Okay, so you know that characters in any novel need to be unique and one-of-a-kind. They need to have specific qualities that either help them or deepen the conflict.
You also know that a good novel should have a theme, or something that can be taken away from the story and effect lives. For themes, dig deep inside yourself- keeping in mind what sets your blood to a boiling temperature. Do you hate it when people mistreat people of different skin colors? Is abortion particularly abhorrent to you? Do you threaten to call the cops when you see teenagers road-racing (a novel on taking the things God gave us seriously, maybe?)? Or perhaps you want something more spiritual. Salvation happens to be a favorite among the Christians. In this case, you should have your lead go through a rough, bumpy time that draws him or her to God. No reader will relate to a lead who follows God without a second thought!
But how can you tie your theme and your character(s) together as do some of the most successful plots? By the journey the character takes- by the plot events themselves.
Perhaps the best and most widely used example of this is Charles Dickens's The Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is a lean, mean, money-making machine (and not to mention selfish and crabby) until The Ghosts visit him. These three individuals lead him through his past, present, and future. But there is a catch- the future can still be changed! As you probably know, the future changes and so does Scrooge. As I stated before, this is a very good example of something every writer should understand. Something known in our business as the "character arc".
Note in our example how the story is constructed. It revolves around the theme (the virtues of being a good person). Indeed, the conflict is the theme itself! All plot points strive toward one goal- making Scrooge a better person.
In the beginning, we are presented with a character, Ebenezer Scrooge. From the get-go, we're told that he's unpleasant and selfish, and soon Dickens backs this claim up with sufficient glimpses of Scrooge interacting with the people around him. By the end, Scrooge is a different man. Where did the change happen, and how did Dickens accomplish this?
The answer is simple- through the plot. That's the character arc. It's using your character's weaknesses to create further conflict, then using the plot to somehow create a change in your character. But be careful you don't go right out and tell your reader what the change is! This is exposition in the extreme, and it can be a big damper on the sales of your book. Since your character is the one doing the changing, show it in the actions and choices your character makes while catching on to the lesson in play. If done right, this should produce a beautiful, clear combination of character, conflict, and theme.
Okay, so how do you create the character arc? First, get a theme in mind. The rest is a duet between the plot and the character in question. For the best kind of character arc, think about your character's weaknesses. Is she proud? Does he think honor is to be sought above all else? Does she think she can live her life without God? Is he calloused and uncaring? Abusive? Impatient? The possibilities are endless.
Now, pick a weakness you want to have changed by the end of the book. What's the opposite of the weakness? For the girl who believes she can live her life without God, the opposite is living her life following in God's footsteps. What plot events drive her towards (and through) that change?
If you've already planned your plot, examine how you challenge your characters. The best authors corner their characters- they attack them from the outside-in and the inside-out, only providing an outlet for escape once the story has run its course. Consider the conflicts that attack your character's inner soul, question their morals and everything they've every believed in. How does your character reply to these attacks? Through attack and reply, your character should battle her way through the arc until you reveal to her an outlet, the light at the end of the tunnel. And when she comes out of that tunnel, she should be changed.
The character arc will make or break you. It has to be (simultaneously) subtle, stamped in bold letters over everything, and realistic. Moreover, it has to come from two sources- the plot and the character. Creating inner conflict (the stuff in the plot's chemistry that churns the wheels of the character arc) will be discussed later. Good night!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
An Insight on My Latest Work....
Night cloaked the earth in a robe of darkness. Creaking in protest, the trees swayed beneath the blow of the wind. Branches protruded into the path, their arms reaching for anything in their way. Lucrious fitted an arrow to his string, breath puffing at his lips. It would not be long now...he could hear her footsteps in the distance....
So begins my latest work, The Blood of the Lamb. It is one of my favorite plot lines so far and probably the best I've produced in a while.
While I'm explaining to you a bit about this book, I want to show you a little bit of what I do. By now everyone should know that writing a novel takes more than just sitting down to write. It also takes dedication, perseverance, adn the ability to survive the arduous tasks of creating characters as well as a good story.
First, as a fledgling novel, this book was just a certain snapshot of two lovers, brought together by some divine providence to a woodland path in the middle of the rain. That's how many of my story ideas come to me- very random scenes that just happen to pop into my head and say, "Hey! I'm your next bestseller- write me!"
But sometimes I don't begin work right away because I'm writing another book. However, sooner or later, something convinces me to write my novel idea.
This time, it was a bit more dramatic than others. My friends and I went to the midnight showing of Prince Caspian, and, naturally, that fired my desire to begin work on the very fantasy/adventure/romance idea that had been brooding in my mind for weeks.
The next step I tried (which works well for individual scene-plotting), was setting dialogue to that particular part. At this time in the process, the writer gets to begin experimenting with the whys and hows of the story. Why in the world would a girl and boy be crazy enough to be getting their elegant clothing sopping wet?
It's not exactly an intellectually intelligent question, but it's a start. And you'd be surprised at what can happen. For instance, one of the answers to a question aroused by an early-on scene was that my hero should find out that my heroine is engaged to his evil brother. And that would lead me to the question why is she engaged? How did he find out? Or even, why did she hide it from him?
A whole new list of possibilities opens up. Of course, I won't use every possible answer (and by the time the book is hopefully out into the world, that part may have been edited out), but I will pick what I believe is best for the story and interests the reader.
That brings another important topic to my mind- interest. It's vital to the survival of many books, since readers are less likely to finish a novel which holds no interest for them. How do you supply that interest?
Let's think about it this way. My hero and heroine, who fall in love even though they are prince and princess of two countries who are at war with one another, are on a mission to destroy a brooding evil that is silently preparing to devastate both countries. How would you like it if, on the first try, my two leads achieved their goal? It most likely wouldn't be the book you'd be telling all of your friends to read, would it?
Of course not! Readers read to experience the hurdles of life and worry how the characters are going to get over them, not to have the full story served on a platter in chapter 1. So, what I try to do in my stories is heighten the tension with each advancing plot part. What if my heroine is trapped in a cell awaiting her execution and her only hope is her best friend...who betrays her by giving away the plot to free her, as well as valuable information, to the enemy?
