This chapter focuses on plot and story cadence. As the authors discuss, it may seem obvious to consider the importance of having three sections in a story (beginning, middle, and end), but it helps to construct the overall story in a more cohesive way. This is something I struggle to get right, finding identifiable beginning, middle, and end in my stories. The beginning is important as it serves to get the reader involved and understanding the context needed to be…
This chapter was all focused on characters and what makes them compelling. There were a few points I found really compelling in this chapter, but the section on change within characters really resonated with me. The book affirms that characters should be able to change, but the reader should also see that the change is earned. By that I mean that the changes we witness shouldn’t feel surprising; They should be built up over time and not just a sudden…
I think the craft element I noticed most while reading this short story was subtext. The author describes a lot about the main character without explicitly stating it, something which I think is critical to building a complex and interesting character. I really like how throughout the story, you could hear the narrator’s demeanor towards the blind man softened, even if it was still harsh by the end. The way the narrator’s internal monologue is phrased makes us learn so…
The craft element I thought Bowe developed really well throughout was characterization. We learn so much about the lives of these characters, even their personalities and insecurities, through the choices the author makes. By the end of the story, we know the mother has been deeply rattled by loss, a part of her gone along with her lost child. In moments of grief she looks for signs of her daughter, but also works to advance their lives. We learn a…
