November 26, 2023,

We all have a great novel in us.

We really do.

Each and every one of us. Why?

We are all raised differently. Even in the same household. One child embraces the parent’s program while another child rebels against it. Therefore, the parents tend to react to and treat both children differently.

Even if they don’t want to.

Let’s take baby steps and expand.

Though they live in the same neighborhood, each sibling has a very different experience within that village. They grow to have different friends who influence different input.

Then off to high school.

One child becomes a star athlete, is very good looking and embraces attention. The other sibling is moderately athletic, likes certain types of students and is click embracing.

Starts engaging in sexual activity early with the, so called, wrong crowd.

So, even within the same family, raised by the same parents, each child would write a very different story about their life experiences.

What makes any novel worth reading is the creativity factor.

Most of us know of the basics.

Man vs self, man vs nature and man vs others. The big three.

That is the starting place, but where do you go from there?

Be creative.

Let’s look at some basic movie formulas and see where you would take the storyline.

Ready?

You found out you have inherited a beautiful home in a warm mountain community after a distant wealthy relative dies. You drive up to the home, are mesmerized by its beauty and surroundings, take out your key, open the door and there is a beautiful woman sitting inside waiting for you.

Time to write.

Okay, best-selling author. Who is she? How does your protagonist react when seeing her?

What do you think?

Let’s have some fun and go different directions with this.

Is the woman there to harm you? Is there a revenge factor?

Is she a real estate agent, heard about you, tried to call you but your cell phone couldn’t get reception and you missed her call?

Is she there to tell you about your wealthy relative and that she is one of her children by a secret lover and wants to stake a claim? (Lifetime Movie possibility here).

She looks familiar. Is she you, years into the future, and as you came through the mountains, time changed on you? If she is, how long will it take you to find that out?

Is this gorgeous woman a gift for your enjoyment?

Are you really a protagonist or a despicable person in waiting?

Do you see our point? As a writer you can take this so many creative directions.

Shall we try another one?

You live in a family of five and one day you wake up on a Saturday morning and to your shock, everyone is gone. What do you do? Where do you go with this storyline? Time for some possibilities.

First you try their cell phones and all four of them ring, in the living room.

They all go to voice mail.

Now for some creativity.

Is it your birthday and they are all playing tricks on you?

Or, are they all tied up and locked up in the basement?

Have they been kidnapped?

Are you in a dream and don’t know it?

Hey, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Let’s turn to film.

Here is a movie we thoroughly enjoyed, would have taken it a completely different direction but except for a few storyline weaknesses, loved the surprising direction it went.

Fair Play is a 2023 American erotic psychological thriller film written and directed by Chloe Domont, in her feature directorial debut. It stars Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan, and Rich Sommer.

The film follows a young couple whose relationship starts to unravel following an unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund firm.

Fair Play premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023, and was released in select theaters on September 29, 2023, before its streaming release by Netflix on October 6, 2023. The film received positive reviews from critics.

So, here is what we saw.

Initially the couple were so enamored with one another, he was ready to perform oral sex on her in a high end party restroom.

They work at the same company (very bad idea).

She tells him she overheard that he is about to get a promotion.

Elation, all around.

Pump the brakes.

Actually, she gets the promotion. He doesn’t. Question for you?

As a writer, where do you take it from here?

For example, will the storyline follow the time tested premise that women can only be attracted to a superior male who makes more money than them? Has a higher career pathway than them?

This movie says yes.

As you might guess, their relationship absolutely begins to unravel as she now becomes his boss, makes far more money than him and has access to the big boys club, which she embraces.

The only criticism we have of this movie is, his mistakes and poor behavior eventually gets severely punished. Her, at times horrific behavior, gets ignored and the director, Ms. Domont, lets her completely get away with it. Paints her as a heroine when she contributed quite a bit to the downfall.

Us?

We would write it where there are consequences for both of them.

We suggest you watch this movie and discuss it among friends.

That’s our thoughts. We always like to get a differing point of view so let’s walk over to the bookstore.

The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing Reprint Edition

By Alice LaPlante (Author)

A Los Angeles Times bestseller: wonderfully lucid and illuminating, Alice LaPlante’s guide to writing fiction “recalls Francine Prose’s bestseller, Reading Like a Writer” (Library Journal).

“The Making of a Story is a fresh and inspiring guide to the basics of creative writing―both fiction and creative nonfiction.

Its hands-on, completely accessible approach walks writers through each stage of the creative process, from the initial triggering idea to the revision of the final manuscript.

It is unique in combing the three main aspects of creative writing instruction: process (finding inspiration, getting ideas on the page), craft (specific techniques like characterization), and anthology (learning by reading masters of the form).

Succinct, clear definitions of basic terms of fiction are accompanied by examples, including excerpts from masterpieces of short fiction and essays as well as contemporary novels. A special highlight is Alice LaPlante’s systematic debunking of many of the so-called rules of creative writing.

This book is perfect for writers working alone as well as for creative writing classes, both introductory and advanced.”

Sounds wonderful. Inspiring even.

So, there you go.

Are you ready to bring your story to the world in a very creative way?

You can.

You should.

~ ~ ~

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Play_(2023_film) 

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