The First Fish

[wordsrmylife]

I've been reading Claudia Johnson's Writing Short Screenplays that Connect, and, like many guides to craft, she talks about choosing the telling details that will illustrate character or set scene. Like many other writers on character and scene, she advises people to choose unusual details, using words she attributes to Grace Paley: "Don't grab the

Comments

[olmue]

I don't think this is as small picture as what you're asking, but I'm rather tired of main characters who go to private schools in New England or New York. Most teens in the US do NOT go to private schools, and if they do, it's more likely it's a church-run school of some kind (ie Catholic school) than some kind of ritzy prep school.

And now that you mention it, yes, I've seen the ice cream thing LOTS of times. Now it's going to stick out to me every time... :)

[wordsrmylife]

You are so right about the schools. I suspect it has something to do wanting the parents to be absent (see Robinellen's comment below). But really, there are so many different kinds of schools, whether they are public or private, in the many different regions of the country. Let's mix it up, and show the many kinds of school experience.

[robinellen]

One of my least favorite is the 'absentee parent(s)' fish. I get why it's used so often, but I'd rather see characters growing in their relationships with their family instead of just have nothing there as default.

[wordsrmylife]

I'm with you, although the absentee parent may be more whale than fish. I do think it's good to see characters grow in their relationship with family, or to see characters who still struggle even with supportive parents (that would be me and, I think, my daughter). With so many variations possible in life, I'd like to see more in literature.