See how it works? Now the poor girl is in a cell all alone, her plans discovered, awaiting her execution, and not knowing who she can trust. And on top of that, her opponents are about to crush everything she's worked so hard to gain! So, what does she do about it?
That would be my next question, but I think you get the point of this little lesson. I hope that through this you have had a glance at just some of the hard work that goes into writing. Well, it's late and I should go. Hopefully, I'll be getting some more about this book on here. See you then!
So begins my latest work, The Blood of the Lamb. It is one of my favorite plot lines so far and probably the best I've produced in a while.
While I'm explaining to you a bit about this book, I want to show you a little bit of what I do. By now everyone should know that writing a novel takes more than just sitting down to write. It also takes dedication, perseverance, adn the ability to survive the arduous tasks of creating characters as well as a good story.
First, as a fledgling novel, this book was just a certain snapshot of two lovers, brought together by some divine providence to a woodland path in the middle of the rain. That's how many of my story ideas come to me- very random scenes that just happen to pop into my head and say, "Hey! I'm your next bestseller- write me!"
But sometimes I don't begin work right away because I'm writing another book. However, sooner or later, something convinces me to write my novel idea.
This time, it was a bit more dramatic than others. My friends and I went to the midnight showing of Prince Caspian, and, naturally, that fired my desire to begin work on the very fantasy/adventure/romance idea that had been brooding in my mind for weeks.
The next step I tried (which works well for individual scene-plotting), was setting dialogue to that particular part. At this time in the process, the writer gets to begin experimenting with the whys and hows of the story. Why in the world would a girl and boy be crazy enough to be getting their elegant clothing sopping wet?
It's not exactly an intellectually intelligent question, but it's a start. And you'd be surprised at what can happen. For instance, one of the answers to a question aroused by an early-on scene was that my hero should find out that my heroine is engaged to his evil brother. And that would lead me to the question why is she engaged? How did he find out? Or even, why did she hide it from him?
A whole new list of possibilities opens up. Of course, I won't use every possible answer (and by the time the book is hopefully out into the world, that part may have been edited out), but I will pick what I believe is best for the story and interests the reader.
That brings another important topic to my mind- interest. It's vital to the survival of many books, since readers are less likely to finish a novel which holds no interest for them. How do you supply that interest?
Let's think about it this way. My hero and heroine, who fall in love even though they are prince and princess of two countries who are at war with one another, are on a mission to destroy a brooding evil that is silently preparing to devastate both countries. How would you like it if, on the first try, my two leads achieved their goal? It most likely wouldn't be the book you'd be telling all of your friends to read, would it?
Of course not! Readers read to experience the hurdles of life and worry how the characters are going to get over them, not to have the full story served on a platter in chapter 1. So, what I try to do in my stories is heighten the tension with each advancing plot part. What if my heroine is trapped in a cell awaiting her execution and her only hope is her best friend...who betrays her by giving away the plot to free her, as well as valuable information, to the enemy?
See how it works? Now the poor girl is in a cell all alone, her plans discovered, awaiting her execution, and not knowing who she can trust. And on top of that, her opponents are about to crush everything she's worked so hard to gain! So, what does she do about it?
That would be my next question, but I think you get the point of this little lesson. I hope that through this you have had a glance at just some of the hard work that goes into writing. Well, it's late and I should go. Hopefully, I'll be getting some more about this book on here. See you then!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Phantom of the Opera- Not to be Missed!
Note: If you want to hear some of the music that we heard live from stage, please press the play button on the music player below this post
As a birthday celebration, Mom and Dad bought three tickets to one of Broadway's most famed plays, The Phantom of the Opera, which just happened to be showing at the Majestic Theater in downtown San Antonio. Many of my friends had gone, and even those who had hated the movie came back with raging accolades. Needless to say, I was excited.
Based on Gaston Leroux's Le Fantome de L'Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera spotlights an opera composer who, haunted by his deformed appearance, cowers behind a mask and writes his music from the depths of his lair. When he hears the voice of aspiring opera singer Miss Christine Daae, however, he ventures into the world above to coax her into returning with him and becoming his bride. But when Miss Daae's childhood sweetheart Raoul appears on the love scene, will the Phantom's enraged schemes endanger the lives of all? What awaits Christine if she crosses " the point of no return"? Will she continue to love her "angel of music" or leave this lonely man to his fate?
Now the longest running Broadway play in history, The Phantom of the Opera is truly a visual and auditory treat. I've seen the movie as well, and I must say that the play is even better. The characters are more real, the emotions crisper, the orchestra comes to life, and the singing is superb. Combine that with breathtaking special effects and you've got a play that is every bit as spectacular as the critics write it off as. Aka, if it comes to a stage near you, it is not to be missed!
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Radio Drama- What it's all About
Let's face it: everyone knows that acting is hard. You have to contort your face and perfect your motions until they are believable to an unquestionable extent. But have you ever thought of taking the stage, props, and costumes away from actors and forcing them to remain where no one can see them? These actors can only use their voices. And that is the art of radio drama.
You can imagine how tough it can be. Everyone must pour those expressions and emotions into their voices, with no help from their faces or motions. Having performed in three radio dramas (and our teacher is very intense), I know what it is like to be in one.
After regular drama on Friday mornings, I head over to radio drama. Mrs. Bono, our teacher and director, has already set up her expensive equipment and mics are at the ready. The class takes their seats. Mrs. Bono usually gives a talk about either how much work we have to do, why we should be practicing, or how good we really are. Then we're given the 5 count and the sound crew pulls up track #1, our opening music. Our practicing then starts.
If you think that all there is to radio drama is talking into the mic while you read from your script, your wrong. That's not acting. In order to get it done right, the Shine Radio Drama Group spends weeks jotting their i's and crossing their t's. Not only do they pour the emotions that a person would most likely have in a given situation into their voices, but they must first determine what their character acts like and portray that in their voice. Sound demanding? It can be.
