Pressured by the lack of space on my hearth, I decided to try to play catchup once more with the lit journals and so selected the earliest Glimmer Train, that being (blush) Spring 2004. Making my mind up beforehand to skip through those stories that didn’t do it for me, as I’ve groused here before about quality, I was happily surprised to be pulled into the first three of this issue.
But something surprised me; after noting Plot is all–according to Aristotle, these stories had very simple plots: one is based on a man’s returning to dating after the death of his wife; one is the resolution of a childhood memory of the protagonist’s possible responsibility in the death of her mother’s lover; the last, a pet bird flies off and returns and brings back meaning to two people.
These are reactions displaying Thought and Character, made the point of the stories. They are relative, moving, enjoyable to read. All three stories are well written (according to my own standards, anyway), and I think that was what drew me in. Nothing outstanding or heavy with lesson or meaning, nothing really new or surprising in delivery or outcome. Except for the prizewinning story, Victor’s Bird, by N. Nye, which was more metaphoric–or can be taken that way to elicit some afterthought at least. This particular story did have the elements of imagery, a bit of tension, although Plot was weak as it was simply a glimpse into the lives of two people and how the bird’s absence and return affected them. But, as I said, the writing style and voice was excellent.
So here am I, ready to put together a cover letter for one (maybe two) short stories I’ve completed (maybe) and realize they center on Plot. There is much less of my character study into them, must less stringing out of drama of emotion rather than action. I’m not only measuring mine against what has been published (I just can’t get myself out of that mode) but measuring instead my own reaction. If I liked these three stories, would I like my own?
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology