Deal A Story

2010-01-23T17:42:00.000-05:00

1-23-10

Recently I was chatting with a writer about the Knight card in the Heroes section in my Deal A Story game. He happened to mention that he thought the example of Sir William Blakely in The Scarlet Pimpernel was a rather “old” story/movie.

I remember the saying from the movie very well...

They seek him here

They seek him there

Those Frenchies seek him everywhere...

Is he in heaven or is he in hell

That damned elusive Pimpernel

I agreed but said that it was difficult to find examples that were well known to most people.

This writer was afraid that the younger generation of would-be authors hadn’t heard of Baroness Emmuska Orazy. She penned the novel in 1903 about this interesting hero that immediately caught the public’s fancy. They loved this hero so much that she did many sequels that made her a rich woman.

The story was first presented as a play and then as a novel. Although how she thought up the name, the scarlet pimpernel, is a mystery. Now James Bond became 007 because the author Ian Fleming had a bus by that number that went past his home. He watched the bus out his window and simply decided the numbers would work well. L. Frank Baum the author of The Wizard of Oz came up with the Oz name by looking at his filing cabinet. In those days, 1900, it had two sections, A through N and the second section was... you guessed it... O through Z

So, I looked up “Pimpernel” but the only reference I could find was to a plant that was called “scarlet pimpernel” which was common in Europe and (laughing here) considered a weed.

But, what makes him such an interesting hero is that Sir Blakely was a fop.

According to the dictionary a FOP is a dandy...a man who is overly concerned with his dress, usually overdressed, his appearance and using correct manners. Considered by society as a buffoon, maybe even an imbecile and exceeding dull.

Were there other fops who became heroes?

Absolutely.

Clark Kent comes to mind as well as Don Diego de la Vega. Both men, Superman and Zorro, hid their true character, as did Sir Percy, behind their manner of dress. Clark had his glasses while Don Diego had his fancy clothes trimmed with lace.

Can you think of any other heroic Knight’s who, to the outside world were considered fops, yet when push came to shove, always saved the day? I love to know.

First newspaper review

2008-05-19T10:01:00.002-04:00

What a disappointment!

On Friday our local weekly newspaper comes out. It is delivered free to all the homes in our area, so it reaches about five thousands houses. But parts of the newspaper are also printed in adjoining communities, only the front page really changes...so I'd say it reaches about 50,000 households... not a whole lot, but for a local paper not bad.

Now, I know the gal who does the reviewing of books...I've worked with her over the years through various committees and organizations that I've been affiliated with in our city. So naturally I expected a HUGE review...

Sigh. What I got was this... and I quote

"Sue Viders of Lone Tree has just published a new teaching tool, a brain-storming game called, 'Deal a Story' that poses different aspects of putting a story together by juggling plots, characters, settlings, etc. Available at $19.95, www.rdrpublishers.com."

Well, what's wrong with that, you say. Any PR is good PR. Right!

Maybe. But first of all she got one aspect totally wrong. In the cards there is no such thing as SETTLINGS...

Ah, maybe she didn't open the cards I set her. Another deep sigh.

However on the flip side, I always try to find the best possible way to look at the problem, maybe she gave me a great idea for another set of cards... settlings. grin.

So much for my first review... now I'm waiting for the second one... and crossing my fingers. Maybe I'll get another great idea.

Sue

Spreading the Word

2008-05-13T11:15:00.002-04:00

Spreading the word about Deal a Story is taking forever.

I've been trying to reach the editors of the various writing magazines in hopes that they will give the cards a wee bit of PR...so that writers everywhere can find out about the game and how it cures writer's block.'

And it's been tough.

Can't get the editors of Writer's Digest to even answer my email...

The Writer magazine has been very nice, they requested the game, used it and are are "thinking" about putting in the "New Product" section... Nice.

Now the Writer's Journal is interesting...several very nice notes from their editor...he gave the game to one of his writers to "test out" in a writing group (excellent idea) and will get back to me shortly.

So, bottom line...the bigger the magazine, the less they seem to be interested in actually helping the writer...

Sue

Big words...

2008-05-08T11:22:00.001-04:00

Yesterday a friend wrote me that he loved the card game and called it INGENIOUS!

Wow, I thought. Nice, but then I frowned...what the devil was he actually saying. I really thought that he didn't like the cards. But before I said anything back to him, and because I am dyslexic and not comfortable with BIG WORDS, I hauled out my well worn Webster's Dictionary and looked up "ingenious."

