The Inquisitive Inkpot
Exploring Tales and the Art of Telling
Month: February 2020
How to Sell a Lead
Unlike most types of sales, this one involves no transaction. The agreement is unspoken, and is measured only by the customer’s insatiable desire for more. It’s the sale of a lead character. Last week we talked about the two different strategies to hooking readers,… Continue Reading “How to Sell a Lead”
Sales and Storytelling: the Hook
We’re all familiar with the cut-to-the-chase sales tactics that seem necessary in order for businesses to survive. But what can we learn from the business world if our mission isn’t to close a deal? Lots. It seems that two vastly different types of writers… Continue Reading “Sales and Storytelling: the Hook”
The Case of the Vanishing Character
Do you find it unsettling when people vanish from your life? “Depends on the person,” you say. Fair enough. But in general, when people who formerly played some semi-notable or even regular role in your life leave it, you usually have a sense of… Continue Reading “The Case of the Vanishing Character”
Identity Crisis: the Point of Re-inquiring
Identity Crises come in many forms. And with any luck, they lead to positive changes. This one is no exception. On The Inquisitive Inkpot’s 30th birthday, it has come face-to-face with the reality it can no longer deny: it is something different from what… Continue Reading “Identity Crisis: the Point of Re-inquiring”
Cancer, Monsters, and Catharsis
Have you ever found yourself emotionally unprepared for a book or movie? You know, when you finish it and feel like the wind was just knocked out of you—and not in a good way. There’s a number of ways this can happen: Scenario 1:… Continue Reading “Cancer, Monsters, and Catharsis”
