The Joy of Storytelling
Can you remember the last time you were twenty pages into reading a book when you had to physically resist the urge to read the last page, roll your finger over your nook to it, or, you felt a rush of adrenaline as you anticipated the outcome of a movie?
It was so good, but you had to - wait-for-it.
I only have enough will power to resist the urge in the time it takes to flutter through to the last page of a book, ask myself: ”Do I really want to know how it ends?” and answer: “Heck, yeah!”
It all happens so fast. My eyes are squinting and scanning. I guess because I’m hoping to fool the story’s surprise ending into believing it has successfully concealed itself, until my arrival, the old-fashioned way.
I am my own spoiler alert, but when the story sucks me in from the get-go with an interesting plot and intriguing characters, it’s fun, as a writer, to read the words on the page and observe how the writer has carefully crafted the story in a way that’s so compelling, it keeps me up at night.
It sounds totally lame-mo, but knowing what happens on the last page of a “page-turner,” makes me appreciate the way the entire story unfolds to reveal a seamless ending; as if it has no other choice.
The Puzzling Arts: Connecting Dots, Juggling and Bouncing Balls
Observing the process of someone whose work I respect, helps me to visualize my work creatively, as a giant jigsaw puzzle.
It gives me a little more patience with my own process.
Like the little bouncing ball that bounces over the lyrics on a karaoke screen, observing helps me connect the dots: reading, writing, listening, playing with phrases, and rearranging the rhythm of words – weaving and threading straight lines that bend, twist and turn – making some sort of sense out of symbols that march together in a single file, shaping word-pictures and story tales.
Magic Words
In the Legend of King Arthur, “Merlyn,” used his magic to set a sword in stone.
Written in stone, were the words: “Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born King of all England.”
When Sir Ector asked Arthur how he came to have the sword, Arthur responded, matter-of-factly: “I thought of the sword in the stone and pulled it out.”
Is the Pen Mightier Than the Sword?
Words are magical, but the real magic lies beneath their surface – void of trickery and deceit.
Having the patience to wait-for-them - just the right ones – is magical too.
But the real essence in the magic of the written word is using them toward a greater, common good.
Then putting pen to paper.
To Be Continued: Television Legends with “Pens”
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{ 8 comments }
hey Mo,
That single long sentence under The Puzzling Arts [3rd para.] is magnificent.
It reminded me of being in The London House [Chicago] years ago listening to the great jazz musician Stan Getz. Every once in a while he would “enter the zone” and do a breathtaking riff. You just did the same thing.
Very special. Goose bumps.
Thanks so much, gt. That was a fun sentence to write and my favorite… thanks for reading and especially for sending feedback. it’s very helpful and much appreciated.
Ha! Your words inspire me to play today, to WAIT for the words—and the wisdom from stone… ”There is romance in the rocks for him who can read their language…the symbols in which the story of the earth is written.” -Willis T. Lee from Stories in Stone
Ohhh, wisdom from the stone – great vibrations… and what a great quote from Willis T. Lee I haven’t read Stories in Stone. Thanks for passing along that info and for your comments.
Hey mosie…so happy you are back with humor me!!
thanks, sher. me too. thanks for reading and posting. hope there are plenty of Yuletide logs on the fire to keep you warm. merry christmas.
Mo,
I also get wrapped in a page-turning book, but I do manage to resist turning to the last page. I love the thrill of tring to guess the ending and then either feeling the satisfaction of having nailed it or the total disbelief that I was completely wrong. Can’t wait to read next part!
You have such good will power. Ha. I can hardly stand the suspense! Probably why I have hard time writing short pieces – just can’t get the words out fast enough – and as you know, but probably why I talk so fast and take an hour to tell you what someone else could say in 10 minutes! Lol
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
Wishing you many blessings and a Merry Christmas.