Response to "Writing for Story"

     Overall, I enjoyed Jon Franklin’s “Writing for Story.” I felt that some things I knew previously were confirmed, and also that I was able to learn new things about writing that was before quire foreign to me. 

     My favorite part of the entire book (right or wrong) were those two chapters in which Franklin shared his stories, “Mrs. Kelly’s Monster” and “The Ballad of Old Man Peters.” While both of these stories are powerful, both in their actual story as well as Franklin’s writing itself, “The Ballad of Old Man Peters” particularly spoke to me. 

     I have been dealing with some serious anxiety lately. Paralyzing anxiety. I read this story of Wilk Peters and felt inspired and ashamed all in one. I have been given every opportunity to succeed and at times work toward damaging this privilege with my incessant worrying. Wilk’s thoughts from page 51 of “Writing for Story,” made me stop completely, and think very hard. “What if something happened ... What if he got sick ... What if he lost courage?” 

     Making one look at themselves and learn something in return was an idea Franklin frequently talked about as being important in writing a successful short story. Franklin lays out a very sturdy and seemingly foolproof guideline as to how to make such stories a success. I feel that he does it so eloquently and that I have hardly a chance, but maybe now with his tools I can be helped!

Questions --

1. On pages 93 & 94, Franklin talks about words being irrelevant. Does he explain this well enough that we all buy into it?
2. Can we discuss more in depth what Franklin means by the developmental focuses? I had a difficult time understanding where to draw the line between the complication and the first focus, and also the third focus and the resolution. I also want to hear other thoughts on why there must always be three.
3. Is Franklin to quick to shut out ideas entirely? He seems a bit harsh in some respects, but maybe his harshness is just what beginning writers need to hear. While reading I sat back and wondered about my own first assignment. Do I have have each of the parts he describes? Do I as the character resolve my complication?