THE STORY SPOT

We writers are imagineers. We are seers. We create emotional experiences for tomorrow’s readers, viewers, and listeners through our stories today. Inventor Jay Walker is the curator of the Library of Human Imagination. The private library is his personal monument to human ingenuity — without which we writers would be lost. It is, without doubt, glorious.

This TED talk offers not only an interesting bit of history about the printed book but also Walker’s take on creativity:

So how do we create? [...We] create by surrounding ourselves with stimuli, with human achievement, with history, with the things that drive us and make us human. The passionate discovery, the bones of dinosaurs long gone, the maps of space that we’ve experienced, and ultimately the hallways that stimulate our mind and our imagination.

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Screenwriter Alex Epstein (of Complications Ensue fame) will be teaching a  webinar in July on one of our favorite subjects: The Hook.

Webinars, as you know, are great, accessible brush-up classes for those in the trenches as well as a low-pressure, low-cost subject intro to new writers.

Support your writing (and Alex’s writing life — full-circle, people) by signing up today.

The Hook – Get your script read!
$69.99
Saturday July 25th from noon-3pm EST / 9am-noon PST
Webinar via Topjian

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Those of you who read THE STORY SPOT regularly will know that we’re fans of screenwriter John August’s highly entertaining and informative blog. Recently, he posted a little video about tightening up the openings of your scenes. Just because it’s screenwriting-focused, doesn’t mean it’s irrelevant to you novelists and memoirists out there.

In a nutshell, the illustrious Mr. August illustrates how to get to the core action of the scene right away while adding a bit of visual color along the way. Good stuff for writers at all levels.

“Writing Better Scene Openings” at johnaugust.com (feel free to click through to his site to read his full post.)

As you probably already know, one gesture from a character can communicate more in an instant that anything they might say in a paragraph of diagloue.

Here is a nice little case-in-point. Behold the music video for “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes. Notice the many, many ways these people are conveying their love without uttering a single word (a nose on a shoulder, stroking a forehead).

G’head. Mute it, even. I dare you.

Bright Eyes’ “First Day Of My Life” from their 2005 album “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” via YouTube and Twitter friend Danmacgregor.

The talks from the TED 2009 conference are finally out! Here is Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the phenomenally popular Eat, Pray, Love, sharing her thoughts on creativity, on how to protect the artist’s psyche while creation happens, and on how to deal when your public is no longer enamored with your work.

Personally, I’d add a bit that includes in one’s perception of success a few factors that do not rely upon the popular vote. But that’s just me. And hey, who doesn’t adore being adored?

Another inspiring and insightful talk on TED — Author Elizabeth Gilbert, February 2009