tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post6100175659169992349..comments2024-03-27T03:25:08.267-07:00Comments on Life in the Shoe: Mrs. Smucker Grapples With Hard Questions About Fiction WritingDorcashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-72555338396964466162019-12-31T08:42:54.294-08:002019-12-31T08:42:54.294-08:00I for one want to read more of your fiction! Somet...I for one want to read more of your fiction! Sometimes fluff's not as fluffy as you think. I wonder what you would think of two books. Dorothy Sawyer's book, "The Mind of the Maker," on the topic of what it is possible to write as a fiction writer. Fairly weighty, but very interesting concepts. And then "Writing for story", by Jon Franklin, which you may be familiar with. Basically, I don't think the field is quite as wide open as it first appears. In my very limited experience, I can't actually make my characters do whatever I want them to without doing violence to the story and the characters. Julie Glicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-61239756486090005542019-12-29T07:13:48.839-08:002019-12-29T07:13:48.839-08:00I just want to read more of your fiction. The one ...I just want to read more of your fiction. The one story you posted a while back was hilarious and did such a great job of weaving in all the seemingly random details into a surprising and satisfying ending. But it wasn't syrupy either. The foreshadowing reminded me of James Herriot, somewhat, minus the swearing. I've heard that he wrote his stories in such a disguised manner that almost no one could recognize themselves. Julie Glicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-90126839320195711332019-12-19T05:11:45.428-08:002019-12-19T05:11:45.428-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Caitlyn O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13393991360461761227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-58578266760366141562019-12-14T18:25:51.011-08:002019-12-14T18:25:51.011-08:00I think stories may be a good writing outlet as yo...I think stories may be a good writing outlet as you grow in writing and explore various things. They're short so not as much involved like a book. I'd love to read your story.Mary Hakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983789182504641065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-76778244200207014162019-12-11T21:21:24.513-08:002019-12-11T21:21:24.513-08:00I'm so happy to learn you've begun your fi...I'm so happy to learn you've begun your fiction-writing journey you talked about way back in 2012 at the author's table at the county fair! Feeling unsure with how much "truth" is in a story is a sign you're growing past your comfort zone. What I do is write just for me, then I dial it back as needed before showing it to others. This is pre-publishing stage, of course. I have many stories that skidded sideways and ended up in a ditch, so maybe not the best example LOL. Happy writing!Kelly McCradyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14811072775266296703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-68910132871517640772019-12-11T10:43:47.358-08:002019-12-11T10:43:47.358-08:00In a recent re-read of "Footprints on the Cei...In a recent re-read of "Footprints on the Ceiling" I thought of this post as I read the last chapter. You wrote about stories and what they should be like. <br /><br />You have already fine-tuned the art of writing true stories. How about starting out writing fiction with a true story, including details that would be too personal to include in fiction? ...and then changing it to remove identifying details and to add the twists that you want the story to take to achieve your purpose of writing that story. LRMLRMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308419680931353937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-58404934984671579732019-12-10T06:17:58.151-08:002019-12-10T06:17:58.151-08:00Me too!!! :)Me too!!! :)Caitlyn O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13393991360461761227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-90801507990899230502019-12-10T06:17:35.381-08:002019-12-10T06:17:35.381-08:00Interesting. I always liked her latest books best....Interesting. I always liked her latest books best. Ah, well, some people have different opinions than others.Caitlyn O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13393991360461761227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-67133387116826734492019-12-10T03:53:22.979-08:002019-12-10T03:53:22.979-08:00Awaiting the outcome!Awaiting the outcome!Marlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12683178683571406190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-25327361454239542692019-12-09T21:28:53.487-08:002019-12-09T21:28:53.487-08:00Dorcas I'm sure the Lord will give you wisdom ...Dorcas I'm sure the Lord will give you wisdom and the words to write for your fiction writings. You are a great author!Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06188723188448901080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-16709860949461378972019-12-09T15:27:17.852-08:002019-12-09T15:27:17.852-08:00Are you really responsible for what other people&#...Are you really responsible for what other people's children read? Relieve yourself of that burden by letting it rest in the hands of the parents. Is it not your responsibility to write as the Spirit inspires leaving the results to Him?MLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-83437698165436098212019-12-09T14:03:23.875-08:002019-12-09T14:03:23.875-08:00Interesting observation--I never saw that at all, ...Interesting observation--I never saw that at all, and felt her later books were her best.Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-65051744735321575592019-12-09T11:55:54.312-08:002019-12-09T11:55:54.312-08:00Dorcas, your writing reminds me of Jan karons. I j...Dorcas, your writing reminds me of Jan karons. I just absolutely love her early mitford stories. But she should have quit before she got to number 8 etc. Her later characters aren't very likable or real. And it seems like she is pushing an agenda. Ellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-20162367113112136052019-12-09T09:23:21.939-08:002019-12-09T09:23:21.939-08:00Interesting that you mention Jan Karon, because I ...Interesting that you mention Jan Karon, because I just told Carola Dunn on Saturday that Karon is my model. She created this whole fictitious place with a cast of characters that continues from book to book. Also, like you, I just LIKE her stories. Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-43871232082390265012019-12-09T09:21:08.883-08:002019-12-09T09:21:08.883-08:00Yes, someday!Yes, someday!Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-15999463481001586492019-12-09T09:20:47.891-08:002019-12-09T09:20:47.891-08:00Thank you, Pat! I've learned so much from you....Thank you, Pat! I've learned so much from you.Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-27278598380335658802019-12-09T09:19:14.658-08:002019-12-09T09:19:14.658-08:00Thanks for sharing this, and I wish you clear dire...Thanks for sharing this, and I wish you clear direction and much success.Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-21314115882366951402019-12-09T09:15:39.245-08:002019-12-09T09:15:39.245-08:00True.True.Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-69633721805927622092019-12-09T07:19:28.294-08:002019-12-09T07:19:28.294-08:00Have you read Jan Karon's Mitford series? She ...Have you read Jan Karon's Mitford series? She grapples with "real life" in a way that leaves you feeling uplifted. Her main characters, an Episcopal priest and his wife, are the kind of people you'd want as your neighbors! Writing about hard things can be done without graphic descriptions or bad language. I have faith that you'll figure it out through God's grace. I've written a couple of stories myself and ended up crying with and about my fictional characters as they struggled through the hard things of life. Sometimes it's good to build the compassion muscle in our hearts and understand a little bit more what God feels towards us and how much He wants to bless us and fix things if we'd only turn to Him and make righteous choices. Keep up the good work; you are a master story teller and I look forward to more of your work!Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-55710798967799206632019-12-09T04:47:04.990-08:002019-12-09T04:47:04.990-08:00And maybe you'll share the story of the single...And maybe you'll share the story of the single lady with us? Here's hoping!Elizabeth Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13820292643870565039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-43621907214627831632019-12-08T22:32:05.720-08:002019-12-08T22:32:05.720-08:00Fiction is a way of exploring a story world and le...Fiction is a way of exploring a story world and letting all the frayed edges of life be displayed. Fictional characters can say things people in real life never find the courage to say. That can be cathartic in and of itself. But when your readers find themselves in your story and connect you have done your job. And as the "Pat" you mention here, I find your writing a breath of fresh air. Very much needed in this dark world of ours. Patricia Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15028317294790742084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-55182256370869645762019-12-08T22:30:47.539-08:002019-12-08T22:30:47.539-08:00I'm grappling with many of the same issues as ...I'm grappling with many of the same issues as I try to write fiction after writing and publishing nonfiction for three or four decades. Thanks for sharing your insights. I'm not alone in this transition after all. :-)<br />MemoirWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03005388146870414838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-47164956324102027562019-12-08T21:12:50.574-08:002019-12-08T21:12:50.574-08:00"What is the purpose of fiction writing, for ..."What is the purpose of fiction writing, for me?" That purpose may vary from story to story. But once you have answered that question, perhaps the other questions will be easier to answer. LRM<br />LRMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308419680931353937noreply@blogger.com