One last kick at the can...
Penny Matthews' 110 writing class was recently given the story "A Man and his Routine" by Corey Charron. They were asked to analyse and react to author style in terms of character and plot development, theme, use of dialogue and other literary devices in preparation for writing their own short stories.
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posted by Robin Martin @ 2:56 PM
19 comments
19 Comments:
I feel that the style in which you, Corey, write is somewhat misleading. This may or may not be a good thing. You take great detail in telling us the routine and daily life of the characters causing us to believe some type of change is going to come about. I enjoyed how you brought the characters to life, but a question did arise after reading the story. Did you intentionally want us to believe that some type of change in character was going to occur?
Hey Corey,
I did read your short story entitled "A Man and His Routine" and I enjoyed it. I found that the imagery was great. I could visualize basically everything that was said. Everything that Alexander did in the story I could basically see as a picture in my mind. I find that imagery is one of the most important things in a story that I read, as I am a visual type of person. Just thought I'd leave you my opinion, so thanks! BTW...Doesn't Robin Martin completely rule?
The only thing that bugged me about your short story was how descriptive you were about everything. I found it really hard to pay attention to the story.
Hey Corey, first of all I just wanted to comment on your style of writing. I found you used a quick to the point style, while keeping it quite melancholy. I found your short story "A Man and His Routine" to be very similar to "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"; that should be considered a compliment! What I found could have been done a little better was concealing Alexander's issues a little better. For example, at the end of every paragraph we find a new dissapointment Alex has to encounter. Over all, I did enjoy the story, keep on writing!
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your writing skill. Your story, although it wasn’t my kind of story, was well written. You let us get to know “Alexander,” a lot of students said they didn’t like him, but I think that was the point. Throughout the tale you told us what kind of a man he was without saying it bluntly, you let us know that his wife was in the right for leaving him, which said a lot about his life. I thought that your other characters were quite flat, and not explained thoroughly enough. I also disliked the way you concluded the story, the writing seemed choppy, emotionless, and we never found out what really happened between Marge and Alexander, so we can only speculate.
However, I believe that you have much potential, so keep on writing!
I agree Dave. This story is very similar to "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufock". I never thought of that!
After reading "A Man and His Routine" by myself, I found it difficult to interpret.I found that for the point it made about change at the end of the story, the story itself didn't quite interest me. Perhaps I am too young to understand it on my own, but once my teacher, Mrs. Matthews, explained it to my class, my opinion of it changed.
I thought that the meaning was just stating, more or less, that change was good. Well, duh. I already knew that.
But it wasn't just that, and I realize that I like how, instead of changing drastically in the story, Alexander kind of ended up the same at the end, showing that sometimes people are too stupid to change, even though the mistakes made, are huge.
I also like how you broughtin reasons to not like Alexander without the reader really noticing. I thought that was neat--and I didn't realize some of my reasons for disliking Alexander, thinking he was a repetitive idiot, was based on things in the story UNTIL my class and I went back to take a second look at it.
Overall, I thought that how you wrote the story was nifty and crafty by sneaking in our dislike without us really noticing, and I like the meaning at the end as well. It is not the normal moral, and I enjoy that.
I have just read your short story "A Man and His Routine" and I found that your story was a bit different from what I am use to reading. This topic you based your story on is an everyday topic, an everyday event that happens to many people. I'm sure divorce is a good topic to write a story on but it could be more intresting. You're an inspiring writer and there's always that old saying- Trial and Error. But kept up the writing and someday you might write a story that will turn to a timeless classic. This was just my opinion of the story. Thank you,
I agree with Sam and Dave, the writings are quite similar in style.
Hi Mr.Charron, I really like the story "A man and his routine". Also, I liked the character of Alexander. I mean i heard lots of complaints about him being too ordinary, or boring. I on the other hand liked him because I find composers try to put too much action and make their characters as much likeable as possible.
I really liked your imagery of Alexander as well. I can just picture this happening infront of me, "Alexander had the same high pitched nasally voice the equally lanky Abraham Lincoln is said to have had."
Probably the only characteristic I don;t like about Alexander would probably have to be, when he says things like "But, the bacon was a little too crispy and the eggs were a little over done. Next time, remember I like my yolks runny, but the whites have to be throughly cooked." That right their would annoy me soo bad I would probably yell at the guy.
But all in all I really enjpoyed reading this short sroty, and I am looking forward for future pieces from you to read. I wish you all the luck and say hi to your 2 kids for me
i agree with Bovy J i could picture everything Alexander did so easly
Hey Joe, in a way I kind of agree with you about the over-discriptions. But if you're like me the more discriptive words used, the easier it is to visualize everything.
I enjoyed the detail in this story, I feel the way it was writen it could have been better as a novel.
Mr.Charron,
I read your short story, A Man and His Routine. I noticed you allowed Alexander to comment on Tammy's religion refering to Pentecostals as, "Simple minded holy rollers". What convinced you to select a Pentecostal character and allow Alexander to make such comments towards Tammy and her childhood religion. Is it just Alexander's character? Or do you personally, believe this is the correct terminology to descriminate against Pentecostals. I am just curious. Then again everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Alexander's character was well thought out throughout the entire story. He is a prime example for how some people never change. I overall enjoyed the story. Keep up the good work!
Ashley
Hey Joe, in a way I kind of agree with you about the over-discriptions. But if you're like me the more discriptive words used, the easier it is to visualize everything.
Although I did not find this story immensely interesting, I found it very well written and descriptive. The character of Alexander was exceptional in being an unlovable and unloving character, which only truly cares about his routine. I would have enjoyed a little more dialogue in this story and I think a bit more energy could have been put into the plot to keep the reader interested. All in all, I found the author did a good job in showing that Alexander is the type of person that will not change, nor does he want anything in his life to change.
Mr.Charron. I read your story "A Man And His Routine". I was impressed by how you characterized Alexander. I can compare him to people i know. Although I would have liked a more detailed description of Alexander's apearence.
I find that you wrote this story very well. I enjoyed how you voiced the thoughts of Alexander. And although it wasn't an exiting story, I still enjoyed reading it.
I agree with you Joe, in some parts of this short story he is too descriptive i find. Sometimes its a good thing and in other times it is not.
I completly disagree with what Joe says about the story. I think description adds a lot to a story and helps you to fully understand what is going on with the characters and everything around them.
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