Rob Tourtelot
@rtourtelot
Rob Tourtelot
Thus our strange relationship with the pain of grief. In the early days, we wish only for it to end; later on, we fear that it will. And when it finally does begin to ease, it also does not, because, at first, feeling better can feel like loss, too.
Maria Popova • Losing Love, Finding Love, and Living with the Fragility of It All
Always provide a physical location for every moment of your story.
Dan Kennedy • Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
"Perhaps going in the direction of what we call truth is, at least, to 'unlie,' not to lie. Our lives are buildings made up of lies. We have to lie to live. But to write we must try to unlie. Something renders going in the direction of truth and dying almost synonymous. We cannot read about it, we cannot bear it, we cannot say it; all we can think
... See moreInstead of asking: "Do you have any questions?", ask "What questions do you have?"
The first almost always results in silence, while the second helps people feel comfortable asking questions.
“In order for the drama to deepen we must see the loneliness of the monster and the cunning of the innocent.”
Episode 93 ft. Vivian Gornick
Vivian Gornick, memoirist and teacher
If you’re not sure about the level of stakes in your story, simply ask yourself: • Would the audience want to hear my next sentence? • If I stopped speaking right now, would anyone care? • Am I more compelling than video games and pizza and sex at this moment?