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

Mon Jun 7 13:14:45 UTC 2010

Is the novel in LOC?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "loristay" <loristay at aol.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 9:33 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt: Finding the good in the villain

When I let my mother read my novel, Hip Deep, she complained, "You're 
letting it all hang out!" Another writer gave me advice: Never let your 
mother read your work!
Good advice, I think. She's gone now, and I never published the novel, 
except among our crew (it's on tape). There's almost no one left who would 
care! And besides, it's fiction, though there is enough autobiographical 
material in it that she got annoyed.
Lori

On Jun 6, 2010, at 7:24:20 PM, "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> 
wrote:

From:   "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
Subject:    [stylist] Writing prompt: Finding the good in the villain
Date:   June 6, 2010 7:24:20 PM EDT
To: "writers division" <stylist at nfbnet.org>

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

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> 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
> >> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> >> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> >> >> for
> >> >> 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
> >> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> >> > 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/>
> >>
> >>stylist mailing list
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> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Writers Division web site:
> > http://www.nfb-writers-division.org 
> > <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >
> > stylist mailing list
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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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