*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1031-.html
Action/Adventure: May 10, 2006 Issue [#1031]

Newsletter Header
Action/Adventure


 This week:
  Edited by: Puditat
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Life without action is static, and by necessity, it would therefore be dead. Action writing takes the normal and shares it for all to live vicriously.

Adventure is the spice: the exciting, adrenalin-pumping, thrill that makes one feel so alive. Everyone has an adventuresome spirit. Maybe dreams of excavating some long-lost treasure, visiting a new country, or trying a new flavour of potato chip. *Wink* Some of us prefer our adventures to come between the pages of a book, and many of us like to write that adventure.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B004PICKDS
Amazon's Price: Price N/A


Letter from the editor

** Image ID #1092365 Unavailable **

**Mindful of Action?**


This week's topic comes about from feedback I received to my last issue. Here is the feedback in question:

Well said Puditat! I've watched action movies that had hot babes and a lot of crashes but with completely awful storyline. These just left me feeling dissatisfied and thoroughly irritated!

A healthy balance between adventure and action is essential for a good story.

My husband made one curious comment though: an adventure just within the mind (but without much action) can still be engaging to a reader. I can only imagine something philosophical here.

What is your opinion on this?
Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter


Interesting comments. *Wink*

Your husband is right - an adventure in the mind can be very entertaining, but I think you will still find action, even if it is not of the 'active' kind.

I would hazard a guess that the action side of this type of story comes in the form of the tension. A single person can still provide conflict, and a progression of events must occur, or the reader will become bored with the 'rut' your character is too fond of.

Let's take an example - say of a man caught between his desire to kill and his hatred of evil. The story could be played out in the character's inner torment as he struggles with the moral compass and the need to kill to satisfy some failing in his life. Metaphor would provide much of the guidance for the reader, possibly even so far as the two aspects of his mind becoming separate identities - like the angel and devil seen on the shoulders of cartoon cat Sylvester.

While the adventure may be a man's finding his way out of a moral dilemma, or perhaps, into it, the action is the process by which he gets there. I believe, without any essence of action, the reader might well as be content with a medical journal. *Wink*

Action in a 'mind adventure' becomes the steps he takes to battle the conflicting mindsets. He could perform physical acts to soothe the beast, or contemplate physical acts. Whether he does them or not, it is still conveyed as action. I hope that is in some sense, comprehensible.

It is true that this type of story probably contains less of the shoot-'em-up action that is found in so many pieces these days. But shooting is not a definition of action, merely a valid tool of it.

I would love to be able to cite examples of this type of mind-related action, but can think of none at this point. Do any readers have comments, an opinion, or examples they could provide to expand on this idea?

Puditat


Editor's Picks

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1094461 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1099606 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#951652 by Not Available.


 The Orphan and the Gypsies   (13+)
An orphan boy runs away and meets up with a band of gypsies and a mysterious violin.
#770550 by intuey of House Lannister


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#726064 by Not Available.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B000FC0SIM
Amazon's Price: $ 12.99


Ask & Answer

This edition of the newsletter was really good. I never thought of action and adventure in this light before; it was indeed thought-provoking and made me excited to write a story right away.
Equilibrium

         Cool! *Cool* Best wishes for the story.

Pudi,
Very well done. I loved the line about the 100 Worst Car Crashes vs. The Italian Job. That really put it all in perspective. You write an Adventure story, and then use the action as a tool to help tell the adventure.
billwilcox

         Thank you, Bill. It's thrilling to get such affirmations. *Bigsmile*


*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1031-.html