The Inquisitive Inkpot
Exploring Tales and the Art of Telling
Category: Writing Insights
Ambiguity: the Emotional effect of Memory in La La Land
First, let me ask: have you seen La La Land? If not, do NOT read any further or you will forever rue the day that you let me spoil it for you. Last week we talked about the role of “reflecting” or “recalling” in… Continue Reading “Ambiguity: the Emotional effect of Memory in La La Land”
Triggered: the Power of Memory in Stories
Do you ever think about how much of our lives we spend reflecting? I don’t mean staring into a mirror. And I don’t necessarily mean long, soul-searching contemplations on our inner being. I simply mean pausing to acknowledge or recall the past and its… Continue Reading “Triggered: the Power of Memory in Stories”
What the Author Hoped You Wouldn’t Notice
It’s funny how much of an author’s character we read into his works. We’ve all done it, and often with good reason. Knowing Mark Twain believed in racial equality helps us understand The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a satire. Knowing Arthur Miller’s purpose… Continue Reading “What the Author Hoped You Wouldn’t Notice”
The Story I Distilled With
When I pulled the two notebooks off my shelf and folded back the cover of each, what I saw surprised me. Even though it’s only been a handful of years since I filled them, the penciled handwriting is already fading. Yep. Pencil. I was… Continue Reading “The Story I Distilled With”
The Package that took Six and a Half Years
Here, at the end of a six and a half year long process, the developed, revised, completed product of my mind had been delivered to my doorstep by a person I never got to thank—enclosed neatly between a two-sided cover.
From Grilled Cheese to Paninis: a Literary Journey
Are stories with morals antiquated? I mean, think about it: when was the last time you read a story or watched a movie with a clear “moral” and didn’t inwardly yawn? But we’ve been born and raised on such stories. Everything from Beatrix Potter… Continue Reading “From Grilled Cheese to Paninis: a Literary Journey”
How to Cope with a Trope
Imagine you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, engrossed in a movie or show. The characters are unique, the plot is gripping, the tension is building, and then suddenly your worst subconscious fear comes true— It falls into a trope. NO! Where did… Continue Reading “How to Cope with a Trope”
What Makes the Cut?
We’ve all had that experience of watching one of our favorite books turned into a movie, and finding the movie version vastly disappointing. Hopefully you’ve also had the satisfaction of seeing a good film rendition of a favorite book, but it seems that experience… Continue Reading “What Makes the Cut?”
Literary Osmosis
When you hang around people, you usually start to adopt their mannerisms, turns of phrase, and attitudes. Or at least, theirs begin to influence your own. I’ll let the social scientists give us the details on how that works, but it seems this principle… Continue Reading “Literary Osmosis”
Can You Hear the Story?
Let’s face it: whether you’re a reader, writer, or both, having the right background music can work wonders to get you and your imagination in the mood. A number of scientists, bloggers, and authors have studied the connection between what you listen to and… Continue Reading “Can You Hear the Story?”
