I really enjoyed this story, and it was fun to look at how I could relate to some details (but perhaps not others)!
My dad was a second generation city kid and decided to move to the mountains, where he met my mom. The mountain folks are very much a minority in my state—people forget they're even a part of it.
Myself, I moved from the mountains to the city my dad left, then further west where all the fishermen live. The boats are just half a mile from my house, so it's a life I see every day yet don't understand.
At the same time, I do understand family farms. Lots of similarity there in terms of kids who either leave or stay involved. My daughter's still young, but when she's old enough I very much wonder what kind of direction she'll choose.
The past can be a trap indeed, but I suppose I'm okay with that.
I liked the subtle tone to the story, and its gentle pace. Very appropriate for a fishing story.
Good :) i'm always fascinated by what people relate to in stories. In this one, several of my group were really struck by the reality of the experience of dropping off your child at university. All men, all fathers. My three East Coast members related to the setting as well as the father's perspective. That's why I stress to my groups that readers co-construct the story.
Thanks, James. It's a complete contrast to my story from two weeks ago, Imprinted, purposely challenging myself as a fiction writer to write from various mindsets and beliefs. I'm glad the subtlety came through; I write these pieces to the same prompt I give my writing group and usually try to show-not-tell some aspect of writing, as well, and in this case it was about how a few well chosen words/images lets the reader co-construct the world and meaning of the story, instead of being told what it is.
I really enjoyed this story, and it was fun to look at how I could relate to some details (but perhaps not others)!
My dad was a second generation city kid and decided to move to the mountains, where he met my mom. The mountain folks are very much a minority in my state—people forget they're even a part of it.
Myself, I moved from the mountains to the city my dad left, then further west where all the fishermen live. The boats are just half a mile from my house, so it's a life I see every day yet don't understand.
At the same time, I do understand family farms. Lots of similarity there in terms of kids who either leave or stay involved. My daughter's still young, but when she's old enough I very much wonder what kind of direction she'll choose.
The past can be a trap indeed, but I suppose I'm okay with that.
I liked the subtle tone to the story, and its gentle pace. Very appropriate for a fishing story.
Good :) i'm always fascinated by what people relate to in stories. In this one, several of my group were really struck by the reality of the experience of dropping off your child at university. All men, all fathers. My three East Coast members related to the setting as well as the father's perspective. That's why I stress to my groups that readers co-construct the story.
Thanks, James. It's a complete contrast to my story from two weeks ago, Imprinted, purposely challenging myself as a fiction writer to write from various mindsets and beliefs. I'm glad the subtlety came through; I write these pieces to the same prompt I give my writing group and usually try to show-not-tell some aspect of writing, as well, and in this case it was about how a few well chosen words/images lets the reader co-construct the world and meaning of the story, instead of being told what it is.
I think it was successful; to me the narrative focused more on the father's perspective than the nuts and bolts of the backstory.