I polished "Find Ray T" into a more immediate style of writing, then started reading Thornton Wilder's "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", about 5 people who died in 1714 when a bridge over a gorge collapsed. A monk who witnesses the catastrophe sets out to learn why those five people met their doom at that particular point.
So far, I've read half the book, to the end of the section dealing with Esteban. The style of the storytelling keeps you a bit removed during the first chapter, which tells of the accident, and the chapter dealing with the Marquessa who was killed. In fact, hers was hard to really care about because everything is being told instead of revealed.
We're told her daughter despises her and given examples, like you get in a financial report and just as dry. This continues until a woman who insulted her is forced to apologize...and we finally hear the Marquessa talk. Seriously, you never hear her voice until 2/3 of the way through her chapter. After that, there was more dialog and contemplation and less "this is what she felt and thought and did" kind of writing.
The chapter of Esteban's began in the same way...but it evolved into more dialog and revelations of character because Esteban had a twin named Miguel. They were so close, they had their own language, as twins can be wont to do. His wound up being absolutely heartbreaking.
I will say, compared to Thornton Wilder's spare prose, mine feels chatty and loose. But then...my stories aren't exactly Pulitzer Prize material, like this one was. Of course, "Place of Safety" could be...but I doubt I'll ever get one. That or the Nobel, no matter how great I do on it. I've written books that freak people out. Some even stupidly think they're pornography. I'm not sure what to think or do about that.
Because the fact is, I'm proud of "How To Rape A Straight Guy" and the reactions it's gotten. PM and RIHC6 bring the same feelings, albeit to a lesser degree; they don't have the same intensity or attitude as HTRASG. "Bobby Carapisi" is its own category...and probably closest to what POS will turn out to be...though maybe not as harsh in its tragedy. Depends.
"The Lyons' Den" is just plain fun, like A65, and "NYPD Blood" was more like a job I grew to be part of. I'm working in fits in starts on another book that has a sociopath as its lead, one who may make Curt (from HTRASG) look like St. Francis. We'll see how that goes; I'm not in any rush to complete it.
Now I'm just waiting for feedback for the current incarnation of A65.
We're told her daughter despises her and given examples, like you get in a financial report and just as dry. This continues until a woman who insulted her is forced to apologize...and we finally hear the Marquessa talk. Seriously, you never hear her voice until 2/3 of the way through her chapter. After that, there was more dialog and contemplation and less "this is what she felt and thought and did" kind of writing.
The chapter of Esteban's began in the same way...but it evolved into more dialog and revelations of character because Esteban had a twin named Miguel. They were so close, they had their own language, as twins can be wont to do. His wound up being absolutely heartbreaking.
I will say, compared to Thornton Wilder's spare prose, mine feels chatty and loose. But then...my stories aren't exactly Pulitzer Prize material, like this one was. Of course, "Place of Safety" could be...but I doubt I'll ever get one. That or the Nobel, no matter how great I do on it. I've written books that freak people out. Some even stupidly think they're pornography. I'm not sure what to think or do about that.
Because the fact is, I'm proud of "How To Rape A Straight Guy" and the reactions it's gotten. PM and RIHC6 bring the same feelings, albeit to a lesser degree; they don't have the same intensity or attitude as HTRASG. "Bobby Carapisi" is its own category...and probably closest to what POS will turn out to be...though maybe not as harsh in its tragedy. Depends.
"The Lyons' Den" is just plain fun, like A65, and "NYPD Blood" was more like a job I grew to be part of. I'm working in fits in starts on another book that has a sociopath as its lead, one who may make Curt (from HTRASG) look like St. Francis. We'll see how that goes; I'm not in any rush to complete it.
Now I'm just waiting for feedback for the current incarnation of A65.
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