I figured how to fix the story, or at least, I think I did.
The problem here was that I'm a novel-writer by instinct: short stories generally end in one of those perfect moments of revelation, where in novels you generally have to tie up all the loose ends. So I got my "perfect moment of revelation," or my attempt at it--and then I tried to tie up the loose ends. Which made for a rather anticlimactic ending. I think my second try is better, but I'll have to get some distance from it to be sure.
The problem here was that I'm a novel-writer by instinct: short stories generally end in one of those perfect moments of revelation, where in novels you generally have to tie up all the loose ends. So I got my "perfect moment of revelation," or my attempt at it--and then I tried to tie up the loose ends. Which made for a rather anticlimactic ending. I think my second try is better, but I'll have to get some distance from it to be sure.
(no subject)
17/2/04 08:06 (UTC)Sorry I haven't been writting you back, I'm sucha slow reader!
I'm really liking it so far! The chapters you sent me, is this the same work?
I will write you a more detailed reflection later! Promise:-) Endings are hard! esspecially when they are so temporary in reality.
Re:
17/2/04 12:31 (UTC)This is a different story, a really short one about a linguist. Write what you know, eh?