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Thursday
May 19, 2005

Schulmeister's Trophy (Part One of Two) by Julia Brent

I've taken a challenge as I stumble from poetry to prose, choosing a time and place usually more interesting to men and those who study fighting and war.

This piece of historical fiction is the first part of an exercise given by a friend. I write a letter in character, and she responds without any direction from me, and letter by letter we write a novel.

She's a fantasy writer, and threw a tantrum when she read the manuscript. "I can't believe you picked the Battle of _______!" So real, so brutally cold and male. She may have wanted mythology, ancient air, and animal spirits in super-nova, but I can't be sure. She won't speak to me, but is tersely rising to the task, angry as any war goddess.

To those familiar with this time period, let me know how I stand on accuracy. For that, and any other thoughts, I will be very grateful. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (5 messages)

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 8:03am

Julia,
Delightful style, interesting story. If I have any criticisms they're minor.

It read like the middle of a longer story, rather than the beginning.
I get a strong, and very well done that, sense of atmosphere, but
little of place. And I was hoping for a little more explicit characterization,
particularly since what's 'under the covers' seems so interesting.

Of course, others may have very different reactions.

I like the writing of very few writers, but I liked this.

I hope you keep up with prose.

Best,
Jeff

Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 5:57pm

Among this month's commemorative stamps is one for Robert Penn Warren. The back of the sheet told of All the King's Men. So, I went to the library and borrowed The Cave. This is at least as good as that.

(Fortunately, I know where Carinth is. I am not sure that it matters. Talk about Austrians and stew and tents near a road and you have one story. Make them Antareans and stex and asteroids near a wormhole and you have another story. Both are the same story, unless time and place constrain action beyond the experience of human emotion. Is it possible to write any story in such a way that the characters feel passions impossible in any other time and place? If so, how would they be explained? Anyway, the style is compelling.)

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 5:51am

Interesting exercise Julia. As reader, what makes it powerful is the suspension of disbelief factor. "*This* is what happened, this is true. I can see it, smell it, taste it" is what happens when I read something that hits the mark. Your writing hits the mark.

The fact that it is a period piece is interesting too. Given what we think we know about that time, it would be interesting for you the writers to play with that from different angles, and also to pull us deeper into the human story.

Well done.

regards
John

Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 6:56am

Thank you all for your feedback and comments on board or in PM's. It's sort of odd to have others knowing about the world in which I've hidden myself for awhile. I'm very motivated to keep writing!

Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 9:43am

This is great!

I am still not exactly sure of the time period. I am very interested now; How long till part two?

~E.