Springboards
Most of us have moments during the day (or more often in the middle of the night) when our minds stray to curious and confounding places. You know the ones … where all the ‘what ifs’ beguile us, past demons haunt us, and we keep reliving that embarrassing moment from last week.
A writer’s privilege is to take these musings and give them an outlet, bringing life to characters who have relatable struggles, hopes and flaws. But with one important difference: the characters vanquish their demons by the final page. In this way, the novel gives satisfaction – and maybe, possibly, a bit of hope.
Vista highlights the conflicts that exist in both the Age of Reason and the modern world, and then Ariana’s quest widens the camera lens until the view includes a significant segment of history. From this perspective, the reader may chew on the true meat of literature, asking questions such as: Who and what influences us to think the way we do? Why do people kill, enslave, persecute and abuse each other? How can we convince them to stop? When battles rage in every quarter, where can hope be found?
As part of my efforts to promote literacy, there are several short passages below which I’ve created as springboards for both writers and readers. Peruse them and give feedback on my social media links. Or, if you like a challenge, do some research (for example, your region’s high school drop-out rate or education statistics by country). The topics they address are universal.
- Derek threw his backpack over his shoulder and slammed out the front doors of Raven High. He’d had enough of bombing on tests and getting lectured by teachers. He was dropping out and never going back.
- Andrew stared at the report grimly. ‘Sub-Saharan Africa: an estimated 384 million people in extreme poverty in 2015. Efforts by NGOs, the United Nations, and government humanitarian aid have improved the crisis only slightly.’ He put the paper down and picked up the phone.
- Elizabeth cowered in the corner of her dingy room, clutching a pillow, eyes brimming with tears. For the third time this week, she’d had no supper. But it was pointless complaining. Her mother drank every dollar away.
- Teesha watched the celebrations on the Vid-flo. On this day, fifty years ago – January 30, 2040 – the world had signed the Global Unity Accord, thereby eradicating all evidence of religion, culture and ethnicity. According to her iTutor, these had been the source of all prior conflicts.
- Ruth stretched her shaking arm, but couldn’t quite reach the phone. She didn’t think she’d make it another five days to see her seventy-first birthday. Over the past year, his abuse had left her with a battered and emaciated body. As her mind faded, she repeated the mantra: “Don’t eat the food he gives you. Or the medicine.” She only wished she could see her daughter one more time.
- The little plaque sitting in the pawn shop window read: Honesty, the best policy. Well, that’s ironic, Zane thought. Half-truths were the bread and butter of every pawn shop, government and news media outlet on the planet. He sighed. Don’t turn into a cynic, man. It won’t help.
- Since the ‘war on cancer’ was first declared in 1971, the number of deaths from cancer has remained virtually unchanged, even after more than $500 billion has been spent on the battle. Today, new evidence shows that victory is possible – through man’s own immune system.
- “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Jess quoted from the book of Mark. Then she frowned, frustrated. That would be easy if your neighbor was nice, but the teacher said it meant everyone!
- Ivan angrily snapped his crammed briefcase shut and strode out of his office. Three more cases of racism to prosecute. Although he believed in the rule of law, with dozens of backlogged cases, it was like trying to stop a stampede with a speeding ticket. There had to be a better solution.
- He’d made 279 kills today. Karl pumped a fist triumphantly, but kept a close eye on the screen. Online, he was king! At the sound of his parents fighting, he turned up the headset’s volume. That’s what he liked about gaming: it drowned out the real world.
- Richard looked around the filthy apartment and shook his head. His uncle said the marijuana eased his arthritis, but it hadn’t helped his housekeeping any. While he picked up trash and wiped counters, he remembered one of his college buddies saying it cured test anxiety. Hmph! Based on the guy’s GPA, he’d pass, thanks.
- “Welcome to Rio de Janeiro.” Suri carefully spoke the English words to each of the sponsors staying at the hotel. Hosting the Olympics was a tremendous honor to her country, no matter the cost. And it had provided jobs to several of her relatives as well.
- Gavin smiled and sat down to help his little brother, Ethan, do his math homework. The paper, covered in eraser crumbs and scribbles, was on adding fractions. Ethan didn’t know it, but his struggles in math had made Gavin’s post-graduation decision easy. He was going to be a teacher.
- “The term ‘social justice,’” Victor told his civics class, “refers to justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.” He held up a dictionary. “However, the word justice means the administration of law and the quality of being impartial and fair. Since the ‘distribution of wealth, opportunities, privileges’ implies partiality to those who do not have a fair share of these things and judgment against those with more than a fair share, this concept poses a dilemma. Who quantifies ‘fair share’ and who polices it?”
- Sheila smiled as her energetic Yorkshire terrier, Max, ran ahead in the park. Widowed over twelve years, he’d been her faithful companion for the past ten, so yesterday when her sister proclaimed, “Sheila, you need a man,” her instant response had been, “No, no I don’t need a man. I’ve got a dog.”