Adding character to your characters…Conversations about writing…Chad Corrie & John E Murray III

Quote by Jim Henson: “Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.”

This week, we talk about characters, how they start, and how they grow into the breath of their stories…

We are giving away copies of autographed copies of books from some of the authors we have interviewed…you must register for our forums to win…Tell us what you believe the inspiration of this week’s poem was or share one of your own…each will be entered to receive a book.

Short Story Topic – Finding the Golden Path Home

The clouds cleared and the rainbow made its way across the sky. Tiny feet scurried trying to locate the end of the brightly colored ribbon of light. When you lose the magic that brought you to this land and have no other way back to your own home, you keep trying no matter how long it has been between rainbows. Sure, you have maintained those simple party tricks with playing cards, pulling one coin out of random places, and basic mind-reading, but you lack the direction to find the end and true pot of gold…the path back home.

Decide on how you got here in the first place. Decide if you will truly tell this tale in the first person. Decide on the characters met along this most recent path to the end. Decide if the tale continues or silences after this episode. Decide how long this lost soul has remained without his own country. Decide on your path. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it at www.stoyinstitute.com, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Poetry Topic – Seashells

No two seashells are alike, yet they group themselves in the same places. They float and they sink. They migrate and are migrated. Some are flatter than others. Some are smooth and others posses ripples and ridges. Many have various colors that allow them to sparkle in the sunlight and catch your eye as you stroll down the beach. A few others are dull in nature and blend into the glistening sand.

Do you think about hearing the ocean? Do you hear the ocean when holding up a shell to your ear? Are these the same seashells that cover the clam shaped beings that were lost somewhere along the way to the shore? Decide on the adventure these residents of the deep took to reach the surface and share the story in verse. Post it www.storyinstitute.com, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Contact Story Institute at: ramblingverser@storyinstitute.com; 615-431-WRIT(9748); or share a review on iTunes

Running Time: 27 minutes 56 seconds

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Tags: Author conversations, Chad Corrie, character formation, characters, Tales of Tralodren, The Adventures of Corwyn, writing, writing methods, writing podcast, writing tips

Plot your plot…Conversations about writing…Chad Corrie & John E Murray III

Quote by Walt Disney: ““Ideas come from curiosity. When I settle one idea, my confidence takes command; and nothing can shake it, and I am constant to it until it comes a reality. Then I drop it abruptly, and rarely mention it again.”

Poem from John E. Murray, III:

Up, Up, and You get the Picture

Up, up, and away from

The newly formed layers of concrete

Into the cushy pillows of little sleep.

Up, up, and away from

The familiar phases of dark and light

Into the soft glows of the pulsing spark.

Up, up, and away from

The toys of coming technology

Into the papers tending toward history.

Up, up, and away from

Work, friends, and family

Into the solitude of a speck others barely see.

Up, up, and away

Bring back the comfort of yesterday

And, stay lost for a future day.

This week, we talk about plot and where it leads each writer and how each writer leads it…

We are giving away copies of autographed copies of books from some of the authors we have interviewed…you must register for our forums to win…Tell us what you believe the inspiration of this week’s poem was or share one of your own…each will be entered to receive a book.

Short Story Topic – Spirits in the Family

Ghosts are just a part of our imagination and storylines. Ghosts are visions, merely illusions that interact with the residents of this realm only to be shunned and frightened. There is a small family of spirits that somehow bonded, connected together, and decided to live together in an old television. They continually put on shows that they’ve seen either before or after they entered this unique new world. The television was located safely inside a museum, so the family was able to remain and put on the shows each evening.

Decide on the location. Decide on the make up of the family. Is the story just about the ghosts and the tv? Is the story light-hearted? Or, is the story a bit more intense? Decide on the interactions the spirits may have with the living if any. Decide on the personalities of each ghost. Do other relatives come to visit? Or, is it just this small group who became a closer unit? Decide on the path. Decide on the story, and write.

Poetry Topic – Identifying Happiness:

Happiness is a special emotion and unique to each individual. We each experience happiness in our own way. We relate to this word differently depending on our experiences and connections to others. We feel the word based on our internal dictionary. A dictionary created by our own sense of happiness. What is yours? Write about the emotions and post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Happiness is shared here through what we identify with…

Wondrous Happiness

My heart alone can not sustain this wondrous happiness,

But, together alone, the inner greatness may grow,

And emotions sealed long ago, will continue to show.

Stay with me as we share this special journey,

For then the true intensity we may see.

As we tread forward into the future we create,

Let this bond we make test the depths of fate.

Our love will undoubtedly blossom into a full and beautiful flower,

Until then, let us be immersed in the pulsing power

Of the sustained togetherness and wondrous happiness.

By: John E. Murray, III

Contact us at: ramblingverser@storyinstitute.com; 615-431-WRIT (9748) or share a review on iTunes

Running Time: 20 minutes 44 seconds

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Tags: Author conversations, Chad Corrie, plot, Tales of Tralodren, The Adventures of Corwyn, writing, writing methods, writing podcast, writing tips

Visit with us this week as we talk with Chad Corrie (www.chadcorrie.com) about setting and creating a solid foundation on which to build your story…

Setting up what follows…Conversations about writing…Chad Corrie & John E Murray III

Quote by Margaret Atwood

Poem from Mark Sengenberger – Me Change

This week, we talk about setting and where it leads each writer…

We have a new forum at Story Institute at www.storyinstitute.com/forum

Short Story Topic – Romance by Chance or Circumstance

Poetry Topic – Carnivals

Running Time: 23 minutes 35 seconds

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Tags: Author conversations, Chad Corrie, setting, Tales of Tralodren, The Adventures of Corwyn, writing, writing methods, writing podcast, writing tips