Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Can a ‘day in the life’ tale actually be a story? A couple criticisms of my latest short story was that it wasn’t a ‘real’ story but just a day in the life thing (or a pwp, thanks guys). So the question is, is a ‘day in the life’ tale a true story? It does in many ways fail the traditional story construct of introduction, conflict and resolution. We’re dropping in on various points of someone’s life.

Does that necessarily mean there is no plot? No, I don’t believe it does. Journal/Diary novels are not uncommon and fit, more or less, into the category of ‘day in a life.’ I suppose they’re foremost in my thoughts thanks to my failure to read The Cloud Atlas. My own disinterest in it aside, it’s inarguable that this sort of story telling is valid and in some cases, lauded. The Cloud Atlas has been made into a movie, was a finalist in one of the most prestigious awards in the world and has millions of fans. But because it’s a day by day thing of interconnecting themes, is it really not a story? Apparently some would make that argument.

I would argue (in my head since there is never anything to gain in arguing online with reviewers and oh so very much to lose) the point that a day in a life tale is, in fact, a real story, just of a different construct.

And to make me more nuts, there were other complaints that this felt like it was part of something larger, not just a story but a long one. Go figure. I hear this one all the time and I can’t really argue it. I will never be convinced I write short stories particularly well, no matter how many I sell. I find them hard to write but I also find them helpful. (Other than as an in with publishers) They help you pick your words and scenes better, a waste less.

I’ve made my choices as what to write in the next few months (well off and on since I picked a few). I’ll list them and their progress here.

Yearly Word Count (yeah yeah I upped it AGAIN)

216592 / 220000 words. 98% done!

Soldiers of the Sun (this year’s nano)

54611 / 65000 words. 84% done!

Steampunk short story (time to start researching the Hudson Valley of the late 1800’s, especially Beacon and Hyde Park, boy I miss them) – 0

Vampires in Vegas

31325 / 65000 words. 48% done!

Beneath the Torn Sky

61415 / 75000 words. 82% done!


Voluntary Nightmare

43562 / 75000 words. 58% done!

(somewhere I have more bits for all of these but they're not in the main files yet. Sigh

Comments

[bay115.livejournal.com]

I too am in agreement 'a day in the life' story is a real one, only that you write it in a different approach. I believe you can make a story out of pretty much anything as long as you make it interesting. Compare to my last FMA Big Bang Chasing the Desert (which I hope you'll get back to reading soon, LOL *runs* ), the one I wrote for this round is more a 'day in the life' kind of story but I still managed to make due.

Wish you luck on those stories!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thank you.

I agree, as long as it's interesting, I don't care that much about form. That's why I don't get too upset about a negative review. What interests you or me may not interest someone else (which is why I rarely rec books on goodreads).

I know I know. I just found where I put your big bang. I swear I'll catch up. I'm a putz. BTW do you want to see ch 1 of my big bang just to read? It has a beta

[bay115.livejournal.com]

Sure, you can send me Chapter 1! Am curious your take on that art.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i'll try to remember tonight

[meredavey.livejournal.com]

I love the type of stories - day in the life. They're some of my favorites. And yes, I agree they do still have plots.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thank you. I agree (granted I admit the story in question has a thin plot but the person in las night's review got it. 'Some jobs don't give you time off for the holidays)

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

I think that's pretty much what I mostly write, so yeah, it's a story. ;p I even had this discussion with someone a while back, who made the same argument, that it's not a story unless there's some conflict in it. ^^;


Congrats on your word totals! That's awesoem! :D

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I think that's what people are taught in h.s. but never move past that. For that matter there was conflict, jobs vs the holidays and a lost hiker so....

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

I think you're right.

Yeah...

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Slice of life stories are a mainstay of the New Yorker, so I'd say they are most definitely legit stories.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that's an excellent point. Ah well, I can't win for losing. I usually get critized for being too plotty and this story not enough. Snort.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Since a good 90% of what I write falls into the "day in the life" category, I have no words to add here. I ENJOY knowing characters to that extent, snippets of reality in their unreal lives.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I agree. I decided to explore this since the two or three reviewers who commented on it, at least put thought into their comments and how they would have liked it better if it were a real story and I thought hmmm that might be a good talking point

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I guess the thing is KNOWING "hey, this is a slice-of-life, don't expect any significant Plot" or "SIGNIFICANT PLOT AHEAD" thing.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

there is that. At least they put some thought in it unlike the eww shifters let's give it a one star without reading it like some of the others