We talked recently about the importance of ridding a story of whatever isn’t absolutely necessary and/or doesn’t advance the story. This “excess” can be anything from losing a line of description to cutting out a character. Or a scene. In the case of novels, entire chapters. But once we’ve reduced a story to its bare … Continue reading Open the Doors. Walk Right In!
revision
Story Surgery
A week or so ago, I re-read one of my short stories I hadn’t looked at in a while. I have to confess I’d felt a little smug about this one. (I almost never feel confident about what I write.) It's unlike anything else I’ve written—a little edgy, playing around with POV and dialogue. Tight. … Continue reading Story Surgery
The Five Stages, Or Facing Up to the Re-write
Hi there. After completing the October Memoir and Backstory Blog Challenge, I've been absent from this space for a while. I wrote twenty-five posts during the challenge, many of which were emotionally grueling. (Here's a sample post, just about in the middle: Age Twelve: The Great Void.) I'm glad I finished, although I wish I'd … Continue reading The Five Stages, Or Facing Up to the Re-write
Gerry Wilson 