tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post8384659932950363184..comments2024-01-18T05:55:19.370-05:00Comments on Author Tony Conaway: I'm Not a Nice GuyTony Conawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07256198676368979247noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-58207727200648765332014-01-19T22:51:28.054-05:002014-01-19T22:51:28.054-05:00OK, folks! Thank you for your input, but the stor...OK, folks! Thank you for your input, but the story is written (with the anecdote), and is now in the hands of my critique group. I hope to submit it to magazines before the month is out.Tony Conawaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-44767109264769442252014-01-19T22:48:50.808-05:002014-01-19T22:48:50.808-05:00Thanks, Alyce! I appreciate you sharing your expe...Thanks, Alyce! I appreciate you sharing your experience.Tony Conawaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-65804418112165188962014-01-13T18:06:05.040-05:002014-01-13T18:06:05.040-05:00While it is partially your story, I understand you...While it is partially your story, I understand your desire to get permission. In similar situations, I've received positive responses by sharing the finished story with people. This includes an ex-boyfriend who told me a very personal story about losing a childhood friend to a tragic accident. Of course, that was largely fictionalized, as I imagine yours might be. Good luck!Alycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16022618076057500332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-76927669722133158442014-01-13T07:51:16.589-05:002014-01-13T07:51:16.589-05:00Merry's last sentence is BRILLIANT advice. Sh...Merry's last sentence is BRILLIANT advice. Should be tattooed somewhere!Kelly Simmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000890535930589183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-21753138347944374362014-01-11T18:36:03.926-05:002014-01-11T18:36:03.926-05:00Well, I boasted in Jonathan Maberry's class th...Well, I boasted in Jonathan Maberry's class that there was no writing topic or genre that was so outside my comfort zone that I couldn't write it. So I guess I'd better use the waitress's anecdote!<br /><br />And thank you so much for your input, Merry!Tony Conawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256198676368979247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-17982924739817426232014-01-11T13:11:16.361-05:002014-01-11T13:11:16.361-05:00These are questions that all writers eventually ad...These are questions that all writers eventually address--What material do we own? How does what we write/reveal affect others? Is our interpretation of "real" events fair or accurate? The questions go on and on. The answer is not absolute. I think each circumstance, each story has to be addressed individually. Events that touch us, moments that we witness, pieces of conversations that we overhear--Are these not the elements that we writers rely on, even feed on? To me, the only Off Limit topics are those which you, the author, cannot bring yourself to write about. And if you can't, well, you probably should.Merry Joneshttp://merryjones.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-49613475830293674302014-01-11T09:37:54.236-05:002014-01-11T09:37:54.236-05:00That's an interesting way of handling it, Kath...That's an interesting way of handling it, Kathryn. Thank you for your thoughtful comments!Tony Conawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256198676368979247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-16165248463923320812014-01-11T09:35:34.826-05:002014-01-11T09:35:34.826-05:00Thanks, Debi. I'll consider doing that.Thanks, Debi. I'll consider doing that.Tony Conawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256198676368979247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-20059712242536720692014-01-11T09:34:44.094-05:002014-01-11T09:34:44.094-05:00Thanks, Kelly! I always value your opinion. And ...Thanks, Kelly! I always value your opinion. And yes, if I use the anecdote, it will be central to the story.Tony Conawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256198676368979247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-41144084219940123052014-01-11T09:11:40.518-05:002014-01-11T09:11:40.518-05:00I bet she'd be honored that you used that in y...I bet she'd be honored that you used that in your fiction. It's not like she told you a secret or something shameful; it's something sweet and human. BUT -- I would urge you to use it judiciously. Save it for something fabulous that hinges on it, don't just toss it into a salad cuz it's an interesting crouton. AND -- I experience the same attachment about rituals, waitresses, bartenders, people you see regularly and enjoy whether you know them or not I love that you said goodbye to her. I love that you tipped her in twos. When you view it a certain way, the story belongs to you, after all. Kelly Simmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000890535930589183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-77519610286118981732014-01-11T08:42:33.551-05:002014-01-11T08:42:33.551-05:00What a great story. We never know how we touch oth...What a great story. We never know how we touch others. Flesh out that blog post into a nice essay. Then write something fictional but figure out something else besides the two-dollar bills inside the Atlas. You're a writer. You can come up with something. <br /><br />Debi<br /><br />www.GreenerPastures--ACityGirlGoesCountry.blogspot.comGreener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Countryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05448845964131250749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-46699832368822918132014-01-11T07:58:38.338-05:002014-01-11T07:58:38.338-05:00Hi Tony,
I've thought about this a lot, since...Hi Tony,<br /><br />I've thought about this a lot, since drafting a memoir about my husband's suicide standoff that will now be novelized. I don't pretend that horrific event happened just to me—it happened to my kids, my extended family, and my community.<br /><br />I believe they absolutely own a piece of that story. The suicide impacted all of us, profoundly, in different ways, and I think any survivor has the right to tell their part of the story. I think what would bother me is if someone else tried to tell MY part of the story. No one but me can know what I went through, and even I'm not sure of many of my motivations. It would tick me off if someone else presumed that they had it all figured out.<br /><br />So from my perspective and experience, if you care what this woman thinks, I'd suggest you write a story about coming across that atlas, and what finding it means to you (or your character). Then you will have stayed true to your piece of the story.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-45745439498946151452014-01-11T04:30:48.920-05:002014-01-11T04:30:48.920-05:00That may be so. The way I write is opening line (...That may be so. The way I write is opening line (or scene) first - something to make the reader want to take the time to read the piece. Then I write the body of the work. Next, the button or twist at the end. The title usually comes last. Anything before that is a working title. <br /><br />Recently, I had a piece of flash fiction (a fragment, really) published - but only after I changed the title into something sufficiently pretentious for that magazine. <br /><br />At any rate, thanks for leaving a comment!Tony Conawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07256198676368979247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-25951497029329260442014-01-10T21:25:09.364-05:002014-01-10T21:25:09.364-05:00Oh duh, it was there, I just missed it, Sorry. But...Oh duh, it was there, I just missed it, Sorry. But I think the title doesn;t go with the piece. Just sayin'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1043029920403749082.post-49247657635957649952014-01-10T21:19:57.859-05:002014-01-10T21:19:57.859-05:00Not churlish. It might be a nice sentimental piece...Not churlish. It might be a nice sentimental piece. Or perhaps just a mental piece. <br />Although the part of the story I don't understand is why you are going there mostly to say goodbye to her. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com