Writer’s Mail
06-05-12
Quote of the week . . .
“Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams
Writing Friends . . .
We had a small discussion about the effectiveness of fifth Tuesday and what we can do to bring people back to it. Something to think about, anyway.
Tuesday at the B&N . . .
Beyond Cloud Nine –
Greg gets set to share chapters twenty-nine through thirty-one. Beginning with twenty-nine: Millie liked it, she thought it moved right along. Jerry wonders how the protagonist is able to take a pill if her hands are bound. Also, at the beginning of the next chapter her legs are still bound from this chapter.
Greg reads from the beginning of chapter thirty. Millie read it all so long ago she has a hard time recalling what happens. Judith wonders what the effect a heavy gravity would have – apparently people would be able to jump really high and such. Jerry asks how emptiness can fill a space, but it’s the small things that make it a good, clean story.
From the beginning of chapter thirty-one: Judith liked how the advertising got taken to the zenith. Pam thought on that note, you could really make the advertising more annoying. Jerry wondered if stepping out of the action for a narrative sequence and then jumping back into the action bothered anyone else. Jerry asks if anyone was horror-struck by the blowing up of the station and the many lives lost.
The Waldorf Hysteria –
Millie thought she had some wonderful descriptions. Pam also enjoyed some of the metaphors, but in the one paragraph they sort of fizzle out. Millie wondered why the main character was aggravated for not being there when the fire started, and Judith said it was because she’d seen the signs and ignored them. Judith points out that it’s not an action story. Andy wanted another element of tension to look for some kind of resolution at the end. Jerry asked if Judith knows what she wants to do with the story now that she has it.
Noble –
Amber reads from Chapter seven of her YA novel. Judith and Jerry liked the dialogue. Pam liked the tension with Heather, but she felt it was the only tension. She thought a scene could be added to increase the tension. Jen liked the part when Zephyr calls himself a dragon. Greg asked if anyone was worried about dragon taking down a deer and not confusion them for humans. The dragon feels really expositiony to Aaron.
Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt –
Pam shares the beginning of her screenplay. Aaron has a note about the black mass – will it or won’t it actually be on screen. Jerry never got the idea that she might be hallucinating. Greg thought the teenage angst came across as well as the dynamic mother. Jerry was happy to see the girl change out of black clothing. Jen was surprised the character was supplied with Prozac instead of some other drug. Judith also likes the description of the mother. Jennifer mentioned there is too much filler, too much direction for the camera/actor/director.
Lo’s Quarter –
Andy shares the first chapter, or prologue. Greg has a couple questions about time. Jerry asks why we need the prologue. We’ll have to read the entire book to find out. Millie thought it was good to establish that the relationship is only going to last three months. Jerry notes that the napkin the agreement was written on would have to be pretty big. Greg thought the KENDA history was more telling, less showing. Aaron wonders if they agree to get rid of the journals. Pam wonders if it moves to too many places in time throughout. Greg thought it was fine as long as there was some orientation.
Rage –
Jerry shares chapter four from the second book in the series of Thou Shalt Not Murder. Greg has a question about the end of chapter three. He feels like he’s missing something. Jerry tells us there is indeed a jump. Jennifer asks if the murderer is capable of speech because he does not have any dialogue and asks for pen and paper to write a note. Millie thought the story, like Pam’s, is relevant today. Greg thought the main protagonist should have been introduced earlier and that he hasn’t really gotten to know the two main protagonists as well as others. Jennifer asks how the antagonist would know about the lawyer-client privilege. She also feels the lawyer should ask whether he has a record and if he’s a good student.
Who’s Up Next . . .
June 12: Holly Bonnicksen-Jones (chapter, Coming Up For Air), Terry Hoffman (chapter, The Great Tome), Jack Freiburger (Jesus at the IHOP), Andrea Kirchman (???), and Jennifer Hansen (chapter 5, Shadows of Yesterday).
June 19: Greg Spry (chapter 32-35, Beyond Cloud Nine 9), Millie Mader (chapter 35 rewrite, Life on Hold), Rebecca Rettenmund (chapter 9, The Cheese Logue), Aaron Boehm (film script, part 2, “Stealing from Yourself”), Alicia Connolly-Lohr (chapter 2, Lincoln, Black Hawk and the Thirty-Eight Hanged), and Jerry Peterson (chapter 5-6, Rage).
July 3: Pat Edwards (chapters 3-4, Our Soul), Pam Gabriel (film script, part 2, “Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt”), Judith McNeil (???), Jennifer Hansen (???), Lisa McDougal (chapter 3, Follow the Yellow/Ben and Krista), and Jerry Peterson (chapter 7-8, Rage)
Words & Language
conciliatory •\kən-ˈsil-yə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˈsi-lē-ə-\• adjective
1. making or willing to make concessions
2. intended to placate
According to The New York Times, the word conciliatory has appeared in 155 New York Times articles in the past year. (http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com)
The Last Word . . .“Interesting characters often hold two conflicting values and/or desires; which they choose helps readers to know their personalities and beliefs. Just as important as a character’s choice is his attitude toward that choice.” – Nancy Kress, Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint
— JLH
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Tuesdays with Story 
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