I haven't played with them yet, but they seem like a unique game and terrific for fostering creativity.
Whether you use them alone, with your parents, with your kids, in a small group or a large party, these little cubes seem very malleable to any situation. The pack comes with 9 cubes, which equates to 54 images, 10 million combinations and infinite stories.
I ganked this from a description of a writing workshop in Madison. I'd go but it costs $55... and I think I am getting everything I need from you all! Rock on us!
Here is a slightly summarized version.
William Faulkner said the novel “begins with a character… Once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.”
All stories are about people, so start by visualizing the people who inhabit it. Once you get to know your characters, your characters will help you write your novel—every step of the way. Once you have your character – add in conflict.
Struggles reveal the true nature of characters, and without really letting your readers get to know the characters of your story, your readers will be hard-pressed to stay engaged. Idealized characters whose lives go on without a hitch might be fun to fabricate, but they bore the reader.
Character conflict informs the whole structure of the novel and the plotline. As tension escalates, readers are either won or lost. How do you create an intriguing, unique plot that wins over your readers and keeps them interested? Begin by becoming intimately familiar with your main characters, inside and out. Make your characters:
Credible: Details! Use particulars that evoke your character’s world, and you’ll create dynamic characters who respond to conflict in a believable way.
Surprising: Combine familiar characteristics with unexpected traits. This provides room for internal conflict, and great potential for external tensions. Imperfections and quirks make your characters believable.
Devilish and Angelic: Characters are never all good or all bad. The combination of contrary traits heats things up. Flaws and vices mean vulnerability, which equals potential for tension.
Tried and True—with a Twist: In trying times, a character’s true nature is revealed. Situations force your characters to make choices—and leave them to deal with the consequences. The more difficult the choices, the greater the conflict, and the better the payoff for the character—and your story.
Interconnected: Characters, like ourselves, don't find it easy to take difficult paths. Antagonists, the external environment, family, and friends all compel your characters to make choices. With every relationship comes the potential for conflicts, and a stronger more riveting story.
Read the full description of the course by clicking HERE, and if you are in Madison, WI on Saturday Jan. 30th 2011 from 12:30 to 4pm... then by all means feel free to sign up for the class. It looks like it will be good.
Listen to Elizabeth Gilbert talk about the creative genius that lives in your wall.
When the pressure of being creative is growing unbearable, tell the muse of creative impulses, which so often strikes at inopportune times, to bug off until a more appropriate time.
I have begun to search online using keyword searches such as, "how to host a creative writing group." Lots of the suggestions include having snacks and tea/coffee... well that is not going to work for us... so how are we going to do this? I am boldly (maybe fool-hardily) jumping into the unknown. There are logistical things to think upon, such as
how to post our writing, should it be via the blog or might we have a link from the blog to a wiki, which enables us to upload files and allows each of us editing capabilities.
Then there are issues that need to be decided upon, such as
Should we submit writings early?
What does one do if he/she needs or wants to submit late or not at all?
How do we talk about each others' writing? Do we make comments, suggestions, critiques, compliments?
Should we define what we each hope to get out of this -- write about the question, "why spend time writing?" or the q, "why be creative; what is the use or benefit of being creative?"
There may be more things that come up - and as they do, I hope that we address them collectively.
"There is an urban legend (which may be true) floating around that a study was done of two writing groups at Harvard University. One group gave only positive feedback to its members. The other group tore each other’s work apart. When the two groups were followed up ten years later, none of the critical feedback group members were still writing. The positive feedback group members were all writing and two of them had won Pulitzer prizes for their work."
Let me know what you think. Thank you for participating. -
Check out the interview with Lynda Barry on this NPR show from the program, To The Best of Our Knowledge; she talks about writing. Listen now! Here are a few little tid-bits from the interview:
If you can freeze frame memories and put it down on paper - then you can write.
Write for short periods of time, Lynda suggests eight minute chunks.
The thinker is a guy who will never have an idea in his life.
Create for no reason except to be creative.
Write down the first 10 images that come to mind with a random word.
Orientate your story in space and time, know the details of the place.
Check out her book,What it is, it is a book about writing that is not just about writing.
Ted talks: fun stuff --- maybe this video will inspire your writing for our first assignment! Liquid Networks Go have a cup of coffee - then a conversation - then write!
