The Sprint or the Marathon

The "Sprint" is my definition of either a short story or a story that

spans a short amount of time as in the day or week

of the characters - sometimes just hours.

The "Marathon" is not necessarily a long story as much

as it spans years during the telling.

Both have issues that must be addressed to be enjoyable.

A sprint requires very in-depth yet drawn out

details for you must learn about the characters and the purpose

of their story.  I am both fascinated with this style of writing

because it is intense even if it is not a drama.

When I wrote "When the War Was Won" it started

as a story spanning years and during the editing I decided

that I needed to shorten the timeline

and concentrate on my main character.  In changing the story

I found that I enjoyed the action, the emotions

and the twists to a greater degree. 

The only Marathon I have written was "The Visitor".  This was

not intentional but initially was just a way to cope with

issues in my life.  I have said frequently that writing is a form

of counseling.  I believe that when you swallow a problem or a feeling

that it sits in your stomach and boils at a low temperature.

I don't think counseling is anything more than an

avenue to release those things you have buried.  Talking about

your feelings and problems lessens their hold on you.

It is not that a counsellor can solve anything but it can give you

the ability to solve things in your own way.

I love "The Visitor" the way I love an old song

that brings back memories of emotional times in my life.  It is

a story that saved me, pulled me up and made me stronger.

I wrote a little every night for one full year.  It rambled, it stalled, I deleted, I cried

I drank a lot of great wine while sitting in a dark room in front

of the computer.  I am happiest in front of my computer which

is not really healthy but it is the way I am.

"The Visitor" should probably be re-edited but

the thought is like trying to remake yourself into a better self.

I enjoy the quirks, the moles and the problems because they are part

of real life.  "The Visitor" was broken up because it was too

long.  The editing left a lot of the original story on the floor of the cutting

room.  A story that spans seventy years is easier for you

become the characters and as one brain creating many characters

who are individual in every way is difficult.

Stepping outside of myself is the greatest challenge.

It's not that I can't create new characters as much as I need to

create different characters.  Drawing from life

is limited - drawing from the unknown, reaching down into your gut

and pulling up the difficult things that hurt or sooth is difficult.

I work better when I am healing than when I am

happy.  I work better with evil than with goodness.  I love killing

characters once I feel they are well rounded.  A story should have an emotional

hook to make me happy.   It is the evil that creates a better life

for otherwise we become complacent.

barb