In Chat, I'm taking each excerpt in Exercise #10 "The Tendrils of Tenderness," and responding to the tools I see each writer using in these excerpts -- reading like a writer. Come along with me and tell me what you notice, and see how you can use these tools in your own writing, all in the Storybelly Writers Lab. There's a new Chat thread for each excerpt. We've got work from Harper Lee, Anne Moody, Sue Hubbell, and Katherine Paterson represented. Start here: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/b4419247-6fcd-4f39-a7e5-09965f0e9e73
Well, when I got my MFA in creative writing (my undergrad was in engineering), I took LOTs of courses in the English dept. One of them was a course on Faulkner by a prof who clearly revered Faulkner. I took others on Joyce and Shakespeare, etc. but the course on Faulkner changed my life. I had to read each of his books included in the syllabus three times. His words took over my dreams. Not all of his books hit it out of the park, but Absalom!Absalom!, The Sound and the Fury, and As I Lay Dying were three of my favorites. Sanctuary is also on the list. But there's a reason that some of his short stories, like Barn Burning, have been anthologized. I wrote my final paper on the relationship between fathers and sons in Faulkner's work. And I still remember the dust motes floating in the tiny bands of light seeping through the blinds in Rosa Coldfield's darkened parlor, as Quentin Compson sat listening to her story. Oh, and "Caddy smelled like trees." I could write reams, but I've got deadlines. I wish I could do a better job of following this discussion.....I'll have to read The Reivers.
Hey, Jilanne. I love this about reading Faulkner... I think I would want someone to take me through his work like that, if I ever tried tackling him again, as he still intimidates me. Maybe that's why The Reivers is so easy for me to love. I "get it" with that book, and so easily. But you've rekindled my possibility with The Sound and the Fury as, once I understood Benjy (thanks to the CLC), the book made so much more sense. I was so young then. :> And so unread. (I also love the sound of your undergrad in engineering and the MFA in creative writing -- whoa, so impressive.)
Oh, you wanna hear something REALLY crazy? I dreamed about Faulkner last night. He was alive and well and hosting an event. I was in attendance and he was very gracious towards me and everyone else there. When I woke up this morning, I thought, Well, that was odd. Why did I dream about William Faulkner?
Perhaps it is because I need to pay careful attention to this post and read some Faulkner! Thanks for this educational post! I’m looking forward to watching that movie for sure. 😊
Whoa, girl. This is some sort of cool synchronicity. Ol' Bill is calling to us both, I think... and we're both Mississippi girls with stories to tell. Let's get 'em written. I'd love to know what you think of the movie. The sound seems to be off a bit at the link I posted, but it's also at Prime Video.
Deborah - I have been asleep at the wheel. I noticed you starting this Storybelly and it all slid by me. Spring is a wild time in the northern states, maybe everywhere. I am struggling to get the garden in before the heat hits here. (Although it may already be here we have been in the 90's the last few day. Any way the question is are the post archived so if I join I can go back and work my way through them. Later as the heat settles into Minnesota I will have time to work my way through this wonderful set of posts. I am hoping to at least start reading along.
All Writers Lab posts are stand-alones, AND they also connect, and build... just like my books. You haven't missed anything. Come in and out at will, no need to go in order, do the Exercises that call to you, share at will, we will cheer you on. We are good at that! I'm glad to see you here! We'll garden together and write together, too.
In Chat, I'm taking each excerpt in Exercise #10 "The Tendrils of Tenderness," and responding to the tools I see each writer using in these excerpts -- reading like a writer. Come along with me and tell me what you notice, and see how you can use these tools in your own writing, all in the Storybelly Writers Lab. There's a new Chat thread for each excerpt. We've got work from Harper Lee, Anne Moody, Sue Hubbell, and Katherine Paterson represented. Start here: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/b4419247-6fcd-4f39-a7e5-09965f0e9e73
Well, when I got my MFA in creative writing (my undergrad was in engineering), I took LOTs of courses in the English dept. One of them was a course on Faulkner by a prof who clearly revered Faulkner. I took others on Joyce and Shakespeare, etc. but the course on Faulkner changed my life. I had to read each of his books included in the syllabus three times. His words took over my dreams. Not all of his books hit it out of the park, but Absalom!Absalom!, The Sound and the Fury, and As I Lay Dying were three of my favorites. Sanctuary is also on the list. But there's a reason that some of his short stories, like Barn Burning, have been anthologized. I wrote my final paper on the relationship between fathers and sons in Faulkner's work. And I still remember the dust motes floating in the tiny bands of light seeping through the blinds in Rosa Coldfield's darkened parlor, as Quentin Compson sat listening to her story. Oh, and "Caddy smelled like trees." I could write reams, but I've got deadlines. I wish I could do a better job of following this discussion.....I'll have to read The Reivers.
Hey, Jilanne. I love this about reading Faulkner... I think I would want someone to take me through his work like that, if I ever tried tackling him again, as he still intimidates me. Maybe that's why The Reivers is so easy for me to love. I "get it" with that book, and so easily. But you've rekindled my possibility with The Sound and the Fury as, once I understood Benjy (thanks to the CLC), the book made so much more sense. I was so young then. :> And so unread. (I also love the sound of your undergrad in engineering and the MFA in creative writing -- whoa, so impressive.)
Oh, you wanna hear something REALLY crazy? I dreamed about Faulkner last night. He was alive and well and hosting an event. I was in attendance and he was very gracious towards me and everyone else there. When I woke up this morning, I thought, Well, that was odd. Why did I dream about William Faulkner?
Perhaps it is because I need to pay careful attention to this post and read some Faulkner! Thanks for this educational post! I’m looking forward to watching that movie for sure. 😊
Whoa, girl. This is some sort of cool synchronicity. Ol' Bill is calling to us both, I think... and we're both Mississippi girls with stories to tell. Let's get 'em written. I'd love to know what you think of the movie. The sound seems to be off a bit at the link I posted, but it's also at Prime Video.
Right!!!
Deborah - I have been asleep at the wheel. I noticed you starting this Storybelly and it all slid by me. Spring is a wild time in the northern states, maybe everywhere. I am struggling to get the garden in before the heat hits here. (Although it may already be here we have been in the 90's the last few day. Any way the question is are the post archived so if I join I can go back and work my way through them. Later as the heat settles into Minnesota I will have time to work my way through this wonderful set of posts. I am hoping to at least start reading along.
All Writers Lab posts are stand-alones, AND they also connect, and build... just like my books. You haven't missed anything. Come in and out at will, no need to go in order, do the Exercises that call to you, share at will, we will cheer you on. We are good at that! I'm glad to see you here! We'll garden together and write together, too.