THE REVIEW

SAVING DAYLIGHT

There were six of us Rams here on Wednesday and the Meeting started out in broad daylight for a change.

We began by discussing technicalities of writing. I mentioned point of view when used in a short story. Kristie and I both think it should be limited to one point of view to make the most of the minimal word count devoted to that one character. Adding the points of view of other minor characters deletes the impact the story has on the reader.

Then we discussed plotting a story. Jason said he was having trouble keeping story elements in his head and knowing where to go back and find things as he progresses in writing his novel. I suggested doing a handwritten outline at the end of each chapter that includes page number and word count to that point, as well as short recap of the chapter. It could be kept in a notebook for easy reference. That is what I did writing “Fire”. Then Charity told us the same function exists in MS Word. I just did some research and think this function can be found under References, then Mark Entry/Index. I haven’t used it myself as I always balk at spending time learning more digital ways of doing things when pen and paper are still so handy. But Charity said she uses this function regularly and you can bring it up in a side window.

Jason read first, a very long chapter that shows Kwen being treated for her wound by a doctor who is also a friend, and seems to be gay. This chapter gives a lot of background information about the different peoples involved in this story, as well as showing Kwen’s concern for the safety of Damianos.

Annette read what she said is the beginning of a story, which was a gripping tale from inside the head of a serial rapist/pedophile in the Victorian era, when in time this wasn’t really so much of a crime. He was watching a group of young girls, trying to decide which one he would grab for his own purposes.

Charity has decided to forego finishing “Saltwater Mermaid” in time for the Surrey International Writers’ Conference this year, and instead is working on “Trixie Trouble”, a previously written Young Adult novel which is also a western set in Texas just after the civil war. It starts out with Trixie watching her father being hanged for horse stealing. It grabs the reader’s attention immediately. Charity is also trying to write articles for the magazine that is now all about marijuana. She’s having trouble finding research that is pro-marijuana for medical use. And she balks at buying cosmetics that include marijuana in their ingredients as that could be a conflict of interest with her husband’s job. Aah, the trials and tribulations of being a journalist!

Margaret F. read to us Chapter 6 from “Babes In The Wood”. She is still in the library reading clippings about the murders. We learn that Professor Mark Skinner from SFU had examined the remains and determined that the teeth of both children had developed to the same stage and their estimated age was seven or eight. He raised the question of whether or not they could have been twins. Margaret also wondered, given that they had been wearing similar clothing.

Kristi had been working on developing a plot that would continue from the story she read last time about the girl beside the well. We look forward to hearing the story when it is written.

I didn’t read as time had run out. But Charity did take a copy of my story home with her to read. She was the only one who hadn’t heard or read “The Blob At Green Lake”. That was the next story in line in my compilation of ‘Honey’ stories.

The next Meeting will be Wednesday, April 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Happy Easter in the meantime!

Lisa A. Hatton
Author

THE REVIEW

SEVEN SCRAWLERS

Jason, Margaret, Annette, Kristi, Charity and new member, Hayden McKinnon, joined me on Wednesday for the latest Meeting of esteemed Rams.  Hayden is a teacher of grade six students who writes short stories and is looking to expand his writing horizons.

Margaret read first, Chapter 6 of “Babes In The Wood”. It details her research into newspaper articles written about the murders over a period of years, but which exposed many contradictory statements she was seriously questioning in 1996. There was no logical explanation of who had committed the crime, or of how the murders of two children were really executed.

Kristi is just now getting back into writing after the hiatus she took to study for a work related exam. She read to us a scene she has written, about a young girl named Ainsley. She is exploring property she lives on, and comes across an abandoned well, that has a cold bench in front of it, and a sign that says “Take a penny. Leave a penny.” A crow joins her, but as it leaves it turns into a raven. We were all waiting for something drastically evil to happen.

Hayden read to us his short story “The Lighthouse Man”. It tells of an elderly keeper named Marlo who is barely able to do his maintenance job, and whose 40 year old son lives with him. Marlo’s health is failing, but he has emotional ties to his home by the sea, and dances as if still holding in his arms his deceased wife. Marlo is faced with the decision made without his permission to move him into a care home. There is a lot of well portrayed sadness in this story.

Charity has started re-writing “Saltwater Mermaid” and read to us a beginning chapter. It shows Persephone telling her family on Hornby Island that she has seen the sea witch. Then the story backtracks to when she had been waiting for the ferry to the island and took a dip in the ocean to cool off. When she comes out of the water she cadges a ride from the young artist, Adam, who doesn’t really like people. Otherworldly hints are dropped amid the telling of everyday life.

Jason read his next chapter about Damianos trying to escape the clutches of the giant men detaining him, and bent on torturing him to gain information from him. Damianos seems doomed. Do we root for him to overcome this situation or not?

I read another ‘Honey’ story, “Malfuntion”. It tells of a domestic electrical problem that affected the whole house, but was caused by a shorted ground fault connector outside under a giant fir tree between our driveway and the next one. In retrospect, there was a lot of humour in how we handled this problem.

Annette didn’t read anything, but did show us the brand new throwing knife she bought for upcoming competitions she is entering. She said she also had throwing axes out in her vehicle. I told her not to get pulled over and charged with weapons offences. She should be writing a murder mystery about somebody using their knives or axes for devilish purposes.

Hayden said he maintains a blog that can be found at www.frostyhound.blogspot.ca

The next Meeting will be Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Since St. Patrick’s Day will be the following day, everyone can attend wearing something green! Hope to see you then.

Lisa A. Hatton
Author