Another brilliant essay, Gretchen, thank you. Poor Carol, stuck forever on the surface of life. If it’s any consolation, I too often get the ‘nothing happens’ complaint (though I learned a long time ago to never, never, never go on GoodReads). I once aired that to a dear literary friend who responded, ‘For some people, if it’s not on fire they can’t see it.’ I have found that comforting. Maybe put a bin-fire in next time for Carol.
That said, I really love the way you have responded with these very practical thoughts. It’s going to be very helpful through the next (nothing-happens) draft of my novel in progress.
Thanks Charlotte. I know, poor Carol, whose inner life must be pretty dull. Though I would say life happens in your fiction, in the most exquisite way.
Another brilliant essay, Gretchen, thank you. Poor Carol, stuck forever on the surface of life. If it’s any consolation, I too often get the ‘nothing happens’ complaint (though I learned a long time ago to never, never, never go on GoodReads). I once aired that to a dear literary friend who responded, ‘For some people, if it’s not on fire they can’t see it.’ I have found that comforting. Maybe put a bin-fire in next time for Carol.
That said, I really love the way you have responded with these very practical thoughts. It’s going to be very helpful through the next (nothing-happens) draft of my novel in progress.
Thanks Charlotte. I know, poor Carol, whose inner life must be pretty dull. Though I would say life happens in your fiction, in the most exquisite way.