And Now for Something Completely Different...

Bad Elephant Far Stream is an animal story for adults, a novel about the odyssey of a circus elephant, told from her own perspective, through her own eyes. Inspired by the true story of the circus elephant Topsy, the subject of the 1903 Thomas Edison film “Electrocution of an Elephant,” it begins in the forests of Ceylon in the late 1860s with the capture of a baby elephant known to her own kind as Far Stream. She is taken to America chained in a ship, a journey of several months, and sent to the Adam Forepaugh Circus in Philadelphia. There, Far Stream embarks on a new life under the big top, appearing first as “Baby Annie,” then, when she grows bigger, as “Topsy,” part of Forepaugh’s famed elephant dancing quadrille. She crisscrosses North America for thirty years with the circus, experiencing hardships, kidnapping, escapes and adventure. But when she comes to outweigh her keepers by a factor of forty—it’s hard not to hurt somebody. It’s hard not to get labeled as “bad.”

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Arminian Antics #141

Random Word Writing Challenge #63

Turn these four little words into a very short story.

Bonus Challenge: Can you name the four in the photo?

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Steering in the Right Direction

Fan Photo from Johnny Paul Jason

Thanks, Johnny, for sending a photo of the town newspaper. Corky explained the incident to me years ago. Corky had traveled back in time to this old abandoned house, just outside of Mayberry, where his great grandparents had once lived. Corky had  bumped into one of the rotten beams and the roof caved in on him leaving him trapped beneath shingles, lumber and an old suitcase that had been in the attic. Deputy Barney Fife had just turned the corner when he heard the crash. When Fife investigated the scene he spotted Corky and pulled him to safety before the rest of the house collapsed. Corky got his suitcase full of old letters and photos and Deputy Fife was declared a hero.   

October has Arrived

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Story Direction and First Rule of Improv

There was a humor blog I used to read religiously (it was a religious humor blog) that had a few in-house characters developed by the creator of the site. Many times a certain follower would try and change the direction of the storyline by denying what the author had stated.

   Examples:

   Author - "Well, I hate to report this, but Sonny Day has died by spontaneous combustion. He was a great jokester. Last time I saw him, he was on fire."
   Follower -  "No, he didn't die. I saw him two minutes ago at Starbucks!"

   Author - "Our friend, Dorky LaMancha, has been kidnapped! Give me some time to do some of my famous detective work and I'll keep everyone informed of my progress. Don't worry, we'll find him!"
   Follower (commenting as Dorky) - "Hey! It's okay! I escaped and I'm back at home!"

   Keep in mind that the creator of the blog had already planned, in both senarios, to progress through a plot that would keep the readers on a certain track. He may have even pre-posted the entire story a month in advance. The follower, not knowing better, actually sabotaged the storyline.
   To avoid this kind of thing from happening, use the "Yes, and..." rule of improv. It will, not only carry the story along but gives the author freedom to continue his direction unabated.

   Examples:

   Author - "Well, I hate to report this, but Sonny Day has died by spontaneous combustion. He was a great jokester. Last time I saw him, he was on fire."
   Follower -  "Yes, he was. I saw that same act. He was smokin' hot!"

   Author - "Our friend, Dorky LaMancha, has been kidnapped! Give me some time to do some of my famous detective work and I'll keep everyone informed of my progress. Don't worry, we'll find him!"
   Follower  - "Oh, man! I hope you find him! He has my Pipi Longstocking DVD!"

    Here is a very short video that will illustrate the first rule of improv. 

   The reason I post this is because I am concerned that I may have offended one of my CC members. At this time, I am pre-posted up until the end of October. My direction is deliberate. One of the comments was written as Benny Finney when I announced his death by SCUD missile, stating that he was still alive.

   Please don't take it personal. For my storyline arc to be successful and continue with the pre-posted and pre-planned events, I was forced to delete the comment. 

   I absolutely treasure each and every comment made on CC and would love to see many more. I have said this before...comments are like putting tips in a tip jar or money in a hat of a street entertainer. I really appreciate it.

   FYI, when I was taking an improv class many years ago, the first thing I did when I got on stage was to deny what someone had stated. I didn't realize what I was doing. The instructor stopped everything and educated me on the spot. I have never forgotten that lesson...nor the fact that he still has my Pipi Longstocking DVD. 

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Needful Things

FREE Book that's Loser Friendly!

"A sympathetic exploration that to me felt like an expansion of the excerpt about Solomon from Matt Chandler's "Explicit Gospel". (perhaps in the reverse). The book acknowledges what our church culture in the west seems to avoid - walking as a disciple doesn't equate to "your best life now" and no spiritual gymnastics will ensure you or your family a "lake woebegone" life experience. What impressed me most was that Daniel wrote with honesty and diplomacy. While I found myself wincing as I read about his circumstances that led to the book, my heart response was prayer, repentance and a nudge towards submission. Significance - as pointed out by the author - comes from being part of the Kingdom and in God's story. This isn't an in depth theological study and it isn't triumphalist (except that God can do anything to advance His kingdom with any vessel He wants and He seems to choose a lot of broken ones)."   by Lynn Comp

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Arminian Antics #140

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Just for Laughs #328

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