On top of that, our radio drama group spends a good deal of their time going over and over a scene just to make sure that we are in sync with the music and sound effects that our sound crew (which is composed of homeschool students, just like the rest of us) is playing. Why is this so important? Well, often after or during the music, there is a sound effect (say, the shutting of a door) that should be heard when a character says a certain thing. Now what if you could never really tell exactly when it's going to happen? You would have to fit all of the necessary lines in before that sound, otherwise your character would be talking to a shut door instead of another character! This is especially important to our group since we perform live and don't have the advantage of a recording studio.
An interesting fact- Think about your favorite speakers on the radio. Did you know that these people most likely don't sound the same if you talk to them in real life? Jack Riccardi, a news-talk show host that I had the pleasure to be interviewed by, used a totally different voice on the radio as he did off the radio when he was talking non-publicly to me and my friends. You would never recognize his voice. It's the same for everyone else- including me. And everyone's radio drama voice is different from everyone else's.
That's actually how casting is done. Our teachers not only look at our voice acting abilities, they listen to see what kind of radio voice we have. My friend was a very motherly voice, so she often gets the gentle, reassuring characters. I, on the other hand, have a very authoritative voice, which contributes to the amount of narrator parts I have received.
The sound crew is also a vital part of a great performance. Having to be exactly on cue, these unseen and unheard performers must know the whole script like the back of their hands. They're the ones who provide the audio effects, without which our dramas would plummet to failure. They also provide cues, since many lines are meant to be said after the certain sound. A character couldn't vent about a vase shattering unless the vase had already shattered! A tip of the hat definitely deserves to go to the sound crew.
One little anecdote. When I was watching some of our actors practice their parts on the night of the performance, I couldn't believe how physically you could get involved with something so voice-oriented. They looked at each other and interacted, just as they would on a stage or in real life. Although it was their voices that counted, the emotion was also enscribed into their faces. The reality was great, and the chemistry of that practice amazing.
Chemistry. What makes these dramas come to life. It's the chemistry between the actors, sound crew, and everything else. We are more like a radio drama team than a group, and everyone must do their share. And that's what makes the whole experience beautiful; it's not an individual effort, but a team effort.
Next time you hear a radio drama, remember that it doesn't come easy. Many talented people have worked on it to make it shine. In the future, I hope that more and more people will appreciate the work that goes into these dramas and develop a new appreciation for them. And if you ever get the chance to do radio drama, give it a try. You'll be amazed.
As a Shine Radio Drama member, I have some thanks:
First of all, to my Savior and King Jesus Christ, without Whom I wouldn't even be here.
Second, to my wonderful teachers Mrs. Medlock and Mrs. Bono, who go above and beyond the call of duty and make a bunch of wild amateurs look professional.
Third, to my wonderful friends at the Shine Radio Drama Group. Without you guys, none of this would have ever been possible!
Fourth, to my great parents who always find the time for our practices in their already busy schedules.
Technical terms (just in case you're interested)-
5 count- A countdown that starts at five and goes down to one. Usually this countdown is performed manually instead of verbally due to the fact that it will be heard when we record our performance. At the end of this count, the beginning performer will be pointed at, indicating that they should begin.
Off mic- The mic is held at a greater distance from the actor's mouth than usual. This is usually used to create the illusion that the actor is in another room.
Popping your P's- When the mic is too close to the actor's mouth, the letter p starts to make a popping sound. When this happens, we say, "You're popping your p's."
Handhelds- handheld mics (not mics on stands).
You can imagine how tough it can be. Everyone must pour those expressions and emotions into their voices, with no help from their faces or motions. Having performed in three radio dramas (and our teacher is very intense), I know what it is like to be in one.
After regular drama on Friday mornings, I head over to radio drama. Mrs. Bono, our teacher and director, has already set up her expensive equipment and mics are at the ready. The class takes their seats. Mrs. Bono usually gives a talk about either how much work we have to do, why we should be practicing, or how good we really are. Then we're given the 5 count and the sound crew pulls up track #1, our opening music. Our practicing then starts.
If you think that all there is to radio drama is talking into the mic while you read from your script, your wrong. That's not acting. In order to get it done right, the Shine Radio Drama Group spends weeks jotting their i's and crossing their t's. Not only do they pour the emotions that a person would most likely have in a given situation into their voices, but they must first determine what their character acts like and portray that in their voice. Sound demanding? It can be.
On top of that, our radio drama group spends a good deal of their time going over and over a scene just to make sure that we are in sync with the music and sound effects that our sound crew (which is composed of homeschool students, just like the rest of us) is playing. Why is this so important? Well, often after or during the music, there is a sound effect (say, the shutting of a door) that should be heard when a character says a certain thing. Now what if you could never really tell exactly when it's going to happen? You would have to fit all of the necessary lines in before that sound, otherwise your character would be talking to a shut door instead of another character! This is especially important to our group since we perform live and don't have the advantage of a recording studio.
An interesting fact- Think about your favorite speakers on the radio. Did you know that these people most likely don't sound the same if you talk to them in real life? Jack Riccardi, a news-talk show host that I had the pleasure to be interviewed by, used a totally different voice on the radio as he did off the radio when he was talking non-publicly to me and my friends. You would never recognize his voice. It's the same for everyone else- including me. And everyone's radio drama voice is different from everyone else's.
That's actually how casting is done. Our teachers not only look at our voice acting abilities, they listen to see what kind of radio voice we have. My friend was a very motherly voice, so she often gets the gentle, reassuring characters. I, on the other hand, have a very authoritative voice, which contributes to the amount of narrator parts I have received.
The sound crew is also a vital part of a great performance. Having to be exactly on cue, these unseen and unheard performers must know the whole script like the back of their hands. They're the ones who provide the audio effects, without which our dramas would plummet to failure. They also provide cues, since many lines are meant to be said after the certain sound. A character couldn't vent about a vase shattering unless the vase had already shattered! A tip of the hat definitely deserves to go to the sound crew.
