Drama: December 21, 2010 Issue [#4144]
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Drama


 This week: Anticipation is Drama's Best Friend
  Edited by: Fyn-elf 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

But if we learn to think of it as anticipation, as learning, as growing, if we think of the time we spend waiting for the big things of life as an opportunity instead of a passing of time, what wonderful horizons open out!~~Anna Neagle

There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.~~Alfred Hitchcock

But if we learn to think of it as anticipation, as learning, as growing, if we think of the time we spend waiting for the big things of life as an opportunity instead of a passing of time, what wonderful horizons open out! ~ Anna Neagle

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination. ~~Don Williams, Jr

Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.~~Erich Fromm






Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor



I came into the living room with my arms full of wrapped presents. My hubby is three quarters of the way under the tree. He hasn't heard my entry, so I stand there, quietly watching. And listening, as each package is picked up, shaken gently and replaced. Eventually he scoots out and sees me.

"I was just reorganizing the presents for you, moving them farther back under the tree so you'll have more room."

Sure you were."Thank you, dear. Would you mind putting these under there as well then?" Smiling, I return to the dining room and more wrapping, then turn to peek and see him checking every tag and hefting each individual box.

Later that afternoon, my adult daughter comes by to drop off some presents. "Okay if I scatter these under the tree, Mom?"

"Sure, Sweetie." (I peek around the corner.) There she is, sneaking a look at tags, shuffling things around. "You might have to move a few to spread them out," I call from the dining room.

"No problem, Mom." Uh huh!

"Hey, Mom, What's in the really heavy one for my sister? I can't figure it out, knowing the things she's asked for."

"Three bricks," I answer. (Truthfully, sort of--Had to disguise that complete season of 'Lost' somehow.)

"Moooom!"

"I'm not telling, you'll just have to wait until Christmas morning."

Evening and I'm relaxing on the couch, Christmas music playing and just enjoying the tree and how pretty it all looks. I love looking at all the ornaments and thinking about which one came from where or who and why. About a third of the way down from the top of the tree is a tiny present, all wrapped and hanging by a piece of ribbon. That is NOT an ornament.

Hubby is playing solitaire on the computer while listening to the hockey game. I should be safe. I get up and go in for a closer look. Sneaking a look at the tag I see that it is for me. I gently shake it. Hmmmm. I wonder.

"Ahem." I turn to see Hubby standing there with a goofy smile on his face.

Busted!

You know the drill. We all do it. It is part of the fun, part of the anticipation. Knowing my hubby, that box could hide jewelry, or a note sending me on a treasure hunt from one end of the house to the other. It doesn't matter. But it is for me and I know it. Then again, maybe it isn't. Wouldn't be the first time the tag is deliberately there, misleading and hiding that the gift is really for someone else. Even still, it is fun.

The journey from when the tree is set up and presents begin appearing under or on it, up through Christmas morning, is as much fun as the actually opening and discovery of what lies beneath the shiny paper and the glittery ribbons.

So, too, with our writing. Giving readers hints and expectations as they journey through the story builds their anticipation of the 'what is to come.' Regardless of whether it is the 'happily forever after' ending or reaching the summit or getting to where-ever it is the characters to to be, it is that anticipation that keeps the reader turning pages. The excitement builds, we read faster.

Have you ever read a book, been racing through a book and deliberately stopped reading because it was so good that you couldn't wait to get to the end, BUT wanted to stretch out that feeling? This is when drama is so intrinsic to the book that you thoroughly enjoy the journey and really don't want it to end . . . yet.

Are you the sort that reads books multiple times? Think about the books that you reread. You know what happens. You know how it ends. It is the trip; the re-experiencing it, yet again, that gets you to reread it.

Have you ever thought on Christmas morning that you should delay the inevitable a bit longer because it all looks so pretty and you want to maintain that 'high' for just a wee bit longer?

It is really all the same thing. The anticipation, the excitement that just builds and builds.




Editor's Picks



Some stuff to read or do or play!

*CandleR*
 The Night Before Christmas Open in new Window. (E)
A classic Christmas tale with a twist...
#108033 by The StoryMistress Author IconMail Icon
<----have some silly fun!

*GiftR*
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#908093 by Not Available.
<-----quite magical!

*CandleR*
 Holiday C-Notes From LdyP Open in new Window. (E)
Moderately priced c-notes to help celebrate the holiday season.
#1495363 by LdyPhoelizNavidad Author IconMail Icon
<---some absolutely lovely Christmas C-Notes

*Snow1*
 A Christmas Memory Open in new Window. (E)
With a quiet grin he'd reach into his pocket...
#786277 by Rasputin Author IconMail Icon
<----Ah...memories brought forward!

*GiftB*
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#575589 by Not Available.
<-----Great short story.

*Snow1*
Image Protector
STATIC
The Long Road Home Open in new Window. (ASR)
A Tennessee family finds the Spirit of Christmas
#786709 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon
<-----This is possibly one of the best Christmas stories ever!

*CandyCaneG*
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1718644 by Not Available.
<----ah patience.....

*CandleR*
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1367935 by Not Available.
<---a cool word search

*Ornament1R*
The Christmas Angel Open in new Window. (E)
Christmas poem with a message...great for children and/or reading aloud!
#945279 by Fyn-elf Author IconMail Icon
<-----My Christmas gift to you!



 
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Ask & Answer

*CandyCaneR* *CandyCaneR* *CandyCaneR*

I wish for you all a child's joy,
A special gift, a treasured toy.
I wish you family to keep and share,
and a tree full of memories gathered there.
I wish you some magic of the Christmas-y kind,
warmth, and love and peace of mind.
I wish you quiet and I wish you a star
to brighten your nights where-ever you are.
I wish you a stocking with an orange at its toe
and companionship with friends you know.
I wish you music that comes from within--
All these I wish for you...

Love,
Fyn

*CandyCaneR* *CandyCaneR* *CandyCaneR*

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