[stylist] Writing prompt: Finding the good in the villain

Sun Jun 6 23:24:20 UTC 2010

Chris,

Thanks for the suggestions.  I have used the switch in POV for other writings and I usually get mixed reviews.  Some say non-fiction can only be from the author's POV, and others appreciate the jarring affect and like that it is outside the box.

I chose to have the POV from the mother's point of view in the beginning because at the time I was literally dying and my memories are vague from that time.  I also like playing with the conventions.

It certainly can be difficult to open the flood gates of a mother-daughter relationship, but I was attempting to high-light a particular instance (mom and me dealing with the illness) using scenes from the past to develop the relationship.  The focus is suppose to be how I have rarely shared such tender moments with my mom as she displayed when I was sick.  Hence the title.

Thanks again.  I want to further develop it, but it is difficult to write about the subject, not because I haven't come to terms with things, but because my family would not appreciate my "airing of dirty laundry."

Anyway, thanks again.

Bridgit

> From: stylist-request at nfbnet.org
> Subject: stylist Digest, Vol 74, Issue 6
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 12:00:05 -0500
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> Today's Topics:
> 
> 1. Re: Writing Prompt: Finding the Good in the Villian (Chris Kuell)
> 2. Re: Introduction of a New Writer (helene ryles)
> 3. Short story for your critique (Elizabeth Sammons)
> 4. my bio (James H. "Jim" Canaday M.A. N6YR)
> 5. Re: Writing prompt: Finding the good in the villain (Chris Kuell)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 16:18:40 -0400
> From: "Chris Kuell" <ckuell at comcast.net>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing Prompt: Finding the Good in the Villian
> Message-ID: <31D8AA70D97946E7A2EF6F3DC00BD3FE at ChrisPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
> 
> Jewel,
> 
> Thank you. You'll see more of my writing in the future. This was just an 
> exercise to see if I could get you to see the homeless guy, the cop, and the 
> pretty girl as she ran by, and to make you feel for the poor homeless guy.
> 
> I'm sorry to hear your prompt response was based on your own life. Far too 
> many children have crappy parents. It's good that this prompt was cathartic 
> for you, as it seems your memoir is as well. In a longer work I think you 
> can do a better job of showing the complexity of your mother, so as readers 
> we aren't thinking--did this really happen? Rather, you want the reader to 
> see your mother's mental illness in its many manifestations, and feel for 
> the children.
> 
> chris
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 04:05:15 +0100
> From: helene ryles <dreamavdb at googlemail.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Introduction of a New Writer
> Message-ID:
> <AANLkTil2h6kU5Rd_baZ_2D3MwExj9daoKrzc7WzjQiAG at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> hi jewel,
> 
> welcome to the list. sorry it's taken me such a while to welcome you
> ut i am not very active at present. i find your stories really
> interesting. particularly the last one about the blind world where
> sighted people arae differant. i also write fantasy. part of my book
> trials of an honorary dragon can be found in the archieves if you are
> interested enough to dig it out. although i am planning to work on
> it later on. it is set in a country called nazdonia which is run by
> dragons whicho think that humans should be airborne like them. there
> are many disabled characters in my book
> 
> anyway i also vaguely remember your name from another list you used to
> subscribe to a few years back called fight it. are you the same jewel
> or have i got you mixed up with someone else.
> helene
> 
> On 22/04/2010, James H. "Jim" Canaday M.A. N6YR <n6yr at sunflower.com> wrote:
> > welcome to our list Jewel.
> > jc
> >
> > At 04:42 PM 4/22/2010, you wrote:
> >>Thank you for the welcome. ~Jewel
> >>
> >>On 4/22/10, Judith Bron <jbron at optonline.net> wrote:
> >> > Jewel, Your writing sounds wonderful. I think when most of us write,
> >> > our
> >> > own conflicts enter into whatever format we are writing in. Welcome to
> >> > the
> >> > list, Judith
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
> >> > To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> >> > Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 3:55 PM
> >> > Subject: [stylist] Introduction of a New Writer
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Hi all,
> >> >>
> >> >> Some of you likely know me from some of the other listservs...I seem
> >> >> to be everywhere these days, eh? *grin* So, I'll only give a short
> >> >> introduction, and one about what brings me to this listserv.
> >> >>
