And I’m too lazy to write anything. But, I’m feeling sappy and nostalgic, so here’s a chat. Or a few. I’m just grateful some of you out there can take advantage of my waking hours. It’s nice feeling helpful. And in touch with the outside world. Just know that I love talking with you guys.
Also, sorry about all the brackets and vaguenesses.
ONE
Friend: lol
oh, here’s something else to get outraged about
so you’ve heard about the verizon strike
me: ok
Friend: the company makes a profit of 108 billion a year.
they currently have a health plan that gives free care to their retirees, and their current employees get health care but have to pay copays.
they are on strike because the company wants each employee to contribute $20k a year for the health plan.
this will save the company $1 billion. So they can make $109 billion a year instead.
their top 5 executives make something like $525 million.
how freaking ridiculous is that?
me: holy what
okay, i like capitalism for all its good qualities
but this
THIS
THIS
why??!!!??
Friend: i know.
i’m thinking vancouver might be a good place to move to.
i’ve heard it’s pretty.
me: me, too
maybe i’ll see what’s there in terms of grad schools
Friend: you can scope it out for us. cuz this country is too stoopid to survive. i read something today that half the reason the economy sucks so badly is that the majority of people don’t have money to spend, so they don’t. the few who do have money (the top 5%) have too much money to know what to do with.
so no jobs, etc.
fun, right?
well, now that i’ve gotten you all outraged, time for me to run. talk to ya later!
me: jerk
thanks a lot
😉
***
TWO
me: hi
Bro-friend: Heya. You’re up late
me: i am
you’re up as usual
Bro-friend: Indeed.
me: i can’t sleep
but i have to
Bro-friend: Did you drink Mt Dew again?
me: a little
🙂
but i’ve had problems before that
Bro-friend: Hmm.
me: it’ll be fine
i’ll get to sleep soon
Bro-friend: I’m going to exploit it first.
Question:
me: yes
Bro-friend: From what you’ve read of the writing project, what do you think the impact would be, either good or bad, of inserting a section [here].
In this hypothetical section, the reader is privy to a long conversation with very little scene-setting [here].
me: do you want that kind of a shift?
Bro-friend: Well, it’s coming one way or the other, question is does it belong there or after.
me: you’re building toward something. will the section continue that build or interrupt it in a way that may or may not work
the description sounds incredibly intriguing
maybe keep [here] continuous
OR break them up
the effects of either would be very interesting
Bro-friend: I think they need to stay continuous but going from [here] has always seemed a bit quit to me.
There’s an implied passage of time but for the reader its immediate.
So advantage to moving up the mom talk is providing a time lapse.
me: right
Bro-friend: Disadvantage is breaking up flow.
me: but if it’s sans setting …
right
Bro-friend: You were pretty exhausted by it though. This would at least provide a section where [something happens].
me: will readers see the conversation as part of the chronology?
or an aside?
Bro-friend: I think it would fit the chronology. [And here’s why.]
me: then picks back up with the next chapter?
[this] would definitely add a different perspective
Bro-friend: This section ends with [this].
I guess you’d need to read it to provide a detailed opinion. I’m trying to keep a big picture view of where it belongs.
me: that’s fine
so with the new section we have a better understanding of [this]
i worry slightly about a gentle unrolling into the conclusion
Bro-friend: Makes sense.
me: but, like you say, i’ll have to read it
it’s an interesting take
Bro-friend: Here’s the thing –
me: and i’m curious
ok
Bro-friend: I’ve approached the project overall as two halves. First half is what you’ve read… [this]. Part two is supposed to be [that].
This section [accomplishes this].
In reality this process was not A to B, but a gradual process taking place all through the events described in part one.
me: ok, i understand
i see your intent
it can be very effective
Bro-friend: I think of part one as one long crescendo and you’re right that it would be disruptive to interrupt that.
My idea for starting off part two though feels a little disjointed.
This section is one element. There are [ . . . ] others. [Like these.]
And it all seems like a bit much to just through together.
But I may be overthinking it
me: well, it only makes sense that chaos builds proportionally [here]
it may seem like a lot, but realistically, even in a narrative context, it sort of has to be
imo
Bro-friend: It’s a question of [this]
me: how much magic do you want to do?
Bro-friend: How do you mean?
me: well, i don’t know.
Bro-friend: I want the experience for the reader to be immersive and genuine, while also maintaing reasonable fidelity to actual events. I can fudge some of the chronology or find other ways to work around those problems if it makes the read more smooth for the reader.
I ask a lot from the reader in keeping track of stuff already so it’s not so much a stretch
me: i understand
you pretty much answered your own question about how much magic you’d be willing to do
Bro-friend: Just wanted to see if that’s what you meant. I get where you’re coming from. I’m not resolved on it one way or the other yet, but it’s good to talk it out. Thanks.
me: glad you’re back to thinking about it some more
Bro-friend: It comes and goes.
me: 🙂
***
THREE
me: Friendy, i’m talking about marching band memories with someone
can i recount the time [this happened]?
Friendy: of course!
when did [this happen]?
me: i always think [it] did
10th grade. azalea festival
Friendy: hmm
I don’t remember [it]
I did get mad at Mr. Rood
and it was my 15th birthday
and Myron Hall squashed a toad in his marching shoes
but I don’t remember [that]
me: okay
good thing i didn’t tell it, then
Friendy: that guy who played trombone threw up before we went on the field
me: oh yes, that
you have different memories than i
Friendy: that’s because we were on different sides of the field!
weren’t we?
I was by Mike what’s-his-name
now I have Trooper Salute in my head
me: excellent
what is this? http://www.nationaleventsus.com/Bowl-Games/The-Chick-fil-A-Bowl-Festival/Festival-Winners
Friendy: yeah, that was last year
they were all over the news 🙂
the channel 4 news, that is
me: it’s impressive
Friendy: i don’t really think they’re all that good….
me: oh?
Friendy: but hey, they won
they’re okay
me: standards have gone down?
Friendy: oh yeah
me: that’s just too bad
Friendy: well, they’re not terrible
me: so, we were better, then
Friendy: way, way better
they’re adequate
me: SWEET
Friendy: but nothing special 🙂
we were pretty special
me: indeed
sigh. the memories
A Little Thinking 