I’m finishing up my short story tonight and I’ve trapped my characters in a packed car for three hours to spill some pretty intense secrets to each other. The only problem is I feel so awkward putting this stuff into words. I don’t want it to sound “contrived” or cheesy but I just have to make them say so much that I don’t feel like I’m doing it justice. I’m usually pretty good with emotion because I’m, you know, a girl, but almost the entire story is dialogue. Help!
I was free writing a bit the other day and had another idea for a short story… the action would take place as a couple drives 4 hours to meet one of their parents. As they pack the car, drive through town, stop at a rest stop, and pass unfamiliar territory, things come up in conversation and their relationship is contrasted with the parents they are about to meet- it makes them realize that you can’t change somebody and being in love isn’t always enough, leaving them with a difficult decision to turn around after such a long drive together or go on with it, either faking it or committing to a genuine effort with “meeting the parents.”
Even though I was able to come up with the whole story line it still seems really boring because they’re just basically taking a road trip. I know there’s a lot to describe and show, but is that enough for readers with A.D.D.?
I’ve been mentally fumbling around with brainstorming and I think I may have found the short story that wants me to write it next (that’s how I seem to work best).
The thing that inspired me was a phrase out of my communication book in a section about semantic theory: “the map is not the territory.” I’ve heard this before, but this time I thought about it in a literal sense.
The story itself would involve a group of road trippin’ American college students (probably lovers, a jacka**, and the practical one… think Scooby Doo) in the desert of the southwest, with mountains, caves, peaks, rivers, canyons, plateaus, foothills, rest stops, and a whole lotta nothin’ to get lost in. For some reason that I haven’t worked out yet, they have a faulty map (or territory, or both). This could be an outdated map, a curse of some sort, or some other type of magic.
I also brainstormed some pop cultural references I might include- another thing I probably picked up from Stephen King. I think it helps to draw the reader in and make him/her feel closer to the story. For this one, stuff like “The Long And Winding Road,” “Highway to Hell,” Oh, The Places You’ll Go, The Road Virus Heads North, and Desperation.
I just need to finaggle a plot!
I’ve been looking for a way to post my work online in a safe way- I’ve heard way too much about plagiarism on sites like fictionpress. Someone recently showed me Google Sites and I set one up- the trouble is, I can only make it totally public or designate who can see my work by entering their email address. Here’s a link to it: I left it public for now so the class can see what it looks like. To set up your own, go to google and click on the “more” link on the top… “sites” should be in there, and you need a google account to sign up.
http://sites.google.com/site/kelseylynhoff/
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