> >> >> My name is Jewel. I am 25 years old, and live in Raleigh, NC. I am a
> >> >> member of the Raleigh chapter of the NFB, as well as the North
> >> >> Carolina Association of Blind Students. I am a research geek, loving
> >> >> to write about things I research about. So, that brings me to why I'm
> >> >> here.
> >> >>
> >> >> I write many different things. Lately, I've been doing a lot on my
> >> >> blog, Treasure Chest for the Blind (found at
> >> >> <http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com>), a blog about resources for
> >> >> blind people, such as alternate screenreaders like NVDA, sources of
> >> >> e-books, such as NLS' BARD, RFBD, and there will be one soon about the
> >> >> Internet Archives, software (games, business tools, home tools, and
> >> >> much more), and anything else I think people will find of use. It's
> >> >> really more of a way to allow me to share with other all the amazing
> >> >> things I have found on the Internet and out in the world, and also a
> >> >> way for me to write often.
> >> >>
> >> >> Beyond the blog writing, I also write for my local chapter's
> >> >> newsletter. My article each month will be a Member Profile. I have
> >> >> written so far, that was supposed to be in last month's, but was left
> >> >> out, and will be in this month's newsletter. I've just started doing
> >> >> this, and am very much enjoying the phone interview process of
> >> >> learning about the members of my home chapter.
> >> >>
> >> >> I have also written a lot of poetry. Some of it is crap, but some of
> >> >> it is not half bad. Much of it can be found at poetry.com under "Amber
> >> >> Gaspard," my maiden name. Some of it is quite depressing, poetry
> >> >> written in my childhood, being raised by an emotionally, verbally, and
> >> >> occassionally physically abusive mother. I have written poetry about
> >> >> wanting to destroy a mirror and cut myself with it, about how the
> >> >> tracks on my arms are reminders of my past, and descriptives of the
> >> >> verbal abuse. This was a sort of therapy for myself. Some of my poetry
> >> >> is more upbeat, however, like descriptives of nature much like haikus,
> >> >> and medieval-style poetry about books, reading, and other stuff.
> >> >>
> >> >> Finally, I have written a few short stories that went nowhere, but
> >> >> have two books that have been slowly developing over time. The first
> >> >> is a fantasy about a half-troll child searching for her past after
> >> >> learning that her mother never knew how she came to be, and her search
> >> >> for herself. She really is searching for herself, trying to find where
> >> >> she fits in between two different worlds (troll and human), neither of
> >> >> which will accept her. The story is sorta a fantasy adopted-child
> >> >> story, and a few friends who were adopted said they can really relate
> >> >> to the story.
> >> >>
> >> >> The other that has developed over time is a fantasy mystery. Erica is
> >> >> a young girl who has, for as far back as she can remember, had the
> >> >> same dream every night, of an old man at a well. As the story
> >> >> progresses, you learn more about what this dream is (or do you?), and
> >> >> the story is about Erica trying to understand who she is, what this
> >> >> dream means to her life, and how it has shaped her entire being.
> >> >>
> >> >> The first book has been thus far called Unknown Past, and the second
> >> >> has thus far been called simply "The Well" The first is pure fantasy;
> >> >> however, the second is loosely based (at least at the beginning) on my
> >> >> own life as an abused child and the dream that I often had as a child
> >> >> and my own search for the meaning of the dream.
> >> >>
> >> >> I have also written a children's book about a rabbit who lives near a
> >> >> farm and decides one day to live on the farm, since the grass is
> >> >> always greener, and quickly learns that he is much better off being
> >> >> what he is, a rabbit, after trying to be a cat, dog, horse, chicken,
> >> >> and other farm animals. It is a story of acceptance of self, at the
> >> >> same time teaching about farm animals.
> >> >>
> >> >> One last story that is not developed much at all, but is only an idea
> >> >> is about a world where everyone is blind, where everyone has always
> >> >> been blind, where there is no such ting as humans seeing with eyes
> >> >> like people do in the real world. Instead of vision, people have echo,
> >> >> a form of echolocation that sometimes is seen in children who are born
> >> >> totally blind. But then a sighted child is born, then another, and
> >> >> schools for the echo-impaired (those who see with their eyes, but
> >> >> can't use echolocation) open, and the world slowly tries to help these
> >> >> poor impaired people who have eyes like animals. It is kinda a role
