New 12 months Prompts: Write a collection of disasters to assist resolve the New 12 months
Have you ever seen the Friends New Years Resolution episode? You know the one in which Ross wears lederhosen, Joey is trying to learn the guitar and Rachel is trying to clap less?
If you are a Friends fan I would be shocked if you didn't know the episode I am talking about.
Rolling Stone even suggested that this episode should actually be called "The One With Ross" Leather Pants, since no one else's 1999 New Years resolution produces memorable or disastrous results.
But while Ross & # 39; Lederhosen fiasco makes up the episode, it's not the only fix that causes some laughs.
Today, let's focus on brainstorming some New Year prompts to start your writing year with some humor.
In case you don't know "The One With All the Purposes"
Somehow I managed to see friends only in my sophomore year. I have no idea how that happened, but it happened and thanks to my funny bone, Chad, my friend then and now, introduced me to the show.
Friends were a cornerstone of entertainment for Chad's family.
They watched the series on a repeating loop (like many others) and ended the holidays with their favorite Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years holiday-themed episode.
Now, after 16 years of knowing this family and having repeated it for the umpteenth time, we often ask each other what our favorite episodes are – holidays and more.
Undoubtedly (in addition to "The One With the Embryos" and "The One Ross Tans"), "The One With All the Resolutions" is an undeniable favorite of every family member, from my mother-in-law to me.
Most popular for the common reason that Rolling Stone put this episode in its Top 25 list – Lederhosen:
To try something new every day, Ross buys fancy lederhosen for his date with a woman named Elizabeth Hornswoggle (much to the chagrin of Chandler, whose purpose is not to make fun of his friends).
But the luxurious material makes him so hot in her apartment that he has to run to the bathroom and pull his pants down in relief … only to come to the terrible realization that no matter how much lotion or baby powder he wears, he can't get her back up on.
OH. MY. GOD. This episode is weird.
Do not you believe me? Take a short break to watch this clip (you can stop at the 4 & # 39; 46 mark).
Why is this episode so funny?
One big reason: it speaks for the herd failure most experiences have had after setting a New Year's resolution. We can keep this in mind as we address today's New Year calls.
Ross & # 39; fiasco with Lederhosen is the memorable moment, but so are others
While most people would say this is the most memorable (and knee-pounding) moment in "The One With All the Fixes," there are plenty of other hard climaxes in the twenty-three minutes of the episode.
After all, that moment (which acts as the episode's climax most since it's the climax in the episode's A Story) highlights the climax of what viewers have been watching since the opening scene, as the Friends cast suggest their new year each breakup .
But while Ross' story is the dominant focus in the episode, the twenty-three minutes would fall flat if we looked at Ross alone.
The other Friends members also propose their own solution, with Chandler, Joey and Phoebe taking on a B story and Rachel finally completing the C story. (For more information on the structure of television and sitcom, see here.)
Yes, there are focus storylines for the breakup episode, but it's the entire cast that drives the structure of the story forward.
Practicing writing instructions that everyone can benefit from is an important lesson in thickening an action on purpose.
Watch this video clip how the opening scene introduces the New Years resolution of each character:
Make a list of New Year prompts to play in a story (like friends').
Start the New Year off with some writing humor by making a list of possible resolutions that went wrong for multiple characters!
You don't have to write a full TV episode or story in today's command prompt, but I hope that creating a list of potential ideas that may all be related to the central plot – Near Year's resolutions went wrong – you may Could inspire you to write a short story or novella, just for fun.
How can you do that
"
Are you looking for a fun New Years resolution prompt? Use these five steps to create a scenario like Ross and his lederhosen in Friends.
Step one: create a cast of three, five, or six characters
Make a list of three, five, or six characters. You don't have to go overboard with this, instead confuse it with a variety of genders and personality traits. Make them different from each other.
Step two: give them a bug (or quirk) each
Give each of your characters a character flaw or quirk, like Chandler's inability not to make fun of his friends or Phoebe's eccentric teaching methods.
Step three: Make New Year's resolutions that create conflict
Use this bug or quirk to create a New Years resolution for this character that is contrary to their goal of accomplishing it.
Step four: choose a character and make a list of complications
Choose your favorite! Pick a character and make a list of five complications or obstacles that will make this solution harder to complete. Rank them from easiest to overcome to most difficult.
Step five: write a scene that shows a disaster of disintegration
Review your list of complications. Which one seems to be the most fun? Select it and throw your character into a New Years resolution fiasco that will be fun to write!
Need some ideas to start your New Year's list and meeting of your prompts?
If you're having trouble making a list of characters and their resolutions, don't hesitate to borrow some of the most common New Year's resolutions set each year.
These usually include:
- exercise
- Eat better
- Learn a new skill
- save money
- Giving up a bad habit
- Read more
- Spend more time with family
- Perform a major cleanup
- voluntary work
And this is just the beginning of a very long list!
Borrow some of these ideas and think of the fun situations you could put characters in because they are struggling to complete their New Years resolution.
Creating multiple New Year prompts will just give you extra ideas to work with on another day.
Have fun and happy new year!
What New Year's resolutions would your characters find difficult to achieve? Let us know in the comments.
WORK OUT
Follow the five steps mentioned in today's New Year Letter Call to create a cast of characters with New Year's resolutions that are difficult for them to complete.
Then set a timer for fifteen minutes and write a scene for your favorite character and moment when the New Years resolution goes horribly wrong. (If you want a round-up on how to write a strong scene, take a moment to refresh your memory here before your fifteen minute session.)
When you're done, share your scene in the comments below and leave feedback for your co-authors. Bonus points if you can make yourself and others laugh!
Abigail Perry
Abigail is a certified Story Grid Editor with experience in literary agency, publishing, teaching and film production. She graduated from Syracuse University (Newhouse) with a B.S. in TV, radio and film and did several internships in publishing after college. She taught and created her own creative writing and film curriculum in high school for several years. During this time she obtained her Masters in Secondary Education. Today, Abigail works as a content editor for The Write Practice while running her own freelance editing business. She specializes in MG / YA fiction, smart book club fiction, women's fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and screenplays.