Monkey, Wizard Award Options

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Hi Lori,

Thanks you very much for your kind comments on Monkey. Everyone here has been very welcoming and helpful.


I was pleased with the story because it wasn't about anything particularly momentous and yet it worked. Definitely one where the characters took over as I started to write. I am encouraged to try more short stories (but I really want to concentrate on my novel).

I have a list of typos to correct and I shall add your suggestions.


Many thanks, both for the comments and the welcome.

Toumai

[Guest__*]

Dear Toumai,

"I was pleased with the story because it wasn't about anything particularly momentous and yet it worked"

That IS why it worked.

Anybody can write "War and Peace", if you see what I mean, but to take a tiny incident and "create" it into a story with purpose and fun takes a special talent.

Well done !

Love
Alan

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Hi Alan,

Gosh, I'm not sure what to say to that - you are so kind. Someone will have to grab my feet and bring me down to earth again at once!    

Or, as my kids would say  

I'm not sure Tolstoy would be too happy with your analysis, however! Orwell was very scathing about Tolstoy ("Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool"), but even more prone to write with a purpose himself.  In fact there was a bit of a 'reason' for Monkey - to suggest that we can see things however we choose, or at least as we are influenced by our circumstances - I was so overwelmed by Lori's kind welcome I forgot to mention that.


Best wishes,
Toumai

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi,

Alan - excellent point; you're right.

Take a vast canvas and paint a spectacular picture; but take a small canvas and try to paint a little gem - far harder.

The intensity of the brush-strokes; the attention to detail; the depth of paint - all far more critical.

No, this was - as everyone says - damn good.

J.

PS A writing forum? Not an art class? Oh ...!

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Hi Jox,

I'm beginning to realise how different short stories are to longer work - so painting is a good analagy. Thanks.

With a novel you have time to build up scenes and character so the full effect is only apparent when you 'stand back' and look at the big picture. But with a short story every word has to count (and preferably in several ways).

I saw an interesting comment recently that prose evokes, while poety invokes; I think good short stories manage a hint of the latter.

What do the experienced writers here think?

Toumai

[Guest_jayjay_*]

Can't say a lot that hasn't already been said, Toumai.  Characters are interesting and remain so throughout.  The plot is subtle and the dialogue is on the money.  

A well crafted piece from start to finish with sufficient detail to inform without overpowering.

Excellent writing.

JJ

[Guest_Jox_*]

Sorry Fran, for some reason I missed your last comments.

Hi Jox,

>> I'm beginning to realise how different short stories are to longer work - so painting is a good analogy. Thanks.

OK.

>> With a novel you have time to build up scenes and character so the full effect is only apparent when you 'stand back' and look at the big picture. But with a short story every word has to count (and preferably in several ways).

Yes, I'm not a fan of writing short stories, but - like wriing form poems, I dabble. Short story writing is very skilful indeed.

>> I saw an interesting comment recently that prose evokes, while poety invokes; I think good short stories manage a hint of the latter.

err... yours certainly do :)

>> What do the experienced writers here think?

Not that many writers cross the boundaries. Lori does - she started by writing short stories / novels. I try to. You do and I'm sure I've missed some names!! Apologies. But Ceilan, for example is a master of the short story and can often be found down here crafting away.

I suppose, that for me, poetry is very attractive (free verse) because it frees me from all the constraints... I can write almost anything in any way. I admit I usually follow no rules whatsoever. It does then need crit because I can often say things better but I don't usually care for rules. It, therefore represents a purer message from me.

Novels are great fun but very draining. As I write I have piles (ouch!), sorry piles of notes which keep building on each other - a long haul. But I can say something purer and much quicker (and much more precisely) by poetry.

But I must return to novel if I'm ever to finish this one.

Short stories I simply regard as fun. I'm not sure I can say anything as deeply as I try to with poetry or a novel, in a short story - but that is simply me. However, for amusement or interest, the short story can be the best medium.

Take care, James.

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Hi JJ,

Thank you very much for you kindness. I am very much looking forward to seeing your story when you post it.

Hi James,

I seem to be enjoying short things far too much right now - will have to get back to the novel after the Christmas chaos is over. Thanks for all your comments.

Good writing to you both,

Fran

[Cleo_Serapis]

CONGRATS on your WIZARD award winning piece Fran!

~Cleo :pharoah2

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Fran,

I said "well done" over in the awards but it deserves saying here, even more so. This is only the second Wizard Award in Stonehenge and "Monkey" is a very deserving piece, indeed.

Well done, James.

[Guest_Nina_*]

Hi Fran

Congratulations on the Wizard award.  Monkey is a deserving winner

Nina

[Guest_Toumai_*]

The award was a loevly surprise.
Great encouragement for my writing in the New Year.  :snowflake:
Thanks, Cleo!

And thank you, James, for all your warm encouragement since I joined MM (after talking about poetry with you on the BBC Get Writing web site).

Nina, thanks so much for dropping by the prose forums to leave me such a kind message.

With love to all my new friends on MM,
Fran

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Wow, this was a while ago ... B U T ... my Monkey went off to a comp, got nowhere and lay forgotten in my short story folder for months ...

Dug it out, brushed the dust off, and sent it to a magazine a few weeks ago and today they phoned to say they will use it in their Spring/Summer edition.

A good reminder that writing won't go anywhere if it stays on you HD or at the back of the shelves ... send it off and see what happens (yep, lots of rejections but sometimes a brill lucky break).

The mag is Raw Edge Magazine  http://www.lit-net.org/remhp.htm
and is a free circulation around the W Midlands area - libraries, colleges, arts centres. So I am reet chuffed (putting it mildly! )  

Fran

[Cleo_Serapis]

What EXCELLENT news Fran!  :sings:  :dance:  :sun:  :lovie:  :cloud9:  :cheer:  :wolf:  :butterfly:  :wizard:  :ballet:  :rose:  :champagne:

Just goes to prove: Never give up! I really enjoyed this piece the first time I read it and will admire it all the more seeing it in print!

WAHOOOOOOOOO!  :guitar:  :guitar:  :guitar:  :guitar:  :guitar:

CONGRATS FRAN! YOU GO GIRL!

~Lori  :pharoah2

[Guest_Nina_*]

Hi Fran

Congratulations.
this is fantastic news, very well done indeed, though I'm nor surprised.  It is an excellent story and about time a publication recognised the fact.

Nina

[Guest_Toumai_*]

Thanks so much, Lori, Nina

Perhaps I should have sent it off a lot more and a lot sooner; after writing a novel gets one used to rejection letters. Short stories are easier to place.  :wall:

 :sings:  :dance:

Fran