 Short Stories: February 01, 2012 Issue [#4836] |
  Short Stories
This week: Modus Operandi Edited by: Shannon  
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"A guy can change anything: his face, his home, his family, his girlfriend, his religion, his God ... but there's one thing he can't change. He can't change his passion." ~ Pablo Sandoval in The Secret in Their Eyes
Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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I am often fascinated (and occasionally horrified) by what motivates people to do what they do.
I also love foreign films--I find them more creative and less predictable than domestic productions, focusing more on story and less on special effects. I recently watched an Argentine crime thriller (based on Eduardo Sacheri's novel La Pregunta de Sus Ojos) titled The Secret in Their Eyes in which a twenty-three-year-old newlywed is sexually assaulted and murdered. SPOILER ALERT: I will discuss the ending of the film, so if you don't want to know what happens, you'd better stop reading. Her husband asks what kind of punishment the killer will get once he's caught and is assured that because they don't have the death penalty, the killer will get a life sentence.
A suspect by the name of Gomez is identified and brought in for questioning. Incorporating the good cop/bad cop routine, two legal counselors--one male, one female--provoke a confession and Gomez is arrested, only to be released later on a technicality. For a year the distraught widower lurks in subways and train stations, hoping to catch a glimpse of the perpetrator. Meanwhile, the case goes cold and is eventually closed.
The widower moves to a secluded house in the country, twenty-five years pass, and the male counselor, Benjamin, retires. Haunted by the brutal crime, Benjamin decides to write a book about the case. He tracks down the widower and lets him read the manuscript. Ben wonders what happened to Gomez. He wants an ending for his book. The widower tells him to stop wondering and admits to killing the man years ago.
As Benjamin drives away he replays their conversation in his mind. Certain things the widower said don't make sense. Something's not right, and the viewer is led to believe that perhaps the widower had something to do with his wife's death. Ben pulls over to the side of the road and sneaks through the woods to the widower's house. Night has fallen, and Ben watches from the safety of the surrounding trees as the widower carries a plate of food around the side of the house. Benjamin follows him into an outbuilding ... and we are horrified to see Gomez, now twenty-five years older, hunch-backed, white-headed, balding, broken, as he shuffles to the bars of his make-shift jail cell to accept his supper. Upon seeing Benjamin, Gomez drops his tray of food and approaches him. "Please," he says. "Tell him ... tell him at least to talk to me. Please." Benjamin is in shock. Speechless. He looks at the widower, who says, "You said life."
I sat, stunned, as the horror sank in. I hadn't seen it coming. I sympathized with the widower's sense of revenge and justice. I sympathized with Gomez, too--the nightmare of spending twenty-five years in a cell in a barn in the middle of nowhere, alone in absolutely every sense of the word.
This got me thinking about what motivates people to do what they do. I considered how seemingly "normal" people can be pushed to the brink of sanity and sink to the depths of human depravity given the right (or wrong) set of circumstances.
What motivates your character? Fear? Revenge? Love? Rage? Despair? Hate? Jealousy? Is he able to forgive and get on with his life, or is he consumed by the past? Does a single event define who he is and how he lives his life? Contemplate how far he is willing to go ... then write about it.
Thank you for reading.
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. Please remember to do the authors the courtesy of reviewing the ones you read. Thank you, and have a great week!
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The following is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (January 4, 2012)" :
Jeff  says, "Great NL, Shannon! I agonize over my opening lines; if it's a short flash fiction piece, sometimes I'll even spend more time thinking about what to write for a first line than the entire couple hundred words that come after!  " Me too! When it comes to what I read, there are so many books and so little time. If it doesn't grab me immediately, I move on, and I keep that in mind when I'm writing.
Sweethonesty  says, "I have stored most of this information on my desktop. I plan on reviewing it before each short story. Many thanks for all the help." You're welcome! Thank YOU for taking the time to read and comment. 
DRSmith says, "A nice newsie on 'opening hooks'; always a great reminder given such a significant factor. But in support of your theme whether realized or not, you've also dropped an excellent 'show, not tell' hint in our laps. I quote: 'I glance at the jackets until something catches my eye, then flip it over to read the back. If it sounds interesting...' Yes, I refer to jackets, a descriptive, or a graphic if afforded the opportunity. Barring such, I believe meticulous thought should be given to a 'TITLE'... often a most effective hook before the opening pages. Well done, my friend." Thank you! And I completely agree; title is extremely important. I figure if a writer can't even come up with a compelling title, it stands to reason the rest of the book isn't very good either. I'm sure it's not true in every case, but again ... so many books, so little time. I'd rather invest in a work that has the whole package.
Bikerider  says, "Thanks for a beautiful newsletter, Shannon. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for nearly 43 years now, and we're more in love than ever. Our secret to a happy marriage is that we try to be each other's best friend. Best wishes for a happy, prosperous and healthy new year." Thank you for your kind words and well wishes. Wow, 43 years? That's a long time and practically unheard of these days. Happy New Year to both of you!
BIG BAD WOLF is Merry  says, "Gordon R. Dickson, who wrote Sci-Fi and Fantasy, knew how to hook a reader--one sentence and you had to read the rest." Exactly! That's what I'm talkin' about. 
NickiD89  says, "My daughter just started Moby Dick and we were talking about the renown of that first line. Thanks for highlighting my article in this NL!" You're welcome, Nicki! It was my pleasure. How does you daughter like the book so far?
Blue-Inspired says, "Excellent newsletter! I went to check the opening sentences on my books immediately. LOL! I'm happy to report the openings draw me in for more, and I think readers will agree. Thanks for the tips as well. I shall enjoy exploring them. " Thank you! I'm glad you found the NL helpful.
The following is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (December 6, 2011)" : Mia - craving colour says, "Love that extensive character trait list, Shannon. And your idea of profiling everyone we know. " Thanks! I hope it comes in handy for you.
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