But on Monday one of the women in my Writing Workshop called bullshit on my whole plan and said the thing I've been avoiding forever and ever and a day: "These aren't short stories; these are snippets of a novel."
What. The. Fuck.
As soon as she said that to me, with a little smirk and a glimmer in her eye, I knew she was right. This is why the stories weren't coming together the way I wanted them to. The details were jumbled. The flow was off. The meat and potatoes of it needed more sazón. All because I was trying to keep them apart when CLEARLY they belong together. Enfermos is not a collection of short stories, it's a *GASP* novel. So I need to start treating it as such.
This epiphany, for as much as it solves some key problems in the stories, creates a whole new set of issues: Which story goes first? How do I mesh them? Do I have to pick only ONE narrator or can I have many?
*pulls out hair*
Should I go in chronological order or take the reader on a crazy ride into the past, then to the future, before letting them settle into the present? And my script, I suppose, needs to part ways with this new incarnation of my tales. A divorce of sorts. Learn to stand on its own 25 minutes.
*sigh*
I was totally fretting over this Monday night and all of Tuesday; I got very little sleep and have been irritable to the nth degree. I've lost all desire to eat, leave the house, think, write, breathe. All because my stories have evolved without me, because I still see them as stories and really, all they want for me to know is that they've metamorphosed into a novel while I was busy not paying attention.
Maybe I'm feeling a little betrayed by my words, that they would reveal themselves to Theresa and not to me, their mother. Perhaps this is what I need to come to terms with before I dive in and restructure the entire thing?
Whatever it is, I'm warning y'all- this shit right here? This is worse than PMS. Take cover.
*smooches...overwhelmed but ready to do the work*
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I feel like my stories are teenagers, asserting their independence and shit. maybe I should give them the "THIS HOUSE IS NOT A DEMOCRACY" speech I gave my babies...
and I dare one of you heifers to talk shit about my writing tools... DARE. YOU.
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8 comments:
YAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!!!!
Finally, it will all make sense. I guess Smarty is just a dumb ass because I could swear I said some of this when I was editing.
Yea, go back, read the damn e-mails and deny, deny, deny!
The question now, Ms. Penzo, is do I get a real ending? Something that won't drive me bat shit tryna figure it out.
*kneels and bows head for prayer* Dear Sweet Baby Jesus laying in a manger, thank you for sending an angel to jerk Jaded's ass into reality. Thank you for helping her realize there is a literary genius lying dormant in that jumbles brain of hers and please touch her heart to save an advanced copy of her pending novel. Thank you. Oh, and please bless everybody. Aaaaa-men.
P.S. I'm a Baptist. When I cuss in my prayers, I mean it. That is all. :-P
Judging from Smarty's comments, it sounds like you do have other people reading this. Good. Have you ever considered putting your babies in the hands of a few trusted readers and getting their opinion/feedback?
I ask because I've had the honor of reading a friend's burgeoning novel, which he feeds out to a select few of us chapter by chapter but also workshops. It has been so interesting to hear the comments of other people, see the growth and change of the story, and see him develop as an author.
Maybe you're too close to your own words to be able to put them into order. Maybe what you need is some outsider points of view to help you put sanity to the madness.
One of my old co-workers had me and a select few others read her novel-in-progress and I can't even TELL you how much I enjoyed being a part of that. Asking questions that made her think from a different perspective, etc.
You are making progress (despite what you said in a post from when you were private, I DO read archives) and that is something.
I forgot anything else of value I had to say once I locked eyes with Barrington Mon. A pox on you.
@smarty- WHY you gotta come over here w/your "I told you so" when NOBODY ACKSED YOU?!?!
Just for that- I'm making ALL THE ENDINGS cryptic and cliffhangerish. HMPH!
@kelly- if you're volunteering I'd be more than happy to start sending out revised drafts this November. :P
@gem- can you PUH-LEESE stay out my archives??? nosy ass pixies always starting trouble...
(but thank you; I do feel myself getting better everyday)
And what's wrong w/Barrington Mon? He's been with me since 2005 and I love him dearly...
Well now you can make the necessary adjustments and finish up.
Smarty - don't be mad at her - you've just experienced what I call the "Third Party Theory". You said it long ago, she dismissed it. Hell, you might have told her many other times.
Buuuuuuuuuut, as soon as some Joe Schmoe comes along and says the same thing, it's the most frickin' brilliant thing that's ever been laid on her sweet little ears.
This, no doubt, sends you hurtling towards insanity.
I don't blame you for taking credit.
@clnmike- that is the current plan
@tyrone- kindly take your facts & examples and shimmy on OUT of my comments. Thank you and good day.
I SAID GOOD DAY SIR!
I would be honored!
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