Saturday, July 29, 2006

Narrator Exercise

From the Scrambled Sage on Toast weekly exercise:

Here's a short exercise to help you sense what a difference a point of view makes. Write a short statement (less than 100 words) from the p.o.v. one ONE of these characters: Jean Luc Picard (Star Trek), Gandalf (Lord of the Rings), Buffy (Vampire Slayer), or Jean Grey (Xmen).

A million thoughts were racing through her mind, but only one thing kept her focus. He’s a vampire, she thought. He’s, like, 214 years older than me! Why do I melt when I look into his deliciously dark eyes? Oh, and that kiss!! Major yummy.

Her “spider sense” told her it was time to go to work. But even as she round-housed on the she-vampire in front of her, she didn’t need focus with this young demon, and thoughts of Angel did not get put on hold. She relished the taste of Angel in her mouth as she forced the wooden stake into the vampire.


Write a brief (less than 250 words) narrative account of a defining moment in your life from two different and contrasting points of view. Example: buying your first car, told first in first person, and then in 3rd person from the salesman's p.o.v. Another example: meeting a significant other from your point of view and then from their point of view.

1- As he polished up the Speaking chapter, putting finishing touches on the last few edits before sending it off to the publisher for the last time, Scott felt immense satisfaction at how he was able to bring Ender into maturity, into Humanity.

There was a good bit of second-guessing also, however. He wasn't sure if he had clearly explained the web of relationships. He wanted his readers to love these characters of his heart. Would they be forgiving of his character's deep flaws? He hoped so.

It was a moment in which Scott was ready to release his work, his self, into the universe, to be judged however it would be. And he was content. Ender the Speaker would thrive.

2- Tears streaming down my face, I sobbed as I read through the chapter that narrated the Speaking of Marcão. It was raw, emotional, and it laid out all my greatest beliefs. I felt completely understood for the first time in my life.

As the pages unfolded, I loved Novinha and her stubbornness. I loved all their kids as if they were my own. I mourned in my heart for the loss they felt, for the misunderstanding of the whole situation. I felt pierced to the core that Novinha and Libo hid their love for so long; not denying themselves primal desires, but having to keep their love and lives separate.

I knew I had changed just by reading these words. I would forever be communicative; would forever wear my heart on my sleeve. It was a magical moment.

7 comments:

Sideon said...

Excelénte.

(I don't know if I have the accent mark right nor not...*sigh*)

Sideon said...

BTW.

I may have to read Ender's Game one of these days.

Rebecca said...

Ender's Game is good. Laura - nice. I like the Buffy-speak. :)

Cyn Bagley said...

OH.. this is looking good... You have a lot of imagination and a lot of ideas... :-)

And I have read "Ender's Game".. it was very very good..
Nice job.

La said...

For the record, this was about Speaker for the Dead. I loved Ender's Game too, but for some reason the 2nd book spoke to me more.

:)

Cyn Bagley said...

It was quite interesting when the young man realized that he had terminated an entire species. Both Ender's Game and Speaker of the Dead were required reading for the Marine Corps.

Kay Cooke said...

A nice vigorous style - packs a punch. Great reading.
After reading your exercises, I don't thinf I did mine right ... oh well ...