ThoughtshotsThoughtshots

Snapshots=Physical Snapshots=Physical DescriptionDescription

Thoughtshots=Mental Thoughtshots=Mental descriptiondescription

Brain

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Flashback

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ThoughtshotsThoughtshots

• The purpose of Thoughtshots is to afford The purpose of Thoughtshots is to afford the reader some insight into your the reader some insight into your character’s thoughts. Not only do they character’s thoughts. Not only do they help to explain your character’s actions, help to explain your character’s actions, but they round-out your character a little but they round-out your character a little more. more.

• In this case, we’ll be working with three In this case, we’ll be working with three kinds of thoughts: flashback, flashforward, kinds of thoughts: flashback, flashforward, and brain argument.and brain argument.

ThoughtshotsThoughtshotsThe FlashbackThe Flashback

I remember that time my brother jumped off the low dive. He land on his stomach. Everyone was laughing and when he climbed out of the pool, his stomach was all red.

Flashback

Recall a memory that involved a similar circumstance. The memory can involve you or something you saw. The memory can be either positive or negative.

Man, if I do this, I am definitely going to get hurt AND embarrass myself. I’ll end up just like my brother!

Flashforward

We project ourselves into the future for the purpose of trying to figure out what the consequences of our actions will be.

ThoughtshotsThoughtshotsThe FlashforwardThe Flashforward

If I don’t jump, my friends are going to be laughing. If I do jump, I’ll get hurt. But then maybe I won’t get hurt and I’ll just be done with it...That’s it, I am jumping...

Brain Argument

This that point just before a decision is reached where we waffle between doing it or not...

ThoughtshotsThoughtshotsThe Brain ArgumentThe Brain Argument

When I was eight, I decided to When I was eight, I decided to jump from the high dive at the jump from the high dive at the “Big-T” swimming pool in “Big-T” swimming pool in Missoula. This would be my first Missoula. This would be my first jump from the high dive. All my jump from the high dive. All my friends had already done it. The friends had already done it. The high dive stood twenty feet high dive stood twenty feet above the pool. I slowly made above the pool. I slowly made the climb up the ladder. With the climb up the ladder. With each step, my doubts grew. By each step, my doubts grew. By the time I reached the top, I the time I reached the top, I had convinced myself that I had convinced myself that I didn’t want to jump. I walked to didn’t want to jump. I walked to the edge of the diving board the edge of the diving board and looked at the water below. and looked at the water below. No way, I thought. I turned back No way, I thought. I turned back toward the ladder but a line had toward the ladder but a line had formed and some kid was formed and some kid was shouting for me to hurry up. I shouting for me to hurry up. I walked back to the edge and walked back to the edge and again looked to the water again looked to the water below. It seemed miles away. below. It seemed miles away. The kid was shouting and The kid was shouting and people were beginning to stare. people were beginning to stare. I jumped. I jumped.

POTENTIAL SNAPSHOT ADDITIONS•The sun shined brilliantly•A chain link fence surrounded the public swimming pool.•People filled the pool and lined the sides. •Lifeguard stands stood on both sides of the pool, bright red and white umbrellas casting shadows over each of them.•A boy stood on the high dive which extended over the north end of the pool•Another boy stood on the ladder while a line collected at the bottom•The turquoise colored diving board was textured with a slip-proof coating, leaving a rough texture.•Silver rungs, dappled with drips of water, stretched from the hot ground to the diving board.•I stood at the edge of the board, staring into the water below.•A kid stood near the top of the ladder, his head peering over the diving board.

•Clinging to the rails, the kid at the top of the ladder gritted his teeth and furrowed his brows. His flushed cheeks seemed to make his red hair grow even redder.•He had what seemed to be bread stuck between his teeth and he spout words of anger, demanding that I hurry and jump.

When I was eight, I decided to When I was eight, I decided to jump from the high dive at the jump from the high dive at the “Big-T” swimming pool in “Big-T” swimming pool in Missoula. This would be my first Missoula. This would be my first jump from the high dive. All my jump from the high dive. All my friends had already done it. The friends had already done it. The high dive stood twenty feet high dive stood twenty feet above the pool. I slowly made above the pool. I slowly made the climb up the ladder. With the climb up the ladder. With each step, my doubts grew. By each step, my doubts grew. By the time I reached the top, I the time I reached the top, I had convinced myself that I had convinced myself that I didn’t want to jump. I walked to didn’t want to jump. I walked to the edge of the diving board the edge of the diving board and looked at the water below. and looked at the water below. No way, I thought. I turned back No way, I thought. I turned back toward the ladder but a line had toward the ladder but a line had formed and some kid was formed and some kid was shouting for me to hurry up. I shouting for me to hurry up. I walked back to the edge and walked back to the edge and again looked to the water again looked to the water below. It seemed miles away. below. It seemed miles away. The kid was shouting and The kid was shouting and people were beginning to stare. people were beginning to stare. I jumped. I jumped.

POTENTIAL THOUGHTSHOT ADDITIONS

•I remember that time my brother jumped off the low dive. He land on his stomach. Everyone was laughing and when he climbed out of the pool, his stomach was all red.

•Man, if I do this, I am definitely going to get hurt AND embarrass myself. I’ll end up just like my brother!

If I don’t jump, my friends are going to be laughing. If I do jump, I’ll get hurt. But then maybe I won’t get hurt and I’ll just be done with it...That’s it, I am jumping...