Blog Entry #4: Pre-Workshop
Part I:
1: I feel as though the characters drive the story, the way I prefer it to be when it comes to my own writing. I think the description, as a background element, helps bring a sense of mysticism and curiosity. Like most of my writings, well poems more than stories, this story is purposefully vague.
2: I feel as though I can expand on it in general. There's certain parts that need to be elaborated on and the like.
3: I just want to get everyone's opinion on what worked or what did not work. All feedback is vital in my opinion. I don't have any set questions, just give me your all.
4: The guys all know the sapphire has negative attributes. They all agree they have to get rid of it before it affects them.
5: The draft is challenging my writing by enabling me to come up with new stories. When you're so focused on writing something else (my own novel) you don't want to be sidetracked by any other types of writing. Even if the five characters in this story are just characters of mine from the novel I'm currently writing, I don't want to write something I know I can build up because it'll end up making me want to focus on this piece me. I'd prefer that doesn't occur.
Part II:
A)
In story one, the setting is Greenville, South Carolina and the general story, like the other stories, revolves around a nostalgic scene regarding family and its influences. This seems to be one of Allison's main subject matters, which I'm used to as I came to expect this from the onset of learning about her. Like the other stories, the description is what builds the story up and dialogue is nearly non-existent. Like the first story in last weeks blog that I went over, I found out about the family of the narrator (Aunt Dot being the key person of interest, due to her influence over the narrator). Aunt Dot is the voice of reason compared to the narrator's parents, as she is more willing to listen to both sides of the story when the narrator finds herself in trouble or in a tricky situation. The writing is in first person, which is pretty much commonplace for Allison's writing as far I can tell. Something that struck me repeatedly is that the narrator is referred to as "Dorothy," which pushes the fact that this could very well be a true to form autobiographical story. But then again you never really know.
The other story revolves around more family situations, no changes there. Almost entirely description driven with dialogue scattered around like pieces of lint, this story finds Allison reminiscing about how her family shaped (or maybe just the narrator depending on whether or not this story is true or not). There isn't much flesh to this story, as its merely general reminiscing about the past, life changing events, but without being elaborated on. They're all just stated, gone over and that's pretty much it. I've stated it before but I do prefer to have some dialogue in the readings I go over. I'm taking a nature writing course this semester and dialogue is found strewn about in those pieces too so i'm growing a bit more of an appreciation for this style of writing but I guess it's just an acquired taste. There's not much else going on with this story, nothing repeated for example.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/book-review-just-the-way-men-are-bastard-out-of-carolina-dorothy-allison-flamingo-pounds-599-1481952.html
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dorothy-allison-3/trash-4/
B)
1: Allison believes writing should strike a cord with some people. Examples of her own topics include classic struggle, sexual abuse, child abuse and lesbianism.
2: Allison's influences include Toni Morrison, Bertha Harris, and Audre Lorde. She claims Morrison's The Bluest Eye helped her write about incest.
3: Allison is friends with Bertha Harris, who told her to be "honest and fearless, especially when it comes to writing about lesbianism."
1: I feel as though the characters drive the story, the way I prefer it to be when it comes to my own writing. I think the description, as a background element, helps bring a sense of mysticism and curiosity. Like most of my writings, well poems more than stories, this story is purposefully vague.
2: I feel as though I can expand on it in general. There's certain parts that need to be elaborated on and the like.
3: I just want to get everyone's opinion on what worked or what did not work. All feedback is vital in my opinion. I don't have any set questions, just give me your all.
4: The guys all know the sapphire has negative attributes. They all agree they have to get rid of it before it affects them.
5: The draft is challenging my writing by enabling me to come up with new stories. When you're so focused on writing something else (my own novel) you don't want to be sidetracked by any other types of writing. Even if the five characters in this story are just characters of mine from the novel I'm currently writing, I don't want to write something I know I can build up because it'll end up making me want to focus on this piece me. I'd prefer that doesn't occur.
Part II:
A)
In story one, the setting is Greenville, South Carolina and the general story, like the other stories, revolves around a nostalgic scene regarding family and its influences. This seems to be one of Allison's main subject matters, which I'm used to as I came to expect this from the onset of learning about her. Like the other stories, the description is what builds the story up and dialogue is nearly non-existent. Like the first story in last weeks blog that I went over, I found out about the family of the narrator (Aunt Dot being the key person of interest, due to her influence over the narrator). Aunt Dot is the voice of reason compared to the narrator's parents, as she is more willing to listen to both sides of the story when the narrator finds herself in trouble or in a tricky situation. The writing is in first person, which is pretty much commonplace for Allison's writing as far I can tell. Something that struck me repeatedly is that the narrator is referred to as "Dorothy," which pushes the fact that this could very well be a true to form autobiographical story. But then again you never really know.
The other story revolves around more family situations, no changes there. Almost entirely description driven with dialogue scattered around like pieces of lint, this story finds Allison reminiscing about how her family shaped (or maybe just the narrator depending on whether or not this story is true or not). There isn't much flesh to this story, as its merely general reminiscing about the past, life changing events, but without being elaborated on. They're all just stated, gone over and that's pretty much it. I've stated it before but I do prefer to have some dialogue in the readings I go over. I'm taking a nature writing course this semester and dialogue is found strewn about in those pieces too so i'm growing a bit more of an appreciation for this style of writing but I guess it's just an acquired taste. There's not much else going on with this story, nothing repeated for example.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/book-review-just-the-way-men-are-bastard-out-of-carolina-dorothy-allison-flamingo-pounds-599-1481952.html
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dorothy-allison-3/trash-4/
B)
1: Allison believes writing should strike a cord with some people. Examples of her own topics include classic struggle, sexual abuse, child abuse and lesbianism.
2: Allison's influences include Toni Morrison, Bertha Harris, and Audre Lorde. She claims Morrison's The Bluest Eye helped her write about incest.
3: Allison is friends with Bertha Harris, who told her to be "honest and fearless, especially when it comes to writing about lesbianism."
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