Crawl. Stand. Walk. Run.

Many of my clients must have been told by previous writing teachers that their characters were flat.

I say they must have, because what I read, especially from my young writers, is adult characters who absolutely can't make up their minds.

And I know the students want to push back when I tell them to make decisions about their characters.

Because they're characters.

Totally made up.

Their motivations don't matter.

Like when an adult tells a child to clean a room. What is the point other than exerting authority?

From the young person's perspective, I get it. Honestly.

Writers are creating characters. Writers have the challenge of creating arbitrary characters to move their plots forward. Those plots, and the characters that drive those plots, are as varied as infinite numbers. But those reasons must exist in relation to the plot of the story.

And (MOST) writers must learn to create and develop characters the same way they learned to run.

Readers may not want flat characters, but writers need to create simple characters consistently before they can build complex characters that still make sense to readers. And if readers are reading the work of new writers, I hope they will understand and encourage writers at each step of the way. This includes encouraging young people to read LOTS, reading young writers' work and providing constructive criticism (emphasis on the constructive, not so much the criticism). And if those things aren't in a reader's wheelhouse, help connect the young writer with someone who will read their work and help them be better. 

 

Classes at Creative York and Rustic Cup

Creative York

Teen and Adult Creatives

http://creativeyork.org/adult-teen-classes/

Find Your Voice

Learn to write and publish
Mondays(4), April 17-May 8 (Adult Class)

6-8pm•$60•Ages 18+

Tuesdays(4), May 2-23 (Teen Class)
5:30-7:30PM• $40• Ages 13-17

Flash Fiction After Dark
Community Storytelling / Improv Game

Friday, April 14• 6-8pm • $20 • Ages 16+

Friday, May 19• 6-8pm • $20 • Ages 16+

Younger Creatives

http://creativeyork.org/youth-family-classes/

Art with Me: Tell Me a Story

Saturday, April 15•10-11am• $15•Ages 3-6
Saturday, May 13•10-11am• $15•Ages 3-6

Summer Writing Camp

June 19-23 • 1-4pm • $90 • Ages 8-14

July 24-28 • 1-4pm • $90 • Ages 8-14

 

First Friday

no registration - drop in

5-8PM • Free • All ages

May 5 June 2 July 7

Creative York Classes and Events will be held at 10 N Beaver in Downtown York.

As a Creative York Instructor

Teen Flash Fiction After Dark Party

Kaltreider-Benfer Library in Red Lion

June 28 – Time TBA

     Rustic Cup 

Kids Publishing Workshop

Saturdays by appointment

2-3:30PM •$10 per person •Ages 6-16

May  and June
Contact Rustic Cup FB page to register
https://www.facebook.com/RusticCupLLC/

Adult Publishing Workshop

Six sessions over two days

Learn to self-publish your book

and sell it on Amazon

Laptop strongly encouraged but not required

Summer Date TBD
LIKE the Rustic Cup Page for updates!

Rustic Cup events will be held at

50 W Maple Street in East Prospect

His Story / Her Story

These are the community stories created by First Friday participants at Creative York

His Story

Once upon a time, there was a young man in York, PA who loved Wolfgang chocolate. But the real story was just how sweet he thought the lady in the competition was. How could he show her his true feelings? Ah, he knew the answer-- build her a house of candy. The house had Gummi Bears and Snickers bars and it even had a hot chocolate fountain. He then thought of making her a candy cane crown, because she's the most beautiful princess he’s ever seen.

When he shows it to her, she gasps and says “That is a very interesting candy house. Can I go in?”

“Of course,” he said, “if you will be my princess.”

“Well,” she replied. “I’d rather be your queen than your princess.”

The man was undaunted by her reply. “My love, your title does not matter. But no matter what, we will love animals and children.” Then he was silent for a minute. “But in thinking about our relationship,” he said, “You should know I am ONLY a jester.”

And the woman did not mind that the man might not be a prince or a king. She loved his kind heart. And she didn't ask for much. All it took to make her happy was for someone to give her a bouquet of flowers once in a while.

Still, she did not want him to think she was so easily won. “I am not for ultimatums, kind sir,” she said. “But I would like to share this lovely candy house with all the townspeople. They, too, must see how creative you are. And what a gift you have given me to share. Thank you for showing me what love is.”

So they moved into the candy house, which to them felt just as grand as a castle, and invited all the townspeople and animals to live there with them.The man became her personal jester, but he made everyone laugh. They were very happy.

They put signs around town that said, “free love here.” Their signs attracted a crowd of lonely souls. But because the man and his princ- Queen - shared their own blessings with others, they all lived in happiness forever.

The End -- or is it just the beginning?

*Please pardon any mistakes I made in interpreting what was intended to be written, and any clarifications or embellishments I may have made -- if you inspired me and I got carried away, then the night was a success!!       

Her Story

On a cold cold night in February, there was a house made of candy. In the house lived a witch. The witch had a kind heart.

