randy obrien

Are your dreams trying to tell you something? Dreams are intriguing phenomena that have captivated humans for centuries. Some people believe dreams are messages from our subconscious, revealing our hidden desires, fears, or conflicts. Others think dreams are just random images and sensations our brain produces during sleep. But what does science say about the relationship between dreams and the subconscious mind? And how can we use our dreams to better understand ourselves and our conscious minds? And what can creative writers take away from the idea that our subconscious minds are where we do our best writing? One way to approach this question is to examine the process of dream recall, or how we remember our dreams. Dream recall is not straightforward, as most of us forget our dreams soon after waking up. However, some people can recall their dreams more frequently and vividly than others, and some factors can influence the likelihood of dream recall, such as sleep quality, emotio...

Sting is one of my favorite singers and songwriters. He uses literary devices to tell visual, emotional, and thought-provoking stories. I've read a bit about how he opens himself up to the writing process and have found that some of what he espouses works for me. He applies a blend of intuition, observation, and technical mastery to his writing that I believe can be applied to the art of storytelling. Embracing Intuition: Sting often begins by letting go of conscious control and allowing his subconscious to guide him. He describes this as "listening to the music and asking it to tell me a story." This intuitive approach taps into the writer's inner world, drawing on emotions, experiences, and memories that can form the foundation for powerful narratives. In first drafts especially, I find myself taping into a trance-like state that opens my mind to unplanned characters and ideas. The subconscious is a marvelous thing. Ob...

I spent over thirty years in the news business and teaching news writing at the college level. It has never been more critical to determine what is true or false. In today's hyper-connected world, news travels at lightning speed, but not all are accurate. The rise of fake news, intentionally fabricated or misleading information presented as legitimate news, has become a significant challenge to informed decision-making. As responsible information consumers, we must develop the skills to discern fact from fiction and protect ourselves from the pitfalls of fake news. Identifying Red Flags The first step in combating fake news is recognizing its telltale signs. Sensational headlines, exaggerated claims, and a lack of credibility are often red flags. Be wary of news sources consistently using emotionally charged language or employing ALL CAPS to grab attention. Verifying Sources Reputable news organizations have established reputations and are transparent about their journali...

For me, a story's genre is like a painting's frame. The story fits into the frame and meets the expectations of the viewer. You won't see a portrait or landscape if you're in a gallery featuring abstract work. But, if you do, you'll notice something added to or taken away from that depiction. However, the frame around the picture could be similar.   Like the contents of the picture, framed by the viewer's expectations, most stories can fit into a specific genre. Go to a bookstore, and you'll see books shelved under different levels. Some stories are not as easy to classify and cross genres, like a Romance with Comedic elements. There are Horror stories with Thriller elements, etc. Here are some of the genres available to storytellers. A loose definition of genre is a category that groups novels with similar themes, tones, or styles. Choosing a genre can help novelists meet their readers' expectations and follow some conventions and guidelines for the...

I found Robert McKee's Story a helpful and informative handbook for writers. I haven't taken his weekend course, but I know some writers who have, and they've all said it was well worth the time and money. McKee is a renowned screenwriter and storyteller who has been teaching the craft of storytelling for more than 40 years. Numerous writers, filmmakers, and other creatives use his teachings to create powerful stories. He believes there's a universal foundation for all great stories built on the foundation involving strong characters and plot structure. McKee bases his methods on the principles of classical storytelling, which focus on character development, plot structure, and theme. He also emphasizes how important it is to understand each character's motivations to create a compelling story. In addition, he believes that all stories should have a clear beginning, middle, and end to ensure that it resonates with an audience. McKee's ideas are practical b...

  Jungian archetypes are universal, symbolic patterns or themes that exist in the collective unconscious of all humans. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, developed the concept of archetypes to understand the human psyche. Some examples of archetypes include the mother, the child, the hero, and the wise old man. Jung believed that the collective unconscious comprises these archetypes, expressed through symbols and imagery in myths, religious texts, and other forms of cultural expression. He thought psychologists could observe an individual's behavior, dreams, and artwork and that understanding them are essential to understanding the human experience. The concept of the collective consciousness refers to a group of people's shared beliefs, values, and customs. Jung believed that the archetypes of the collective unconscious shape the collective consciousness and that it plays a role in shaping the behavior of individuals within a society. In summary, Jungian...

