When a story feels flat

[MrPixel]

That's like driving from Sydney to Melbourne and seeing the signs to Newcastle.

So? You pick up a sexy hitchhiker.

EDIT: Who has a side gig as a nun.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I don't know about that. In the movies, getting naked is usually a good way to attract a serial killer.

Going into a dark house and not knowing what a light switch is, works much better.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I could, but given the other patrons here, we might need to do a security sweep for cameras, microphones, and @djrip hiding under the bed... er... work surface

I flew all the way over to London, and what am I doing? Flirting on Lit! What a professional .

Em

 

[onehitwanda]

I flew all the way over to London, and what am I doing? Flirting on Lit! What a professional .

Em

You're bad for my work ethic. And my work ethic is already abysmal. La la la.

 

[EmilyMiller]

You're bad for my work ethic. And my work ethic is already abysmal. La la la.

Likewise - though I used to be a better girl.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

@onehitwanda
@EmilyMiller

You ladies can hijack my thread anytime.

 

[EmilyMiller]

You're bad for my work ethic. And my work ethic is already abysmal. La la la.

So this work surface. Is it soft and yielding, or cold, hard and shiny. What does it feel like against the skin?

Em

 

[NotWise]

It seems like at 9K words, you're probably going to have to unravel quite a bit of story to make changes -- especially if you've already resolved the conflict.

I can think of two things I've done in the past. I've added an antagonist and I've created a physical challenge. The antagonist can be, for instance, someone who doesn't want that conflict neatly resolved. A physical challenge can be something as simple as a broken bed.

 

[SimonDoom]

Going into a dark house and not knowing what a light switch is, works much better.

There's a hilarious American TV commercial where a bunch of young people are being chased by a serial killer, and instead of opting for the car with its engine running they decide to hide in the shed full of chain saws. It pretty much sums up the way things happen in those movies.

 

[SimonDoom]

Getting back to what Djmac1031 was asking about: my advice is don't force it. If it feels like work to spice it up, maybe leave it alone and move on to something else for a while. You may get an inspiration later for your story to make it come alive for you again.

 

[EmilyMiller]

It seems like at 9K words, you're probably going to have to unravel quite a bit of story to make changes -- especially if you've already resolved the conflict.

I can think of two things I've done in the past. I've added an antagonist and I've created a physical challenge. The antagonist can be, for instance, someone who doesn't want that conflict neatly resolved. A physical challenge can be something as simple as a broken bed.

Or a pit and your accomplice has stolen your whip.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Gotta get to work, but real quick wanna thank everyone for the advice/ replies.

I do have some ideas going forward, can't wait to get home at get back to writing it now.

 

[onehitwanda]

So this work surface. Is it soft and yielding, or cold, hard and shiny. What does it feel like against the skin?

Em

smooth as silk, cool as brand new Egyptian cotton, warm as a heath fire on a snowy night, elegant as the nape of a Geisha's exquisite neck, but, unhappily, prone to quack at ducks.

edit: *hearth fire. A heath fire would be something very different. Like a heath cliff.

 

[EmilyMiller]

smooth as silk, cool as brand new Egyptian cotton, warm as a heath fire on a snowy night, elegant as the nape of a Geisha's exquisite neck, but, unhappily, prone to quack at ducks.

Quacking can be a problem, I agree.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Quacking can be a problem, I agree.

Em

Quacking or que...nevermind.

 

[onehitwanda]

Quacking can be a problem, I agree.

Em

Fortunately there are quack doctors.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Fortunately there are quack doctors.

This is getting so surreal!

Em

 

[onehitwanda]

This is getting so surreal!

Em

I am a mistress of the absurd. Chaos, confusion and disorder, my work here is done!

have we sufficiently derailed this thread yet?

 

[Djmac1031]

I am a mistress of the absurd. Chaos, confusion and disorder, my work here is done!

have we sufficiently derailed this thread yet?

You may have missed my comment earlier, but I said you and @EmilyMiller can derail my thread anytime.

 

[EmilyMiller]

have we sufficiently derailed this thread yet?

We can do better!

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

derail my thread anytime.

I’ve not heard that euphemism before…

Em

PS work!

 

[Djmac1031]

I’ve not heard that euphemism before…

Just remember: it's not the size of the train, it's whether it stays on the rails, offers a smooth ride, gets there on time and delivers it's passengers safely.

(OK wow. Even i admit that was terrible.)

PS work!

I DON'T WANNA.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Just remember: it's not the size of the train, it's whether it stays on the rails, offers a smooth ride, gets there on time and delivers it's passengers safely.

(OK wow. Even i admit that was terrible.)




I DON'T WANNA.

It’s weird. The problems that led to me getting on a flight seemed intractable last week. But sitting together for most of yesterday and this morning and we find that there is light at the end of the tunnel. So I’m waiting on people doing / finding out stuff for a workshop tomorrow, instead of being busy. The stuff I thought I’d be doing myself has either now been done or picked up by someone else. All good I guess.

It’s interesting though that we didn’t make anything like the same progress over Teams, then the time difference doesn’t help.

Em

 

[onehitwanda]

Just remember: it's not the size of the train, it's whether it stays on the rails, offers a smooth ride, gets there on time and delivers it's passengers safely.

(OK wow. Even i admit that was terrible.)

NOT AS TERRIBLE AS THIS

https://media1.giphy.com/media/GpLmqwmHWGc5G/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b952mxh5tt4liixxc628sueto4bn7ca82w1b2v85zwjp&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

 

[onehitwanda]

It’s interesting though that we didn’t make anything like the same progress over Teams

I've found your problem. What do I get?