First day of class. I love the new notebook smell.

We will have a great time this summer, learning fast, and working to become rich, famous and likable. Don’t miss class. Ever. You get 5 percent credit for your warm body sitting in the seat. You’ll participate, so that won’t be a problem.

Each day, I’ll post what we did under the page called “assignments.” What we’ll do tomorrow is already there. Don’t freak. You don’t have to do anything on the first day of class except show up with a notebook and a pen.

See you tomorrow.

 

Don’t hug the octopus.

octopusAll stories are about a main character who has a problem, a purpose, a dilemma, or a dragon to slay.

A good feature story answers ONE question. If you answer too many of them, your story will be watered down and uninteresting. It will also be like hugging octopus. How do you get your arms wrapped around something so broad?

Keep it narrow. Remember the Christmas tree. It has one purpose: to bring beauty, color and life with ornaments, lights and tinsel. It’s not where we hang our car keys, our breakfast, or our dirty socks.