Hello Mr. Pinkwater.
I have been reading a book by a friend of yours, Bailey White, Mama Makes Her Mind Up. I am trying to get some ideas on exactly what my story is, and how to get some “more than armature” coaching. I am writing about a childhood adventure, and, just like Ms. White, I want my southern existence to shine. I believe my account may enter the realm of a narrative essay more than a short story. It is some over three thousand words, and I take the liberty to digress from the theme to explain things. Ms. White’s short stories are “crisp” reads to me, and it seems as though just as I am getting into the story, the story is over. Can you please tell me what my story may be just from what I have told you? And, do you have any suggestions about how I can get some good help looking at the story and critiquing? I am born and raised southern, Piedmonth, NC. I know what I want my story to say, and I know how I want it to sound. I’m concerned about structure, moving away from and back to the theme, how to weed out unnecessary dead wood. Many thanks in advance.
You are asking the wrong person. I have always tried to approach writing as an amateur, even though I've made my living doing it. What I do, when possible, is write a story for myself, one I want to read. I don't think about theory. I don't know, but I assume Ms. White does something similar. You could ask her.
