John Cooper

[Julia Davis @JuliaDavisNews]

Merry Christmas from Ukraine
Via @U24_gov_ua

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

@LibertyCappy Security, prosperity, international trade routes. Sorry to burst your bubble

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

@listen_2learn Nothing in your world makes sense to you

[Nathan Baugh @nathanbaugh27]

Students at NYU asked the creators of South Park the million-dollar question:

“What makes a good story?”

They gave one of the best explanations of story I’ve heard:

“If we can take the beats of your outline, and the words ‘and then’ belong between those beats… you got something pretty boring.

What should happen between every beat you’ve written down is the words ‘therefore’ or ‘but.’”

They go on to say, “That gives you the causation between each beat, and that makes a story.”

Point 1:

There’s an idea in storytelling called ‘Promise, Progress, Payoff.’

Essentially, a story is a neverending cycle of promises that are paid off over the span of the story.

It’s a cycle of expectation and resolution. Cause and effect. Conflict and progress.

Point 2:

A story isn’t a bunch of random events thrown together.

A story is a series of but / because / therefore moments.

A famous example:

• Harry discovers he's a wizard. Because of this, he goes to learn magic at Hogwarts.
• But then he learns Voldemort wants to kill him and rule the world.
• Therefore, he must find a way to defeat him.

Point 3:

‘And’ implies a simple continuation.

‘But / Therefore’ give prior events meaning through causation.

‘But’ implies conflict. ‘Therefore’ implies progress.

I’m reminded of a Hemingway quote:

“Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.”

Great writing is intentional. It doesn’t wander. It builds upon itself.

***

I hope you enjoyed that! If so, follow @nathanbaugh27. I study the best storytellers ever and share what I learn.

[Downtown Tulsa Partnership @downtowntulsa]

In case anyone was wondering about the construction going into work the past few mornings! 😅

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

@LegalEagle do Hans Niemann defamation suit against Magnus Carlsen and friends

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

Have some respect for the cowboy hat #Longhorns #boomersooner #OUDNA #WreckEm

[RedRaider806 @RedRaiderLex]

WRECK EM TEXAS TECH ‼️‼️‼️

let it all out longhorns nation 😭

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

Bottom right pic. @WindhorstESPN is chubby Christian Bale

[CJ Fogler 🫡 @cjzero]

New @WindhorstESPN memes dropped

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

@rbBRENDLE What’d he do

[Rob Person 🇺🇸🇺🇦 @RTPerson3]

THREAD: Here's why sanctioning the Central Bank of Russia could prove devastating - the true "nuclear" option in the West's financial arsenal. Russia currently holds about $640 billion in reserves. About 32% held in euros, 22% in gold, 16% in dollars, and 13% in Yuan. 1/

[Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 @NickKnudsenUS]

The main street in St Petersburg, Russia tonight.

The crowd is chanting "No to War!" "Shame!" & "Ukraine is not our enemy!" #янемолчу

From @Lemmiwinks_III:

[Fari Elysian @farielysian]

Currently in Moscow, Russia!

People don’t want it, protests are going in almost 30 cities of Russia.

1200 people have been arrested today from the streets in Moscow.

Stop saying Russians are bad. It’s never a fault of people…🙏🇺🇦🇷🇺

[Sam Presti @AngrySamPresti]

Sup

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

says the fan of the loser team that loses twice to KU in 5 yrs. texas = KANSAS LOSER x2!!! texas would pee it’s pants to play in a toilet bowl with a turd floating around. how do I know?! cuz KU football is NCAA’s biggest stinkiest turd and UT loves choking on it

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

@barstoolchicago @barstoolWSD It’s pathetic; your hate-filled self aggrandizing. Your passion is ugly. Your decision to post this is embarrassing.

[John Cooper @coopthehoop]

@CoachBobStoops fans wanted someone else to play; so your definition of “higher standards” is to not hurt anyone’s (w)ittle fee(w)ings #snowflake-take

[Bob Stoops @CoachBobStoops]

Sold out 21 straight years, thanks to a great fan base! Some, however, could hold themselves to a higher standard!! #OUDNA

[Tristan Snell @TristanSnell]

“Cut him off now!” This is what the far right actually thinks of veterans — that they should be seen but not heard.

[comedycentral @ComedyCentral]

Norm Macdonald’s appearance at the Roast of Bob Saget was unlike anything ever seen before. Watch this legendary clip with additional footage.

[Bloomberg Originals @bbgoriginals]

Tom Brady: “Not a lot of people think that we could have won and in fact, I think 40% of the people still don’t think we won."

Biden: “I understand that” https://t.co/zWVPjevyq4