The story of Eddie Aikau has the potential to please almost any audience. However, it may be more in the taste of those who love water sports. It just depends on how it is written. If the audience is mostly readers from Great Britain, it could honestly go either way. It could be considered uninteresting due to the lack of connection to people from countries where it is too cold to surf, and perhaps the remote location would not be of interest to everyone. However, it could be these very surroundings and interesting for audiences of foreign countries that make it entertaining. Exotic settings and cool people are usually well liked. One audience I would maybe not write for are children, for young children might misinterpret the meaning behind Eddie's sacrifice.
Publishers are always looking for something new to put out there. If a novel or short story in the perspective of Eddie were out there, than I am sure that publishers in America, and maybe even England, would be looking to publish such a story. The story offers much for publishers in England, because it would show that as a company they are open to stories set even far outside of the commonwealth. If publishers could see the knowledge and respect put into this story about a real Hawaiian legend, than they would possibly find it compelling to sell.
A whole island nation respects this person. Even in the contemporary surfing world, Aikau's name is used as a slogan for bravery. An annual surfing competition is named after him. If so many people are interested in this man's life, than a story should be told, simply for the joy of reading a good story.
That is the main goal for any writer, to please both the crowd and the publisher. I believe that this story, while it might or might not sell in Great Britain, would be liked by american publishers, for if so many people in the nation like this man's story, than it is worth selling. Both for financial and emotional reasons.
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Strategies for further developing my Narrative
I am finding it hard to practically draw together different aspects of Eddie Aikau's personal life to make for a compelling story to read. What I find difficult to describe is the transition point from the peaceful scene of Eddie singing for the people at the party before the journey to Polynesia, to the point where he sacrifices himself after said journey failed prematurely.
At first, I was certain that it all had to be written in the view of one of Eddie's friends, one Nainoa
Thompson. This was because he was the last man to talk to Eddie. I was honestly corrected by my colleagues of this notion, and now I am trying to figure out how to make the piece both historically correct and written in multiple points of view. The main problem is that even with an interesting person to research like Aikau, there is bound to be a lull somewhere. I found a few, but what really strikes me as difficult to write about is that Eddie acted unusually relaxed when he was leaving the sinking vessel. He did not give a moving speech that a fictional character might do, all he said was "I'll be okay. everything will be okay."before he left. I suppose this is what it means to accept what the truth is, even if it does not fit to how I want it to end.
It is also proving difficult to tell how exactly I will be ending the story, as Eddie simply disappears after a few moments. Also, a real problem is in which person's view the story should end in. I have a feeling that most of the writing should be in Nainoa Thompson's view. I think it would be a good idea for the story to jump back and forth between the point of view of Eddie, and Nainoa, but I will be ending the piece with Eddie swimming away, in his perspective.
Of course, first it will take a great deal of diligence to make this story work, as is proven by the amount of difficulties listed above. Eventually all of this will sort itself out in my mind, and I hope that it will be an entertaining piece to read in the end.
At first, I was certain that it all had to be written in the view of one of Eddie's friends, one Nainoa
Thompson. This was because he was the last man to talk to Eddie. I was honestly corrected by my colleagues of this notion, and now I am trying to figure out how to make the piece both historically correct and written in multiple points of view. The main problem is that even with an interesting person to research like Aikau, there is bound to be a lull somewhere. I found a few, but what really strikes me as difficult to write about is that Eddie acted unusually relaxed when he was leaving the sinking vessel. He did not give a moving speech that a fictional character might do, all he said was "I'll be okay. everything will be okay."before he left. I suppose this is what it means to accept what the truth is, even if it does not fit to how I want it to end.
It is also proving difficult to tell how exactly I will be ending the story, as Eddie simply disappears after a few moments. Also, a real problem is in which person's view the story should end in. I have a feeling that most of the writing should be in Nainoa Thompson's view. I think it would be a good idea for the story to jump back and forth between the point of view of Eddie, and Nainoa, but I will be ending the piece with Eddie swimming away, in his perspective.
Of course, first it will take a great deal of diligence to make this story work, as is proven by the amount of difficulties listed above. Eventually all of this will sort itself out in my mind, and I hope that it will be an entertaining piece to read in the end.
Monday, 9 November 2015
Making my Story come to Life
To write a true story in your own version is a challenge that is hard to beat. I will be trying a variety of different writing techniques which we have been talking about in our last few classes of Telling True Stories.
Firstly, I will write as truthfully as I can in the view of my chosen protagonist. This will be Eddie himself. As a compelling opening needs to draw in the reader, my writing will include flashbacks, and also be centred around the sinking of the ship as Eddie prepares himself for the difficult and deadly journey ahead. I will be ending the piece as he paddles off, and turns back to look at his crew-mates as he takes off his life vest. I will be writing my opening in media res, as this will help to make my story come to life.
I will have some quotes in my creative piece that were truly spoken, but I may have to use my imagination on some subjects, such as what the captain actually said word for word when Eddie asked him to let him go and save their crew. There has to be action in every scene, to drive the scene forward. I will also have to use the common tool for writing: show, don't tell. This will possibly be the simplest part of the piece, as there is so much information to go by. I have to imagine what I don't know, and accept what I do know as facts that have to be included. I will write as truthfully as I can without becoming monotonous.
