Comments on: the definite article – a story for Jessica West that doesn’t contain ‘the’

By: Jessica West

Jessica West — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 22:08:07 +0000

I’d like to hear it whenever you are ready to share. Last night I was having one of my “horror” moments at bed time. Sometimes I have a hard time falling asleep because random fears keep me up. I don’t think badly of anyone’s “dark stories”. I promise you I have more than a few of my own. I seem to be stuck in tragedy writing mode lately, so no judgement here.

By: Doctor Mike Reddy

Doctor Mike Reddy — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 19:16:34 +0000

In reply to Jessica West. I look forward to it. My own interpretation/rationalisation is rather darker than yours.

By: Jessica West

Jessica West — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 19:11:20 +0000

I’ll work on a story of my own later tonight after I put my kiddos to bed. Reading yours again, I think maybe the narrator is reliving his death in the afterlife. Maybe he/she was walking his/her dog in the park (which is why the dog “displays knowledge” of the narrator), and a driver lost control of a vehicle and struck the narrator. This would explain the damage to his/her spine. It seems that process of dying spread warmth throughout the narrators body, starting with the side that was already facing the sun. Perhaps the voice is the narrators personality and the warmth, finally reaching under him, lifts his soul from his body to carry him away, leaving the voice behind to die with the body so that his new soul my occupy another vessel or go wherever it is that souls go when they depart. I see so much potential here for a longer work. I am really impressed with this.

Although I am more than a little intimidated, I will offer a story of my own as soon as I can. Thanks again for doing this, Dr. Mike. This particular challenge, along with your participation, definitely helps motivate me to write.

I’ll be in touch. Write on!

-JP

By: Doctor Mike Reddy

Doctor Mike Reddy — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 05:08:44 +0000

Glad you liked it, but don’t do yourself down; I’m not nearly that bright. Write me one back, please Jessica?

I keep reading this myself, trying to work out the plot behind it too. Something’s definitely not right for our poor dog owner!

By: Jessica West

Jessica West — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 02:42:26 +0000

Thank you, Dr. Mike Reddy. I have bookmarked this page and will refer to it often. You are now officially one of my favorite authors, among Stephen King, Ayn Rand and Terry Goodkind. I believe your level of intelligence is miles above my own, but I’ll tell you where this story led me.
I imagined an infant, unable to communicate, who uses flashes of memories to piece together what is happening around him/her. Not every nuance of the story fits in with this idea, though, so I am likely way off base here. I usually am when I try to interpret work I don’t fully understand.
This article has definitely made me think. I will read it again, and again, until tumblers fall into place and I am able to open the door and see this part of the world inside your mind with clarity.
Again, thank you for writing this, and well done!