The Harmon Story Circle Have you ever wanted to write an enthralling story that captures the imagination of the audience? Here’s some helpful information about the Harmon Story Circle. Developed by Dan Harmon, the creator of television's Rick and Morty and Community, the Harmon Story Circle is a powerful tool for narrative storytelling. In this blog post, we will discuss how to develop engaging narratives through characters and plot structures and the benefits of using the Harmon Story Circle. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of the Harmon Story Circle and how it can help you create captivating stories. A Guide To Narrative Storytelling Storytelling is one of the essential skills that you can develop as a writer. It's a skill applied in many different contexts, from personal essays to novels to movies. However, storytelling isn't easy – creating genuinely captivating stories takes practice and much finesse. That's where the Harmon Story Circ...

  Joseph Campbell And the Hero's Journey The Hero's Journey is a concept that novelists and filmmakers have used for decades, but few know its origin. Joseph Campbell first developed it in his 1949 book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This blog post will discuss the specifics of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and how those ideas can help writers create better stories. We will also discuss the differences between using the Hero's Journey in movies and literature. By the end of this post, you should have a better understanding of the Hero's Journey and how to use the ideas to craft compelling stories. What is The Hero's Journey Joseph Campbell is one of the most influential thinkers in history, and his work has dramatically impacted the world of storytelling. Campbell was born in the late 1800s, and during his lifetime, he wrote extensively on mythology and the hero's journey. The hero's journey is a popular model used to explain how creators ...

  There are many strategies you can use to increase sales of your novel. Here are a few ideas: Build an online presence: Having a website and social media accounts allows you to connect with readers and share updates about your work. You can also use these platforms to promote your book and interact with your audience. Use online marketing: There are many online marketing tools and platforms you can use to reach potential readers. This could include advertising on social media, running promotions on book websites, or using email marketing to connect with your email list. Get reviews: Positive reviews from other readers can be a powerful way to convince people to buy your book. Encourage readers to leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other book websites. Participate in events: Attending book festivals, writing conferences, and other literary events can help you connect with readers and sell books in person. Collaborate with other authors: Partnering with other authors can be a g...

Beginning writers may find themselves wondering what their story is about. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes something bursts from your imagination, and you’re unsure where it came from. That said, when rewriting this first draft, it can be helpful to determine precisely your story’s theme. Literary themes are the central ideas or messages in a work of literature. These themes can be explicit, meaning they are directly stated in the text, or implicit, meaning they are implied or hinted at by the events and characters in the story. Literary themes are often universal, meaning they can be understood and related to by readers from different cultures and backgrounds. Some common literary themes include love, loss, identity, power, conflict, and coming of age. The theme of a work of literature is often closely tied to its characters, plot, and setting. For example, the theme of a love story may be the power of love to overcome obstacles and bring people together, while the theme of ...

Wannabe writers need to know there are recognized plots of famous works that could help them find their way to success. Here are just a few.   Love conquers all: In this plot, two people from different backgrounds or circumstances fall in love and overcome any obstacles that stand in their way. The hero's journey: This plot follows the classic hero's journey, in which a hero embarks on a journey, faces challenges and enemies, and ultimately emerges victorious. Coming of age: This plot follows a young character as they navigate the challenges and changes of growing up and finding their place in the world. Overcoming adversity: This plot follows a character as they struggle to overcome a difficult situation or challenge, such as illness, poverty, or discrimination. The quest: This plot follows a character or group of characters as they embark on a journey to find something or achieve a goal. Rags to...

Once you've decided on the question or issue you want to write about, it's time to construct a series of events that best place your diametrically opposed characters in direct and indirect conflict. The protagonist and antagonist work best when they both explore the same issue but with differing world views. For example, in Star Wars, the question is, "Is good stronger than evil." If you believe that democratic power comes from the wishes of the ordinary people, then Luke Skywalker is the protagonist. On the other hand, Darth Vader's world view is that power comes from a select, small group of people who believe control comes from a religious designation governing the people. How you portray this conflict is best described over two thousand years ago by the Greek philosopher Aristotle in his work Poetics. I highly recommend you read his principles on writing. He advised playwrights of the time that a story should include fear, pity, and eventually, catharsis for a...

One Way to Write Your Story    1.        Anything can be a good subject for your story. What is your passion: sports, justice, love, family? 2.        Create an extraordinary character (protagonist) who shares that same passion. What will they do if they don’t presently have it or are about to lose it? Next, create a character (antagonist) who shares an equal amount of desire and goes for the same thing as the protagonist. 3.        A plot is a series of events that explores the theme. Fate vs. Free Will. Is good stronger than evil? What makes a family? What is justice? And allows the protagonist and the antagonist to battle against each other over aspects of the theme through words or actions. 4.        Choose who will tell the story, a narrator (third person) or one of the characters (first person), and use description and dialogue to engage the reader’s mi...