Tuesday, June 30, 2015

3 Things I Love in a Good Story // Heidi

Welcome to our new monthly series—3 Things I Love in a Good Story! I decided to post this first month myself to help give an idea of what we’ll be doing, but I’m looking forward to all your eager participation in the coming months!

In short, I’ll be highlighting a guest post here each month sharing (in about 500 words or less) three of the things you love in a well told story. (And notice I said it’s three OF.) There are probably dozens of things you love—and whatever three you choose may not even be the biggest—so your selections could range from plot similarities (i.e. “I like a lot of action in the climax”) to a good dose of humor to certain character qualities in the protagonist. When it comes to good story, the sky’s the limit! 

I think this promises to be great fun and, of course, all your feedback will help any of us writer types out there as well. ;) 

One last thing: the three points can also be from both literature and film—though obviously, some will tend more towards one or the other. 

And now without more ado… 

from Heidi


1 – Balanced description 


Not huge, easy-to-skip blocks of text, but vivid turns of phrase regularly and beautifully punctuating action and dialogue. Sometimes lyrical, oft times keen and hard-edged, it’s description taking its brilliance from the mind of the writer. Words flashing light on a new angle of a rare jewel—bringing forth meaning entirely fresh—or words highlighting something familiar fashioned anew, shaken and turned inside out and upside down to show the still solid green strength at its core. 


2 – A strong ending 


I love it when a story feels like it’s working toward the ending the entire time—every subplot has a part to play and every character has a pivotal role. But more than that I want to feel that deep rightness where everything has been fully culminated—the ah ha! moment with the ending pulling together all the deep threads, some of which I may not even have seen (or may not notice until the third or fourth or fifth time reading or viewing it). This means I don’t really like important characters popping in during the second half of the story, etc. If they’re going to have a pivotal role I like them at least foreshadowed or mentioned or hinted at much earlier on. Once the conflict is resolved I also like the ending to follow fairly quickly. Not slam bang, but without tacking on a few extra chapters of potential doubts and indecisions for the main characters. 

And also—the last line. It’s vital. 

3 – Good camaraderie 


Trying to pick and choose what to highlight for my third point, this one struck me and I was surprised to realize just how many of my favorite stories (in book and film) have this characteristic. It’s camaraderie as in the deep friendship and loyalty of a Jonathan and David. For a few examples: 

Two brothers forming a close kinship bond (Shadow on the Mesa

Two erstwhile enemies building a friendship (North & South

Shipmates working together (The Buccaneers

A loyal servant loving, laughing with, and trusting his master—with each willing to give their life for the other (Zorro

It’s even present in well done romantic relationships! In this case it’s not always easily detectable as “camaraderie,” though sometimes it is (think Frozen and Tangled and Jane Eyre and Austen’s Emma), but it’s that tie that pulls the man and woman together under similarities and despite differences. 


It’s a part of the genuine foundation of the friendship underlying a healthy romantic love whether or not (given the particular story) that friendship comes before or after the falling in love.

~     ~     ~ 

So there you have three of my favorite elements! Would you like to share three of yours in a guest post? And you don’t have to be a writer to qualify! This series is by story lovers for story lovers. So don’t be shy. I’d love to have you!



Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.

Visit and contact at: Sharing the Journey // Along the Brandywine // ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Inklings & A New Blog Series!


A quick reminder that the Inklings link-up is still happily open for entries through the 30th. If you can, do jump in and join us! Also, I'm planning to start yet another monthly blog series here soon so stay tuned for further exciting developments! ;)

I hope you're all having a lovely Tuesday!


Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.

Visit and contact at: Sharing the Journey // Along the Brandywine // ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com

Monday, June 8, 2015

Inkling Explorations Link-up // June 2015


Inkling Explorations is an exciting link-up for any and all story lovers who love discovering treasures in everything they read—whether it's in an old favorite or something crisply and deliciously new on the shelf.

It's completely optional (you can enter some months and not in others) and it's open to entries from literature and film—and with selections from fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, romance, action, poetry, even sometimes non-fiction! The range is pretty much limitless. (Note: Entries will be moderated, however, and must be clean, edifying, and suitable for all ages.)

*Rules*


1. Post the Inklings button on your sidebar.
2. Do a post on your own blog relating to the month's selection/subject (a literary excerpt as short or as long as you like AND/OR—if specified that month—a screencap from a film with an explanation of how the scene builds/develops the story). Link back here somewhere in your post.
3. Come back here and paste your link in the comments box and I'll add it to the post. Then enjoy visiting and reading everyone else's contributions!

That's all there is to it!

June Topic: A Gripping Story Opening in Literature


(June specific notes: "Gripping" doesn't necessarily mean high action; specifically, it's anything that caught your interest and kept you reading! ;) Also, book selections only this month, i.e. no film entries.)


My entry is from A Sea Queen's Sailing by Charles W. Whistler 


(It might seem cliché here, highlighting a story beginning in the aftermath of a fight, but this opening drew me in so hard I was quite literally eating, sleeping, and breathing the story for several days till I reached the wonderful ending.)


“The black smoke eddied and wavered as it rose over my father’s burning hall, and then the little sea breeze took it and swept it inland over the heath-clad Caithness hills which I loved. Save for that black cloud, the June sky was bright and blue overhead, and in the sunshine one could not see the red tongues of flame that were licking up the last timbers of the house where I was born. Round the walls, beyond reach of smoke and heat, stood the foemen who had wrought the harm, and nearer the great door lay those of our men who had fallen at the first. There were foemen there also, for it had been a good fight.”

Action, reflection, and conflict…


The rest of the story is delightful—tense in places, quite original, and tremendously satisfying. It’s an old book and hard to find, but if you can hunt it down I highly recommend it!

 ~     ~     ~

Now let the fun begin! Entries are open through the end of the month and I can't wait to see your selections!

Up next month: A well crafted animated film climax


Saturday, June 6, 2015

"Beyond the Mask" Now in Theaters!


A quick reminder here with the exciting news that the Burns family's independently produced adventure film, Beyond the Mask, is showing in theaters this week!! It's a great story and (if you haven't already) click here to find it in a theater near you to enjoy the story and support this groundbreaking event!



Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.

Visit and contact at: Sharing the Journey // Along the Brandywine // ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Quote of the Month ~ June 2015

(click to enlarge)

For more great Quotes of the Month click here.





Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.

Visit and contact at: Sharing the Journey // Along the Brandywine // ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...