Line by Line- 9-9-2020
#WritingCommunity,
You are invited to #LineByLineTime, A Mini Critique Hour hosted by @graestonewriter on Twitter.
In the movie, Gore Vidal’s Lincoln, the president “runs the lines” of The Gettysburg Address with his aides, saying, “I have a short short short speech, which I will try out on the chickens, as the farmer said.”
(Marvelous, powerful movie that has haunted me all these years.)
Each week #LineByLineTime writers share lines from their WIPs. (Try it out on the chickens, as the farmer said.)
During the hour, there will be a focus question, a chance to share, and a time for “best in show.”
…Nex
Next Time: Our Antagonist at Her/His Worst
Wednesday, September 9, at 9:00 PM Eastern, the #WritingCommunity will share lines that showcase the saddest sentence we have ever written.
I am using Betsy Byars Good-bye, Chicken Little for examples of our Line-By-Line exercises. Byars wrote MG books for years, won prestigious awards, and knew her stuff. Betsy passed away on February 26, 2020.
Conrad is not a true antagonist, but the pressures of Jimmy’s Uncle Pete dying while trying to walk across the Monday River cause the boys to fight.
Antagonist at His Worst:
Without a word of warning, Conrad hit Jimmy on the chin. It was a perfectly thrown punch, perfectly timed punch. It was a punch so solid nothing more was needed. Jimmy fell backward onto the sidewalk.
<snip>
Conrad rubbed his hand. He looked with deep satisfaction at Jimmy’s sprawled body. Mentally he began to count to ten. Mentally he awarded himself a knockout.
I hope you will join us Wednesday. Feel free to make helpful suggestions about other lines the group might explore in the future.