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In this chapter of the book we are introduced to fiction. I have always preferred fiction to everything else. I always really enjoyed with how much you can do with fiction. One of the reasons for that is my love of Sci-Fi. I’ve always loved the idea that you can create a whole universe from just your imagination. Like the book says, fiction always seems to follow the same structure. It’s in this that I am baffled, the amazing combinations you can do with this structure and you always seem to produce something that is still exciting and interesting. I also liked how the book goes into detail describing characters and how different they can be if you add motives behind their actions. You’ve seen them in film or in books, those characters that have a role to fulfill and once they're done fulfilling that role they're no longer integral to the plot. The book goes on to say that these characters are useful to move the story along, and I agree. If you’re planning on writing a book series then more power to you to make every single character a three dimensional character. But for the sake of fiction, I feel like those two dimensional characters work as a vessel to move the story along. - Jesús Iván González
ReplyDeleteFiction is popular among many readers, but it is not my cup of tea. In this chapter we are moving on to learn what is fiction and how stories are made. Reading this chapter, I learned that fiction is all about being creative and combining your imaginative thoughts to something real but isn’t real only in your head, and in this case, you share your thoughts through writing. While reading I understood the purpose of fiction and understood more of its writing. People share what they imagine through writing and what better way than putting into a story. Although I am not a fan of fiction, I can say that this chapter may have changed my mind. I have read fiction stories before about super heroes and I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed it. I can honestly say that I am interested in giving fiction readings a chance. I also learned that characters in a story provide an important role in fiction stories because it is dependent on them to be able to keep the meaning of what the reading is about. When I read fiction stories, it is hard for me to continue reading because sometimes the reading can be really good that I wish it was real, I guess that is the bummer side of fiction. Over all this chapter opened the possibilities for me to read more fiction stories because they are fun and creative and in my opinion it helps readers understand the authors way of writing.
ReplyDelete-Karla Romero
What I liked about this reading is how it mentions more in depth about creative writing because it's a form in every aspect of our own writing, and the part that I like the most is writing dialogue because of the plays I’ve read in the past such as “The importance of being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. It truly inspired me to know more about dialogue, I found it fun, and as mentioned in the book sometimes it’s good to sit around in a crowded place where you can practice writing conversations you hear and make a dialogue out of it. An important guideline is that context dictates dialogue. For example asking ourselves, who is talking to who? and where this conversation is taking place. Another part I liked about reading this section is getting started writing the short-short story, it briefly mentions how it’s important to draft first, and gather your own ideas for your final draft. Creating conflict, deciding on point of view, and shaping a character is one of the many important aspects of writing. Brainstorming is what should be the main focus at first rather than focusing on the grammar aspect of writing, first is setting your ideas in paper to have a clear idea of the main of a short story.
ReplyDelete-Carina Pompa
In this chapter we are introduced to the elements of the short short story in fiction. Relaying all aspects of a short story or novella in a compacted form requires due diligence of the writer. Characters,dialogue,setting, tone, and even point of view must be done in a quick and concise format or a fear of losing the reader will become a reality. From beginning to end the writer must engage the reader providing background information when needed. The use of adjectives must be done in an articulate manner not drowning the story itself in a sea of modifiers, but rather lending importance to the scene. In my humble opinion the short short is more difficult of a task then writing an essay or novel in that all the important details of what a writer is trying to convey must be done in a compact and explosive manner. In our three different examples we are left with distinct differences in the way we feel about them. In Babel's piece we sense a cold black and white setting mixed with very few vibrant colors giving us the impression of the horrors of war. The smell of old blood glued on a beard. It also details the psychological changes which occur in the desensitizing of a person who has seen so much blood shed. The Baby on the other hand reveals a dysfunctional parent's inability on how to discipline his baby girl. There is a moral theme throughout. Ending on the parent giving in to the child in so far as to join the child in mischief. In Marzipan the main character starts out by showing us his initial intent that gives way to a deeper side of himself. It is important to note that the characters are unnamed. The point being that there is no room in a short short for trivial matters such as these. Get to the point. Make it quick, and cause it to stir an emotion in it's reader.
ReplyDeleteSpiro Zagouris
I’ve always been a big fan of fiction. I would say that it is one of my top favorite genres. A “short-short” story is definitely a fun quick read. However, because the stories have to be kept short, the stories don’t always have as much details as one would like, which leaves plenty of room for the reader’s imagination.
ReplyDeleteThe three stories that were included as examples of short-short stories had all dark undertones. Isaac Babel’s story “Crossing the River Zbrucz” was the most haunting out of all of them. It is written in first-person point of view, and the man realizes that he is sleeping next to a dead old man. It is not at all a long story, but overall it leaves the reader intrigued and horrified throughout the short-short story.
“The Baby” by Donald Barthelme talked about the bizarre and horrific ways parents can discipline their kids. I found it vile how the parents would leave their baby for an unhealthy long period of time in her room. This punishment was in no way showing that she was understanding that she was not supposed to rip pages out of her books. As time went by, it even got worse. However, the story takes a surprising turn and becomes more lighthearted. The narrator in the end lets go and starts ripping pages out of books as well and explains that these are the joys of having a baby.
The final story, “Marzipan” by Roberta Allen, had a more serious ending and tone than what I first expected. At first, the man is just telling a woman silly stories, but then confesses that his mother committed suicide in 1978. This story included a lot of dialogue, which I found enjoyable. Babel’s story included some, but very briefly. I liked how the story ends by the man eating a marzipan but it “gives him no pleasure.” Which I interpreted this as the marzipan doesn’t give him any pleasure because it reminds him of his mother.
