Posts Tagged ‘novels’

2020 April 3,  18:30 California time

Hello, Everyone,

Remember when American TV gave us PSAs? Public Service Announcements.

Perhaps if Charley & Humphrey (Mr. Pat McCormick) were on television and social media now, they’d be showing us what societal, moral responsibility is – to protect other people.

Even though I may not get seriously ill from COVID-19 also known as Coronavirus , I can get infected, with few or no symptoms, but then, I can infect another person who would then infect a vulnerable person who will then die. What I learned in biology class decades ago and what I’m learning from Dr. Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) help me do my part.

Be safe! Stay healthy! Be kind!

KTVU Charley and Humphrey "Think for yourself."

Scientists Probe How Coronavirus Might Travel Through The Air

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/03/825639323/scientists-probe-how-coronavirus-might-travel-through-the-air

How to Protect Yourself & Others

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

How COVID-19 Spreads

Person-to-person spread

Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects

How easily the virus spreads

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html

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Charley and Humphrey “Think for Yourself”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKowhEtpCbo

and

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/

**

“If Charley & Humphrey (Mr. Pat McCormick) were here to show us”, says Story Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung

Teresa Jade LeYung

- photo by Mary E. Knippel

December 28, 2019;  January 25, 26, 2020

By Teresa Jade LeYung

Every year, I sponsor my Immigrant Experience Writing Contest (short stories, essays, monologues) offered through California Writers Club San Francisco Peninsula Branch and The Literary Stage at the San Mateo County Fair  https://cwc-peninsula.org/the-literary-stage/. You do not have to live in California in order to enter any of the writing contests. Some contestants will enter an excerpt from a long piece of work (novels, memoirs) without investing time to rewrite the pages so that the piece would engage the reader with a beginning, middle and ending.

As a theme consultant and a writing coach, and a fan of a few television series, I have found another inspiration when teaching my clients how to show archetype-driven plotlines.

One of my favorite characters is Rhoda Morgenstern in the situational comedy (sitcom) RHODA  portrayed by Valerie Harper.

One of my favorite episodes is “One Is A Number” (Season 4, Episode 4, written by Charlotte Brown). I love this episode because this is a stand-alone piece. I do not have to  know the backgrounds of the characters.  The script clearly shows what the main character (protagonist) wants and how she goes about getting it.

Act 1 – we see relationships, the protagonist’s personality and what she wants.

Fellow: “Rhoda, it was really nice of you to invite me to breakfast.”

Rhoda: “Gary, I did not invite you.” (with a smile)

Gary:  “Well, then it was nice of you not to kick me out.”

Rhoda’s sister Brenda arrives to tell her why she can’t go out to dinner and the theatre with Rhoda tonight.

Act 2 – we see Protagonist pursuing what she wants.

Rhoda calls friends; they cannot go with her.

She asks her boss; he doesn’t like going to theatres.

She even asks Johnny Venture, the  fellow she has been turning down; he cannot because he’s judging a beauty contest tonight.

Act 3 -  Protagonist reveals what the real Antagonist is.

In her apartment, Rhoda paces, she picks up the theatre tickets and puts them down again.

She gets on the intercom with Carlton the doorman.  She tells him why she doesn’t want to go out alone at nighttime – she fears what people could be thinking of her, how they would judge her.

Archetype:  Carlton is the unexpected ally and mentor

Act 4 – Protagonist has overcome Antagonist.

At a restaurant where tea tastes like coffee (Rhoda is escaping from pouring rain), she meets:

- a taxi driver who is eating his spaghetti dinner

- an old woman named Marie who says she is a stewardess on a rocket on the Martian Space Patrol

- the waitress named Bea who says: “What are you doing out on a terrible night like this?”

Rhoda:  “Tonight was a big night for me. I was trying to do something alone.”

Bea: “You married?”

Rhoda: “Divorced.”

Bea: “Sounds like you’re already doing something alone.”

Act 5 -Protagonist has been transformed.

