This week's reading is a short story by Erini Katopodis. It has really interesting themes and I'd highly recommend you reading it before reading this if you haven't already!
If you missed it, you can find it here:
http://www.paperdarts.org/literary-magazine/2018/10/21/basil
I really enjoyed reading this story, and it goes to show how much emotion you can fit into a short piece of writing.
The plot of this story was also really engaging - which is something you need to consider for your novel. It's interesting to see how to character's actions later impact her life. This continuation is really important in a novel - maybe a choice your character makes at the start will come back later.
The content was also really original and unexpected. The casual introduction of the devil contrasted both the expectations and the ending. There were elements of the supernatural without the story straying too far from reality.
What to take away from this week's reading:
1. Consider your plot - do certain actions change outcomes? How does the ending tie in to the main body, etc.
2. How do you invoke emotion? This will keep your audience interested and invested.
3. Make sure your writing and themes are original. You could try looking at old stories in new ways, different perspectives, or different outcomes.
Related exercises:
Try writing a new twist on an old theme. You could use biblical references, such as the devil, or fins something I have suggested previously under the 'Writing Prompts' tab. These are great for when you want to write something but don't have much inspiration - try swapping around perspectives, character traits, endings, etc.
Happy writing!
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