Read WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN in previous installments. Continuing – Question 5: WHY The question of motivation has been discussed a lot, to the point of being made fun of. Remember that immortal exchange in ‘Galaxy Quest’: “You’ve got to … Continue reading
Category Archives: YA
Read WHO, WHAT, WHERE in previous installments. Coninuing – Question 4: WHEN It isn’t a coincidence that stories told to all of us in our childhood used to begin with “Once upon a time…” The concept of a moment in … Continue reading
Read WHO and WHAT in previous installments Continuing – Question 3: WHERE The setting of any given story is neither more nor less than context – and context matters a great deal. It determines what KIND of story may … Continue reading
Danny by Steven Harper Mom’s in her ignore phase again, and today I biked around the lake to Uncle Zack’s. He makes his living from a little cluster of cottages he owns on Lake Trick. In the summer he rents … Continue reading
Read Part 1, WHO, last week. Continuing – Question 2: WHAT You’ve heard about tropes? There are several definitions of the word, but the one that applies here is “a common (or overused) plot or story device”. The publishing/media world … Continue reading
Before reporting became a dying craft, every newbie was taught that a news story had to answer five fundamental questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why … and sometimes, How. In fiction, these questions are just as fundamental. The difference is … Continue reading