Monday, April 26, 2010

Rare things stand out

Happy Monday, all!

Hope everyone had a great weekend, and you took some time to enjoy yourself.

Yesterday, I went to see a well-written film called "The Joneses." I loved it. Would see it again. I think it was a combination of an original idea, combined with great writing. Four people, who aren't related, "pretend" to be a family and move into a wealthy neighborhood to sell products to their demographic--by simply living. That old phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" gives this new meaning--what if retailers actually put fake families into strategic areas to help improve their sales? Kind of mind-bending. Watch the trailer here.

With so many predictable stories out there these days, it's rare that a film truly surprises me. This one did, perhaps because the concept was a bold and risky one.

At the closing credits, I heard a familiar song, one I'd heard before. The music video is almost 4 minutes of a rube goldberg. It's different, unique, unusual.

What's the point of today's post, you ask? Rare things stand out. Taking bold risks can lead to stronger connections from your readers, viewers, customers, what have you. That's not to say every risk is worth taking (for example, don't send query letters to agents using polka-dotted stationery--it's a no-no).

But take bold steps where you can, make your characters fresh in some way we haven't seen before. Your reader will connect to you more. If you're a painter, try some color blending you hadn't considered until now. Play. Let the muse dance. See what happens.

Until next time, keep on dancing.

Elaine

4 comments:

Pam Asberry said...

Love this post, Elaine. Reminds me of a quote: “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.”
~Cecil Beaton

The Writers Canvas, Author Elaine Calloway said...

Great quote, Pam! And thanks for commenting today :) I love blogging but occasionally I wonder if it's just ridding my brain of cobwebs!

Appreciate the feedback!

Elaine

Willena said...

Pam, I love that Cecil Beaton quote! Thanks for sharing. I'd never heard it before, but it sums up a creed that I try to live by. (Although I fall far short and often am very, very ordinary--which annoys me. Is there anything worse than boring one's self?)

The Writers Canvas, Author Elaine Calloway said...

Thanks for commenting, Willena :)

I think the nature of dayjobs and life leads us down a path of boring ourselves. The key is to break out of our ruts, always try something different. Even if it's taking a new way to work, listening to new music, breaking out of the comfort zone.

Elaine