January 27

Journal 3: Mapping the Story

Breif Outline:

Beginning:

• Coin first appears right before the character is about to toss it in the air

• Want the reader to be plunged into confusion that will be clarified later on (hooks the reader)

• Introduce characters emotions and thoughts behind tossing (anxiousness)

• Introduce that the coin is "binding," even though the reader may not fully understand what that means yet

Middle:

• Explain the backstory of the coin, and why the character is going through internal conflict 

  • Coin has been a tradition of sorts for the character since they were little, they have sworn to bind to whatever the coin decides 

  • Coin was first introduced by the characters Mother, who believes that doing something, working towards something is better than sitting there forever figuring out what the right thing to do is (hint: you'll never know if something is the right decision)

  • Internal conflict introduced through the recent memory of a conversation the character had with her Mom about not knowing what to do for a career path/college 

Climax:

• The coin is flipped and the character has a realization that she has secretly been rooting for a side (going towards law, which betrays everything she has been doing)

• She tries to catch the coin as she has sworn by a years-long tradition she would stick by it, but it lands on its side 

Resolution:

• The character opens her eyes to find the coin landed in a crack, meaning no side was chosen 

• It falls through the crack, but the character doesn't go to look for it- the coin is lost to time, showing that the character has grown from her indecisive tendencies

Setting: Outside on the characters wood deck after the conversation with her Mom 

• Location Reasoning: there needs to be a crack large enough for a coin to be wedged and then fall through (setting contributes to the plot)

• Time Reasoning: the conversation motivates the character to make a decision, which is why the story takes place right after

Tone/Mood: 

I've had one dance performance once a week for the last two weeks and two more in the two weeks following this week. They're all different dances, with one sequence being seven minutes long, plus I can't forget to practice for regular dance class. Oh, and I decided it would be a great idea to perform in front of the entire school for this week's spirit rally. I have four chapters of APUSH annotations that take me far too long to complete and a physics test that my GPA can't afford to fail tomorrow. I must ensure a social life by checking on friends while keeping up with the clubs I lead and researching for next week's Science Olympiad competition. My list isn't finished; are you overwhelmed yet? I do not write this to complain- I enjoy keeping myself busy. The point is, I want the tone of my story to convey that emotion I'm sure I invoked in you while you read those first few lines- the panic, dizziness, and confusion from hearing my next few weeks. The anxiety of having a million things to do and feeling like working towards all of them at once means nothing gets done. Most students have this never-ending list of must-dos, and I want to structure the story to display those emotions. I plan on doing this by placing an anxiety-filled paragraph (using circumlocution) next to a lighter load- symbolizing the changes in moods I have on a daily.

Challenges to Overcome: 

• Clearly present character development 

  • Solution: use the coin as a symbol of leaving behind the past, as it has been something the character has carried around from a young age 

• Describe emotions, but make it flavorful and have a lasting impact on reader

  • Solution: try to incorporate more metaphors (controlling metaphors, conceit)

• Write as though it is a personal essay (because it is easier to express emotions)

  • Solution: Take inspiration from other writers, such as the readings I have been doing for AP Lang.

• TIME MANAGEMENT

  • Solution: Start. Write an atrocious draft, but start somewhere (potentially try to first tell the story simplistically in 10 kindergarten sentences to break away from the blank page- should take 10 minutes, so is easy to feel like something has been accomplished).