#mikwaukee

[franklloydwrightfan]

ASB, sun and shade. #franklloydwright #architecture #architecturephotography #burnhamblock #americansystembuilthomes #mikwaukee #wisconsin #wrightinwisconsin #flwsites #wrightsites #fllw #houses (at J. L. Burnham Block) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpXh2rpuhvH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[literaticat]

Agents seem to want people to write a lot about consequences and stakes - i.e. if the main character doesn't solve the mystery, the world will end. That kind of thing. I understand that but what if the stakes are more personal or smaller and don't have end-of-the-world kind of proportions to them? What if, e.g., a character is searching for a missing friend? Their goal is just ... they want to find them. But the stakes if it doesn't happen are what exactly? The friend remains missing, could be dead, etc. I just don't know how to make the goals and outcome/stakes if the character fails sound suitably ... epic? I kind of feel in plots like these the goals and outcome are already implied. How do you spell them out more without it sounding like the stakes are too ... small? I mean, it means a lot to them because they miss their friend, but the consequences if they don't find them won't matter to the wider world. That's just an example. I guess I'm asking how to spell out more personal or smaller stakes to make them sound more riveting to an agent?

Counterpoint: You could say "the consequences wouldn't matter to the wider world" about MANY stories. (MOST, even!)

Hell, if you WANTED, you could say "not epic!" about almost ANY story! So what if Dorothy doesn't get home from Oz -- she's some random tween that only a handful of farmers in Kansas will even notice is missing, if she doesn't get home, who cares? So what if the Pevensie children don't defeat the White Witch -- winter isn't THAT bad, sheesh!

(I'd argue, in fact, that when you ARE dealing with an actual epic story with big-time, world-changing stakes, what makes it interesting is NOT THE EPIC PART -- it's the PERSONAL part. It's the characters and the small things in their lives, not the battles with a Big Bad that hook us on epic stories. In Die Hard, we are hooked on the story and rooting for the dude NOT because bad guys want to blow up downtown LA and he wants to stop them -- that's fine and all, but we really care that it's THIS guy, because this guy is not JUST trying to stop people from blowing up downtown LA, he's doing that WHILE trying desperately to get home for Christmas and put his broken family back together against all odds, and because he has quips and cool in the worst possible situations, and by the way because he is literally barefoot and alone and vulnerable against an array of well-armed and armored psychopaths!)

But OK, maybe it's a story about a man who just wants to be left alone, but learns, against his will, to let goodness into his heart again after years of curmudgeonliness. So what? He's not saving the world -- but he is, arguably, saving HIMSELF. That's important! To him! And to the reader!

Or maybe it's a romance about two rival co-workers who couldn't be more different, but find themselves trapped in a cabin after a terrible snowstorm during an office retreat (and obviously, there's only one bed) -- the two will have to learn to get along if they are gonna get out of this mess... and maybe, JUST MAYBE, LOVE will bloom along the way? But so what? They are just two random people, they aren't saving the world, that's not EPIC. (But they ARE saving EACH OTHER - that's important! To them! And to the reader!)

Anyway, my point is, not every story is an epic plot-driven thriller about saving the world / stopping terrorists / finding an arcane device before the bad guy blows up Mikwaukee, or whatever. Some stories are much "smaller" and more personal/emotional character-driven stories.

That doesn't mean the stakes are not high -- they are just high FOR THAT CHARACTER. They aren't saving THE ENTIRE WORLD -- but they are doing something that is important/vital/whatever to them. So, much like in the previous ask with the Oz example, you make it sound compelling by telling us something about who the character is, what they want/need/desire, what's thwarting them, etc etc.

You are a writer -- if your story and characters are interesting and compelling enough to carry a whole novel, I feel quite confident that you can figure out how to make a paragraph about them interesting and compelling, too.

(ALSO: Your fake example feels like a pretty bad example of a low-stakes situation. Like, ok, your person is looking for their missing friend, and yes, the stakes if they don't find them is THEIR FRIEND IS STILL MISSING! THEIR FRIEND COULD BE DEAD??? THAT'S IMPORTANT!!!! Why would you think that ISN'T important enough??? THAT SEEMS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.)

[killerchickadee]

So every year Mikwaukee has an airshow on the lakefront. It's the loudest, most obnoxious weekend of the year, and parking is a nightmare.

Every 5 years Harley Davidson (which started out here) has a huge festival in Milwaukee that's.... also the loudest, most obnoxious weekend of the year, and parking is a nightmare.

This year some genius decided to have them ON THE SAME FUCKING WEEKEND.

I'm going to go out of town if I can afford it cause that's literally going to be nonstop noise, jet planes during the day and motorcycles all night. Fuuuuuck that.

[joycem4nor]

mikwaukee scramz

[wickerresidentialcleaning]

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[cozymilwaukee]

Want some art with your biscuits & gravy? It’s a beautiful time of year to grab brunch at 📍wonderland and then wander through the side door to 📍art*bar and check out their annual holiday art show, tiny art at tiny prices! It’s a great way to support local artists during the holiday season in a very affordable way 🖼 plus, the brunch is delicious! #cozy #mikwaukee #milwaukeebrunch #shopsmall #smallbusinesssaturday #supportlocalartists (at Art*Bar) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWgt3DilTNp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[milwaukeephotographer]

Tonight’s beer by @companybrewing The 2020 #mikwaukee day lager!!! . . . #beer #beerstagram #beerlover #beerme #drinklocal #beertography #beerporn #beergeek #amber #ale #milwaukeeday #ipa #stout #craftbeer #Microbrew (at Milwaukee, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Yy3aHHf8K/?igshid=mc9y5xzsngv7

[lakemichigansurf]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ⛵️Alex Guerrero (@elcapitan_bones)

#woodenboat #sounds ⚓️🙌🏻 so relaxing as the wind whispers into the sail.. #sailing #sail #mikwaukee #lakemichigan #boat #gaffrig #classicboat #handcrafted #wood #woodworking #artisan #traditionalwoodenboat (at Lake Michigan)

[he-bangin]

New piece I made for the homies at pirate island

[backtothestart02]

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@wintertruffles

[queerpixiedreamgrrl]

[fisicol92]

Dodgers one win from World Series after win NLCS Game 5

Clayton Kershaw allowed three hits in seven innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-2, at Dodger Stadium to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series

[laurrrrrrrrra]

Hernan Perez just nonchalantly carrying the Gaterade cooler is my favorite part of that celebration.

[wickerresidentialcleaning]

As worship centers prepare to open up, don't forget we are your plug for fumigation and disinfectant services at affordable prices. CONTACT W.R.C. SERVICES!! #chicago #indiana #mikwaukee #seattle #atlanta #texas #kansas #detroit #alabama #rhodeisland #louisiana #tacomawashington #wickerparkchicago #houston #montgomeryalabama #lansingmichigan #atlantageorgia (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_kp1vn4Xd/?igshid=1xe5wu5fyusjg

[cozymilwaukee]

��Burnhearts we love you. #cozy #mikwaukee (at Burnhearts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQos9PZnn3Y/?utm_medium=tumblr

[killerchickadee]

I've seen tons of evidence of beavers around Mikwaukee, but no actual beavers.

If that isn't a metaphor for being a single lesbian I don't know what is.