Started off on media bistro this morning, and found my way here. Again apropos. I like how even here, in the seeming chaos and of the Internet, like attracts like, and patterns emerge.
Later my mother sent me a link to this fascinating review of Winifred Gallagher’s Rapt; a book I now very much want to read.
From there the day fragmented into lots of email, a little twitter, and thankfully a lot of writing. (Saw this post, via Twitter, and started wondering is conflict essential to all good fiction?
What do you think? I am very interested in hearing your ideas on this…
Also watched So You Think You Can Dance, which I adore, because as I’ve said here before: if I could have a talent bestowed upon me, it would be the ability to dance.
It was a roller coaster day though. Storm clouds, indecisive rain, sallow sun, moods getting tossed all around our house. One of those days where everything seemed annoying: Bean’s loud sing song voice, the way he is inclined to DASH everywhere lately, Sprout’s new inclination to spit up gallons of sour milk without any warning whatsoever, the never ending dampness that has become this summer, and one too many issues with the poultry (the chicks escaped again–and the same hoopla of chasing them around a very sharp pine tree in the rain, in the mud, that occurred two days ago, took place again today.)
It should also be noted, as somewhat of a highlight, that our goose hatched a baby chick today. Chick, as in chicken. Long story. I’m not sure if it will survive. Something in me isn’t quite sure she’ll know how to mama a baby that small and fluffy (I’ll post pictures tomorrow!) but when I checked on her this evening the little chick was tucked in on her back, at the nape of her neck, peeping away. She’s still sitting on two other eggs. Here’s to seriously hoping she’ll figure it out. I’ve kind of had enough poultry drama for a while.
Honestly it was one of those days where I kind of wished I lived somewhere utterly urban: full of angles and elbows, people wearing black, umbrellas, pointy shoes, bustling bodegas, sharp lines, bright lights. I’d happily settle willingly for anywhere sunny though. Then I could throw a garden party just like this (found via a friend on facebook.)
What were your media moments today?
Well. I was better today, but still embarrassed by how much I like to waste time. I started out with email, then facebook. I only spent about 15 minutes on the computer though. I had to take my kids to their class. On my way home I decided to stop and pick wild black raspberries that are delicious. Again with email and facebook and then I checked in on my bloggy friends. I don’t have every blog I read hooked up to an RSS feed, so I go and check them. Since I am so mind-boggling close to finishing my thesis, I decided to cook a huge meal that took the rest of the afternoon. (My husband was shocked. He thought it was thanksgiving.) I checked email and facebook one more time, and watched a DVD of LOST. I read the A section of the Minneapolis paper. I think that is all. At least I didn’t play any games on faceboook tonight. I fall into that when I want to avoid the rest of my life. Today I used cooking as my escape mechanism. It was Yummy!
I forgot to mention that I sat and watched webisodes at watchtheguild.com – which is the ultimate media addict parody.
I got up early today and caught up on email and my reader. Only turned on the tv for So You Think You Can Dance (and I think the right people got sent home). And am now accounting here before heading to FB for a few before turning in.
In between all that media consumption, I went shopping, visited with my sisters, checked some consignment shops for a piece in my dining area (no dice), then came home and grilled halibut and asparagus spears for dinner.
I’ve had no real media moments all week, despite catching a bit of the Obama speech in Russia and the Jackson memorial on CNN (oy vey). I often wish I lived somewhere very urban, though. OFTEN! But not always
Conflict essential to all good fiction?
I believe it is — thinking about my own writing and the study of literature, poetry, and all that I did in undergrad — yes, essential.
How do you develop as a person? Through conflict and resolution. How do you develop a character? The same way.
There can be no denoument if there is no conflict or rising action or climax. Readers get hooked when they invest in a character enough to see how situations resolve.
Even cheesy romance novels — where the reader always KNOWS that love will win out in the end — even those novels have to have conflict. How else will the end feel like a reward? Granted, much conflict in romance novels is very contrived — but still essential.
A Farewell to Arms, Romeo and Juliet, Tender is the Night, Death of a Salesman – and on and on — conflict. Mental, physical, situational conflict. Something to resolve — or else it’s just a character sketch or a lovely worded story.
My opinion — long opinion — but you asked!!!!!