One little anecdote. When I was watching some of our actors practice their parts on the night of the performance, I couldn't believe how physically you could get involved with something so voice-oriented. They looked at each other and interacted, just as they would on a stage or in real life. Although it was their voices that counted, the emotion was also enscribed into their faces. The reality was great, and the chemistry of that practice amazing.
Chemistry. What makes these dramas come to life. It's the chemistry between the actors, sound crew, and everything else. We are more like a radio drama team than a group, and everyone must do their share. And that's what makes the whole experience beautiful; it's not an individual effort, but a team effort.
Next time you hear a radio drama, remember that it doesn't come easy. Many talented people have worked on it to make it shine. In the future, I hope that more and more people will appreciate the work that goes into these dramas and develop a new appreciation for them. And if you ever get the chance to do radio drama, give it a try. You'll be amazed.
As a Shine Radio Drama member, I have some thanks:
First of all, to my Savior and King Jesus Christ, without Whom I wouldn't even be here.
Second, to my wonderful teachers Mrs. Medlock and Mrs. Bono, who go above and beyond the call of duty and make a bunch of wild amateurs look professional.
Third, to my wonderful friends at the Shine Radio Drama Group. Without you guys, none of this would have ever been possible!
Fourth, to my great parents who always find the time for our practices in their already busy schedules.
Technical terms (just in case you're interested)-
5 count- A countdown that starts at five and goes down to one. Usually this countdown is performed manually instead of verbally due to the fact that it will be heard when we record our performance. At the end of this count, the beginning performer will be pointed at, indicating that they should begin.
Off mic- The mic is held at a greater distance from the actor's mouth than usual. This is usually used to create the illusion that the actor is in another room.
Popping your P's- When the mic is too close to the actor's mouth, the letter p starts to make a popping sound. When this happens, we say, "You're popping your p's."
Handhelds- handheld mics (not mics on stands).
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Cold War- Cultures Cross in the Icy Battle as Cities, Nations, and Teams Struggle for the Trophy
I submitted myself to the mercy of the freezing rink as I stepped inside of it. The outdoor temperature was 28 degrees, and the ice, walled in as it was, did little to warm me. As I moved towards our team's fans, I watched the entrance of the Thunder and the Scots as they dispersed to their sides of the ice to warm up and rehearse their shots while the goalies got their exercise by blocking them.
The Scots were the only other team that was in our division, and I knew we could beat them. And having lost to the Oklahoma City Blazers (7-2. Brant got the last score, but that game was so much of a blow-out that I won't bore you by going into it) the day before, don't think I wasn't ready for a win.
Amidst shouts of, "Go Thunder!" and many rattles of someone's homemade, hand-held Thunder machines, the Texan teams lined up opposite each other for the face-off.
The puck was dropped- and the struggle that had begun with the Blazers resumed now again with Dallas's Scots.
We managed to hold them for a few minutes, but then a point was added to the scoreboard. A point that was not in our favor.
"Come on, Thunder! Let's get one!" I screamed (yes, we scream in hockey. In fact, some people even use horns).
Minutes flew by. Cheers and disappointed "Ohhhss" were thrust in as necessary.
Finally, we got it back on our end....a shot...a score!
We erupted into ecstasy as the tie was tallied on the board. We were back in the game!
However, not even half a period expired before the Scots scored again. My nerves fluttered in more sincerity.
The buzzer heralded the end of the first period. Congregating about their respective benches, the players from both teams received some quick advice. Then the whistle blew, signaling that it was time for game time to resume.
Like its first period counterpart, the first score went to the Scots. My screaming started to become a little more demanding. Demanding, such as, "Attack him!" and "We need two more, Thunder! Two more!"
The puck flew back and forth, from one team's side to the next. At last, we were able to get a good shot...and the result left us rejoicing.
The second period met its end. Again, the teams got the coach's two cents. However, the fans were left to withstand the calm before the storm.
And a storm it proved to be. It was the battle that would either end our chance at the championship or give us another shot at winning the tournament.
The tension began to mount. 3-2. Just one more point and we would tie the game. And time was already slipping.
Score!
Fog horns, thunder-makers, and enthusiastic cheers orchestrated together in their tuneless song of celebration. We were tied, with plenty of time left to come back!
After about ten to fifteen seconds noise that only the truest of fans can see as something other than noise, the teams lined up again. My heart began pounding.
Our center, Gage, mirrored the pumped emotions of the players as he turned to the crowd and gestured for us to get loud. Laughing, we played along and showed our support by applause and "Whoooos".
The Scots, however, had already lost to us twice this season and weren't about to lose again. They held us at bay, and we held them, not one of us managing to swim head and shoulders over the other. That is, at least for most of the period.
Less than a minute left of regulation. It looked like over time was about to occur. The final seconds sped off the clock. Uh-oh....
The puck was in our zone. We had to stop them. Too late; a shot...and another score! We spent the next few seconds hoping for a miracle, but it didn't come. The end of the game occured. The Scots had beaten us for once; and with 45.7 seconds left on the clock. It was disappointing, but there was nothing we could do now.
Okay, so by now you're probably wondering why I titled it the way I did. Provided that we were in Dallas, you might think that Oklahoma City was crazy to come down and play us. And it's definitely not a bad experience for kids to get together to play each other. But our upcoming game was going to be especially special. Can you guess why? We were playing a team...from Russia.
No joke. Someone had arranged for a couple of talented and rich kids from Russia to come and stay with the families of the Scots's players. I was well aware that we'd probably get blown-out, but I was excited all the same.
3:00 finally arrived. For months, I had awaited the arrival of this time. I made my way out into the rink. White and blue jerseys contrasted with our dark blue, yellow, and silver jerseys. Completely illiterate (and most likely unpronouncible) names were printed on the backs in the Russian alphabet. Only one person on this whole team spoke English.
In fact, one of our players asked a player on the other team "Do you speak English?" and the only reply that came was, "Blralalalala!" (that's obviously not what he really said, it just sounded funny when Brant retold it). I happened to hear some Russian from some of the boys that came over here, and it sounds very unique.
