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= = Use your tab on the side bar get your inquiry journey/findings down and allow others to add to or comment upon your ideas. View others' tabs and help them develop! __**RCWP 2012 Inquiry Projects**__

Mary Wever - Large Kristina Bush- small Lori- S Kathy- XL Mary Wilkinson- XL Renee- S Shawn- M Mitch- XL Janet- M Mary Lou-M Annette- S

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison (Annette)(Shawn)(Mary Wever)

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions. ~James Michener (Kathy's vote)(Shawn)

==Writing is a struggle against silence. ~Carlos Fuentes Janet --like the connection w/ critical consciousness ==

The only time I know that something is true is the moment I discover it in the act of writing. Jean Malaquais (I think this one is my favorite--Lori :-)

“I just knew there were stories I wanted to tell.” **(Mary Lou)** ― [|Octavia E. Butler]

“Write what you know.” **(Mary Lou)** ― [|Mark Twain]

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” (**Mitch like this one**) ― [|Louis L'Amour]**mary wilkinson's vote**

“I write to understand as much as to be understood.” (This is my favorite - Mary Wever) ― [|Elie Wiesel]

=The 22 rules of storytelling, according to Pixar= On Twitter, Pixar storyboard artist [|Emma Coats] has compiled nuggets of narrative wisdom she's received working for the animation studio over the years. It's some sage stuff, although there's nothing here about defending yourself from your childhood toys when they inevitably come to life with murder in their hearts. A truly glaring omission. > #1: You admire a character for trying more than for their successes. > #2: You gotta keep in mind what's interesting to you as an audience, not what's fun to do as a writer. They can be v. different. > #3: Trying for theme is important, but you won't see what the story is actually about til you're at the end of it. Now rewrite. > #4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___. > #5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You'll feel like you're losing valuable stuff but it sets you free. > #6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal? > #7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front. > #8: Finish your story, let go even if it's not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time. > #9: When you're stuck, make a list of what WOULDN'T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up. > #10: Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you've got to recognize it before you can use it. > #11: Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you'll never share it with anyone. > #12: Discount the 1st thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th – get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself. > #13: Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it's poison to the audience. > #14: Why must you tell THIS story? What's the belief burning within you that your story feeds off of? That's the heart of it. > #15: If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations. > #16: What are the stakes? Give us reason to root for the character. What happens if they don't succeed? Stack the odds against. > #17: No work is ever wasted. If it's not working, let go and move on - it'll come back around to be useful later. > #18: You have to know yourself: the difference between doing your best & fussing. Story is testing, not refining. > #19: Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are cheating. > #20: Exercise: take the building blocks of a movie you dislike. How d'you rearrange them into what you DO like? > #21: You gotta identify with your situation/characters, can't just write ‘cool'. What would make YOU act that way? > #22: What's the essence of your story? Most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build out from there.