #2156889 by Jeff |
| | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #2160770 by Not Available. |
| | Invalid Item This item number is not valid. #2166208 by Not Available. |
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Thank you for joining me on this quest for adventure. Until we next meet, may your 'adventures' be creative, satisfying, and safe
~Wishing you a fun quest for your next adventure. Until the next time,
Write On
Kate
Kate - Writing & Reading |
ASIN: B01DSJSURY |
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