Sue Grafton, a mystery writer who is from Kentucky, was the primary mystery writer honored at the Triangle Sisters in Crime January meeting Saturday, 11Jan2020. Via the Yankee Auction I received S is for Silence, a Kinsey Milhone mystery.
Right away I read with pleasure Ms. Grafton's skill in giving her characters distinctive voices. Her victim, Violet, is a floozy who sounds like she's from Kentucky.
The mystery is set around Santa Teresa, California. While the characters all have distinctive voices that are a pleasure to read, I'm not certain I know California well enough to say they all have California voices. Interesting and I need to reflect about the technique.
I'm not certain they need California voices.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Second 2020 Short Story
The draft for the second short story completed, now I can ask readers: what are the key differences for a short story protagonist: man and woman? Expectations.
There may be none at all. The writer may count on an element of surprise, of breaking stereotype, or adding to the knowledge of human psychology. OTOH, there may be nothing at all.
The Flannery O'Connor short story, " A Good Man Is Hard to Find," might be re-drafted with the opposite gender, A Good Woman is Hard to Find." Ms. O'Connor has lectured that her woman was as dead on the inside as her wooden leg on her outside. We can change those two essential elements: man versus woman and dead versus alive.
Goal for 2020: 20 to 50 short stories.
There may be none at all. The writer may count on an element of surprise, of breaking stereotype, or adding to the knowledge of human psychology. OTOH, there may be nothing at all.
The Flannery O'Connor short story, " A Good Man Is Hard to Find," might be re-drafted with the opposite gender, A Good Woman is Hard to Find." Ms. O'Connor has lectured that her woman was as dead on the inside as her wooden leg on her outside. We can change those two essential elements: man versus woman and dead versus alive.
Goal for 2020: 20 to 50 short stories.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Short Story Draft of 03Jan2020
Resources used for the new short story: Jack London's short stories. In addition, one rainy night (like tonight) when family and I were out eating, two grizzled old men were sitting by the restaurant window, arguing vociferously, using profanity, shocking fellow dinne rmates. To augment London, I've selected wisdom from Toby Hemenway. Key images: girdled trees, snow, treadmill, prey, and predator. To augment the two restauarant goers, well, you'll have to read for yourself.
"Treadmill as a Verb" Google search results, for those interested:
https://www.google.com/search?ei=oNgPXqHVNsGC5wKy0KSoAQ&q=treadmill+as+a+verb&oq=treadmill+as+a+verb&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30l3.2292.4071..4448...0.2..0.114.903.8j2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0j0i131j0i67j0i22i10i30.95YgurBEK08&ved=0ahUKEwihpfTZ1OjmAhVBwVkKHTIoCRUQ4dUDCAs&uact=5
"Treadmill as a Verb" Google search results, for those interested:
https://www.google.com/search?ei=oNgPXqHVNsGC5wKy0KSoAQ&q=treadmill+as+a+verb&oq=treadmill+as+a+verb&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30l3.2292.4071..4448...0.2..0.114.903.8j2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0j0i131j0i67j0i22i10i30.95YgurBEK08&ved=0ahUKEwihpfTZ1OjmAhVBwVkKHTIoCRUQ4dUDCAs&uact=5
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