Tuesdays with Story

WRITER’S MAIL
Tuesdays With Story
August 6, 2015

We reviewed “Life On Hold” Chapter 64 and this is last chapter of Millie’s book. Every liked the last chapter. Cindi wondered if the last sentence could be  better left off, as a forgone conclusion that the happy couple would not spend the night sleeping.  Millie plans to write an epilogue to tie up loose ends of other people in story.  Cindi and Pat did not think necessary, but encouraged Millie to write and we’ll check out when she’s completed.

Poetry from Bob.  “Turns”, Cindi liked the pictorial images.  Asked about the “huntress moon” phrase.  Bob said it referenced Greek mythology with Diana, the huntress, with bow and arrow.  Group loved the description of passage of time by referencing nature’s changes.

“Driving At Night On A Country Road”.  Fleeting images on the road related to the relationship between writer and his wife.  Pat liked the “ghost dog” image.  Also, the line that refers to who is in the driver’s seat—nice depiction of emotions as well and the special feeling that comes with driving on a country road at night.

“Walking In”, Judith’s work in progress, short story.  Group felt beginning paragraph might be better used as a prologue or skipped.  Cindi and Pat wanted some descriptive action at end of story as to Marian’s “male attitude.”

Cindi’s Chap 16 and 17, Pat asked if the dog fights mentioned in these chapters would relate to Kath’s and CC’s relationship and Cindi said it did.  Pat suggested that while Kath is washing up glasses, she could express thoughts through that action.  Liked the ending where her thoughts are paired with her action of lying down to go to sleep.

Great word… 

Coutesy of Wordsmith Anu Garg:

Dittohead

PRONUNCIATION: (DIT-oh-head)

MEANING: (noun) One who mindlessly agrees with an idea or opinion

ETYMOLOGY:

After callers on the talk radio program Rush Limbaugh Show who often unquestioningly agree with the previous caller’s effusive praise of Limbaugh with the word “ditto”.  From ditto (same, likewise), from Italian (Tuscan dialect ditto) detto (said, above-mentioned), from Latin dictus (said), from dicere (to say). Ultimately from the Indo-European root deik- (to show, to pronounce solemnly), which also gave us judge, verdict, vendetta, revenge, indicate, dictate, paradigm, diktat, fatidic, hoosegow, interdict, retrodiction.  Earliest documented use: 1989.

USAGE:

“Wade Lawlor and all his dittoheads are implicating her in the murder of the colleague she never met.”

–Breakdown; Kirkus Reviews (New York); Dec. 1, 2011.

The last word…

“Every student needs someone who says, simply, ‘You mean something. You count.”  -Tony Kushner, playwright (1956-)