How to Incorporate the Elements of a Great Story

1 package active dry yeast

¼ cup warm water

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon shortening

2 teaspoons salt

5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour

Oh wait, wrong article, those are the ingredients for bread. I love to bake-Anything from fresh bread to cakes from scratch to custards.

With every new baking project, there is a fresh set of ingredients to consider. I'll admit I'm more of a pinch of this, and a touch of that, type of cook, but the amounts are pretty precise no matter how you measure them up. If a recipe calls for a teaspoon of sugar, I just pour a bit in my palm, and toss it in. two teaspoons of baking powder-toss it in. I've even been known to successfully scoop out cups of flour without the benefit of a measuring cup. Oh, I do use measuring cups; after all a ¼ cup of oil is not something you'd typically enjoy measuring by feel.

I bet by now you're wondering what my point is. After all, you must know this has something to do with writing. You're right.

Just like a good recipe involves particular ingredients, and careful application of amounts-so does a good story.

Things like: Structure, setting, character, conflict, and resolution.

Now each ingredient of a story, not only must be present in the appropriate amounts, they also must be handled with equal care.

When making bread, one of the most important ingredients is yeast. Yeast is a touchy animal. It's a living thing. I won't go into the particulars of exactly what yeast is, otherwise neither of us may ever eat another slice of bred...but suffice it to say-it lives. In keeping with its nature, it can be destroyed as well. Basically in the form you purchase it in, it's asleep. You need to activate it using some form of warm liquid, usually either milk, or water. Now, if the liquid is too cool, the yeast will not activate. If it's too hot, it will kill it.

Once you manage to wake it up, you have to feed it. After a long sleep, it's a hungry beast. Yeast needs the appropriate amount of sweet feed-typically sugar, or honey to grow.

If you don't handle the yeast with care... the bred won't rise. Great if your Jewish, and its Passover, but lousy if you desire a nice fluffy loaf of white bread.