Yes, it’s Thursday morning again. Today I’m sharing a bowl of chicken soup…with all the ailing passengers I encountered on my flights to Orlando and back. Enjoy!
Yesterday I touched a little on my thoughts on Disney’s talent for entertainment and how I think we can capitalize on some of their ideas. You’re not going to be able to write War and Peace with their approach, but I think some of their general entertainment techniques are sound.
Sometimes, simple is effective. Nearly all of their rides combined humor with thrills. They didn’t get too analytical. They didn’t get too complicated.
Suspense. They kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I never knew what was around the next corner. By not giving their riders too much information, they kept us guessing and engaged.
Their endings were satisfying. They didn’t leave their guests hanging at the end. Everything was tied up and ended on either a humorous note or a relieved one (you survived whatever scary ride you were on.) Life isn’t like that. But neat endings for novels can be satisfying for a reader who’s stuck with you through an entire book. If you’re writing a series with a continuing storyline, it’s still important, I think, to tie up some loose ends for the reader, even if they’re just minor plot points.
Disney was a unique experience—I didn’t have my kids with me this time! The pure creativity and imagination spilling out of the place was inspiring to me.
What an interesting observation of a place that we usually think of as just for kids! Very thoughtful!
Chicken soup is my all-time favorite comfort food. I make my grandma’s recipe. It’s called Jewish penicillin. Disney was a genius, so adapting his philosophy to writing makes such sense.
karen
My mom ‘taught’ me to make chicken soup one day when I was about to leave the house. She said,
“Take a pot of water, add a chicken, fill it with everything including the kitchen sink, and let it cook.”
Still works for me.
As for the Disney thing — it’s nice to see there are people who still get into it. We’ve lived in Orlando for 22 years, and hubby worked for SeaWorld, I did a stint at Universal, and we knew all sorts of Disney people. But, by the time we moved here, our kids were old enough to go with friends. We’d already done the California Disneyland park with them every summer while visiting my parents.
Here, hubby and I would get a resident’s seasonal pass and we’d pop over for dinner and a ride or two throughout the various parks.
I still like Epcot, but the others have lost that excitement. I guess when your kids’ friends talk about summer jobs, and it’s not, “Working at BK, or Mickey D’s”, but rather, “I’m Barney Rubble, or Donald Duck”, some of the magic is gone.
However, I tend to be a bit of a bah-humbug sort. I’ve got a writer friend who lives in Lauderdale and has a condo up here, and every time they come to town to see their (grown) kids, they go to a Disney park.
I hate the heat. I hate lines. I’ve worked in the administrative offices and know what the bottom line is for the parks. I’m not a good theme park guest.
Hi, Elizabeth!
I completely agree! And Disney was a genius. Whenever I get discouraged, I try to remind myself that he was told he’d never about to anything with his silly cartoon about a mouse…
I do find simple can be a very effective tool. How did you make it to Disney without your kids? Are they still speaking to you? Now I’m off to check out the chicken soup.
Wisdom from the Land of the Mouse! I love it!
I like to tie up most of my loose ends simply because I can’t stand books (or movies) that don’t. I understand the concept of ‘the story of whoever continues…’ but don’t leave me hanging. Cliffhangers work for TV shows, but not for books! A shocking ending? Bring it on. But give me an ending.
Elspeth
No kids probably made it much more enjoyable! Sorry, I know that’s why most people go to Disney, but those of us who are still a child at heart enjoy the experience, too.
And sorry I can’t enjoy the chicken soup – I’m a vegan!
L. Diane Wolfe “Spunk On A Stick”
http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
With all the interesting info here, I still focus on the germs and viruses I’m about to encounter when I fly out to Bouchercon. I hope all of you stay well.
However, to refocus now, this post did make me wish I could get back to Epcot soon. I love that place and have not been back since about 1997. I could happily do it all alone with my camera and my notebook…
I’m NOT vegan and would love a bowl – lol. Good post again, relating personal experiences to writing. We took our kids to Disney ages ago and this brought back SUCH fond memories.
Marvin D Wilson
How very clever! I’m still a kid at heart and I love watching Disney movies. Thanks for putting writing into the perspective of a place that lives in our child-hearts as the kingdom of imagination. Glad you had a wonderful trip!
More great Disney advice!
Speaking of airplane rides…I’m back from Minnesota and seem to be coming down with a cold. Not sure if I got it in MN, where my sister thinks 80 degrees is scorching hot and she kept the a/c or freezer mode, or if I got it on the airplane ride home. Either way – bleh.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I’ve NEVER been to Disney. I think that makes me one in like…almost the entire world!
But now I really want to go! (Oh and the new Harry Potter theme park….that makes me want to go too!)
Simple can be awesome. I think of a Stephen King short story (about 30 pages) called Dolan’s Cadillac. Its short and simple, no twists or turns, just a plot about revenge that pretty much goes according to schedule. Its one of my favorite short stories.
I’m impressed you got to do Disney without the children. That is, you went on your own and enjoyed it for yourself. That’s a cool thing. See, when you get old, all you can think of are the reasons not to go, then, console yourself with those reasons after not going—secretly wishing you had. So, your psyche is still fresh as a teenager. Good for you. Oh, I’m back into Myrtle and having a good time. Grin.
Best Regards, Galen
Imagineering Fiction Blog
Simple, suspenseful, satisfying! Great advice :)
I haven’t been to Disney either, Marybeth, so there’s at least 2 of us! One day…
Sharon–Thanks!
Jane–They were not happy with me. :) But I got them some souvenirs from Disney.
Diane–I went with them a couple of years ago, but it was pretty cool to be there with my sister, instead!
Marvin–Hope you enjoy the soup!
Karen–“Jewish penicillin!” I love it.
Terry–I can see where proximity to the magic could give you some immunity! I don’t blame you. My last 2 trips to Disney were during the off-season and it was nice and quiet there.
Kristen–I didn’t realize Disney had gotten rejections, too! Just goes to show that determination and talent goes a long way.
Helen–Hope you feel better! Have some chicken soup. :)
Elspeth–I totally agree. I’d rather read a sad ending than an unresolved one.
Patricia–I was at EPCOT alone while my sister was in her conference. Got some writing done hanging out at Mexico…
Marybeth–It’s so much fun. And your kids would love it, too.
Stephen–I haven’t read that short story of his. He started really terrifying me and I had to put his work aside. :) But you’re right–simple can be so effective. And he plays on our everyday fears.
Jen–Thanks so much!
Galen–Oh, it took an army for me to get out of town. :) Neighbors to watch my daughter in the afternoon, carefully written out instructions about scout times, carpool changes. But it was worth it!
My psyche is about the only thing I share with a teenager.:)
Hope you and Myrtle get along. Make her play nice.
Jemi–It’s a lot of fun there…they make you feel like a kid again!