Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail
Tuesdays with Story
May 19, 2017

Tuesday evening

Fourteen gathered. One gentle soul was missing—and missed. There’ll always be a seat at the table for you, Judith.

Here’s a taste of the critiques:

Paul Wagner (prologue, part 1, Rise of the Serpent): No critique summary.

Pat Edwards (chapters 9-10, on purpose): “Pat received good feedback to look at how the myths and personal stories are used for examples in the chapters. The references need to be given enough explanation for those who are unfamiliar with the myth, but not bore those who are familiar. John proposed that one myth be used throughout so the reader can follow better. Most thought the stage synopsis at the start of each chapter was useful.”

Tracey Gemmell (chapters 8-10, Casa Something). “Chapters were considered well developed. Cindi identified some noteworthy turns of phrase. She questioned the notion Taylor hadn’t thought about her father in years, as she seemed to think about him often. Eva thought the work polished, but wished she liked Annie more. Larry said he would buy the book—if he weren’t reading it for free now. Jerry’s waiting for, more, belly, laughs, and, more, commas. The group diagnosed Tracey with a curtain disorder. Tracey will seek (window) treatment. She thanks you all for your concern.”

Amber Boudreau (chapters 18-20, The Dragoneer): “Amber had three chapters reviewed by the group as she attempts to finish up her rewrite by mid-summer. The note the Librarian leaves for Moira confused a lot of people. Some thought it referred to a combination of some sort, or directions, but it did not. The beginning of Chapter 20 went over well and people appeared to enjoy Moira’s discovery that her spell affected the forest. John thought two characters could be sparring while they talked at the beginning of Chapter 18 to give it some physicality.”

Jack Freiburger (short story, part 2, “Jesus Walked into the IHOP”): “I did not get many comments but I did get some proof reading and corrected the text as a result.”

Jen Wilcher (chapter 4, part 1, Hogoshiro Chronicles): “For the most part, people liked this scene. Pat was confused by the title, which I said there’s more to come later. Jerry thought the main character was weak and should have just hung up on her father. Again, I said that Hibiki will stick up for herself against her family later in the chapter.”

Eva Mays (chapter 11, Dhuoda): “Chapter 11 got some good reviews–Pat thought the characters were well developed, more so than in the beginning of the book, and many people complimented my world-building. There were also some helpful critiques– John reminded me that Rosamund’s broken arm must be splinted after it is set. Cindi pointed out that I referred to Gerberga’s dimples twice. Tracey questioned the simile of winter milk, and a lively discussion of the nature of cow’s milk ensued. Thank you all for your comments!”

Who’s up next

May 30: Fifth Tuesday!

June 6: Millie Mader (???), Nora O’Reilly (chapter, Bill McCormick’s Bliss), Amber Boudreau (chapters 21-23, The Dragoneer), Mike Austin (chapters 10-13, Riding with the Reed Gang), Kashmira Sheth (???), Cindi Dyke (chapter, North Road), and Jerry Peterson (James Early Christmas short story, part 2, no title).

June 20: Jen Wilcher (chapter 4, part 2, Hogoshiro Chronicles), Rebecca Rettenmund (chapter 3, Hunting for Dad), Jack Freiburger (short story, part 3, “Jesus Walked into the IHOP”), Tracey Gemmell (chapters, Casa Something), Eva Mays (chapter 12, Dhuoda), Paul Wagner (prologue, part 2, Rise of the Serpent), and Amber Boudreau (chapters 24-26, The Dragoneer).

Fifth Tuesday

Yes, less than two weeks away, May 30. Jack Freiburger will host the group at his horse farm south of Madison.

This is a potluck event, so plan to bring some really great food for the sharing table. Start time is 7 p.m.

The subject for our writing challenge: You are cleaning your house (apartment, dwelling space, etc), and you come on a room you have never seen before. What’s in it?

Maximum length for your short story or poem is 500 words.

Get you mini-masterpiece to Jerry Peterson by Friday evening, May 26.

Changing editors

Next month, Eva Mays takes on the assignment from current editor Tracey Gemmell. Please send Eva your June contributions for Writers Mail.

Our writers drive the miles

Tuesdays with Story is much more than a Madison writers group. We draw members from a wide area. John Schneller drives in from Dodgeville; Tracey Gemmell, New Glarus; Lisa Jisa, Pardeeville; and Cindi Dyke and Jerry Peterson, Janesville. Closer in but still rolling up the miles are Jack Freiburger driving up from south of Fitchburg and Pat Edwards coming in from Waunakee, the only Waunakee in the world.

On the business of writing short stories

There are two interviews from a recent edition of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday you should call up and listen to Lynn Neary interviewing novelist and short story writer Joshua Ferris and Scott Simon interviewing British novelist and short story writer Penelope Lively.

Said Neary in her introduction of Ferris and his short stories, “A short story, says Ferris, should feel a little like a dream, sometimes a dream that becomes a nightmare. It also has to hit a perfect balance between leaving the reader wanting more and still feeling satisfied.” Here’s the link to the rest of that interview: http://www.npr.org/2017/05/06/527140002/joshua-ferris-on-the-lack-of-self-awareness-of-his-characters

In the Simon interview, Lively says short stories should raise questions for the readers. “That’s what I always hope in any story, that it will kind of provoke people thinking about it at the end, what actually was all that about? Was it just a ghost story or was there something a bit more to it than that? I think you can pack a lot into a short story, and I do actually crucially feel that a short story should tell a story. There must be a narrative of some kind.”

To hear the rest of the interview, use this link: http://www.npr.org/2017/05/06/526919024/penelope-lively-ponders-pompeii-and-other-stories-in-the-purple-swamp-hen

Other news: A book club in Virginia has chosen Tracey’s novel, “Dunster’s Calling,” for its May discussion meeting. Tracey has also been invited to discuss the book at the Minehead Library, Somerset, England.