In her apartment are her allies – her sister Brenda, Brenda’s boyfriend Benny, Gary, Johnny.

Rhoda comes home.  She says: “I had a great time. It was wonderful.  It’s great to go out alone, I found out. I mean, you meet terrific people…. You would have loved it….”

Her boss Jack arrives.  “You’re not dead.”

Brilliant line.  Rhoda is the opposite of dead.

She has realized a new life. She can go out alone and enjoy herself. She has learned to look at people. She wants to share her discovery with her sister and friends.

They want to leave.

Rhoda says: “You had to be there.  I love you all, even if you didn’t get it.”

“Brenda, look at me. Have you ever seen your sister in better shape?”

After Rhoda closes the door, she reaches into her bag and pulls out Bea’s hat (souvenir from mentor archetype) and puts it on her head.

I love how sitcom character Rhoda Morgenstern shows beginning, middle, and ending  through an archetype-driven plotline! Thank you, Ms. Charlotte Brown!

Cheering for all Writers and Readers!

Story Theme Consultant Teresa Jade LeYung - photo by Mary E. Knippel, creator of Your Writing Mentor

Dear Writers,

Please share this news with friends who might be interested in my “Immigrant Experience Writing Contest” or any of the writing contests offered through The Literary Stage at the San Mateo County Fair. All entries are due Monday, April 3, 2017, 11:59pm.  Please read all rules https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2017/literary_17.pdf

Literary Director Bardi Rosman Koodrin says: “The San Francisco Peninsula Writers is the only California Writers Club branch in the state utilizing a weeklong, 18,000 sq. ft. Fine Arts Galleria with a stage and seating for 125. Now entering our 9th year, we’ve conducted over 150 free “events within the event” on our Literary Stage: workshops, panels, author presentations, one-act plays, and interviews, annual author day book sales, poetry readings, musical groups, and individual song and dance performances.”

Please go to https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2017/literary_17.pdf

Top half of page 68 of the 2017 Literary Arts Contest Book Information

is  description of DIVISION 336

Entry for Literary Arts  https://sanmateocountyfair.com/literary-arts

click on

• What You Need To Know
• Online Entry
• How to Submit Your Online Entry and Questions & Answers

Q: Do I have to register online to enter my work in the Literary Arts Contests?

Yes, it’s the ONLY way to participate.

Q: Does my file need to be PDF format?

YES you must convert your document into PDF format and upload that. If you upload

anything other than a PDF, the document will not submit to the fair.

Wishing all contest entrants a joyful experience through the Literary Stage!

Teresa LeYung-Ryan’s “Immigrant Experience Writing Contest” and Other Contests through 2017 Literary Stage at San Mateo County Fair

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “I can help you identity your themes – to make rewriting your first draft and building your writer’s platform joyful tasks. Make your name stand for something—to attract target consumers who are likely to buy what you have to sell. Reach out, not stress out. I cheer for you!“

http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/teresa-leyung-ryans-events/
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan who says “Reach out, not stress out!” will present “Where Are YOU & Your THEMES on Your Writer’s Platform- Building Journey?” for:

• California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch (March 18, 2017 Redwood City, CA)

• The Writer’s Life Conference sponsored by California Writers Club–Marin Branch  (April 2, 2017 at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA)

• SacramentoSuburban Writers Club (July 10, 2017 Fair Oaks, CA)

The workbook:
Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW – available at http://www.laurelbookstore.com in Oakland, CA and http://www.bookpassage.com in Corte Madera, CA and on Amazon – print edition and Kindle edition!

• Click here for Short, Short Story Writing Contest sponsored by California Writers Club-Sacramento Branch up to 750 words; entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2014 (no online submissions). $10 fee per entry. Cheers to Branch President Margie Yee Webb, sponsors, judges, and all contestants!

