Bloggin' Breakforth

Just finished my first intensive day of workshops at Breakforth here in Edmonton.

The guy who led it was a very funny, dynamic speaker. He told us story after story after story. I came away with so much about the art of crafting story - whether fiction or nonfiction.

Speaker's name was Steven James. He has a book coming out in August! I can't wait to buy it.

Some nuggets for thought:

If you are going to write stories from your life, you are going to have to change it.

Worst advice: write what you know. It's better to write what leads you to your passion.

Never put anything in your story that doesn't have significance.

Start at the end of your story. You won't know how to begin your story until you know how it's going to end.

The ending of your story should have two characteristics:
1. Inevitable - meaning it should be the sum parts of everything that took place before. The reader should be able to say: Of course! That's how it ends (or is solved or whatever).
2. Unpredictable - no one will read a story they aren't curious about. So if the reader knows the end before they get there... why continue reading.

All in all it confirmed what I have believed for a very long time. Stories were God's idea. Therefore there is an imprint in our hearts of what makes a good story - which is why the redemptive stories in the Bible touch our hearts - they are touching the imprint of our Maker.

All good stuff. Now we're off to have shop, have supper and then go to the worship service with Ken Davis and Casting Crowns. No idea who they are, but we're about to find out!

Listening to: hotel room heater and Richard look at his Ikea catalogue