tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post2002159550619456490..comments2023-09-16T15:03:34.579+07:00Comments on Adam Heine: Twists and TurnsAdam Heinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-2480750605154360792009-07-24T00:43:05.961+07:002009-07-24T00:43:05.961+07:002 things:
1) Michael Chabon edited an issue of McS...2 things:<br />1) Michael Chabon edited an issue of McSweeney's a few years ago to try to breathe some more life into the genre fiction short story. This was because he was tired of seeing so much "literary" writing that was all about some middle-aged middle-class dude having an epiphany about life, which was apparently pretty common (I don't know, I'm well-insulated from literature). So it seems like someone, at least, wanted fewer straightforward stories.<br />2) Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier, doesn't have a twist. Instead, it has the inexorability of a Greek tragedy, and was thoroughly enjoyable as a result. You had to get about 90 pages into it to "get into it", but once you did, it was like watching a glacier move on super-fast-forward.<br />-MMattyDubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202037980573994507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-45717543540869980102009-07-23T14:27:32.816+07:002009-07-23T14:27:32.816+07:00Wow, Shelley, good dare. I'll have to think ab...Wow, Shelley, good dare. I'll have to think about that one.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-26463257236661402082009-07-23T12:47:29.177+07:002009-07-23T12:47:29.177+07:00Well made point.
One of the reasons Leota's G...Well made point.<br /><br />One of the reasons <i>Leota's Garden</i> (by Francine Rivers) is among my favorite romances is the ending. Its twist transfoms the story from just-another-quickly-forgotten-formula romance into a memorable experience.<br /><br />But could anyone other than Francine Rivers pull it off? Hmmm...Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-81079952435681121762009-07-23T12:25:17.195+07:002009-07-23T12:25:17.195+07:00But I think the thing that bugs me when I read a s...But I think the thing that bugs me when I read a short story is that I am expecting the "twist". That is the nature of the short story....the writer is going to set you up....then surprise you...so you spend the whole story wondering how he/she is going to pull it off.<br /><br />I dare you to write a short story with no "twist". Just write it and see what happens. Maybe it will surprise you, the writer.<br /><br />Good Luck!!!<br /><br />shelleystoryqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039684494823420722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-38763315115392901422009-07-23T11:09:07.603+07:002009-07-23T11:09:07.603+07:00I'd argue that a cliche, done right or with so...I'd argue that a cliche, done right or with some novel wingdings thrown in, doesn't really have to come off as cliche'd anymore.<br /><br />Everyone knew the ring would end up in the volcano and the protagonist always gets the love interest, but people still spend time reading and watching fantasy and romance. I think the skill with a well-trodden story arc (at least from the perspective of one who consumes the work) is using plot twists, character depth, and all the other tools to make the reader enjoy the ride, even if they know exactly where they'll end up.<br /><br />Which is to say, something is only a cliche if it isn't done well enough.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01155559095217288677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4665052536053897386.post-2074566978068302692009-07-23T06:40:57.284+07:002009-07-23T06:40:57.284+07:00What is rewarding is when you have a pretty big tw...What is rewarding is when you have a pretty big twist and totally take your reader off guard. Man, there are few things I've enjoyed more than flooring my reader. Hehe.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.com