| Home | Stories | Poems | Articles | Photos | Links |
 Drama: October 13, 2010 Issue [#4019] |
  Drama This week: Dramatic Moments Edited by: fyndorianMore Newsletters By This Editor   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  "Now is the dramatic moment of fate, Watson, when you hear a step upon the stair which is walking into your life, and you know not whether for good or ill."~~ Arthur Conan Doyle "The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us."~~Ashley Montagu "The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?"~~Eugene Kennedy "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"~~Attributed to numerous sources including Hillary Cooper, George Carlin, Carlton Card Company and an anonymous student. Regardless . . .an awesome quote! "I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream"~~Vincent van Gogh    There is much drama to be found in 'little moments.' These are not the earth-shattering, life changing moments, but the special seconds of an incredible sight, an awe-inspiring vista, or a familiar place. Coming around the final bend of a path in the forest--you are overly warm and out of breath. You just know you have a horrid blister on your heel and you don't even want to contemplate the return trip. You've been hearing the waterfall for some time now and you just want to get there. You have been declared the main event by the hoards of mosquitoes attempting to wring every last ounce of blood from your system. Your other half is cranky and the kids, well, we won't go there! Then. You see it. Camera forgotten momentarily, everyone just stands there, mouths silently hanging open. It is those seconds before the camera shutter flies and the audible comments burst forth, those seconds where silence speaks volumes and the heart pounds in the sheer glory of it all that the drama is incalculable. Mosquito bites fade and no longer annoy. The heel stops hurting (temporarily) and the kids are blissfully quiet. Your eyes, no, your soul takes in the cascading streams, the diamond glints reflecting the sun, the vast amount of water plunging down, down, impossibly down to the rocks below. It is in that freeze frame moment where drama lives and breathes. It is the moment too often lost in the shuffle of frenzied photos, telling the kids that getting too close to the edge is dangerous and watching your spouse get closer than that to get the perfect picture. Moments. So quick that if you aren't looking, you'll miss them.  The wheel-chair bound Veteran struggling to stand as his flag goes by; pain and strain of the movement eclipsed by the the pride in his country. The wide-eyed glee, pride and satisfactions mixed with just a wee bit of fear as your child wobbles off down the road the very first time. Also, the look when the 'how do I stop this thing?' hits and the feet drag the bike to a stop. The total delight within that first glimpse of the tree Christmas morning. The look you can never truly 'see' on the face of the person you are giving a loving hug to. The straightened backs and unrealized tears streaming down the faces of Navy parents standing on the flight-deck of their child's ship as it cruises slowly past the USS Arizona Memorial out in Pearl Harbor. The older couple shuffling hand-in-hand through the grocery store, that same couple sharing a ride on the Ferris wheel, and mere days later, the look in his eyes in an unguarded moment sitting quietly alone by his wife's casket. The expression on a new dad's face the first time he is completely along with his new child.Fleeting spaces of time during which emotions surge and expressions flash a kaleidoscope of feelings. I challenge you to take one of these moments, or one of your own and describe it in 250 words or so. Just the moment. Send it to me; or not. I'll use some in an upcoming newsletter. It is these moments, explored and acknowledged that can connect to a reader, give depth to a story and, just maybe, give the writer an in depth look into their character. 
submitted:
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter! http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form  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! http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form Don't forget to support our sponsor! InstantPublisher.Com: Self publishing made easy and affordable. All file types accepted with many options. Starting at $100 for 25 copies in 7-10 days! Visit us today!  salliemoffitt writes:Your newsletter was hilarious! I love a good fight, especially when it is on paper. tigereyes328 said: I loved this story...it's so true, how many people go thru this....I can think of, well, almost every one I know...loved it, well written. True but had charm to it as well. biddle.connie says: I was glued to this one. You made it personal although (ahem) it was a few years ago. It brought back a lot of memories, some good some not-so-good. Thanks for thinking of us older folks. Great newsletter! irish_hussy69 adds: Your NL had me giggling ... exaggerated??? Hmmm sounds about right to me.  Great reminder to keep our characters real. alockwood1 comments: Drama can be a fun thing to write about. You never know what happens until the end. Thanking you all for your feedback and comments. Glad I made you all smile, that means it worked!  To stop receiving this newsletter, go into your account and remove the check from the box beside the specific topic. Be sure to click "Complete Edit" or it will not save your changes. |
© Copyright 1999 - 2007 Dawn Arkin. All rights reserved.