> >> >> reversal that has a subtle message of teaching sighted people what it
> >> >> is like to be a minority as blind people are.
> >> >>
> >> >> So, that's my stories and such, and I hope to share my writing, learn
> >> >> from others, and enjoy this list.
> >> >>
> >> >> Later,
> >> >> ~Jewel
> >> >>
> >> >> _______________________________________________
> >> >> Writers Division web site:
> >> >> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> >> >> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >> >>
> >> >> stylist mailing list
> >> >> stylist at nfbnet.org
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> >> >> stylist:
> >> >>
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jbron%40optonline.net
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Writers Division web site:
> >> > http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> >> > <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >> >
> >> > stylist mailing list
> >> > stylist at nfbnet.org
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> >> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> > stylist:
> >> >
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
> >> >
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Writers Division web site:
> >>http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >>
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> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Writers Division web site:
> > http://www.nfb-writers-division.org <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >
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> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2010 23:18:27 -0400
> From: "Elizabeth Sammons" <antigone at columbus.rr.com>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [stylist] Short story for your critique
> Message-ID: <85.0A.29882.6831B0C4 at hrndva-omtalb.mail.rr.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Writing colleagues,
> 
> 
> 
> Today I drafted a story that has never left my heart since these events -
> most of them, anyhow - happened to me. Of course I have changed names and
> places to protect those involved. This is the first story I have ever
> written with such strong elements of autobiography in it. I invite you to
> look it over and to respond to me privately at antigone at columbus.rr.com with
> your opinions, unless you think they are subjects that are of interest to
> most others on the list.
> 
> 
> 
> This writing is neither overtly sexual, nor profane. However, it contains
> elements not for the faint of heart as it describes the disorientation of an
> elderly immigrant from Ukraine trying to find love and his place in the
> American world. Happy reading and I look forward to hearing from any of you.
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Elizabeth Sammons
> 
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:29:32 -0500
> From: "James H. \"Jim\" Canaday M.A. N6YR" <n6yr at sunflower.com>
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [stylist] my bio
> Message-ID: <201006060429.o564TWPG031858 at smtp.sunflower.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> 
> for those who might be interested, I just sent in an updated and 
> edited version of my bio for the division website.
> jc
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2010 11:12:09 -0400
> From: "Chris Kuell" <ckuell at comcast.net>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt: Finding the good in the
> villain
> Message-ID: <1E883B707D0F410084DDBFEF6BD6337A at ChrisPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252";
> reply-type=original
> 
> Hi Bridgit,
> 
> Thanks for sharing this piece with us. You don't say, but since the main 
> character's name is the same as yours, I'm assuming this is non-fiction. And 
> while it is long, it's not really long enough to fully explore both you and 
> your mother's feelings and emotions around firstly your depression, and 
> secondly your battle with the unknown virus. Add the complexity of a 
> mother-daughter relationship, and I think you're going to need an entire 
> novel to do it justice. Nice job with this limited space, though.
> 
> You do shift POV in this exercise, which I found jarring. You start out in 
> third person from the mother's perspective, then kind of shift to omnicient 
> with the interactions with the nurse, then settle on first person from your 
> perspective, wich I think works best. If you were to pursue this--which I 
> think is a worthwhile, if difficult, endeavor--I'd recommend some outlining 
> so the narrative moves in a consistent direction.
> 
> chris
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
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> 
> End of stylist Digest, Vol 74, Issue 6
> **************************************

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