Jane O'Connell

writer | editor | author 📕 debut fiction COLD AGAINST THE GLASS (Nov ‘22) | IG: janeoc

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

I love seeing my book out in the wild and can’t quite believe people order it and pay for it and open the parcel when it arrives and then read it - yes I know this is how it works … #ColdAgainstTheGlass #BookTwitter #writingcommunity #readersarethebest

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

Backsides trackside! #AustralianGP #MotoGP

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

"The pessimist criticizes, the optimist creates."

-@JamesClear

[Rachel Withers @rachelrwithers]

The Mark Dreyfus exchange, and the ensuing beat-up, sums up everything that is wrong with our politics and media.

It is this nonsense that has stopped us having a serious conversation about immigration, or Stage Three, or any matter of public importance.
https://t.co/sDvoeiP6aC

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

"... with devastating consequences for the civilian population amid a complete collapse in humanitarian relief."
https://t.co/DkXiSrQuhN

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

Different view 🌈

[The Sydney Morning Herald @smh]

‘Everyone was freaking out’: Teen stops runaway bus from crashing into NSW petrol station
https://t.co/Osdor0LMKd

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

Great tips. How to improve your swim into shore https://t.co/doqBV5NduQ

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

Anyone watched The Control Room? We're on ep 2 and about to give up. Should we stick with it?

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

First swim in the creek since April. Just off full tide, cool and clear 💦 🏊🏼‍♀️

[Josephine Liptrott @Jo_Liptrott]

Peace & privacy. He thought it was a great idea & made an appointment for me to see the manager in person next week so that we can discuss it further. So, I guess the moral of the story is SISTERS, STICK UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS & STICK UP FOR EACH OTHER. 💚🤍💜 14/14

[The Shovel @TheShovel]

Optus has released a statement on the current outage

[Denise C. @SpudBenBean]

A woman who rang ABC Sydney radio said she found out about the Optus outage from her cat.

The cat has an automatic wi-fi feeder (connected to Optus) & when breakfast wasn't delivered at 6:10 am, the cat went to the bedroom to lodge a complaint with management.

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

@humsentence There is no plan B. Helen?

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

@drhelenedwards I just found you - seems nicer over there ...

[Peter Mallouk @PeterMallouk]

In a world full of sharp edges, choose to be kind.

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

@drhelenedwards Hanging in for now but also on Threads

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

@MegMundell @itsonelouder I don't mind this one but it's overused & has become a bit 'woe is me'

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

@FionaRRobertson Do we laugh or cry?

[Jane O'Connell @janeo]

Eight years! That's how long @JaneTribune has been 'fixing' headlines that ignore the actions of the perpetrator & transfer blame to something the victim did, said, wore etc. https://t.co/3T0A9bHjv0

[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 for more ideas and writing like this.