Wistar’s nightly news:
1. My cousin Mimi just got engaged.
2. My fiction class thinks I’m gross. I took the criticism very well in the classroom tonight, but now I want to curl up and die. Sometimes words take a while to sink in. Words like “Wistar, I felt like your story was bludgeoning me.”
3. I am going to become an expert on amputation. Does anyone have a friend or relative who has had something amputated recently? I am specifically looking for information about transtibial prostheses.
4. I booked a hotel room in Williamsburg for Homecoming weekend. I hope there is more going on at W&M than the usual football game, a capella group reunions, and pancake-eating. Please come hang out with me at the back of the Green Leafe. It has been five years since graduation and my alcohol tolerance has gone way down. You might glean some slurred wisdom about what life has taught me in the intervening years about failure, suffering, and the proper way to apply makeup.
I’m sure you know this — the story is not it’s author. Maybe you wrote a “gross” story (and I can think of many stories that are good because they are gross), but that doesn’t make you a gross person. Maybe someone felt “bludgeoned” because you were presenting them with material that some people find hard to take. You took a risk — that’s what you’re supposed to do. Wish I had that courage myself. I admire authors and artists who do.
1. Congrats to Mimi!
2. Aw, sweetie. It’s not just your fiction class … everyone (even Big Wis and your mom) thinks you’re gross. Sad but true.
3. I have a friend who is a biomechanical engineer, e.g. she’s one of the people who develops medical equipment. For a while her interest was prostheses. Should I give her your email address?
4. Let’s collaborate about Homecoming soon. Perhaps we can carpool. And you know I’ll be at the Leafe.
Thanks Elizabeth. That makes me feel better.
Wistar, you need to look into “Apotemnophelia”. I think it will be grossly inspirational. Or you could not.
Apotemnophelia:
* Psychological condition of fantasizing of becoming an amputee.
* Psychological condition of scheming to inflict self-amputation for sexual pleasure.
That’s great. I hadn’t heard of it. I think it will be my new mantra.
Oh, don’t “wuss” out on criticism. Criticism always comes from somebody. You have to figure out why they said what they said… just as if that person was a character in your book. Then you will also understand yourself, why you reacted as you did… also, a character in your own book. One cannot always be spared the agonies, but courage and fortitude and willingness to defend but honestly appraise will always be virtues. And then there’s taste, and there’s no explaining that. I’m in favor of more tasteless writing, myself!
Opally,
You’re right of course. I’m probably just looking for excuses to crap out. But I will provide you with more tasteless writing, at your encouragement. 🙂
Wistar