• Click here for Writing Contests  through Literary Arts Division of the San Mateo County Fair – many genres (including novels, memoirs, short stories, fantasy, science fiction, essays, poetry, children’s, immigrant experience) – open worldwide – $10 per entry -  online entries due April 1, 2014   5:00pm Pacific Standard Time. Cheers to Literary Arts Director Bardi Rosman Koodrin, sponsors, judges, all contestants!

• Click here for WriterAdvice Flash Prose Contest entries must be submitted by April 18, 2014  Fiction and creative nonfiction!  $15 fee per entry.  Cheers to to B. Lynn Goodwin, sponsors, judges, and all contestants!

Check out my blog post  “Coach Teresa says: Who or What is the Antagonist in Your Story?“  before you send your manuscripts to agents, acquisition editors, or writing contests.

Remember that a story, even a short one, has a beginning, middle, and end.  A “snapshot” of an event is not a story.  A story must have a main character, even if that character is the only character.

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cheers for Writing Contest Creators, Sponsors, Judges, and Contestants!

Sponsored by Teresa LeYung-Ryan — author of Love Made of Heart: an immigrant daughter’s journey to self-forgiveness (the book is used in college composition classes); author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW;  as editor/story consultant, Coach Teresa helps her clients polish their manuscripts by identifying themes and archetypes; read Coach Teresa’s blog at http://writingcoachteresa.com

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B. Lynn Goodwin’s WRITER ADVICE – 7th Annual Flash Prose Contest.  Short Fiction/Memoir, 750 words max. First Prize: $200, Deadline: April 18, 2012.  Guidelines  www.writeradvice.com

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Cheering for all writers!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Coach Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, to materialize your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com

As editor/story consultant, Coach Teresa helps her clients polish their manuscripts by identifying their themes, universal archetypes, front-story and back-story.

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW

Love Made of Heart is used in college composition classes. Thank you, Teachers & Students!

Dear Writers,

Coach Teresa here . . . to encourage you to ask your protagonist “Who are you?”  and show up (with your writing instruments) so that she/he can answer your question over time.

Over time–You create the magical bond between you and your characters.

Whether the story is being presented as fiction or nonfiction . . .  Ask yourself:  “What incident shook my world (or someone I care about‘s world) and I must tell the story.”

With memoirs, the author and Protagonist are YOU. You ask yourself: “What happened to me?”  “How do I tell my story to hook Reader?” My answer is this: “You as Protagonist–stay in story-world. Move about in your story as though you do not know the ending. ‘Grow’ with yourself in story-world. No interjecting commentary from the author that would take us out of story-world. Let us see your story unfold as it happened. After all, you experienced the story in real life; to give us editorial comments as the “experienced one” will usually give the effect that an actor is stepping in front of the camera to interrupt (while the story is being played out in Reader’s mind’s eyes).

With novels, you created the protagonist.  Perhaps he/she was modeled after yourself; even if that weren’t the case, you the author get under his/her skin. Because you are writing fiction, you have the luxury of changing the sequence of events and the specifics of the events. Novel authors also must not interrupt the story with editorial comments that aren’t apropos for the plot point.

“What incident shook my world (or someone I care about‘s world) and I must tell the story.” In my novel Love Made of Heart, something happened to Protagonist Ruby Lin’s mother.  When Ruby finds out what has shaken her mother’s world, her own world also get jolted.

I’m reading Mary Jo McConahay’s memoir Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest and being hooked by her prologue.  The author was fascinated by an exhibit in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. So fascinated that she went back to the museum the next day to look at the representations of the indigenous Lacandón people, descendants of the ancient Maya.  “I must go there,” she told her sister.

I’m on page 7 of Mary Jo’s book–she has just met Moises Morales, an archaeoastronomer (one who studies ancient beliefs about the sky). I’m intrigued.

Coach Teresa Says To Ask My Protagonist: “Who Are You?”

Happy writing! Happy reading and researching! Happy rewriting!

If you need a story-consultant/editor, please review my webpage by clicking on this link.

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dearest dreams!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com
author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days