When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them with others, we enter into an agreement where we allow our reader to see a glimpse of our heart, our souls and our memories. If we truly want them to be immersed in the tale, we actively immerse ourselves in those memories so that a glimmer of what we saw, heard and felt comes through.
This is especially true with holiday tales. The best way to convey a holiday scene is to take a trip back in time through the wonderful world of our unconscious. Here are some great ways to delve back into our child hood memories and incorporate them into our holiday tales.
1) Sit in a darkened room and close your eyes. Allow yourself to go back in time to the very first Christmas that you can remember. Take a deep breath and relax. What are the scents, sounds and feelings that come up? What is the first picture that pops into your mind?
Is it the sound of children racing down the stairs that comes to you first? The feel of your heart pounding when you awoke and found that Christmas was really here? The warmth of your parents' blankets as you bounced on them, anxious to wake them up?
The autumn and winter holidays will always be associated, for me, with my grandmother's cooking and pumpkin pies. I remember running into her little house, and the sound of the front door's slam behind me. I was immediately engulfed in warmth. The scent of nutmeg and cinnamon and pumpkin seeds physically drew me forward, until I was wrapped in my grandmother's embrace.
2) Recreate the scene. Since a prime trigger for me is the scent of pumpkin pies, I often order pumpkin scented candles from Yankee Candles. I sit on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket, light the candles and wait. Within moments, the scent has pulled me back to my grandmother's kitchen. And I hear the sound of my cousins pounding down the hall after me, each of us anxious to win the first warm treat.
You can do the same. If a scent triggers your memories, you can either bake the cake or cookie or brew the eggnog. Or you can get one of those scented candles and simply light it.
If the feel of sweaters immediately transports you back to your snow throwing days, slip one on. If you are like me and live in Florida, turn the air way up first. Close your eyes and hear the sound of children shouting as they try to nail each other with snowballs. Picture their fresh flushed faces.
3) If there is a particular holiday character that sparks your memories, rent holiday movies. Some of my favorites are Frosty the Snowman and Miracle on Thirty fourth street. Watch one for a while, until you get the holiday feeling, then turn the sound off. Watch the pictures and let your mind go.
4) Use all of these pictures and sensations and feelings in your story.
If you are writing about a little girl in a big family, think back to what holiday dinners were like for you. Did everyone talk at once? Does your character like this or does she feel overwhelmed? What is it like to be the smallest one in a room full of adults? Is there a cousin or neighbor that is constantly picking on her? Do the children get bored and decide to explore the forbidden attic?
5) Once you have a scene in mind, write down all of these questions. Don't worry about answering them until you have run out of questions. Then think back to the picture, sound or feeling that you associate with and answer the questions.
6) Now describe everything that you can about the characters. What are their ages? What do they look like? Are they the youngest or oldest in their family? Where do they live? What is their favorite thing? What are their best friend's names? Who is their arch nemesis and why?
Get as much detail as possible down.
Once you can describe all of these things, the pieces of your story will begin to fall into place. More importantly, your characters and your scenes will be real and alive. Be brave and put as much of yourself into these stories and your characters. Your readers will love you for it.
About The Author
Caterina Christakos is the author of How to Write a Children's Book in 30 Days or Less. For more writing tips go to: http://www.howtowriteachildrensbook.com.
Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely published so long as the author's resource box, bylines, and copyright are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Send to CChrist896@aol.com
As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
Remember back in the dark days of your school years... Read More
Welcome to the zany ideas of a productive writer. My... Read More
Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
We all need a cheer squad.We all need people to... Read More
Writer's block! Even columnist Dave Berry has it. He admits... Read More
So you want to learn to research well, and not... Read More
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you consider yourself... Read More
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented... Read More
Mix a martini, don't forget the olives, or pour yourself... Read More
Persisting With Bulldog Determination [Book excerpt from Successercising} by Rick... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
A frequent conversation I have with my writing clients is... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
An island in the Mediterranean. A beach in Africa. The... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me when a prospective writer... Read More
To help build your profile and reputation within a large... Read More
Over the past eight years or so, I have tutored... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More
Taming the Book Proposal: The BasicsOh, that most maddening of... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
Has the thought run across you mind that you might... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
Be careful when you write.Words you use, sentences you phrase... Read More
Q and A.Best choice when subject is very verbal or... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
You may not remember this, but in the early days... Read More
Recently, I was hunting for a book that would simply... Read More
One obvious question that can get overlooked in the process... Read More
"If you want to change your life," Harry Beckwith wrote... Read More
In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More
SALE, SAIL Sale is either offering something for purchase... Read More
Agents and publishing houses have their best interests at heart,... Read More
What is a freelance grant writer? These individuals have a... Read More
1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
William Faulkner, the great Mississippi writer, said, "The tools I... Read More
There are various forms of structure, including frameworks, work processes... Read More
Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to... Read More
BAITED, BATEDBaited usually refers to traps or snares. When the... Read More
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More
Rudolph Flesch, a pioneering advocate of readability, put great stock... Read More
Before you even begin writing your novel, you need to... Read More
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More
What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
Writing |