Comments on: reading like a writer–part 3: questions to ask http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/ "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." Annie Dillard Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:53:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: cynthia http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2488 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:09:20 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2488 Hi Guy-What I’m finding as I take apart more stories is that each story poses its own questions. For example, in Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” there are no sections. The building blocks of the story instead are scenes.

These questions seem to get me off to a good start every time. Let me know how they work for you.

]]> By: Guy Pursey http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2434 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:17:29 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2434 Slowly catching up with blogs/blogging now — this looks like a really useful exercise. I just finished Herzog so I’m going to try your questions out on that before reading the next post. Looking forward to it!

]]> By: cynthia http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2243 Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:09:07 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2243 Thanks, Maggie. From my experience (as you’ve seen), the shorter the book the better!

]]> By: cynthia http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2238 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:19:17 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2238 Thanks!

]]> By: Annie http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2237 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:12:00 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2237 Sure!

Our professor put up Toni Morrison’s short story on blackboard, so I can download it and email you a copy. Be on the lookout!

]]> By: cynthia http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2236 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:41:28 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2236 Annie, I don’t think I did know that Toni Morrison had written a short story–where can I find it?

And thanks for the link to the Boyd essay!

]]> By: Maggie http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2234 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:53:06 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2234 I love the series! and I’m trying to figure out one book that I would like to “read like a writer!”

P.S :The question and answers (it’s Genius!) makes the reading like a writer process so much simpler! (though it’s not- hehe)

Take care

]]> By: Annie http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2216 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:46:27 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2216 Cool! I thought the Chekhovian idea was really neat . . . checked out some O. Henry Prize stories today. Looking forward to seeing how they compare to the _Best American_ series. I’m particularly interested in Diaz and Danticat. I’ll be reading them both for a class later this semester, but can’t help but take a look at their short stories. Also, did you know Toni Morrison has a short story? (I didn’t – but am looking forward to reading it . . . and presenting on it.)

Oh, and also, because I think I’m going to pursue short stories (in particular the craft aspect of intercultural stories) I went looking for the Boyd essay that Reiken referenced in the Chekhov article. Maybe you’ve already read it, but I’m headed for it right now. Here’s the link, just in case:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/oct/02/featuresreviews.guardianreview38/print

]]> By: cynthia http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2213 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:51:19 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2213 Thanks, Sarah. Enjoy your revision–I love that stage. Yes, I’ve met such nice “imaginary friends” at your “house.”

]]> By: cynthia http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/2010/01/25/reading-like-a-writer-part-3-questions-to-ask/#comment-2212 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:00:55 +0000 http://catchingdays.cynthianewberrymartin.com/?p=4994#comment-2212 A Cuban in London, I appreciate your kind words. I’m still developing my writing process, but I think this matter of choices will probably come into play for me at the revision stage–after I’ve gotten to the heart of the story–until it becomes more organic.

The Schwartz article takes a somewhat more advanced approach to taking stories apart with a close look at James Joyce’s “The Dead” and an interesting 6-step approach.

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