Image my surprise when I found out what it meant!

INGENIOUS means

showing intelligence (hmmm, that was nice)
marked by especial aptitude at inventing (well that was right, I did invent the cards...)
marked by originality, resourcefulness and cleverness in conception (yes, it is totally original)

Okay, so it was a nice word...in fact...a wonderful word and I am thrilled to know that I am indeed ingenious.

Now, if only my grand kids would also think so... grin.

Sue

So many books, so few really good stories

2008-05-04T12:15:00.003-04:00

In 2007, a whopping 400,000 books were published or distributed in the United States alone. World wide, I have no idea...probably over a million or more.

But, how many of these books are really worth reading?

Not many I think.

I read at least one or maybe two a day...yeah I'm a speed reader...took a course in college. I simply love books...all the librarians know me by sight and even save the new releases for me.

But bottom line...not many of these books, now I'm talking about fiction books, are really very good. First I was deeply into romance...then I turned to historical and regency tomes... but after a bit, how many times can a poor governess capture the love of a duke...I had to turn to another genre.

So I migrated to romantic suspense...ahh, lots of good mystery here, which of course, lead me to pure suspense and thrillers. Oh did I say I also love science fiction and the paranormal tales. I really think my next book will be in this genre... I'm thinking of implanting some type of hearing devise into...sorry, you'll have to wait on that story while I finish up my suspense novel.

However vampires really don't interest me. As do first person detective stories.

But I do love most books, anything with a good story. And I hate it when, within the first 50 pages or so, I know who did it, who the red herrings are and how James Bond or what ever hero we have today, is going to solve the whatever.

How about your guys? What is your favorite genre and why?

Sue

They came!

2008-05-03T14:43:00.002-04:00

If you remember, I told you how the card game has gone International. Well, I just received this nice note from the gal who ordered several sets of Deal a Story.

Hi Sue
Just want to tell you I bought three Deal A Story decks and they've just
arrived here in New Zealand. You've done really well! Congratulations. A
fun and inspirational way to think outside the box [pun intended!] when
plotting. :-) I'm running a Structuring and Plotting the Novel workshop in
a couple of weeks and one of the decks is earmarked as a spot prize. Again.
Great work. Thanks!

Regards, Gracie Stanners

You have no idea how gratifying it is to hear from writers who are using the cards. I love it...and Gracie really made my day.

Sue

You never know

2008-04-26T09:32:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I visited my doctor for my monthly blood pressure check up...check in...where he's takes it, smiles and tells me "a bit high Sue, you really need to cut down on your chocolate intake..." and I nod.

Give up chocolate. Never. I'll increase my daily walking time from 20 to 30 minutes...that ought to do it...and he nods.

But this is about my doctor's nurse. A great gal with the most beautiful black hair which I always comment on as she is forever trying different ways to fix it. This time she had it in a mass of finger-length curls, what we used to call sausage curls...grin. Michelle is a pretty black woman, in her early 40's, with two grown sons and single.

Anyway we got to talking while waiting for the doc, and since she knew I was a writer (need I say I've been with this doctor forever) she asked me "What's new Mrs. V."

In my purse I had a set of the Deal a Story cards that I planned to give to my doctor as a gift as his mother writes. I pulled out the cards and began showing Michelle how they worked.

Well, she was fascinated. As we were looking at the various cards we got to talking about her hair and she told me how she changed the style with each new boyfriend. "Hmmm," I mused out loud, "sounds like a book to me."

She giggled, "Yeah, bad boys vs bad hair days." We were laughing about her hair styles and her being back in the dating scene after so many years when the doctor walked in and said with a frown, "Now that is something I don't want to hear about" and the giggles started all over again.

I gave her the set of cards I was going to give to the doctor (I'll bring him one next time) and she promised to start writing up short sections using each of the various hero cards, as a possible boyfriends, while she used the villain cards as the bad hair dates...

So, you never know who might be a writer and might have a wonderful story to tell. Sometimes they simply needed someone to get them started.

You never know.

Sue

Never be afraid to ask

2008-04-24T09:57:00.002-04:00

In my never ending quest to reach writers and tell them about the Deal A Story cards and how this game will get them to think "outside" of the box and assist them in creating new story ideas, I am sending colorful post cards to the various conferences all over the world...well, the English speaking world.

And it amazes me how many of these writing conferences do not want to put out free post cards...I'd say about one out of every six decide not to use the cards. A big conference in Ireland said no, but then one conference in France said yes.

