I swear, I'm not just procrastinating. Ok, maybe that's not something I'd be comfortable saying in court - but regardless - as far as the new-story I referred to in my previous post, I'm venturing out of my comfort zone a little. I thought it would be nice to try something a little different, something to break any humdrum sort of rhythm in my collection (thesis) - and so I now have two dark, perhaps humurous(?) stories that are on the verge...yet not developed. I've labeled them, for time being "Scenes to Nowhere", and they're up on The Stealing Season if you'd like to see (and maybe offer some ideas for where you think they should go?)
I guess, the trouble I'm having is that this is the point in the creative process where I'd like to be sitting around a cafe with some friends discussing the various worlds that we're each building - but, this morning, there's a blizzard outside, a toddler screaming Momma and a baby whining to be picked up - welcome to Cafe Mella. If you have time, pull up a chair.
I guess, the trouble I'm having is that this is the point in the creative process where I'd like to be sitting around a cafe with some friends discussing the various worlds that we're each building - but, this morning, there's a blizzard outside, a toddler screaming Momma and a baby whining to be picked up - welcome to Cafe Mella. If you have time, pull up a chair.
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Hehe, I guess I should've explained that my thesis is a short story collection - with the theme of "motherhood" not necessarily meaning a story about a mother, or being a mother, but stories focusing on the various impacts that the role of motherhood plays on different characters in a lifetime - how an absent mother impacts a child (Stealing Season & also one of the new one's I'm working on), how being a new mother impacts a marital relationship (The Sum of Us), a childs-eye view of marital problems and familial roles with a strong focus on her mother (The Birth), a mother and daughter living lives that are perhaps too similar (and tragic - Dodd), I think one of the other new one's I'm working on is going to focus on a complicated adult mother-daughter relationship - and of course, the impact of a mother's death on her family (The Simplest of Acts)
I basically had The Birth and a rough draft of The Stealing Season penned out at the halfway point of my MFA program and needed to begin focusing on what the thread that would tie the stories would be - and motherhood seemed the logical choice.
So, no Mommy issues. My mother and I are cool - close enough, but far enough apart to appreciate one another.
Mella,
Just want to tell you I picked up the magizine which has your short story in it!
I had read some of it here when I first found your blog! (yours was one of the first blogs I started reading- just over a year ago.)
I love your writing and wish you the very best!
Junie
Mella,
I've pulled up a chair...don't know how long I can be here but I've even got a hot latte to sip!:) By the way, what magazine is your short story published in (I want to get my hands on a copy!) and are you part of a writing group? Anyways, I feel like we have so much in common...young moms, like to write, etc (except you actually write while I start many stories and never get anywhere it them!) I just feel like I need to have someone around me really driving
me /encouraging me to write and someone who writes too and can help me with ideas,etc. Maybe someday I can fly out and visit you!
Hi Susanna!
I envious of you and your latte! I think I'll have to go brew myself another batch of German Coffee Cake and get to writing.
I'm not a part of a writer's group, it's just me - some of what I write is inspired by school, some is just inspired by the crazy need I have to put stories on paper, even if only for myself. I'd love to have you fly up and visit me! Though, that'd be one expensive play date!
I'd love to read any fiction that you might have laying around, even if it's just the start of a story - (that's pretty much what I use The Stealing Season for lately, sort of a workshop for story-scraps)
Oh - and the story is in Family Circle (it's a blue cover with a chocolate tart on it) =)
Aren't all Family Circles blue with a chocolate tart? Except for the Holiday issues, Orange for October, Red for December.
Mella -
Just read your piece in the online version of Family Cirlce - LOVELY!. i so love that your shosrt story had an ending. so many short stories these days leave me wanting MORE, or wondering if the writer just got bored with the story and gave up. loved your piece.
and it was so real.
thanks so much for sending the writing email list info - i plan to send it to an unused yahoo! account i have.
~liz
Zhoen And pink for Valentines day...yes.
Liz Thank you so much. I've noticed a lack of conclusion in short stories lately - it's even something I've attempted to try, but since I'm not sure why some of the other stories author's have left their stories hanging, there's nothing to stop me - and so my short-short stories wind up, well, winding on and on, until I can find an ending, which is exactly the opposite of what I was setting out to do in the first place.
I suppose I enjoy a good ending.
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