Finding Stories in Aphorisms | Fashionable Belief

by Roger Rueff | Jul 9, 2014 | Field Notes

Aphorisms are especially well-suited to generating story ideas, because they often contain recommended approaches or courses of action that serve as kernels for story themes. The trick is in how to tease out the story elements from the kernel. Religion, Fashion, and...

Finding Stories in the I Ching [Overview]

by Roger Rueff | Jun 18, 2014 | Field Notes

The I Ching ("Book of Change"), is an original Chinese classic the origin of which may lie as far back as 3,000 BCE. Is it a source of wisdom? Certainly. A source of story ideas? Now, that's an intriguing proposition. Drawing on Ancient Wisdom For thousands of years,...

Finding Theme in the Inciting Incident

by Roger Rueff | May 28, 2014 | Field Notes

Considering the importance of theme to a story, it behooves the writer to practice finding its hiding places and identifying its species—not to coax it into a cage, but so that she might fully explore the story environment in which it lives. The Importance of Theme...

Finding Stories in Titles [Perfection]

by Roger Rueff | May 21, 2014 | Field Notes

Have you ever thought of a phrase and said to yourself, "That would make a good title for a story"? Of course, you have. The trick is figuring out how to grow a story from its title alone. And it's easier than you think. Growing a Story from Its Name It's not uncommon...

Finding Stories in Lyrics [Awareness]

by Roger Rueff | Apr 30, 2014 | Field Notes

Song lyrics vary in the ease with which they can be used to generate stories. Some convey a pre-packaged tale; others contain mere kernels of stories, typically nestled inside an outer shell of human emotion. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Music by Burton Lane,...