Good Design

Silver Dagger

Dated: 20th century

Culture: probably Russian

Medium: silver, enamel, gilding

The dagger’s blade features a blue enamel and gilt and Cyrillic “KF” marks with Russian silver stamps.

Source: Copyright © 2016 Jones & Horan Auction Team

I cannot process this

Creating plots with the zigzag method

I’ve learned this method years ago and I’ve been using it ever since. The zigzag plot creator starts like this: 

An crescent zigzag. 

You can have as many up and downs as you want. I’ve drawn six to keep it simple. Alright, this zigzag is your storyline and every corner is an important event that will change everything:

Every down represents a bad thing happening to your main characters, taking them further away from their goal. Every up is a good event, taking them closer to their goal:

So, when the zigzag goes down, something bad must happen. When the zigzag goes up, something good must happen. The reason why we drew a crescent zigzag is because every down must be worse than the previous, and every up must be better than the previous. As the zigzag advances, events become more serious and relevant. 

Let’s apply the zigzag method. My storyline is a detective trying to catch a serial killer in a futuristic city. Minutes later, this is what I’ve got:

Start: Detective, our protagonist, is just promoted

Down #1: Mass suicide happens in town, detective gets the case, the whole town thinks it might have been a religious suicide act, but detective suspects that someone single-handed killed all those people

Up #1: Detective finds clue about a possible killer

Down #2: A bigger mass murder happens, a true massacre, it’s a definitely a murder

Up #2: Detective finds the killer’s trail

Down #3: Thinking he is ahead of time, close to catching the killer, detective ends up dead in another mass murder

Up #3: Because of his notes and discoveries, the police is able to find the killer before they leave town

From this point on you can play with zigzag as much as you want. For example, changing the orientation of the zigzag for a bad ending:

Lots of ups and downs:

Or just a few:

It’s up to you (see what I did there?).

You can plot any type of story with the zigzag method. It’s a visual and easy process for a very complex task.

Forest of Liars  ▪  Announcement Trailer

Pooja Mor Femina India October 2014

catch, and release

My Name Is Cow: Masterpost(?)

(The first few stanzas covered by i-ddpej here.)

my name is Cow, and wen its nite, or wen the moon is shiyning brite, and all the men haf gon to bed - i stay up late.

i lik the bred.

my name is Dog, and wen its tea, i hope they giv sum foode to me - i hope they shair befor its gon - they never do.

i dont get non.

my name is Cow, and this is tru - my caynine frend, its up to yu. so just be brayve and smart insted - and be like me.

i lik the bred.

(Bridge, dividing original content from fan content: First Of All How Dare You)

my name is Cat no cares have i be it sun or moone that lytes the sky by night i prowl by day i stretch i salute u, Cow

u bold old wretch

O clevr Cat Who roams the barn I promys you I men no harm As yor a friend With stelthy tred I invyte you

To lik sum bred.

I am the bred With yeast I ryse Mine amber crust Doth pleas thyn eys

The cow and cat Whos tongues delit Upon my crust Both noon and nite

Are easy stop’d By dor and slat Perhaps the baker Noes not that?

Fluorite and Rhodochrosite

Locality: American Tunnel Mine, Silverton, Colorado, United States of America

Fluorite - Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico