Drama: June 17, 2020 Issue [#10200]
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 This week: Pick Your 'Punch'line
  Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author IconMail Icon
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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

What constitutes background information, and what is the nub of the story?
How do you decide this?


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Dear Reader,

Had I known the true value of the necklace, I would've looked after it better. My Mom, however, told me the story of how it came to be after it had already been stolen from my unlocked desk-drawer. Until I learned its history, it was only a cute trinket -- after it had gone, it became a family heirloom, never to be found again.

The necklace, it turns out, had once belonged to my great-grandfather. That's why it had the name 'Morarji' on it, in thin real-gold lettering. Morarji was my great-grandfather.

The necklace had been given to him by his future mother-in-law, at his naming ceremony when he was a few days old. That's why I'd taken it to be a mere trinket. It was made to fit a baby, and was small, light and flimsy -- but it was real gold.

Has the story sunk in yet? The object in my possession had been a christening-gift to my great-grandpa, from his future mother-in-law.

Those were the days of arranged marriages, and when two close friends found themselves in the family way at the same time, they decided that if one had a boy and the other a girl, the children would, at the appropriate age, marry each other. It thus came about that the future mother-in-law attended the christening, and the gift she gave the boy was passed on to me ... and had now been stolen.


So, I've heard that in films, it's the editor who gets to decide in what sequence each scenario is revealed. The actors and the director work on the various shots, and the editor pieces them together to spin the narrative. I guess it's the same for us writers.

We have something to tell, but how do we reveal it?

In the above anecdote, I told you it had been stolen in the beginning. So you read the whole thing, knowing of the theft. Your reading was tinged with sadness or regret. What if I'd kept that information for the last (punch) line, though? "I can't pass it on -- you see, I hadn't realised its value and it was stolen from my unlocked desk-drawer'. There would've then been a build up about this trinket, and then the shocker. It depends on the effect you're trying to achieve.

*********


Here's another one:
My Dad was all set for a trip to Sri Lanka with his photography group. He had packed carefully, practised using his camera and spare camera, and got a list from me of what I wanted him to bring back (not too much, I assure you! *Bigsmile*)

He was at the airport with his friends, checking in. Then he called me -- I was at home. "Can you find my current passport? I've brought the old one by mistake,it isn't valid any more."

The airport is a good distance from my place. I hastily phoned some friends to keep them on standby to rush there by car, in case I found the current passport.

I didn't, and Dad had to cancel his trip.


So here, I sprang it on you about the incorrect passport after building it up about the trip. I could have hinted at this, too, with Dad moving various passports and insisting on keeping the earlier ones for sentimental reasons and so on. The main idea was to showcase the two 'punch' lines I had in mind.

So -- depending on the effect you want to create, choose what you want to reveal first, and what you want to keep for the last line.

Thanks for listening!
Owl Signature



Editor's Picks

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Laundry Detail Open in new Window. [E]
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Contest entry. A writer's search for sanity.
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by A Guest Visitor


Winners, "Quotation Inspiration: Official ContestOpen in new Window.!
 
The Wallpaper Garden Open in new Window. [13+]
Sara is intrigued by the wallpaper in the townhouse she is considering to buy.
by Cubby Author Icon

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by A Guest Visitor


An interesting forum!
Question of the Day! Open in new Window. [18+]
Come answer a question, share a laugh, encourage one another, and bring me a coffee!
by Lilli 🧿 ☕ Author Icon


All time favourites!
WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group Open in new Window. [E]
Join the fun! We inspire reviewers through kindness and learning! Winner of eight Quills!
by Maryann Author Icon


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Celebrate Writing.Com member account anniversaries with reviews.
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The Snail Mail Group Open in new Window. [E]
WDC's first letter writing club
by NaNoNette Author Icon

The Writer's Cramp Open in new Window. [13+]
Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS!
by Sophurky Author Icon

The WDC Angel Army Open in new Window. [ASR]
Dedicated to promoting positivity, encouragement, and support to the WDC community.
by iKïyå§ama Author Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

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brom21 Author Icon Thanks for the NL! It's cumbersome to find the right amount and degree of details. this kind of relates to show-not-tell rule. Thanks again!

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