Writing Corner

Sharing Stories

October 11, 2024 at 4:52 a.m.

Ariele demonstrating that, like red lipstick, changing the mood of a piece can be shocking. In both cases, that can be good.

...by Ariele M. Huff

Tone/Mood

General rule: Stay in the same tone--happy, sad, scared, angry. Changing tone is shocking—can break the contract with the reader to be consistent.

Exceptions: Educative, Noire, Dark Humor, and Horror.

Educative is expected to move from example to moral, even warnings. Noire is “c’est la vie” no matter how well it starts. Dark Humor gets a special “laughter” pass, forgiving a quick change from awful to joyous. Horror is meant to be shocking.

Ariele M. Huff hosts Sharing Stories, creates Writing Corner, gathers poems, and edits them for Poetry Corner. She teaches online, ZOOM, and Skype classes; edits manuscripts; authors books—around 34 on Amazon; and publishes herself and others on brands Candy Bar Books and Band Aid Books.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for about the 50-plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function above.