tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904837152437915711.post2867656069832743254..comments2012-05-25T17:24:47.718-04:00Comments on Darrell B Nelson's writing: Three Elements a good story needsDarrell B. Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02851443183217238218noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904837152437915711.post-82756185135872609222011-08-18T10:05:06.795-04:002011-08-18T10:05:06.795-04:00I agree that Fred going to his accounting job coul...I agree that Fred going to his accounting job could be a beginning if he found out his firm was funneling money through the Illuminati to elect werewolves to the Senate, and what he does with that information. If he seeks out allies to stop it, it is a beginning. If he fills out a form 4978T to clear the action with the FEC and goes back to work. Not a beginning.<br />I've never liked a story without all three elements but I have been forced to read Stephen Crane's reconstruction period stories where his theme was God doesn't care about the struggles of man, It turned me off of all reconstruction era literature.Darrell B. Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02851443183217238218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904837152437915711.post-13511521625996579052011-08-17T15:55:42.309-04:002011-08-17T15:55:42.309-04:00"Fred going to work at an accounting job is n..."Fred going to work at an accounting job is not a beginning" could be a beginning if it sets the story going. Some stories are more mundane than others and they don't all involve life-changing events. But it's probably not the most exciting beginning (or the most memorable story). But you're completely correct that a beginning really starts when something changes, something that sets the story into motion. I also note that sometimes elements that get the ball rolling aren't obvious even part of the story then much later (like the letter Dante had in Count of Monte Cristo) - it took a long time to understand the letter's significance. <br /><br />Having said all that, I agree that all good stories have all three of these elements and I can't think of a story I've liked that hasn't.Stephanie Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17772217449161603561noreply@blogger.com