A few days ago I received a short note from the program chairman of a mid-western university.....that said.... and I quote

"Would love to see the game, but I do not believe in advertising writing books to my students. So no post cards."

I sat here looking at his note and thought, incredible. How short sighted. Not to let his students know about this new way to create story ideas. So not one to be put off (you might say I'm not shy), I wrote back...

"I'd be glad to send you a review copy of the cards, but tell me, how are writers suppose to know/hear about the game, if they don't see the post cards? If a new dictionary came out, I'm sure you would let all your students know about it."

Well, I didn't have to wait long...for in the next hour I received his answer...

"Maybe you are right. Send the cards and I'll distribute them at the conference."

So, the moral being, never be afraid to ask why something is happening, or in my case, why it is not happening.

Sue

And the kids said...

2008-04-21T12:34:00.003-04:00

Several weeks ago I gave my grandson, who is a high school freshman, a set of cards to take to the creative writing teacher at the high school. She promised that she would "try them out" with her senior honors writing class.

Which she did.

She called me Friday and said "The kids had a ball. The cards were great fun."

So I asked her what else she thought about the cards.

"The greatest thing about them, was that they forced the kids to really think outside of the box."

Great. What did that actually mean. "Well, most young writers write what they have seen in movies or read in books. Not that they actually copy, but they don't get too creative. They tend to do the same thing over and over. The cards give them new ideas and new ways of approaching a story idea. Even new story ideas."

Would she use them again. "Definitely," she replied.

Now, I have to talk to the head of the English department to see if I can talk him into buying some sets for the school.

Wish me luck.

Sue

Mailing the card sets

2008-04-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

Long gone are the days when an actual post person delivered mail to your house. Nowadays we, at least in my area, have community mail boxes. Large ugly looking steel gray boxes that have twelve or more smaller boxes where we received our mail.

And, of course, our area, seems to be the very last on the mail person's route...which means it doesn't come until after four in the afternoon. Okay, you say, that's not so bad. Well, maybe. In Denver, in the late afternoon, because of the mountains and the wind patterns we usually have a storm of some sort...in winter it could be snow, in summer, it's rain, and occasionally just plain old sleet.

Which brings us back to getting the mail, which of course is about getting orders for the card game. When the orders come in, I do my very best to mail the set out the next day, but because we no longer have any type of mail pick up, except for the letters, which we can push through in one of the empty slots in the community box, we have no way of getting packages mailed except to go the post office.

Sigh.

Which is not within walking distance. Now we run into the problem of making too many trips and a drain on the gas, which as everyone knows, it approaching four dollars a gallon.

So, what's I'm trying to say is that I may not get to the post office every single day... however I do mail the cards out the first chance I have...so please, give your order an extra day or two to arrive.

I'm leaning how to combine trips...so today is the post office and the grocery story...who knows what tomorrow will bring... grin.

Sue

A kicthen table plotter

2008-04-11T18:08:00.002-04:00

One of the writers that just started using the cards, wrote to tell me, she opened the box right after dinner and spread the cards out on her kitchen table...and became so engrossed with picking and choosing the genre and villain cards that hours later her husband had to remind her to "come to bed"...as the whole evening had slipped by... but, she concluded with, "I wrote down two really great story ideas, that I would have never thought of without playing with the cards."

Good job. Now if she'll only tell me which cards she used. Grin.

Sue

We're going 'round the world

2008-04-10T09:58:00.002-04:00

Big news...my card game is now INTERNATIONAL...with three sets just ordered from New Zealand.

As more the more of you start to use the cards, I am hoping that you will send in your ideas. For example, from the first set of cards you picked, what story did you come up with? Did you like it? Did it lead to another idea?

Let's get started on some brainstorming...

Sue

At last

2008-04-07T21:18:00.000-04:00

Finally, my very own blog...well, that's not quite true.

Actually it's your blog.

For this blog is all about the new and card game, DEAL A STORY, a card game for writers that you see pictured on the banner.

DEAL A STORY has over one million different story ideas but on this blog, I hope we can all share our thoughts about our stories, out new plot ideas and how to make our characters more exciting. And different ways to use the cards.

So, write in. Tell me your thoughts. What great ideas you have come up with. And let's all brain storm - sort of like a giant critique group.

Sue

Deal A Story - How The Cards Were Created

2008-04-07T17:03:00.000-04:00

How Deal a Story Was Created

Sue Viders, author of The Complete Writer’s Guide to HEROES and HEROINES, Sixteen Master Archetypes (which is now used in many writing courses), had, for some time, toyed with the idea that there had to be a different way to further help writers develop new and exciting stories—a way that was both fun and didn’t require lots of reading from an instruction book.