The time for the game finally began. After a bit of a struggle, Russia finally scored. The fans (which were the parents of the Scots players since none of the players' parents had flown over), celebrated by both cheers in English and by communicating their approval with bangs on the glass (which is another not-too-uncommon thing in hockey). They then got two more.
At last, Gage got a hold of the puck and shot it in. The sticks flew over our team's heads in a gesture of triumph. Score!
Horns blasted the potential for silence. The thunder-makers boomed out our victory. Limited in movement as I was with the bench I was standing on, I managed to jump up and down and add my voice to the enthusiastic jumble. "Way to go, Gage!"
The fight proved to be a difficult battle. Neither players would relent to submission, and both goalies skilfully refused the puck an entrance to the net. However, I still found the experience unique and enjoyable.
One time, a man who was working our penalty box (in case you're unfamiliar with hockey, this is where players with penalties go) called his wife and told her to tell us to start saying, "USA! USA!" We just laughed and admitted, as Mom put it, that it was "kind of tacky".
We fought well, but during the third period Russia got an increasing amount of scores and widened the gap, making it 6-1. Two or three of those shots were lucky, however. At one point, even the Oklahoma City players (who were temporarily our fans and were sitting behind the net) were waving their arms back and forth in the "no goal" fashion of the refs.
No matter what the score was, our players managed to hang onto them and gave them a much better, more scrappy game than we had hoped for. Even though the final score was 6-1, many of the fans were saying that we played well, and that if we played that well we could basically give any other team we met a fairly pleasing game.
Despite our loss, our players were thrilled to have played the Russians. Gage, when he reached the doorway to the locker room, said, "I scored against a Russian!"
As our opponents came off the ice, one of the moms managed to get their attention by saying, "Hey, guys! Pictures!"
Several of us began to pantomime pressing buttons on cameras as we repeated the word. "Pictures! Pictures!"
They must feel like zoo animals, I thought as they began to get back on the ice. Still, I'm sure they understand.
If you had walked in the moment those pictures were taken, you would have thought that from the shouts that came from our players that the score was 6-1 in our favor. Indeed, our opponents acted as if they were much more somber than we were.
But hope accompanied the defeat of this game. The Penguins, who we were meeting at nine o' clock the next morning, had lost to the Russians eleven to zilch. We had given our foreign friends a closer game, and after three straight losses, we were ready to win....
Nine o' clock the next morning....
Chill clung to the air everywhere I went. Only the tiny area sheltered from both ice and Mother Nature seemed to embrace us in a fairly warm reprieve. I stood upon the bench once more, watching the players perform their gamely routine of practicing slap-shots.
The clock buzzed. Both teams again went to their benches, and, after the coach revealed his techniques, thrust their hands into the center of their little huddle.
"What time is it?" one player shouted.
"Game time!" chorused the others.
"What time is it?" he repeated.
"Game time!" they answered.
"What time is it?"
"Game time!"
"1,2,3..."
"Thunder!"
As the chants of the players faded into the chilly air, they were replaced by the cheers of the fans. This was our last chance, and we were going to put our heart and souls into not losing.
The puck plummeted to the frigid ground which the players were about to traverse, announcing the arrival of the game. Sticks clashed and bodies smacked as skates sliced the ice.
The first score belonged to the Penguins, and their fans (who turned out to be every bit as wild as we were) screamed their approval. The only thing that came from our mouths was for the consolation of our players.
My heart rate was slowly increasing. Neither side could stop the other.
But wait...the puck was by their net. Our player had it. Conflicting commands jumbled together as both fought achieve their different goals.
The stick met the puck, sending the black little disk hurtling. Score!
Although for some reason the horns and thunder-makers were not present, our cheers compensated for their absence. Now the score was neutral, and we still had more than two periods left!
To my dismay, the neutralness was short lived. The puck sailed past our goalie and into the net. And not only once...but twice.
We were now in to the second period. The game was proving to be riveting; I barely even thought about how cold I was.
The puck was being thrust into their zone again! My heart was now palpitating swiftly.
"Shoot!" I yelled.
Yes! A score! We only needed one more.
The buzzer rang as the period ended. We waited in suspense as some serious game-planning occured on the other side of the ice. This was the last period we would play in the tournament. And we didn't want to leave the false impression that this team wasn't good.
Minutes began ticking off the clock. Wait...our team was skating at the puck. Score!
We heaped our congratulations upon the lucky scorer of this tying goal. As lines shifted, players poured onto the ice and pooled around him, thus revealing their support.
My heart pounded like thunder in my chest. Nerves fluttered. Suspense laid the foundations for tension. The minutes flew until only seconds remained.
32 seconds. The puck was thrust out of their zone. Lucas, one of our centers, skated to meet it, but he couldn't make it to the net.
20 seconds. The little rubbery disk was in our territory. Wait, Lucas had possession and was skating it down again!
15 seconds...10...5...4...
Lucas was only at our opponent's blue line. We were running out of time.
"Just shoot it, Lucas!" I shouted.
The buzzer! Regulation time had ended in a tie! Over time, here we were!
An extra five minutes was added to the clock as everyone took a brief respite. My mind rushed back to last year's championship game against Plano, which had ended in a shoot-out. I looked down the line of fans in which I stood.
This is the calm before the storm, I thought.
And indeed it was. Players from both teams shot at the other's goal. Each team's possession of the puck threatened to decide the game. And at last it did.
A Penguin player skated the puck up. Our defense began to back towards the net.
A shot. Blocked, but not covered. Either emotional or physical engagement clung to us all. Unfortunately, the one who had performed the first shot was no longer a loner, having been followed by his teammates to catch the rebound.
Seconds ticked by. Oh, no! Our goalie, Troy, had his leg up! Upon seeing this, my instincts protested.
"Get it out of there!" ripped itself from my lips.
The whistle was blown while sticks were thrust over the Penguins' heads. Their fans errupted. Players piled onto the ice, some congratulating their victorious teammates and others wallowing in their disappointment. Both teams lined up to say "Good game" to each other before skating off to the locker rooms.
Just to make sure they knew everyone played well, I said as our last two players were getting off the ice. "That's okay, guys. You played well. We're proud of ya!"
