Action Adventure June 21

About this Newsletter:

The follies a man regrets most in his life are those he didn't commit when he had the opportunity.
~Helen Rowland

Only those who dare truly live.
~Ruth Freedman

Adventure is worthwhile in itself.
~Amelia Earhart

The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson


From the Editor:

Happy Summer Everyone!


When summer comes to mind, what images does it bring? Picnics? The lake or ocean? Travel?

Any of these scenarios are fodder for Action/Adventure pieces. Let's use camping for an example. I could write articles dealing with outdoor survival or adventures often tied in with camping such as hiking and mountain climbing. What about stories? A writer can use their own experiences to pen fiction or nonfiction stories.


For example:
Several years ago, three friends and I decided to camp at Chickasaw National Park in Sulphur, Oklahoma. We found the perfect campsite atop a hill. The weather was breezy and overcast. After unloading our gear, we began putting up the tent. The only one of our merry group to ever put up a tent hadn't done so in years and she was having difficulty remembering what went where. We managed to get in upright although in a haphazard manner. Hungry after our hard work, we drove into to town to get burgers. When we arrived back at our campsite, the wind had downed our tent. Our spirits were still high and it was nowhere near dark yet. We ate and watched the tent as if it would resurrect on its own. No such luck. We were soon putting poles together and getting some offbeat results. I noticed a pole that was bent and thought should be straight. I pointed it our and one of the guys attempted to straighten it only to have it snap in two in his hands. On closer inspection, the pole was supposed to be bent.
We erected the shelter in hopes that it would withstand the night although I had serious doubts. When sleep began to overtake us, I crawled into the bed of my pickup while they scurried inside the crooked tent. I had just fallen asleep when I heard a crash followed by shouts of dismay and some strong language. You got it...the tent collapsed on top of my friends.
By this time, a light rain had begun. The tent was toast, so my friends slept on top of it while I remained in my truck. It rained all night. Too broke to get a motel room, we had no choice but to make the best of it.
Daylight brought yet more rain. We did manage a campfire and had soggy pancakes with pecans. Remarkably, it was one of the best breakfasts I've ever tasted!


While my friends and I didn't ride the rapids or face a bear, we still had an adventure. Any travel, no matter how mild-mannered it may seem is always open to adventure, and yes, action too. This summer, when out and about whether close to home or abroad, think about the kinds of stories you will walk away with.


Nikola







Feedback:

From W.D.Wilcox © ¿ Φ : Nikola,
Some more wonderful advice. It don't get any plainer than to say, "use active verbs and all your senses". That's it, folks, in a nutshell.

From Deelyte- Chillin' : Another great reminder. I have to be shown in any book I'm reading. I hate it when pages drone on and on telling me everything. Good newsletter.