Taking the sixteen heroes and heroines from her book, she added sixteen villains from assassin to the evil genius. “This was great fun. I took bad guys from the wide range of villains I found used in thrillers, murder mysteries, sci-fi novels, and movies.”

To make the stories even easier to get started, Viders then added sixteen genres such as historical, inspirational, suspense, and horror; and then she added to the mix sixteen plots covering escape, rescue, and even coming of age.

The final touch that gives the writer that extra something that makes each story unique is the Flaw Card. Each of the sixteen flaws, which the character will need to either change or conquer during the course of the novel, has several suggestions. For example the flaw of addiction has a list of addictions such as alcohol, drugs, gambling and even competing risk taking. “This was even more fun than deciding on the sixteen villains,” Viders remarked. “Flaws are those wonderful challenges that make characters memorable and stories unforgettable.”

Finally, for those writers, who perhaps are already into a story and are having a bit of trouble with the sagging middle, there are the five wild cards. One card suggests that the protagonist might have had a reversal of fortune, or another card suggests that s/he suddenly finds or loses something, has to locate someone, or recovers from amnesia.

Those writers who have used the game love it. “Deal a Story is absolutely great if you are just beginning a story or if you can’t figure out what your character needs to do next,” said one writer who not only uses the cards each time she starts a new novel, but uses it with her critique group to work out story problems. Another writer said, “Deal a Story cured my writer’s block. Every time I thought I was stuck, I just picked out another card and suddenly had a hand full of new ideas.”

Deal A Story - Testimonials

2008-04-07T17:00:00.000-04:00

Avid Adulation and Appreciation Abounds!

Does She Have a Deal for You!

“The driven librarian races to the ancient tomb to save a manuscript. Terrified of being buried alive, her inner voice mocking her for her fears and her ineptitude, she nonetheless battles snakes, heights, and the threat of eternal blackness to save the day.

“From wherever do writers pluck these details? Are they born with an endless array of plots? Do muses drop down like Martians, character trails in hand? The answer is hardly that romantic. Writers work. They also scream, gulp coffee, and wonder what drove them to the character arc in the first place.

“Sue Viders provides relief in the form of a new card game, Deal a Story. In each round, a player chooses a card for each of the five categories, Hero, Heroine, Villain, Genre, and Plot. The true fun begins with choosing three Flaw cards, one for each character. So the knight hero, serving a larger calling, sets out on a quest. Alas, he is plagued by laziness. He’d like to save the world, but can’t quite find the energy. The dark lady comes to his aid. She is a survivor who takes no guff from his pleas for one more hour of sleep. Together they battle nine-foot cockroaches in a sci-fi adventure, or perhaps fall into slapstick mishaps as they chase that serial crook who can’t leave his mother’s side. Good thing the guy’s a redeemable villain.

“I’ve taught creative writing for three decades. How I wish I could have had this game in my classroom. What a teaching tool to foster imagination and structure. And as a writer who has struggled with a sagging middle in more ways than one, how I look forward to the entertaining way to cure the writer’s block that send me away from the keyboard even if it means cleaning.

“Sue Viders promises “What a Novel Idea.” I heartily agree. Deal a Story delights and delivers for readers who want to know how writers do it, for students learning the ropes, and for seasoned writers who want to have fun while tooling their trade.”

Barbara Harken, Author of The 86^th Degree

“No more writer’s block! Whether unpublished, newly published, or multi-published and looking for new ideas, Deal a Story is a great brainstorming game for writers of all levels. Deal a Story offers a unique and easy way to develop interesting story concepts and add new life to old plots or cardboard characters. The story combinations are practically endless. Play the card game alone or with a group for even more fun!”

Ruth D. Kerce, Author of Ellora’s Cave

“Sue Viders has come up with a wonderful concept, especially for authors who find they've lost their muse amongst all the components needed to create a publishable manuscript. Now, as easy as playing a card game, you can find the stimulation you need to forge on and create or complete that award-winning novel. Deal me in!”

Ginger Simpson,

Author of White Heart Lakota Spirit, Prairie Peace, Beside Myself and more

“Writer's block? Deal a card and move your plot along. Sue Viders' innovative card game will get your muse going and the process is as fun as playing cards. I would recommend it for beginners and for those established authors looking for a new plot.”