Oklahoma City was also there to tells us we had done a good job. They were also talking of their championship game that was at 1:00. It was narrowed down to two teams now.
"Well, good luck," Dad said.
"Thanks," one of the players said.
"Yeah, good luck," I echoed.
And they would need it. Ironically, The Cold War had come down to Russia and America. And Russia was destined to win 2-1.
The Scots were the only other team that was in our division, and I knew we could beat them. And having lost to the Oklahoma City Blazers (7-2. Brant got the last score, but that game was so much of a blow-out that I won't bore you by going into it) the day before, don't think I wasn't ready for a win.
Amidst shouts of, "Go Thunder!" and many rattles of someone's homemade, hand-held Thunder machines, the Texan teams lined up opposite each other for the face-off.
The puck was dropped- and the struggle that had begun with the Blazers resumed now again with Dallas's Scots.
We managed to hold them for a few minutes, but then a point was added to the scoreboard. A point that was not in our favor.
"Come on, Thunder! Let's get one!" I screamed (yes, we scream in hockey. In fact, some people even use horns).
Minutes flew by. Cheers and disappointed "Ohhhss" were thrust in as necessary.
Finally, we got it back on our end....a shot...a score!
We erupted into ecstasy as the tie was tallied on the board. We were back in the game!
However, not even half a period expired before the Scots scored again. My nerves fluttered in more sincerity.
The buzzer heralded the end of the first period. Congregating about their respective benches, the players from both teams received some quick advice. Then the whistle blew, signaling that it was time for game time to resume.
Like its first period counterpart, the first score went to the Scots. My screaming started to become a little more demanding. Demanding, such as, "Attack him!" and "We need two more, Thunder! Two more!"
The puck flew back and forth, from one team's side to the next. At last, we were able to get a good shot...and the result left us rejoicing.
The second period met its end. Again, the teams got the coach's two cents. However, the fans were left to withstand the calm before the storm.
And a storm it proved to be. It was the battle that would either end our chance at the championship or give us another shot at winning the tournament.
The tension began to mount. 3-2. Just one more point and we would tie the game. And time was already slipping.
Score!
Fog horns, thunder-makers, and enthusiastic cheers orchestrated together in their tuneless song of celebration. We were tied, with plenty of time left to come back!
After about ten to fifteen seconds noise that only the truest of fans can see as something other than noise, the teams lined up again. My heart began pounding.
Our center, Gage, mirrored the pumped emotions of the players as he turned to the crowd and gestured for us to get loud. Laughing, we played along and showed our support by applause and "Whoooos".
The Scots, however, had already lost to us twice this season and weren't about to lose again. They held us at bay, and we held them, not one of us managing to swim head and shoulders over the other. That is, at least for most of the period.
Less than a minute left of regulation. It looked like over time was about to occur. The final seconds sped off the clock. Uh-oh....
The puck was in our zone. We had to stop them. Too late; a shot...and another score! We spent the next few seconds hoping for a miracle, but it didn't come. The end of the game occured. The Scots had beaten us for once; and with 45.7 seconds left on the clock. It was disappointing, but there was nothing we could do now.
Okay, so by now you're probably wondering why I titled it the way I did. Provided that we were in Dallas, you might think that Oklahoma City was crazy to come down and play us. And it's definitely not a bad experience for kids to get together to play each other. But our upcoming game was going to be especially special. Can you guess why? We were playing a team...from Russia.
No joke. Someone had arranged for a couple of talented and rich kids from Russia to come and stay with the families of the Scots's players. I was well aware that we'd probably get blown-out, but I was excited all the same.
3:00 finally arrived. For months, I had awaited the arrival of this time. I made my way out into the rink. White and blue jerseys contrasted with our dark blue, yellow, and silver jerseys. Completely illiterate (and most likely unpronouncible) names were printed on the backs in the Russian alphabet. Only one person on this whole team spoke English.
In fact, one of our players asked a player on the other team "Do you speak English?" and the only reply that came was, "Blralalalala!" (that's obviously not what he really said, it just sounded funny when Brant retold it). I happened to hear some Russian from some of the boys that came over here, and it sounds very unique.
The time for the game finally began. After a bit of a struggle, Russia finally scored. The fans (which were the parents of the Scots players since none of the players' parents had flown over), celebrated by both cheers in English and by communicating their approval with bangs on the glass (which is another not-too-uncommon thing in hockey). They then got two more.
At last, Gage got a hold of the puck and shot it in. The sticks flew over our team's heads in a gesture of triumph. Score!
Horns blasted the potential for silence. The thunder-makers boomed out our victory. Limited in movement as I was with the bench I was standing on, I managed to jump up and down and add my voice to the enthusiastic jumble. "Way to go, Gage!"
The fight proved to be a difficult battle. Neither players would relent to submission, and both goalies skilfully refused the puck an entrance to the net. However, I still found the experience unique and enjoyable.
One time, a man who was working our penalty box (in case you're unfamiliar with hockey, this is where players with penalties go) called his wife and told her to tell us to start saying, "USA! USA!" We just laughed and admitted, as Mom put it, that it was "kind of tacky".
We fought well, but during the third period Russia got an increasing amount of scores and widened the gap, making it 6-1. Two or three of those shots were lucky, however. At one point, even the Oklahoma City players (who were temporarily our fans and were sitting behind the net) were waving their arms back and forth in the "no goal" fashion of the refs.
No matter what the score was, our players managed to hang onto them and gave them a much better, more scrappy game than we had hoped for. Even though the final score was 6-1, many of the fans were saying that we played well, and that if we played that well we could basically give any other team we met a fairly pleasing game.
Despite our loss, our players were thrilled to have played the Russians. Gage, when he reached the doorway to the locker room, said, "I scored against a Russian!"
As our opponents came off the ice, one of the moms managed to get their attention by saying, "Hey, guys! Pictures!"
Several of us began to pantomime pressing buttons on cameras as we repeated the word. "Pictures! Pictures!"
They must feel like zoo animals, I thought as they began to get back on the ice. Still, I'm sure they understand.
