|
Confession time. I had never heard of Deb Dixon
and had no intention of attending her workshop
on Goal, Motivation and Conflict. I am already
seriously motivated to avoid conflict by ignoring
goals, thereby dodging the work of actually having
to write. Unfortunately my heroes and heroines
frequently employ the same avoidance tactics.
Knowing this, Judy pointed out that I might find
the workshop useful. I was unimpressed. Judy suggested
we stay two nights in Victoria to have fun and
see friends in the evenings. Ah! I began to see
possibilities in this jaunt. When my husband recognized
the possibilities of a weekend spent killing monsters
on his
computer without me around to urge him to get
a life, the decision was made. I would attend
workshop.
The weekend got off to an ominous start when
Judy and I arrived at the Holiday Inn without
getting lost. We never go anywhere without getting
lost. Decided we'd better have drinks to ward
off evil effects of abnormal efficiency. Later
visited Edna at her hideout behind the Red Door
where we met up with Bonnie and Gail C., had further
drinks and sorted out the publishing industry
to our partial satisfaction. Publishing industry
unavailable for comment. Probably just as well.
Ate fish 'n chips. More friends arrived. Absent
publishing industry further sorted out until somebody
mentioned that next day's workshop was scheduled
to start before noon. After a pensive pause it
was unanimously agreed that sleep was an unavoidable
necessity.
The following morning - did I mention I don't
do mornings? - remains hazy, but I eventually
found myself in a conference room fully dressed
and surrounded by wide-awake faces. Daunting.
Deb Dixon turned out to be a charmingly energetic
lady with the ability to cram a week's worth of
information into one day. Deb is not a believer
in wasting time on breaks. I am not much of a
believer in taking notes, but I made an exception
this time. The snag was that I couldn't decipher
my notes. A series of squiggles - I used to take
shorthand - refer to five key scenes. Hmmm. The
squiggles are followed by the perfectly decipherable
but not entirely comprehensible words, "A
scene illustrates progress to goal, changes or
strengthens motivation, brings into conflict with
opposing forces." I think my shorthand must
be an opposing force. In spite of shorthand I
finished the morning in full knowledge that my
current hero's motivation is not motivation at
all. Kudos, gratitude and the occasional curse
to the most excellent Deb Dixon for that epiphany.
Spent afternoon re-organizing hero in my head
while Deb Dixon discussed The Hero's Journey.
Resisted impulse to send hero on one-way journey
to Hades. Second choice Thunder Bay.
I was jolted back to the workshop when we broke
into small groups to brainstorm a fantasy novel
which the group as a whole had first outlined.
At least I think they had, I was fixing my hero
at the time. Smiled agreeably while Judy, Gail
C. and Edna created a brilliant plot featuring
an unlikely hero named Rand. Hugely successful
workshop ended with booksigning and rush to washrooms.
Had dinner - and drinks - with friends and returned
to hotel with lots of time left to sort out publishing
industry. Left early next morning in order to
catch eleven o'clock ferry, Caught ten o'clock
ferry, thus wasting cost of reservation. Situation
normal at last. Reached home an hour earlier than
expected. Dog elated, husband dismayed, computer
monsters relieved. End of great weekend.
Kay Gregory is a member of GVC.
Articles may be reprinted in RWA® chapter
newsletters, attributed to the Spotlight.
Non-RWA® newsletters may not reprint articles
without the permission of the authors.
Back to top
|
