This chapter was all about setting the scene, whether that involved the environment, time, and mood. The part I found most useful when considering applications to my own writing difficulties. I struggle to keep the story moving sometimes, so then I rush and skip over details. It was interesting to think of pacing in a story from the context of how the character is experiencing the scene I’m trying to write. Maybe a good event is intentionally fast paced to…
I really liked a few sections in this chapter. I thought it was really helpful when the author explained how even though you could opt to summarize an interaction, it’s a much more immersive experience if you show the interaction instead. How the characters react during a conversation tells you a lot about their personality. I often feel like I’m repeating myself in dialogue with all the “I said, she said” type of interactions. It was really helpful to see…
I really liked this short story! “Annunciation” presents itself as a retelling of the past of a troubled recent college graduate who is struggling to keep herself afloat. The most compelling part of this story is the description. By the end, I felt like the characters in this story were all real, that this story was actualyl a retelling of a true one. Each character is both flawed and meritorious, has shortcomings and strengths. We see the narrator meet Anais,…
Chapter 4 focuses on point of view. I think the most interesting point of view that they covered in this chapter was the unreliable first person. I think having an unreliable narrator makes a story have a level of depth that is hard to accomplish through description alone. I really like how it helps us see how someone with mental illness may think or how their thoughts may be organized in different ways. I like the challenge an unreliable narrator…
This chapter centered on how to effectively convey a location or scene within your writing. The author reminds us to consider appealing to all the senses and affirms the importance of word choice. I also liked how they mentioned the importance of a well placed simile, but making sure that you avoid cliches when writing them. The section about describing emotions really resonated with me as well. I often struggle to put my character’s feelings into words, especially when it…
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…