If you had walked in the moment those pictures were taken, you would have thought that from the shouts that came from our players that the score was 6-1 in our favor. Indeed, our opponents acted as if they were much more somber than we were.
But hope accompanied the defeat of this game. The Penguins, who we were meeting at nine o' clock the next morning, had lost to the Russians eleven to zilch. We had given our foreign friends a closer game, and after three straight losses, we were ready to win....
Nine o' clock the next morning....
Chill clung to the air everywhere I went. Only the tiny area sheltered from both ice and Mother Nature seemed to embrace us in a fairly warm reprieve. I stood upon the bench once more, watching the players perform their gamely routine of practicing slap-shots.
The clock buzzed. Both teams again went to their benches, and, after the coach revealed his techniques, thrust their hands into the center of their little huddle.
"What time is it?" one player shouted.
"Game time!" chorused the others.
"What time is it?" he repeated.
"Game time!" they answered.
"What time is it?"
"Game time!"
"1,2,3..."
"Thunder!"
As the chants of the players faded into the chilly air, they were replaced by the cheers of the fans. This was our last chance, and we were going to put our heart and souls into not losing.
The puck plummeted to the frigid ground which the players were about to traverse, announcing the arrival of the game. Sticks clashed and bodies smacked as skates sliced the ice.
The first score belonged to the Penguins, and their fans (who turned out to be every bit as wild as we were) screamed their approval. The only thing that came from our mouths was for the consolation of our players.
My heart rate was slowly increasing. Neither side could stop the other.
But wait...the puck was by their net. Our player had it. Conflicting commands jumbled together as both fought achieve their different goals.
The stick met the puck, sending the black little disk hurtling. Score!
Although for some reason the horns and thunder-makers were not present, our cheers compensated for their absence. Now the score was neutral, and we still had more than two periods left!
To my dismay, the neutralness was short lived. The puck sailed past our goalie and into the net. And not only once...but twice.
We were now in to the second period. The game was proving to be riveting; I barely even thought about how cold I was.
The puck was being thrust into their zone again! My heart was now palpitating swiftly.
"Shoot!" I yelled.
Yes! A score! We only needed one more.
The buzzer rang as the period ended. We waited in suspense as some serious game-planning occured on the other side of the ice. This was the last period we would play in the tournament. And we didn't want to leave the false impression that this team wasn't good.
Minutes began ticking off the clock. Wait...our team was skating at the puck. Score!
We heaped our congratulations upon the lucky scorer of this tying goal. As lines shifted, players poured onto the ice and pooled around him, thus revealing their support.
My heart pounded like thunder in my chest. Nerves fluttered. Suspense laid the foundations for tension. The minutes flew until only seconds remained.
32 seconds. The puck was thrust out of their zone. Lucas, one of our centers, skated to meet it, but he couldn't make it to the net.
20 seconds. The little rubbery disk was in our territory. Wait, Lucas had possession and was skating it down again!
15 seconds...10...5...4...
Lucas was only at our opponent's blue line. We were running out of time.
"Just shoot it, Lucas!" I shouted.
The buzzer! Regulation time had ended in a tie! Over time, here we were!
An extra five minutes was added to the clock as everyone took a brief respite. My mind rushed back to last year's championship game against Plano, which had ended in a shoot-out. I looked down the line of fans in which I stood.
This is the calm before the storm, I thought.
And indeed it was. Players from both teams shot at the other's goal. Each team's possession of the puck threatened to decide the game. And at last it did.
A Penguin player skated the puck up. Our defense began to back towards the net.
A shot. Blocked, but not covered. Either emotional or physical engagement clung to us all. Unfortunately, the one who had performed the first shot was no longer a loner, having been followed by his teammates to catch the rebound.
Seconds ticked by. Oh, no! Our goalie, Troy, had his leg up! Upon seeing this, my instincts protested.
"Get it out of there!" ripped itself from my lips.
The whistle was blown while sticks were thrust over the Penguins' heads. Their fans errupted. Players piled onto the ice, some congratulating their victorious teammates and others wallowing in their disappointment. Both teams lined up to say "Good game" to each other before skating off to the locker rooms.
Just to make sure they knew everyone played well, I said as our last two players were getting off the ice. "That's okay, guys. You played well. We're proud of ya!"
Oklahoma City was also there to tells us we had done a good job. They were also talking of their championship game that was at 1:00. It was narrowed down to two teams now.
"Well, good luck," Dad said.
"Thanks," one of the players said.
"Yeah, good luck," I echoed.
And they would need it. Ironically, The Cold War had come down to Russia and America. And Russia was destined to win 2-1.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
And Then There Were None- an Agatha Christie book review
"Ten little soldier boys went out to dine,
One choked his little self and then there were nine...."
So begins the poem in each bedroom of the ten guests invited to Soldier Island. Ten guests...and only one knows that none shall ever return.
After dinner one evening, while all are gathered in the living room, a voice is heard, and it accuses everyone present of murder! Then, the number of guests begin to dwindle as, one-by-one, the unknown accusor claims a life. Further more, no one else is on the island save for the dwindling number of guests and the increasing number of bodies. Repelled from each other by fear yet bonded together for security, they must find which one of them is the murderer or none will be left to tell the tale.
This book, often considered Christie's greatest masterpiece, is definitely a winner. Stuffed with shady characters and replete with many twists and turns, not even the reader knows whom he can fully trust. Moreover, the plot is original and genius. A must read for all mystery fans!
One choked his little self and then there were nine...."
So begins the poem in each bedroom of the ten guests invited to Soldier Island. Ten guests...and only one knows that none shall ever return.
After dinner one evening, while all are gathered in the living room, a voice is heard, and it accuses everyone present of murder! Then, the number of guests begin to dwindle as, one-by-one, the unknown accusor claims a life. Further more, no one else is on the island save for the dwindling number of guests and the increasing number of bodies. Repelled from each other by fear yet bonded together for security, they must find which one of them is the murderer or none will be left to tell the tale.
