Next up for Eurlyia

[Mad Lews]

OK, You didn't want to miss this one, did you?
Perhaps just one more exercise in literary flexibility before we dig into the heart of the writing.

For our next trick we'll try this simple task.
We start out with an ending, a nice summation. I’m picturing something like a coroner’s inquest report, a trial summation, an administrative report, the final wrap up of an investigation. You can chose one or come up with something else like that. I suspect you want to go with the dramatic to capture your reader’s interest.

Write it out, lay out the evidence, use logic to guide your reader to the inevitable conclusion of your report /inquest /investigation. This is your opening chapter try for around 1000-1500 word count be detailed and credible without being long winded.

Next, go back in time to the real beginning of the story. You are now going to slowly twist that story away from the obvious conclusion of the report you opened with. Be slow, meticulous, and persuasive, account for every bit of evidence that drew the authorities to the wrong conclusion. The reader should slowly realize that things are not what they seem. Try to make it a journey of discovery for the reader, throwing in some ‘Hey yeah, that’s what must have really happened.’ moments. It’s important for the reader to think they are the ones figuring this out.

Then you simply finish up with a repetition of the first chapter; WORD FOR WORD, only now your audience will read with clearer insight and mutter "How can they be so foolish?" at the end. (Other characters can be in on it too if that helps your story).

Your point of view is third person present throughout. It will end up being a present tense presentation then a longish (third person) flashback followed by a repeat of the original presentation. What you do with this is up to you; feel free to use any characters you wish. Turn a suicide into a murder, an accident into a well planned plot of vengeance, justice into a terrible miscarriage or just the opposite. I think I’m leaving you a lot of leeway here so take your time and surprise us.

yours

Mad Lews

[Euryleia]

Sweet. This assignment is intriguing. All those years spent watching every incarnation of Law and Order might finally pay off!

[Mad Lews]

Any middle aged white ADA named Jack will have to be bearded!

[Euryleia]

Dude, you know I rarely play with boys. They certainly don't get all the speaking parts like Dick Wolf is prone to do.

[Mad Lews]

Dude, you know I rarely play with boys.

Really? I'd never noticed, now I'll have to modify your next assignment...
Besides Lenny's wisecracks made the show worth watching.

[Euryleia]

This assignment is tougher than it looks. I'm still working but it will take a bit longer before I have something to post.

[Mad Lews]

Euryleia,

Patience and understanding are my other two middle names, just ask ms sally.
Whenever it's ready luv, just make it worth the wait.

Mad

[Mad Lews]

You've not been forgotten

[Euryleia]

Thanks for checking in. My muse keeps ducking out to avoid this assignment. I'll try and get to finishing it soon.

[Mad Lews]

Thanks for checking in. My muse keeps ducking out to avoid this assignment. I'll try and get to finishing it soon.

As I recall your muse responds well to a brisk strapping, or was it a crop?

[Euryleia]

I give up!

[Razor7826]

Don't give up! When you press through and get something workable, you'll feel satisfied and the next assignment will be that much easier to overcome. These Level 4 assignments can be mentally exhausting, but they are worth the effort.

[Mad Lews]

I give up!

OK let's not talk surrender or waving the white flag. Instead we'll call it a strategic withdrawal. (It's a guy thing )

There is something I'd like you to do before we set this aside.
If you can find it in the library get hold of a copy of "Drink to Yesterday" by Manning Coles It's a pre-World War Two English spy novel. Just read the first and last chapter. Then set your Ideas aside and let them percolate for a bit.

Muse's are funny creatures, while certain twisted and perverted ones (like mine) might respond to a brisk spanking, few of them react well to pressure.

Let me know if you can find the book, afterward we'll start in on the character building excercise.
Take care
Mad

[Mad Lews]

Hi Euryleia,
Hope we haven't lost you, Ready to do some character building?

Mad Lews

[Euryleia]

Sorry. I've been in Phoenix with limited access this past week. I'm back today but I haven't been to a library to look for the book.

Yeah, I willing to try for character building.