Rayka Mennen, Author of Operation Heartstrings

“Fans of archetypes will love this new tool. Whether you’re brainstorming alone or testing new ideas in a critique group, Deal a Story is a great way to play ‘what if’ and ‘how about this.’”

Debra Dixon, Author of GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict

“Deal a Story will transform the way you write. No more blank page syndrome. Far from confining or formulaic, Deal a Story will set your imagination free!”

Su Kopil, Owner of EarthlyCharms.com and TheMotivatedWriter.com

"It will or it won't help you break through your second-act wall, but Deal a Story is enormous fun, not for writers alone but for all creative people who enjoy expanding their horizons and exercising their imagination."

Prof. Richard Walter, UCLA Screenwriting Chairman

“As a brainstorming tool, Deal a Story is a wonder and fun way to approach drafting a novel. The most intimidating thing a writer can face is that blank sheet of paper. With this engaging game, the writer now has a "starting point" of fresh ideas from a wide range of characters to the actual plot. Already into the manuscript but stuck? Deal a Story also provides a stimulating way to overcome writer's block.”

Ciara Gold, Author of A Noble Sacrifice, a 2008 Eppie finalist

“Need help brainstorming? As a writer, Deal a Story is what you need. Sue Viders created this masterful card game for writers. It's a 'must get'! You will never be stuck in your manuscript again! Bravo to Ms. Viders for coming up with such a deal!

Phyllis Campbell, Best-selling, Award-winning author of sensual romance

“Deal a Story is absolutely essential for kick-starting my imagination. All I have to do is choose my cards and suddenly I'm tripping over myself to get my ideas down on paper. And I'm not locked into using the cards in only one way. I've even picked a character card to create and introduce a minor character when I felt my story wasn't moving along.

“I've also used Deal a Story to force me to think outside of my comfort zone. When I'm feeling creatively stale, I'll challenge myself to write a short story around the cards I've chosen with no card changes. I have to create my story with unlikely characters who find themselves in a genre and plot line that, at first glance, seem impossible. Even though the short story is often for my eyes only, I'm energized because I have pushed my creativity into areas I otherwise would never have considered.

“Sue Viders has an amazing talent for taking a complex process -- writing a story -- and reducing its various components to a few words that are right on target. Once again she has given writers an invaluable tool that will keep them writing.”

Sally Prince Davis, Author

Deal a Story - How The Cards Work

2008-04-07T16:45:00.000-04:00

What a novel idea!

Deal me in!

A creative card game for all levels of fiction writers

Also good for cartoonists and improvisational theater groups

Deal a Story ~ 101 cards ~ 1,000,001 Story Ideas!

Deal a Story consists of 101 cards that give the writer over one million different story ideas. Deal a Story was created to assist writers to think outside-of-the-box and to encourage creative story development. It’s also great for brainstorming and a useful tool in creative writing classes.

There are six sections, each containing 16 cards, and five wild cards. Deal a Story combines characters with a variety of plots and genres, giving the writer unique ways to dream up new stories.

The Cards

The cards are divided into two main groups:

The Characters

16 Heroines

16 Heroes

16 Villains

The Story

16 Genres

16 Plots

Extras

16 Flaw Cards with several suggestions on each card

5 WILD cards with story possibilities

How To Use

The writer selects, at random, a card from each of the above five sections.

Then for each character, they pick a flaw card and suddenly they have a story.

For Extra Help

Not quite sure where your story is going, or what to do next - pick a wild card. Each card is full of suggestions on what to do next or how to spur your story along.

Deal A Story

2008-04-07T16:34:00.000-04:00

There are six sections, each containing 16 cards, and five wild cards. Deal a Story combines characters with a variety of plots and genres, giving the writer unique ways to dream up new stories.

Ten benefits of the cards:

1 – The cards help to create the start of a story with over one million different idea combinations

2 – The cards are a great way to overcome writer’s block

3 – They are marvelous to develop new and exciting sub-plots and gives writers ways to build up the “sagging” middle of a story that is already in progress.

4 – The cards provide good ways to “beef” up your characters and give them more interesting personalities

5 – The cards expand your creativity by forcing you to “think outside” of the box

6 – They exercise your imagination

7 – They help the “what-if” question get off the ground

8 – They help you with different plots in different genres

9 – They are a wonderful teaching tool for all levels of writers in any genre

10 – The cards are great for writing groups, organizations and critique groups to break the ice, get writers talking to one another or simply to think up new story idea.