Mind Movies, Drama, and Hard Work

Do authors really use mind movies to help them write?

Information

Put a mind movie to this --- from the real world of my ancestors:

Terry Deary, author of history you'll love to learn about

Listen to an excerpt from The Groovy Greeks  ^[1]

Think maybe history can be fun?  How did Terry Deary make history interesting?

Editor: Michael Thorn of Achuka interviewed Terry Deary, author of thoughtful, but humorously "Horrible Histories".^[2]  Terry explained how drama helped him see the mind movies of his books:

"My life in drama and in writing can't be separated. As an actor I took the company plays and re-wrote/improved them. Then I began writing original plays for touring. Finally I turned my plays into novels for children. I still "see" chapters in my books as "scenes"; it is second-nature for me to move the plot along and show character by writing dialogue. I am so very lucky to have been an actor. Without it I'd never have become a writer."

Assignment 1

Questions to answer on the Ideas Mind Movies and Us page based on Terry's quote above:

What are the two elements of literature that mind movies helped him create?

How has the strategy of drama or mind movies helped you?

Assignment 2

Now let's combine three author strategies: collaboration, mind movies, and drawing.

Choose a topic from the list below, or choose an incident from your own experience.  With a partner, work together to develop the mind move by discussion the steps and characters in the event.  Then draw, label, and write journal entries for the mind movie "scenes" you imagined.  Note: stick figures are fine :)  Describe on the Ideas Mind Movies and Us page how these strategies helped you write more powerfully.

Topics:

The Deer Hunt: Sighting and Shooting the Buck

The Horse Race: The Last Stretch to Win (or Just About)

That One Fish: Reeling It In

The Last Dance: Talking Myself into Asking

The Roller Coaster: The Worst Part--Survived!

Choices: Deciding Not to Go

A note about his illustrator and collaboration:

In the same interview, Terry also discussed collaboration (see Ideas Collaboration):

"Martin Brown is an equal partner in the creation of Horrible Histories. At first the series comprised horrible, but fairly "straight" facts. Any humour was in Martin's jokes. He is an Australian so he's born naturally subversive and anti-establishment – I've had to learn how to be bolshy. The books have developed and are now far more powerful commentary on human behaviour; other artists are able to imitate Martin's style and humour, but he CREATED it. He's my hero … even if he does gloat when his cricket team stuffs mine."

Hard Work

"Writing is hard fun." ~ Donald Murray

Terry Deary  works hard, but loves it, as the interview continues:  

"I work from 8:30 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. and I do that from Sunday to Friday inclusive. Saturday is my one day off. I work 52 weeks a year with Christmas Day off. I last had a holiday 17 years ago. I only have to write 1000 words a day to complete a non-fiction book. Hell, I can write 1000 words an HOUR if I push myself and once wrote an 11,000 word book in a day! But that's not "rigorous". Teaching 30 kids in a school all day, digging coal in a sunless mine, serving burgers in a bar to ungrateful customers and demanding bosses – now THAT'S what I'd call "rigorous". I'm my own boss, doing something I enjoy."

So, what do you need to do in writing class?

And you do work hard! and enjoy it, mostly!  Thank you!

Connected Pages:  Ideas Mind Movies Work            Ideas Mind Movies and Us