Tuesdays with Story

Tuesdays with Story
2/20/22

The first word . . .

“The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.”

–Charles Dickens

Tuesday evening. . .

Nine TWS writers came together on Tuesday to talk shop. Here’s the conversation:

— Jack Freiburger (poems, “LAL Moon,” “Skeets”) . . . Nothing to report as there was not much feedback.

— Kashmira Sheth (Journey to Swaraj, ch. 1-2) . . . Kashmira submitted the first two chapters of Journey to Swaraj. Overall, the response was positive. There were suggestions to fine-tune some sections, less narration by Veena about her family’s situation/history, and a few tweaks to strengthen the story. There was also a suggestion that “telling” could be omitted and that the same trees were mentioned in the front and back of the house!

Thank you all for reading the revised version.

— Amit Trivedi (poem, “Nursing Home”) … Jack felt it was thought-provoking and liked the references to Van Gogh paintings. Jack also felt that western readers will not recognize the gods/angles of death in the last line. Larry thought it was an interesting tour of a typical end-of-live situation. Bob felt the situation in the poem seems real and intimae. When I thanked Jack for his comments/advice he said, “Semper laetus erit adiutori poetae!” I’ll let you figure it out using google translate.

— Larry F. Sommers (Reconnaissance: A Debriefing, chapter 1) . . . There was general agreement that the narrative flowed reasonably well. John pointed out the possibility of confusing the narrator’s internal reflections or remembrances about two different flights, needs to be deconflicted. Amit wanted more acknowledgment of my intelligence level. Several people thought there was opportunity for deepening the relationship with Joelle through letters. Thanks, all.

— John Schneller (Precious Daughter, chapter 30) . . . Great inputs. Mike suggested clarity in the moment Guardian’s anger changes his approachability. Amit suggested cutting the interchanges once the horses landed. Jaime discussed the problems with Nia’s character arc. Nia was central to the story but has lost her way, now static while being chained up. Jaime suggested that Nia find a role similar to the cabin boy, or makes an escape. After a day of contemplation, Cabin’boy’ it is!

— Mike Austin (“Hunter’s Moon”) . . . People seemed to appreciate the darkness going on in the story. There was also an appreciation for the lack of gore. So far. I received a lot of helpful editing thoughts and some word choices, and thoughts on how to avoid too many clichés. I need to explain Babe and his wife more clearly, and their relationship with the werewolves. Thanks, everyone for the input and suggestions. 

March 1, here’s who’s on deck

Jerry Peterson, Night Flight (ch. 35-36)

Bob Kralapp

Amit Trivedi

John Schneller, Precious Daughter (chapter)

Mike Austin, Hunter’s Moon (continued)

Larry F. Sommers, Reconnaissance (chapter)

Our editor

Kashmira Sheth will edit the March issues of Writer’s Mail. She’s always looking for good things to include. If you have something, do email it to Kashmira.

Good News from Larry…

I have been offered a traditional contract to publish The Maelstrom (known as Freedom’s Purchase before it was greatly improved) by a small publisher in Colorado, DX Varos Publishing, Inc., run by Daniel Willis. Publishing date would likely be late summer 2022. Have not signed yet, but it looks favorable.

Fifth Tuesday…

March 29. Jack has tentatively offered to host. We should be thinking about possible writing prompts. 

A Contest for You…

Every year at this time the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters runs a contest shot at those among us who write short stories.

Key things to know:

— The maximum length for a story is 6,000 words.

— The story must not have been published previously.

— Deadline for entry is March 15.

— Entry fee, $15. That’s cheap.

— You have to be a Wisconsin resident. Our colleagues in New York and Virginia, sorry.

The top winner gets a check for $500 and a week’s artist residency at the Shake Rag Center for the Arts in Mineral Point.

Second place gets $250 and third, $100.

All three will read their stories at this year’s Wisconsin Book Festival,. and all three will have their stories published in the Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine.

Here’s the link to what you need to know and do to enter: https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/magazine/fiction-contest

You also can read past winners’ stories at that link. Click on the story titles to do so.

The last word . . .

“A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”

—Thomas Mann, Essays of Three Decades