[stylist] Sharing a story? stylist Digest, Vol 131, Issue 10

Mon Mar 16 16:07:39 UTC 2015

Bridgit,
I seem to be critiquing critiquers more than I am a story! It is because I
am in a critique group of 12 with each member having his or her talent in
one area, and sometimes, like you, a lot of knowledge about many areas of
writing. Mine happens to be a poetry group. This is why I find the critiques
in other genres so fascinating.  When you have differences, such as you and
Mike, it keeps giving more aspects to a given piece.
An example, your discussion of a framing device hit home in the area of
poetry as well as fiction. I never knew what to call it, and because of your
education, you were able to name it.
Some of us go by instinct and much background reading, and make efforts at
self-education through groups. 
Anyone who takes the time, such as those who really thought through their
own experiences and knowledge to answer Chris's request for suggestions, did
all of us a tremendous favor.
I remember my second teacher of the blind as pertaining to learning JAWS: I
passed on a hint I had gotten from the Center for the Blind, hoping I would
not offend him. He literally jumped up and down, and said, "New knowledge! I
love it!" He inspired me so much with his search for new ways of looking at
everything.
At any rate, thank you for your comprehensive analysis of the general topic
addressed in the back and forth of e-mails.
Jackie Lee

Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz	 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2015 1:42 PM
To: tickpub at juno.com; 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Sharing a story? stylist Digest, Vol 131, Issue 10

Michael,

I have to disagree, though you bring up a good point to consider.

Chris's story in no way reads as a journal or diary entry. The connecting
thread is the narrator's look at his daughter growing up and the impending
realization of growth and death we all eventually go through.

This story works as a story on its own. It's classified as literary fiction,
and as such, it requires no more connecting thread than what Chris has
already created.

This isn't to say Chris has nothing more to work on or that he shouldn't
flesh things out, but as a complete story, it does work in this format.

But I'm just not sure why you see this as a sub-plot because the plot, the
over-all arc of the story, is the narrator watching and reminiscing about
his daughter growing up. If this is what Chris wants, no further plot lines
are necessary. Even if he expanded into a full-length story, this basic plot
alone works.

Were Chris to add in other sub-plots, he could do this, but this initial
story-line could still work as the main plot.

Nonetheless, this story does work quite well on its own. Its purpose is to
move through the life of the narrator through his daughter. It's point of
view is first-person, from the perspective of the narrator. Not all stories
need a theme, per say, especially in literary fiction. The theme here, I
believe, is death, love, parenthood, aging, acceptance... All this is and
can be encapsulated in this story. And it's very much character-driven.
Character-driven stories don't need heavy plots or intrigues or gimmicks to
tell the story. You just need strong, fully-realized characters. It's not so
much about the plot and how the plot affects the characters, it's about a
close look into a character and how they exist within a plot. The focus is
the characters solely. This is the type of story Chris has created.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael via
stylist
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2015 7:03 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: [stylist] Sharing a story? stylist Digest, Vol 131, Issue 10

Saturday, March 14, 2015
Chris      
sharing a story 

Hello there! You asked for some  thought on this story and so here goes.
I look at a story as something very much different than just a record or a
memoir. This narrative works well over time but in my thoughts, it should be
re-categorized as a Diary Note or Journal Record, or a Family Narrative.

In general terms we can classify it as a story but in order to officially
categorize it as a story there should be some type of event or an agenda
weaving its way through the story. Maybe like a special gift that Sophie
possesses and finds use for during her visits away from home. Then a connect
with that gift during her college days and now, that gift has been enhanced
with her child. I would say that this might be called a sub-plot. Something
that the redder could follow like a shadow passing across ones path while
traveling through the forest. Eventually it is made clear and the story and
the journal come together as an official story.

* Maybe a recurring dream that started with Dad and Mom and somehow went
into their daughter and now their grand child is having it. It turns out
good for all.

* Maybe a secret inheritance set up by a great grand parent for the third
generation to inherit.if? But it had to be kept a secret because of the
amount and someone marrying for wealth instead of love. The child proves the
love of the father and the inheritance is revealed.

This of course is only my opinion based on 50 years of Journal keeping and
family records. I can go back and extract parts of my journal and create a
story from it. A theme or point of view or a purpose distinguishes the
difference between a Journal and a story!

Thank You, nice job!
Michael

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All The Best And More,
Regards And Respect From Michael!
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