How much does this quote from O’Connor in that second essay sound like George Saunders in A Swim?
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Now a little might be said about the way in which this happens. I wouldn’t want you to think that in that story I sat down and said, “I am now going to write a story about a Ph.D. with a wooden leg, using the wooden leg as a symbol for another kind of affliction.” I doubt myself if many writers know what they are going to do when they start out. When I started writing that story, I didn’t know there was going to be a Ph.D. with a wooden leg in it. I merely found myself one morning writing a description of two women that I knew something about, and before I realized it, I had equipped one of them with a daughter with a wooden leg.”
Then last week, after I had written down some of these serene thoughts to use here today, my calm was shattered when I was sent seven of your manuscripts to read. After this experience, I found myself ready to admit, if not that the short story is one of the most difficult literary forms, at least that it is more difficult for some than for others.
Meanwhile - John Yorke's "Into The Woods" is brilliant. It made me understand how to pace/plot, and because he has examples from all sorts of genres (even Scandi noir TV series), there's a great deal of relatable examples in it.
My go-to recommendation for craft books is always Steering The Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin - which is at last getting a UK edition, coming from Silver Press next month. Lots of examples, pithy, cuts through.
What chapter contains the Flannery pages you mention? (Occasional Kindle user here)
Her extremely salty lectures are ‘The Nature and Aim of Fiction’ and ‘Writing Short Stories’. Couldn't recommend them more.
How much does this quote from O’Connor in that second essay sound like George Saunders in A Swim?
—
Now a little might be said about the way in which this happens. I wouldn’t want you to think that in that story I sat down and said, “I am now going to write a story about a Ph.D. with a wooden leg, using the wooden leg as a symbol for another kind of affliction.” I doubt myself if many writers know what they are going to do when they start out. When I started writing that story, I didn’t know there was going to be a Ph.D. with a wooden leg in it. I merely found myself one morning writing a description of two women that I knew something about, and before I realized it, I had equipped one of them with a daughter with a wooden leg.”
We have all learned from Flannery O.
And… my god it’s full of salt:
——
Then last week, after I had written down some of these serene thoughts to use here today, my calm was shattered when I was sent seven of your manuscripts to read. After this experience, I found myself ready to admit, if not that the short story is one of the most difficult literary forms, at least that it is more difficult for some than for others.
I need to take a look at some of those.
Meanwhile - John Yorke's "Into The Woods" is brilliant. It made me understand how to pace/plot, and because he has examples from all sorts of genres (even Scandi noir TV series), there's a great deal of relatable examples in it.
Yes, I use that to teach, too.
I like writers diary
Thank you.
My go-to recommendation for craft books is always Steering The Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin - which is at last getting a UK edition, coming from Silver Press next month. Lots of examples, pithy, cuts through.