Writer Wednesday – Going with the Flow
I had a post due yesterday for Writer Wednesday and didn’t have the heart due to the anniversary of the 9/11 travesty. Today, though, I realized that life should move on in honor of those we lost. And so, here is a little tidbit I’ve postdated.
Films are a passion of mine. To my delight, some of the most iconic bits from my favorite flicks were happy accidents due to circumstance or a great ad lib. In a different example, the crew members in “Alien” reacted with natural horror during that famous dinner incident. Filmmakers cued only John Hurt in to the details regarding his character’s final scene. It gives me ever greater appreciation for the process that is movie magic.
Writing can benefit from such happenstance, as well. While there is plenty of greatness that comes from scripting and outlines, we artists should never automatically toss out an idea just because it goes against our grand scheme.
Sometimes we need to go with the flow. Stumped on where to take the story next? Follow a plotline on an odd tangent and see how your characters react. The departure might result in an exciting direction no plan could foresee.
I hope you free your mind to create something new, wonderful, and unexpected. Now I need to go follow my own advice. Happy writing!
Oh, and if you want to check out some of these great movie moments, here you go. Enjoy. You’ll want to expand the video to full screen for the all important captions. Oh, and there is adult language. Sorry about that.
Great advice, Darla! I love the idea that a happy accident results in so much synchronicity!
You're very kind, dear A. Catherine Noon, and have taught me a lot about letting story tell itself. Thank you!
Of course! Our support of each other is a treasure to me.
I watched the video with my husband and we both laughed and shouted at the screen. Some of those unscripted things are total surprises!