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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Q is for Quest

Quest: Middle English meaning search, pursuit, investigation, inquest, from Middle French queste search, pursuit, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin quaesta, from Latin the femenine of quaestus. The word "question" is related.

We're all on a quest of some kind or another. The quest for (pursuit of) life, liberty and happiness. The quest for a plastic free world. The quest for the perfect hamburger. The quest for a dust free home. The quest for eternal youth, a weed-free lawn, the newest electronic devise. There are probably as many quests as there are human beings. Some quests are trite, some heroic.

Some are small as in Pooh's quest for honey.



Others are legendary as in Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail.



Some are mythic, like Jason searching for the Golden Fleece.


Still others are historic as is the quest to be first to land on the moon. (Now there's a quest to land on Mars, a useless quest as far as I'm concerned.)

Whatever the quest, something is needed, wanted, missing.

As writers we are on a quest as well. Large or small, loud or quiet, our quest is to tell a story.

To learn how to write a MG quest story, click here. It is a simple six step process. Well, simple is relative.

Let the quest begin. (Say it out loud enough time and it starts to sound like a really weird word. Questquestquestquestquest....)
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20 comments:

  1. India DrummondApril 26, 2010 at 1:08 AM

    My quests tend to be more .... Poohesque.

    I think about this with my characters all the time... asking "What does s/he want?" as I go through each scene.

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  2. Christina FarleyApril 26, 2010 at 5:33 AM

    I love a good quest. And great link by the way!

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  3. Anne GallagherApril 26, 2010 at 6:08 AM

    I agree 100%, I believe we are all on a quest. We are all searching for something. The question then becomes, will we ever find it?

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  4. Meg WiviottApril 26, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    I think I'm like Pooh, questing for the simple things in life. Pooh wants a good jar of honey. I want a good . . . humm, I was going to say "martini" but that makes me sound like such a lush. I think we all quest/strive for making the best life we can.

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  5. Paul CApril 26, 2010 at 7:27 AM

    I vote for quest too in a couple of ways! I like your historical allusions.

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  6. Matthew MacNishApril 26, 2010 at 7:51 AM

    I know I say this everytime, but I LOVE etymologies.

    Anyway fun post, thanks for sharing Bish. I shall now go read your link.

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  7. MarciaApril 26, 2010 at 8:13 AM

    Yes, I think everybody IS on a quest, including those who don't know it or would say they're not. That MG quest story link is good! I'm a pantser as a writer, yet definitely organized enough to like steps.

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  8. Kelly PolarkApril 26, 2010 at 8:25 AM

    Yes, I'm now on a quest for an agent! (but first must revise my manuscript once again. My quest for the perfect conflict/resolution. perfect story!)

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  9. Talli RolandApril 26, 2010 at 9:20 AM

    It does sound funny when you repeat it over and over! Your'e right, we're all on some kind of quest. Fingers crossed we all get to where we want to be!

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  10. Creepy Query GirlApril 26, 2010 at 11:14 AM

    I agree. The general persuit of happiness, really. But I love quest stories too.

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  11. UnknownApril 26, 2010 at 11:37 AM

    I love quests!!! Maybe I should go on a quest today... Hmm where shall it be?

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  12. UnknownApril 26, 2010 at 1:36 PM

    Oh, excellent--comparing the Pooh quest to Arthur. Exactly! It's not a matter of how big or small the quest is, but that there IS a quest. The characters MUST strive for SOMETHING...otherwise, what's the point?

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  13. Anne SpollenApril 26, 2010 at 1:52 PM

    Quest is a great word, but it is weird. Most of the "q" words are if you say them enough.

    I think I suffer from multiplequesting. Try saying that one three times fast.

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  14. Suzanne CasamentoApril 26, 2010 at 4:51 PM

    I love Anne's comment about multiplequesting! I think I suffer from the same thing. Right now, I am on a quest for an amazing plot, a quest for the perfect burger (good one!), a quest for more work and a quest for peace.

    Easy, huh?

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  15. MBW aka OlleymaeApril 26, 2010 at 5:02 PM

    I love how you said there is probably as many quests as there are people. Awesomely true.

    Also, I say things so much all the time that they start to sound funny. Like towel. towellll. lol.

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  16. AdrienneApril 26, 2010 at 7:11 PM

    Great choice for Q...I'm with Pooh, simple pleasures are the best.
    Love your contest idea, BTW...hope I can come up with something by Friday!

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  17. Cynthia Chapman WillisApril 26, 2010 at 8:09 PM

    I love this, Bish! You picked the perfect word for Q! It's true: We are all on at least one quest. And thanks for the great link, too!

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  18. AnonymousApril 26, 2010 at 8:36 PM

    Great post!! :o) now not wanting this to sound like a bribe but there's an award for you on my W post. hehe

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  19. Rena JonesApril 26, 2010 at 11:41 PM

    Being the Star Wars freak I am, I really enjoyed that link, Bish!

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  20. VijayaApril 27, 2010 at 1:00 PM

    I must've commented in my dreams because it's gone ... but where would we be without our quests?

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