The child's heart was not as kind. The child put the witch in the closet. The witch escaped out the window. The witch ran to the other side of the yard to see what was on the other side of the fence. She found a purple doggie digging a hole.

The dog dug so deep, he found a supersonic broom to escape on. And the witch escaped with him. The dog flies into the night with the witch. And they hear the music of David Bowie.

At the sound of Under Pressure, the girl’s unkind heart melted into liquid chocolate. The doggie, named Nelo, tried to eat the girl’s melted chocolate heart and became vegan. Nelo shared the heart with some other dogs. They were named Dublin, Bianca, and Mick. Unfortunately, the dogs who ate the chocolate heart turn evil every time they hear songs by David Bowie or Queen. They turn into crazy zombies! When they hear the songs, they start to scream “We will, we will, eat humans!” [Cue guitar solo]

Then, the child whose heart had turned into liquid chocolate floated down from heaven and turned the zombie dogs into cuddly puppies. The witch couldn't help but fall in love with the cuddly puppies. The puppies grew into even cuter dogs and had even cuter, cuddlier, puppies of their own. To this day, the witch and her ridiculously cute and cuddly puppies roam the earth.

The end -- or is it just the beginning?

*Please pardon any mistakes I made in interpreting what was intended to be written, and any clarifications or embellishments I may have made -- if you inspired me and I got carried away, then the night was a success!!

Chain of Events

I'm creating posts about the writing games I have created to save lengthy explanations in individual emails to panels or forums where I might offer them.

                                                                Chain of Events

What is it?

I started Chain of Events as a prompt in the Flash Fiction After Dark game, but it can take as long as multiple rounds of FFAD and I realized it could stand alone. This game is community storytelling at its finest. 

 

                                                                                             

How do you play? 
Participants sit in a circle or around a table(don't have to, but it helps). They write the first line of a story (I have some story starters, if needed)on strips of paper I provide (one per person). When their line is written, they attach the ends to make a chain link and pass to the next person (if they use a story starter, they will have an extra link). The next person adds a line to the story on a second/next link, attaches it, and passes it on. Play continues until the chains have gone full circle. Then, final results are shared. 

          
            "Her Story"                      "His Story"      

Who is the target player? 

This is a writing game for the whole community. Anyone that can write a sentence (or even just a phrase, or with parent help) is encouraged to take up a pen and play!

How many can play at once? How long does a game take?

I introduced this game at the February First Friday event at Creative York. First Friday is a drop-in event, so instead of many stories coming full circle, those who dropped in -- over 40 participants -- added their links to create two stories. Like FFAD, time for Chain of Events also depends on the number of participants. I see the game running 30 minutes to an hour.

Read the stories created here:

                            His Story / Her Story

 I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions for Chain of Events!

Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer. Right now, she's in over her head with book projects whose

(author-self-imposed) deadlines pass her by. She waves at them and only cries a little as they pass. Sometimes Mother and Dreamer get in the way of Author, and sometimes Author catches up. Check out Phyl's author page on Amazon. 

Other articles of interest:
A Muse Meant
Finding Pink Elephants

Quick and Dirty Publishing Guide

Flash Fiction After Dark

I'm creating posts about the writing games I have created to save lengthy explanations in individual emails to panels or forums where I might offer them.  The videos are the results of individual rounds of play.

                                                                  "Star Struck"
                                                                       

Flash Fiction After Dark

What is it?

FFAD is a game I created (and it continues to evolve and improve each time I play it). I describe it as Cards Against Humanity (or Apples to Apples) with only the prompt cards. I also describe it as host aided community storytelling. Some people compare it to a written improv game or a game like Who's Line is it Anyway? 

How do you play? 

Participants write their own responses and either the host shares the responses collectively or the participants share their own. As host, sometimes I read only and exactly what is written on the cards. Other times I use the responses to fill in parts of a larger story. 

                            "Pet Care"

Who is the target player? 

I have played this game with teens only, adults only, and a mixed-age group. 

                          "Favorite Holiday"

How many can play at once? How long does a game take?

Time for FFAD depends on the number of participants. Having less than 5 is not ideal. This is a game of the more, the merrier! Games are played in rounds, so could run from 15 minutes to an hour. I have had an adult game go for two hours without it feeling tedious. And one six year old who would have happily played all night if we'd have let her.  

                              "Western"

                  "Last Thing on the Shopping List"

                     "My Parents Made a Mistake"

I've even started making gameplay cards -- just like a real game show host!

I'm building collections of both holiday themes and generic prompts. I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions for FFAD!

Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer. Right now, she's in over her head with book projects whose

(author-self-imposed) deadlines pass her by. She waves at them and only cries a little as they pass. Sometimes Mother and Dreamer get in the way of Author, and sometimes Author catches up. Check out Phyl's author page on Amazon. 

Other articles of interest:
A Muse Meant
Finding Pink Elephants

Quick and Dirty Publishing Guide