The most important part of making an engaging piece of writing is to keep it simple, which will make it therefore much deeper in meaning. I hope by taking the most memorable parts of Eddie's life, throwing them together in a comprehensive style, will shed some light on what kind of person Eddie was, both as a man and a doomed hero. There will be much to write about. And there is still much to research.
Firstly, I will write as truthfully as I can in the view of my chosen protagonist. This will be Eddie himself. As a compelling opening needs to draw in the reader, my writing will include flashbacks, and also be centred around the sinking of the ship as Eddie prepares himself for the difficult and deadly journey ahead. I will be ending the piece as he paddles off, and turns back to look at his crew-mates as he takes off his life vest. I will be writing my opening in media res, as this will help to make my story come to life.
I will have some quotes in my creative piece that were truly spoken, but I may have to use my imagination on some subjects, such as what the captain actually said word for word when Eddie asked him to let him go and save their crew. There has to be action in every scene, to drive the scene forward. I will also have to use the common tool for writing: show, don't tell. This will possibly be the simplest part of the piece, as there is so much information to go by. I have to imagine what I don't know, and accept what I do know as facts that have to be included. I will write as truthfully as I can without becoming monotonous.
The most important part of making an engaging piece of writing is to keep it simple, which will make it therefore much deeper in meaning. I hope by taking the most memorable parts of Eddie's life, throwing them together in a comprehensive style, will shed some light on what kind of person Eddie was, both as a man and a doomed hero. There will be much to write about. And there is still much to research.
Monday, 2 November 2015
Hawaiian by Name, Hawaiian by Belief
My research for this last week took me beyond simple accounts and websites on Eddie Aikau. I decided to look further into the background of my future story's protagonist, which will Eddie himself, instead of my initial idea of Nainoa Thompson.
By researching him, I found a youtube video that lasted 10 minutes from ESPN News. I found that this video had collectively interviewed all of the people who were close to Eddie, including his sister and brother, his father, and Nainoa Thompson. There was also a rare amount of footage shot after Eddie won a famous surfing contest in 1976, during which he dedicated his victory to Hawaii and to his dead brother.
But my greatest piece of research that is still taking place is the biography of Eddie Aikau. Within it, I have grasped much more of what made Eddie...Eddie. For one thing, he held the history of his ancestors in much regard, having once mentioned that amongst his ancestors was a famous Kahuna. A Kahuna is a wise man, a shaman, and also the advisor of the ancient Hawaiian kings and queens. The fact that he bothers to know of his ancestors shows a great love for his people and his culture.
I also found that as a surfing legend, and a famous lifeguard with over 500 successful rescue endeavours, he acted as a leader and calming factor in a time of Hawaiian unrest towards the foreign population and surfers from other countries. To be more specific, when some Australian surfers insulted the Hawaiian surfers at the surfing contests by being boastful and aggressive, the hawaiians beat them up and threatened to kill them. To solve the problems, Aikau helped break the ice between the two opposing parties, and was partially responsible for solving the issues on hand.
I find that it is important to realise that Eddie Aikau was more than just a hero, or a leader, or even a surfer. He was first, and foremost a Hawaiian by name, family and by culture.
By researching him, I found a youtube video that lasted 10 minutes from ESPN News. I found that this video had collectively interviewed all of the people who were close to Eddie, including his sister and brother, his father, and Nainoa Thompson. There was also a rare amount of footage shot after Eddie won a famous surfing contest in 1976, during which he dedicated his victory to Hawaii and to his dead brother.
But my greatest piece of research that is still taking place is the biography of Eddie Aikau. Within it, I have grasped much more of what made Eddie...Eddie. For one thing, he held the history of his ancestors in much regard, having once mentioned that amongst his ancestors was a famous Kahuna. A Kahuna is a wise man, a shaman, and also the advisor of the ancient Hawaiian kings and queens. The fact that he bothers to know of his ancestors shows a great love for his people and his culture.
I also found that as a surfing legend, and a famous lifeguard with over 500 successful rescue endeavours, he acted as a leader and calming factor in a time of Hawaiian unrest towards the foreign population and surfers from other countries. To be more specific, when some Australian surfers insulted the Hawaiian surfers at the surfing contests by being boastful and aggressive, the hawaiians beat them up and threatened to kill them. To solve the problems, Aikau helped break the ice between the two opposing parties, and was partially responsible for solving the issues on hand.
I find that it is important to realise that Eddie Aikau was more than just a hero, or a leader, or even a surfer. He was first, and foremost a Hawaiian by name, family and by culture.
Humble Hero of the Indigo Waves
I have decided to write about Eddie Aikau for my creative piece, the lifeguard who still enjoys a hero's status in Hawaii- and for good reason. My story will be revolving around the 16th and 17th of March, 1978, the last few days of Eddie's life. I thought of concentrating on writing the story from the view of Eddie's friend, Nainoa Thompson. He was navigator of the Hokule'a. However, I must look further into Thompson's background before making this decision.
