Action/Adventure NL, July 19, 2006

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:

Playing With History


No matter where you live in the world, your country, your area has a history. Some may have been written down in books, some local legend. What a great wealth of ideas for Action/Adventure stories!


Look to your history books, local news and listen in anytime the older folks get together. History is all around us.

Since I live in the U.S., I'll use what I know as example. From the inception of this country, there have been battles and wars at various times throughout history. From the World Wars to the Civil War to fighting over gold claims, action and adventure abound. This country has seen women and blacks fight for, and win, their rights. What an exciting time that was!

Growing up in Texas, I was taught about the Alamo, the rise of the cattle barons and settlement on the frontier. In the town I grew up in, I learn it existed while others died away because the railroad chose to lay the tracks where they did.


Use history to your advantage. You don't have to write non-fiction pieces. Invent a character to change the course of events. Explain historic happenings through the eyes of a character or charcters. Think of all the different angles! All the different time periods such as Medieval Europe, the Old West, the Industrial Age. Write a story from a caveman's point of view. How did certain dinosaurs look to him. Which made for a better meal? Write imaginary how-to articles on cave cleaning and what the best materials for cave drawings would be.

Most of us would like to rewrite at least some part of our world's and country's past. Here's your chance to do just that.

One word of caution. Be sure you have at least some working knowledge of the times, language and clothing styles. It will make your work more authentic. I once started reading a Western. While I'm no expert, this author had no clue as to speech from the 1800's, it was very modern. I read two pages and closed the book.
I just couldn't get into a book that couldn't take me back to the Old West. Be aware of your audience. Believe me, history buffs will be the first to let you know that you've made a mistake!





Comments:

From § Roseille - Writing ♥ : Wonderful newsletter, and great advice! Life is really one big adventure waiting to be penned (LOL, typed). Thanks for the reminder. Great Newsletter!

From Vivian Zabel - publisher : Nikola, you are so correct about looking at life to find adventure. It's all around us if you just open our eyes. ~~ Viv

From Kritter : Thanks for this topic. It's came just at the right time! Perfect.