Tag: Writing as a Craft
-
Writing as a Craft: Getting Back into My Routine…in a New Environment
Late Morning, Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s a warm, humid, and somewhat cloudy day in the subtropical zone. As I write these words, the temperature is 81°F (27°C) under mostly cloudy conditions. With the wind blowing from the east-northeast at 12 MPH (19 Km/H) and humidity at 64%, the heat index…
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Got Any Hobbies?
Jim Garraty, a history professor, balances his time between teaching and diverse hobbies like building model kits and playing classic computer games. His girlfriend Maddie, a pianist and stamp collector influenced by her diplomatic family, shares a deep intellectual connection with him, rooted in a mutual appreciation for history and music.
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: My Twist on the ‘Meet Cute’ Trope
The discussion revolves around the “meet cute” trope in storytelling, specifically in romance genres. While the author acknowledges its challenges, they reflect on their own successful execution of it in their novel featuring Jim Garraty. In a noisy Brooklyn nightclub, Jim encounters a captivating stranger, Maddie, whose eloquence and charm draw him in. Their conversation…
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Outline THIS!
“Reunion: Coda” intertwines Jim’s high school and college professor years, exploring his emotional journey towards love. The narrative follows Jim’s struggles with unexpressed feelings for Marty, his romance with Maddie during his teaching career, and eventual reconciliation of his past. It emphasizes personal growth, emotional conflict, and unconventional romantic resolutions.
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Meet the Parents!
In the moments leading to Marty introducing Jim to her parents, the atmosphere is filled with curiosity and tension. As they stroll through a picturesque campus, Jim feels anxious about the unexpected introduction. The meeting, filled with pleasantries, reveals Jim’s aspirations to study history at Harvard. Afterward, the farewell between Marty and Jim is poignant,…
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: A (Physical) Conflict Scene
The scene unfolds with a professor navigating Manhattan post-date when confronted by a former student, Miguel Hernandez. Angered over a perceived academic injustice, Miguel physically attacks the professor, expressing his resentment and challenging ideological differences. The confrontation escalates until police sirens cause Miguel to flee, leaving the professor shaken but unharmed.
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Jim’s Backstory (The Teen Years Before ‘Reunion: A Story’)
Jot down the backstory of your hero – what made him the way he is? What about him can and should change? What can’t? Since Jim Garraty’s character develops between the Present Day sections of Reunion: A Story (February 1998) and Reunion: Coda (February 2000), we will focus on “teenage Jim” as introduced in the…
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Five Character Traits – Jim Garraty
The Reunion Duology follows Jim Garraty through two significant life stages: his teenage years in high school and his mid-30s as a professor. Key characteristics of Jim include intelligence, compassion, humor, reserve, and sentimentality, reflecting his growth and emotional struggles. Each phase brings unique qualities that shape his character.
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Lovers’ Quarrel?
James and Maddie, navigating through NYC traffic, argue over their plans for the evening. Maddie, exhausted from her flight, expresses frustration at James’s insistence on getting her home. Despite the tension, their conversation reveals their desire to be together, ultimately leading to a compromise as they seek connection amidst their concerns.
-
Writer’s Shop Talk: Of Brothers…and Sisters
Jim Garraty, an only child, forms a close bond with his friend Mark, who plays a protective older brother role. Mark’s relationship with his younger sister Leslie is mostly loving. Maddie had a strong bond with her younger sister Libby, who excelled in music before her premature death, leaving Maddie deeply affected.
A Certain Point of View, Too 