Angela Milan
Getting started writing the short-short story with fiction elements. One of the important factors I enjoy in reading fiction is dialogue. I think it’s a great resource to use when you want to move the story forward. It fleshes out character design and attributes. The importance of “breathers” in dialogue help the reader digest what is happening. It was interesting to read that after the dialogue, some new writers desire to write “she exclaimed” or “she admonished.” Starkey says that these are fancier tags that get used in hope of keeping the reader entertained. He also mentions that “she said” is also usually dropped from some readers. Capturing the tone is essential to not add extra verbs. “In media res” was also something I liked. Some of the short stories start right at the conflict or moments before it. This can captivate your readers enough so that they may read on ahead. Starting amidst crisis seems to get everyone, the ambiguity sure helps. I found it an important tactic for writers depending on what they want to say. I think this takes care of exposition quite well. I know sometimes we find ourselves over explaining a setting or character and I think starting mid conflict could help move the story.
ReplyDelete-Leonardo Torres
Even though this is one of the longer readings we have had its been very helpful in learning and understanding fiction and writing short-short stories. I have always been a fan of fiction and learning about way to portray characters, settings, dialogues, style and tone was very interesting. One of the things I liked about this reading is how many examples it gave. While reading what a sentence should look like in regards to characters or settings, I would sometimes not understand fully what was supposed to happen, but right after there would be an example which I thought was very helpful. I personally find it very hard to write short stories since I tend to want to add a lot of detail and my papers usually are pretty long so I believe this chapter is going to challenge me which is something I am looking forward to. It is interesting reading much thought has to go into writing short-short stories. You have to really focus on the important details and make sure everything connects. The three example shown were very different in story but each showed different ways to go which really helped when reading on what to do and what not to do.
ReplyDelete-Rebecca Muniz
It’s interesting how fiction is anything that isn’t true and yet the short -short story is different than poetry and drama. I love fiction novels however in the short – short story they don’t work. When I generally read a genre fiction specially romance, I do expect to read a happy ending and its difficult to elaborate such a story in a short – short fiction story. The short story is very complex there are elements that must be met such as structure, character, dialogue, setting and point of view. It consists of three models and since its very short the writer must make every word count; therefore, it has to be a very powerful piece. The story by Isaac Babel was quite sad and reflected the happenings of the war and consequences to the Jewish during WWII. Donald’s Barthelme story of The Baby was dark humor in my opinion for the stupidity of the parent and the child abuse involved in the story. The Marzipan by Roberta Allen is the less difficult style of short fiction to write in my opinion. It is written in a prose manner and there is a lightness to it. I like the structure that one can start as a flashback flash forward manner because it to me it seems more intriguing. I would prefer a round character if writing a story because there is more relatedness to someone that is flawed. I think also interesting how the recommendation for dialogue is that it should be brief because I like t o write in this manner expressing more of the characters’ opinions and emotions and just putting enough dialogue to develop them more
ReplyDelete-Maria Ramirez Montoya
At first, when reading the text, I thought that Starkey was being too restrictive in his definition and explanation of short fiction. As I actually read the first three examples of the short fiction, I realized that the guidelines Starkey gave can be expanded upon and this allows writers to grow within a set of boundaries and only when they have really become acquainted with these basics can they break out of the preconceived notions regarding short stories. Simply the first story was dark and macabre with a poignant phrase as an end that allows the story to end while the reader can wonder and think upon the meaning for decades without fully coming up with a straight answer. The second story was so bizarre but deliberate in every phrase that the reader is aware from the beginning of the absurdities, only to push the reader to try and find meaning and forcing the reader to project the story unto almost any situation or topic. The last story has a normal flow and courting undertone, but as the story progresses, we are slowly then quickly made aware that something is not right in this situation. So unlike the second story where the reader was aware from the start that things were not to be taken at face-value.
ReplyDelete-Hubel Gonzalez
This reading introduces fiction and the different genres that can be written about: romance, fantasy, horror, and many others. I find it very interesting how there are a lot of elements for writing fiction, a story needs a tone, a point of view, among many other elements, but most importantly the characters and their dialogue. I think the most crucial factor of a fiction story is how real you make the characters (three-dimensional), and how people can connect with them and feel empathy towards what is happening in a story. Furthermore, we are introduced three models of short-short fiction stories as an example of how the elements are combined to create the story . I liked a quote from this chapter that says “Creative impulses don’t necessary arrive on schedule, and whether you begin your story now or after reading every word in this chapter, any time that you feel like writing is a good time.” (pp. 102). I agree with this statement because imagination comes unexpectedly, and we need to ensure that we are making good use of it. I am very excited for this new unit because I have always liked fiction but I have never written it. Also, I am looking forward to analyze short fiction stories and find all the elements blended in together.
ReplyDelete-Paulina Longoria
I really enjoy fiction, however upon reading the various descriptions for fiction-- particularly short stories- I found myself significantly less interested than I was in the creative nonfiction. One interesting point that Starkey mentions at the beginning of the chapter that I would like to challenge is his idea that high fantasy fiction (ones with elves, dragons, fantastical creatures) cannot be done efficiently within the format of a short story. Starkey argues that stories of such a nature require too much context and backstory for the story to be compressed into the length of that of a short story. One short story that I think challenges this idea is the "Jabberwocky," which entirely describes creatures and flora using words not even within the English language (or any language, for that matter).
ReplyDeleteI look forward to making my own creative fiction piece for this class, mainly due in part by the fact that the ones we read this week were not my cup of tea. The fiction pieces like "The Baby" were particularly odd and out-there, and doesn't hold an idea or premise that I can really attach myself to. I look forward to reading more and seeing what fiction writing styles and tactics are my favorites.
- Hannah Daniel
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ReplyDeleteor
call/whatsapp:+2349057261346
i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
or
call/whatsapp:+2349057261346