I wanted to write in Thompson's view because he was one of the last men to see Aikau before he died. Thompson helped in the search and rescue mission for him. I thought it important to write in Nainoa's view; he was the last man to speak to Eddie. Since he was a friend of Eddie's, it would lend the story some depth.
The main problem with writing only in Thompson's view is that there are many accounts from other sources besides Thompson's that are also interesting. It doesn't necessarily need to be chronological, as Lee Gutkind points out. A convoluted piece with flashbacks will show the whole story of Aikau, and not just Thompson's side of it. Thompson only knew Eddie for a few days, but Eddie's family noticed that Eddie seemed to know he would not be returning from the voyage he was going on. According to several accounts, he tied up loose ends in his life, like divorcing his wife, and saying goodbye to his surfing mentors.
I find that he has a very deep story to write about, which makes the task of writing his story in a comprehensive manner all the more difficult. If at all, I think that I should write his story in the same form of third person narrative as "The Road Hill House". His is a tale of brave stoicism and needs to be written with integrity while trying to portray the conflict he went through. It will be a difficult matter of showing the wider meaning of Aikau's story of heroism and how it made an impact on the nation of Hawaii.
I wanted to write in Thompson's view because he was one of the last men to see Aikau before he died. Thompson helped in the search and rescue mission for him. I thought it important to write in Nainoa's view; he was the last man to speak to Eddie. Since he was a friend of Eddie's, it would lend the story some depth.
The main problem with writing only in Thompson's view is that there are many accounts from other sources besides Thompson's that are also interesting. It doesn't necessarily need to be chronological, as Lee Gutkind points out. A convoluted piece with flashbacks will show the whole story of Aikau, and not just Thompson's side of it. Thompson only knew Eddie for a few days, but Eddie's family noticed that Eddie seemed to know he would not be returning from the voyage he was going on. According to several accounts, he tied up loose ends in his life, like divorcing his wife, and saying goodbye to his surfing mentors.
I find that he has a very deep story to write about, which makes the task of writing his story in a comprehensive manner all the more difficult. If at all, I think that I should write his story in the same form of third person narrative as "The Road Hill House". His is a tale of brave stoicism and needs to be written with integrity while trying to portray the conflict he went through. It will be a difficult matter of showing the wider meaning of Aikau's story of heroism and how it made an impact on the nation of Hawaii.
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Writing True Stories about Brave yet Humble People
Set with the task of writing a true story of heroism, I came up with three names. Queen Elizabeth II, Surfing Legend Eddie Aikau, and the Native American guide Sacajawea. Each person has a fascinating story to tell. My idea was to write about the Queen on the day of her Coronation, to show what she experienced on her first day of being a monarch. I'd love to write about her, but I would find it difficult to write about her feelings about succeeding her father after his death. It might offend some people, as it is a sensitive subject.
Sacajawea was a strong woman as well, but hardly gained recognition until a much later era in history. This alone makes for a great story, and I could write in either her perspective, or that of her son, Baptiste. This would enable me to research and subsequently write about what it must have been like to have her as a parent during her travels. It would be good to write about her achievements for a feminist crowd, but it may be difficult to write about her because she was not considered important enough back then. It could be hard to make an account if nobody paid much attention to her.
The first name that came to me was actually Eddie Aikau. Most people outside the surfing world won't recognise this name. In Hawaii, a famous saying is "Eddie would go", which applies to how this iconic surfer- known for riding 30 foot swells- became famous when in 1978, when on a sinking boat in heavy waves, he attempted to save his friends. He proposed swimming the 12 miles to Lana'i island, to get help. While the ship's crew were later saved by the coastguard, Eddie was never seen again. Today he is honoured as the namesake for a surfing competition in Hawaii.
Each of the subjects have interesting stories to tell, but one is treading on thin ice with each of them due to political correctness and fairness towards the subject. I find that it will prove a challenge with whomever I choose to write about.
Sacajawea was a strong woman as well, but hardly gained recognition until a much later era in history. This alone makes for a great story, and I could write in either her perspective, or that of her son, Baptiste. This would enable me to research and subsequently write about what it must have been like to have her as a parent during her travels. It would be good to write about her achievements for a feminist crowd, but it may be difficult to write about her because she was not considered important enough back then. It could be hard to make an account if nobody paid much attention to her.
The first name that came to me was actually Eddie Aikau. Most people outside the surfing world won't recognise this name. In Hawaii, a famous saying is "Eddie would go", which applies to how this iconic surfer- known for riding 30 foot swells- became famous when in 1978, when on a sinking boat in heavy waves, he attempted to save his friends. He proposed swimming the 12 miles to Lana'i island, to get help. While the ship's crew were later saved by the coastguard, Eddie was never seen again. Today he is honoured as the namesake for a surfing competition in Hawaii.
Each of the subjects have interesting stories to tell, but one is treading on thin ice with each of them due to political correctness and fairness towards the subject. I find that it will prove a challenge with whomever I choose to write about.
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