Conflict, Change And Resolution

Hello Writers and Open Gates Blog Readers

A microfiction story I submitted to micromance.com was published this week. -  Love and Gas Money - I liked this little story, so it was great that they chose to publish it, but I should tell you, I had submitted it before to another online publication,  and it was rejected. When I submitted it to micromance.com, I received an email that said, “after mulling it over”,  they decided to accept it. I have decided that rejections are not fun, but they are not the end of the process. If you like your story and you believe others will too, send it out again, and again. The story is on my website under published pieces- microfiction,  and I hope you read it. I especially hope you enjoy it.

My final project for the Certificate in Writing from U of T has been submitted, and I am waiting for a date to present it to “the panel”. Feels good to have it done, will feel better to have it accepted. In the meantime, still editing the rest of my stories in my family stories book.

I enjoyed writing Make Way for the Naval Office, a Father’s Day story - historical nonfiction about the wartime dads, my dad.  How hard it must have been to step back in the booming 1950s and 1960s after returning from a world war. How hard it must be for any soldier returning to civilian life after wartime. You can read it on my website under Writing on the Senior Side. I submit a story every other week to my local paper, and some I like better than others.

Gail’s Writing Rule #5

Concentrate my narrative on the point of change or conflict.

Again, this should be a given, but I have found that some of my family stories do not have a point of change or conflict. So, are they stores or simple personal essays? It is difficult to escape the personal essay trap when I am writing about my childhood. For example, I want to describe the house where I grew up, room by room. My parents brought me home from the hospital to this house, and I moved out on my wedding day. Good description, a few happenings or a focus for each room, but a point of change or conflict, not so much. Sometimes during my editing journey, I have realized I can rewrite a personal essay story to include the conflict and resolution. Several times, it just won’t work, and it stays as a personal essay or reminiscence. I am still thinking this through.

British Author Hilary Mantel points out that the point of change is especially important for historical fiction. “When a character is new to a place or things around them, that is the point to step back and fill in the details of their world.” I am also still working through this. I like it, and that’s why it is part of this rule. Nice to know the best time to fill in the details.

Speaking of fiction, I prefer to write fiction rather than my childhood stories, but I want those childhood stories to share with my children, grandchildren and future generations. They are my truth. I hope the kids read it….