That Place You Love: Real People. Real Stories.
Round-Up on Language; Next-Up Forgiveness. Wrestling with Word Count.
What’s the point of writing short?
As much as I cling to the formats of my past, movies made before CGI, music recorded live in-studio on multiple tracks of magnetic tape, and books where no character uses a mobile phone or computer…
I have to be honest about my attention span.
Before technology overtook our ability to sustain focus on any one thing, I had a limit as to how long I could be truly attentive.
A story has to engage me wholly to keep me reading.
This is partly due to astigmatism, some form of dyslexia (swapping numbers, names, dates, modifiers in foreign languages), and academic ambivalence.
Over time, I’ve learned to respect my strengths, rather than lament my weaknesses. I can now commit with abandon!
But the onslaught of information and entertainment at our fingertips, whether we choose to indulge in it or not, has a potent draw: swiping, scrolling, tapping.
Where to draw the line between short & story?
Somewhere between 280 characters & 750 words.
As a reader for Brevity, a magazine devoted to concise literary nonfiction, I’ve come to love the short form. So much can happen in a few precise words if we’re honest about what we’re trying to say.
And it’s exciting!
How will a story wrap up when only two sentences remain?
A frequent contributor to That Place You Love sent me a voice message applauding the (gently) suggested word count of 150 - 200 words.
She said:
“It’s like cutting your hair after a break-up.”
Totally!
A little bit here. A little more there.
It’s still you, but with bangs.
March saw a new high of 2,335 post reads!
If you’re reading this for the first time…
And want to know more about the ZINE’s mission, go to ABOUT or FORUM on the Substack platform or read the introductory post I WAS AN EASY LIAR.
In week 13 of That Place You Love!
Our theme was LANGUAGE through the lens of truth. I wrote about the difference between soda & pop and how kids can be mean in any language.
(in order of appearance)
Carole D wrote about a mental block while reciting dialogue in French without having heard the words pronounced by a French speaker. Béret et tout!
Intact Animal wrote about a misunderstanding, also involving French, where he thought he was being heckled after a live performance. Gigs not Geeks!
Tabitha B summoned the voices of Scouse ancestors whose words sent her back to memories of seagulls, Liverpool pubs, and punks in bathtubs. Oi, dogs head!
Wynn Tu wrote about an encounter with the Parisian James Franco, kissing at stoplights, and the exhilarating sexiness of Paris at night. Shared language not required!
Amelia revealed an affinity with the language of creativity as a refuge from the cacophony of spoken language, seamlessly entering a world of nuance in her studio.
Contributor Amelia also went back to WASTE to revisit a project for renovating a ghost town that, at the time, didn’t gain traction. Thirty years later, the studios are thriving, and she sees nothing was wasted in her efforts.
READ & HEART these writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
Next Up: Forgiveness
On Monday, I’ll write about FORGIVENESS through the lens of truth and see what I come up with as a prompt. In this trifecta of holidays - Ramadan, Passover, Easter - let’s think about compassion for self and others.
From the smallest act to the greatest discovery…
Consider where FORGIVENESS takes you and share on Monday!
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More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle