Hey 407 kids….
I’ve decided to set my story in the 1970’s. This is just a link to some photos of Colorado mining town streets from different decades. These pictures helped me visualize the main street of the town and what it might have looked like. What time period did you guys choose to set your story? If it is in the past, these historical photos might be helpful!
That post below is the wrong link. That link is a funny video summary of the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” that we read for today. OOPS! Well I guess both links are relevant, right? 
Here is the one I meant to post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGktmfbZuOY&feature=related
This is a video I found while doing research for my discussion leading on the Joyce Carol Oates story. It is interesting to hear what this experienced author has to say about creating her characters, and the writing process. I haven’t yet read the book she mentions but it sounds quite interesting so I think I just might have to read it!
Hey everyone! Well after watching Dean’s post of the Palahnuik interview, it got me thinking about what makes a good story. I liked his ideas about a good story being one that invites others to share their stories, or try to relate in some way. I agree with this, but I also think a good story has to invoke some kind of emotion, whether it be positive or negative. My ideas usually come from people in my life, or situations I have been through, although I do not limit myself to these inspirations only. The idea for my short story came from one of my co-workers, Sally. She and I have developed a very trusting, open relationship over the past year and a half since I started there. She tells me her life stories and I tell her mine. We are also the same age (almost 21 wooo!), which makes it easier for us to relate our stories.
One day, Sally and I opened the store together and had some down-time. She tells me everything and anything and is not afraid to leave out any gory details! She has been through a lot in her life and I really admire her. She is a cancer survivor and has endured many emotional traumas over her life time. That day she told me all about when she had her miscarriage in high school. She left out no details and I couldn’t believe how easily she was able to recollect what happened and share such a personal thing with me. I was so emotionally struck by her story and it stuck in my mind all day. I was filled with sadness and shock and scared that many women actually go through that experience.
Sally knows I want to be a writer and that I write a lot of fiction already, so she joked with me about writing a story based on what happened to her. I agreed that someday I would since the story was so powerful, at least in my opinion. I thought there is no better time than now to share her story, even though it is quite personal. I plan on writing my short story based on what happened to her back in high school and some of the traumatic events she has endured. I’m really excited to start working on this story if only us 407 kids could decided on some details of this creative space!!!!
P.S. I want to go to awesome writing workshop parties on Thursdays and drink wine and beer like Palahnuik. Not fair! lol
-Abi Apple Bei
This is just a paragraph describing Jasmine, the girl from my short story and also from my novel that takes place two years later. This paragraph is from the novel that I’m working on.
“Jasmine was intimidating to the other girls at school. Not only were most afraid of her well-known fighting abilities, but they couldn’t help but notice her unrefined, stone-cold expression and sassy saunter. Her glossy red lips remained pursed and defiant as she strutted through the halls at school, and her dark brown eyes smothered in black eye makeup remained in a straight, piercing stare, only briefly and occasionally darting from person to person in a judgmental manner. Short, black spiral curls fell down to her shoulders, surrounding her flushed, rounded cheeks. A sparkling Monroe piercing ornamented the space above the right side of her plump lips. Jasmine’s resilient visage along with her thick, sturdy frame undeniably warned other girls to stay away.
Opening section of my new novel….first draft:
Tears poured out of my soggy dark brown eyes, and proceeded to stream down my smooth, delicate cheeks mixing with my heavy eye makeup creating little muddy rivers. As I wiped the black, salty filth from my cheeks my puffy, sorrowful eyes surveyed the room for any signs of a tissue. When no tissue was to be found except for the small, crumpled piles soaked with bodily fluids from a night of artificial passion next to the bed, I sighed and hurried down the hall to the bathroom. I sniffled. Grabbing a handful of fresh, white tissue, I stared into the mirror for a moment at my pale, heartbroken complexion as thoughts of rage, detestation, distress and desire rushed through my brain.
How had I gotten to this point? I began to wonder what I was doing here. He was not who I thought he was….but how had he turned so suddenly? Of course, I had been slightly unhappy with his foul attitude and childish behavior for a while but the production he had just performed was completely unexpected. No man had ever spoken to me in that way before. What ignited his fit of wrath expressed just moments ago? It certainly couldn’t have been me…or could it? Is it possible that he knew what I had done….how I had wronged him so many times the nights he failed to call me?
“Summer!” his whiny mother called from the top of the stairs. I choked back my tears as I heard her footsteps approaching the bathroom door. “Summer! Where are you?”
I remained silent, leaning against the gray marble counter and staring at my toenails, polished a cherry red. Why was this woman looking for me? What could she possibly have to say? I wanted nothing from her, nor anyone in this house. I wanted to escape, just to run away and hide. To be home was what I longed for….but home was 360 miles away….
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