This book, often considered Christie's greatest masterpiece, is definitely a winner. Stuffed with shady characters and replete with many twists and turns, not even the reader knows whom he can fully trust. Moreover, the plot is original and genius. A must read for all mystery fans!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Lecture Four- Description
Have you ever read a book where the author just says something and you can almost feel what just happened? If you're a reader, most likely you'll say yes. How can you accomplish this in your own story? Description.
Description is one of the most enjoyable aspects of writing to me. I know that some people despise it because it involves stringing together words in an almost poetic manner, but I love it.
Description provides the reader with the sights, sounds, textures, and even, if you've done a good job, the smells in your story. You not only want them to see that fire crackling in the hearth, you want them to feel it. What does the rotten meat smell like? What does the steaming stew taste like?
All if this adds reality to your story. Also, it places the reader in the scene, just as if he or she is experiencing the same things as your characters.
However, description does not reach its full capacity by simply stating the facts. Consider the following statements:
The mountains were tall. The grass swayed.
While this might pass as description, it doesn't accomplish quite what it could. Compare it to these statements:
The moutains loomed ahead of us, piercing the clouds, their peaks crowned in snow-white caps. All beneath seemed to pay tribute to them, for even the grass bowed their heads as the wind flowed over them.
This not only tells us all the information we need to know, but lends a mood to the sentences. Although it is never stated outright, we see and feel that the mountains are fearsome.
One rule that applies to every aspect of writing: do NOT be redundant! I have noticed that when I read a book and the author repeats a word that is too conspicuous, I will remember it. Even if it was one hundred pages ago. It's an easy trap to fall into, so be on your guard.
Want to know the secret to writing great description? Learn how to use poetic devices. Alliteration, similes, metaphors, and personification are especially useful tools.
Alliteration occurs when two words start with the same sound (and, although there are exceptions, usually the same word). For example:
Colorful smoke snaked to the ceiling in slow spirals.
Not only does this accomplish the point, but the reader loves the sound of it. If you're experienced enough, you can manipulate the alliteration to do many subtle things, such as reinforce a particular characteristic, or point to someone who is in the scene (in this scene, there is a serpent, and the harsh-sounding s's make a hissing sound).
Similes give a comparison of two things using the words like or as. It is perhaps the most prominent kind of comparison. Here is an example of a simile used in description:
Like a tall tree, she stood rooted to the ground.
Metaphors, like similes, are a comparison of two things. However, a metaphor drops the usage of like or as. These are quite harder to give an example for (how many metaphors can you think of?) but this is my best:
Her eyes were clouds of gray as they penetrated into my soul.
Personification is when a lifeless object is labeled with a life-like quality. This is useful when trying to reveal a mood or feeling critical to that scene. For example:
The gorgeous golden sun glared down at the weary travelers.
This tells tus hat the weather is hot. It also leaves us with the impression that the travelers are a bit oppressed.
Once you have learned to master description, you will be able to do more tricks with it. For now, however, it is best if you just master the bascis of this intricate side of writing. Look up more poetic sound devices, and learn how to apply them to your story. Later, we will really delve into the techniques that will thrill your readers and help to leave them awed and breathless. But that all starts with the basics. Practice them now, and your writing will reach the closest to perfection that it can later.
What mysteries lie in using dialogue? That's next!
Description is one of the most enjoyable aspects of writing to me. I know that some people despise it because it involves stringing together words in an almost poetic manner, but I love it.
Description provides the reader with the sights, sounds, textures, and even, if you've done a good job, the smells in your story. You not only want them to see that fire crackling in the hearth, you want them to feel it. What does the rotten meat smell like? What does the steaming stew taste like?
All if this adds reality to your story. Also, it places the reader in the scene, just as if he or she is experiencing the same things as your characters.
However, description does not reach its full capacity by simply stating the facts. Consider the following statements:
The mountains were tall. The grass swayed.
While this might pass as description, it doesn't accomplish quite what it could. Compare it to these statements:
The moutains loomed ahead of us, piercing the clouds, their peaks crowned in snow-white caps. All beneath seemed to pay tribute to them, for even the grass bowed their heads as the wind flowed over them.
This not only tells us all the information we need to know, but lends a mood to the sentences. Although it is never stated outright, we see and feel that the mountains are fearsome.
One rule that applies to every aspect of writing: do NOT be redundant! I have noticed that when I read a book and the author repeats a word that is too conspicuous, I will remember it. Even if it was one hundred pages ago. It's an easy trap to fall into, so be on your guard.
Want to know the secret to writing great description? Learn how to use poetic devices. Alliteration, similes, metaphors, and personification are especially useful tools.
Alliteration occurs when two words start with the same sound (and, although there are exceptions, usually the same word). For example:
Colorful smoke snaked to the ceiling in slow spirals.
Not only does this accomplish the point, but the reader loves the sound of it. If you're experienced enough, you can manipulate the alliteration to do many subtle things, such as reinforce a particular characteristic, or point to someone who is in the scene (in this scene, there is a serpent, and the harsh-sounding s's make a hissing sound).
Similes give a comparison of two things using the words like or as. It is perhaps the most prominent kind of comparison. Here is an example of a simile used in description:
Like a tall tree, she stood rooted to the ground.
Metaphors, like similes, are a comparison of two things. However, a metaphor drops the usage of like or as. These are quite harder to give an example for (how many metaphors can you think of?) but this is my best:
Her eyes were clouds of gray as they penetrated into my soul.
Personification is when a lifeless object is labeled with a life-like quality. This is useful when trying to reveal a mood or feeling critical to that scene. For example:
The gorgeous golden sun glared down at the weary travelers.
This tells tus hat the weather is hot. It also leaves us with the impression that the travelers are a bit oppressed.
Once you have learned to master description, you will be able to do more tricks with it. For now, however, it is best if you just master the bascis of this intricate side of writing. Look up more poetic sound devices, and learn how to apply them to your story. Later, we will really delve into the techniques that will thrill your readers and help to leave them awed and breathless. But that all starts with the basics. Practice them now, and your writing will reach the closest to perfection that it can later.
What mysteries lie in using dialogue? That's next!
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