The Saturday morning sun hadn’t even bothered to climb over the downtown buildings when I descended those familiar concrete steps, the scent of Murphy’s Tavern above still clinging to the stairwell like a hangover.
The story is para-fictional, Mathilde. (Real people in some cases, fictional characters in others, having an affect on a fictional place...that we love).
I think when you create characters who incorporate some of the details, habits, mannerisms and quirks of people you've actually known or encountered, it helps them come alive for the writer and thus the reader, no matter what setting or story they appear in. Especially if that setting and story has real meaning for the writer. . .that its somewhere they wish they could be or find. For whatever its worth, I think you can keep going with these, wherever your muse takes them and however you can keep yourself enthused about creating them, until you have enough for an anthology-or series 🙂. Of course, you don't know me and I'm just some old white middle class cis guy, so my opinion might not mean diddly squat. I am more than a little weird, left of center and resistant to being pidgin holed however, which is probably why I appreciate your writing 🫡.
Even fictional characters are based on real people. Everyone you have ever met leaves a trace somewhere that pops up when needed. We have all encountered each of these people at one time or another. Which is why their stories resonate so much.
Yes, each of them is so individual, and has their own behavior, even though you can give them only a line or two as you go around the room. It reminds me of some groups I have attended, where you start with a go-round that sets the current mood for each person. They own their neuro-divergence! It is very appealing. And you sketch their physical presentation along with their mental state.
This is the feedback I am looking for because I need understanding better to write these stories. And should I keep writing them or not. My question yesterday was wether or not if I took minor divergences in the stories (fixing up the bar, or going to an escape room) would be desirable stories to tell others. Because I feel like I cant contain them anymore to just the bar...if that makes sense?
Perfect sense. We are all different people at different times. And so should the characters on these stories be. Flat characters are boring. As are flat people.
It ain't easy being a writer! I look forward to these stories. But if you decided to send a small group out on a quest, that would be interesting. Selecting the quest, selecting the members... and then what happens. Or do they just return to the bar to narrate what happened to them?
And suppose the health department came and examined the bar?! The fixing up the bar story almost took over that one. Now that it is all fixed up, what does that mean?
What problems do some of the members encounter, and how do they handle them?
You have created a world, and now it is your responsibility and joy to let it bloom.
I like red. Needs gray primer at first. Learned that the hard way. 🤪
Sorry I missed the power tools - they’re my favorite! 😂
Makes me want to clean, we'll almost
OH! Such a powerful metaphor for the creating of community—the art, the skill, the love…For what you do for us here on Substack. ❤️
I thought I was exhausted from my chores! Bravo to the group! I have cleaning supplies! A toast from afar 💪
The story is para-fictional, Mathilde. (Real people in some cases, fictional characters in others, having an affect on a fictional place...that we love).
I think when you create characters who incorporate some of the details, habits, mannerisms and quirks of people you've actually known or encountered, it helps them come alive for the writer and thus the reader, no matter what setting or story they appear in. Especially if that setting and story has real meaning for the writer. . .that its somewhere they wish they could be or find. For whatever its worth, I think you can keep going with these, wherever your muse takes them and however you can keep yourself enthused about creating them, until you have enough for an anthology-or series 🙂. Of course, you don't know me and I'm just some old white middle class cis guy, so my opinion might not mean diddly squat. I am more than a little weird, left of center and resistant to being pidgin holed however, which is probably why I appreciate your writing 🫡.
This is the kind of feedback I beg for
Thank you hugely
A beautiful account of a group effort by individuals! Many of them are new to me.
Do you like the characters? (Some of them are based on real people).
Even fictional characters are based on real people. Everyone you have ever met leaves a trace somewhere that pops up when needed. We have all encountered each of these people at one time or another. Which is why their stories resonate so much.
Yes, each of them is so individual, and has their own behavior, even though you can give them only a line or two as you go around the room. It reminds me of some groups I have attended, where you start with a go-round that sets the current mood for each person. They own their neuro-divergence! It is very appealing. And you sketch their physical presentation along with their mental state.
This is the feedback I am looking for because I need understanding better to write these stories. And should I keep writing them or not. My question yesterday was wether or not if I took minor divergences in the stories (fixing up the bar, or going to an escape room) would be desirable stories to tell others. Because I feel like I cant contain them anymore to just the bar...if that makes sense?
Perfect sense. We are all different people at different times. And so should the characters on these stories be. Flat characters are boring. As are flat people.
It ain't easy being a writer! I look forward to these stories. But if you decided to send a small group out on a quest, that would be interesting. Selecting the quest, selecting the members... and then what happens. Or do they just return to the bar to narrate what happened to them?
And suppose the health department came and examined the bar?! The fixing up the bar story almost took over that one. Now that it is all fixed up, what does that mean?
What problems do some of the members encounter, and how do they handle them?
You have created a world, and now it is your responsibility and joy to let it bloom.