It was an ancient time, with wandering minstrels, conteurs and their astonishing tales. Into this serene and picturesque civilization, marred only by constant bloody wars of religion and ambition, came a story, a tale. Where it came from, and where it began, were lost in the graveyards of time. Some people said the tale always was, or had come from the darkest parts of our minds, or was told to God by a hanged man strangling on a rope. The tale was whispered from realm to realm. At first, it … [Read more...]
“Why There Are People” / Memorable Fancies #1160
[“Enough people entered your life, to make stories.” – Sylvia Plath] That was their purpose. I gave them character, an arc, reversals, the occasional epiphany in contrast to their pointless existence. Most of them didn’t appreciate my efforts, so I stopped telling them their purpose in life. Now they have no purpose. They’ll be sorry. <END> … [Read more...]
Point of View in Fiction: Elements and Choices – a short course
Taking a one-day timeout from our daily microfiction, today's post is a short course called Point of View in Fiction: Elements and Choices, comprising a PowerPoint presentation and the accompanying, and much more detailed, Word document. The two files are attached below. If you have a problem accessing either of them, please contact me via a Comment here, or email terencekuch /a/t/ ymail.com. The Word document also appears below. POV-TerenceKuch POV-Terence … [Read more...]
A Memorable Fancy #251: The Stories
In a far land there are seasonal stories, legends that are told only on a specific day each year, or only in the dry season, or only when observing a winter sunset, and so on. The system is quite elaborate; it’s set forth in the holy books and never changes. One who tells the right story at the wrong time, or the wrong story at the right time, will never achieve anything serious in life. Whispers follow him like the night. <END> ... If quoting or reprinting, please credit … [Read more...]