Saturday, March 13, 2010
On "Twenty Questions" by Jennifer Howard (114 words) *****
I first came across this story on a workshop site and loved it--a story told completely in questions. It's not easy. I've often started off writing a piece entirely in questions. It's a great way to free the mind, because you know, at heart, the story can't stay all questions, so you don't care about putting crazy stuff down. But try actually writing a story in questions--keeping it that way--that is another task, one that I have never been able to complete. Howard, however, manages to convey so much here--we don't need the answers. Read the story here at the Collagist, and then read the other two shorts as well ("It's You" is a great little flash piece itself that almost seems an answer to these questions.)
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3 comments:
Hi--Matt Bell, the editor of the Collagist, spotted this and let me know about it. I'm thrilled you liked the story enough to write about it here. Thank you.
Have either of you read Padgett Powell's latest book The Interogative Mood? It's a short book of nothing but questions. Is it a novel or a story? Don't know about that, but it is a fascinating read.
Jennifer--My pleasure to have read your story. It truly is one of my favorite flashes to come across, especially because you managed to pull something off I haven't been able to (and believe me, I've tried).
TN--Yes, I've heard of Powell's book. I heard him read a bit from it on NPR. It sounds interesting, but it doesn't sound like a novel or a story. That's part of what I like about the Howard piece, because it still manages to be a story--not just an interesting piece of prose. Of course, I respect Powell for extending the job over an entire book, and if it's a fun read, who cares in the end whether it's formally a novel or story or just great writing?
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