Forum / my article on "risk" in the review review

David Ackley
May 08, 05:29pm

Great advice, Susan, a must read. I agree completely, the best things often coming when one has no idea where one is going, like building a bridge over a chasm with bricks you conjure up moment by moment.

Sam Rasnake
May 08, 05:54pm

Wonderful essay, Susan. Really like " In these times of the fast read, flash, micro-fiction, shorter novels, Kindles and Nooks and vastly reduced attention spans, the writer has to get it onto the page fast." Yes.

Jane Hammons
May 08, 05:55pm

Excellent piece, Susan. I'm going to assign it the next time I teach creative nonfiction (I don't teach fiction) as I think the principle applies there, as well. And I also feel vindicated in my promotion of (students might say "harping on") The Sentence. Yes, there is the big picture, the whole, the (god help us)sacred IDEA. But we get to the big picture, the whol sentence by sentence. And if the sentences aren't great (and they can be great), our interest flags, we begin to skim, we close the magazine or book.

Susan Tepper
May 08, 08:48pm

Also want to thank Gloria Mindock and Marcus
Speh for the comments they left on the site, very kind!

Susan Gibb
May 08, 08:50pm

Excellent article, Susan. It's so true and yet we all need that kick sometimes to make us take the leap.

Susan Tepper
May 08, 08:50pm

Kathy! We just crossed thru the airwaves! Very glad you liked this, though not surprised since you are one of the riskiest writers working today.

Susan Tepper
May 08, 08:52pm

Susan Gibb-- ditto what I just wrote to Kathy!
I think we're so lucky here at Fictionaut to be able to read, on a daily basis, moment by moment, some of the best and most risky work being done by writers today.

Kathy Fish
May 08, 08:52pm

That's so nice of you to say. I do love stretching and taking risks and find you and your writing such an inspiration, Susan. What you do with voice, in your very short pieces, is phenomenal.

Marcus Speh
May 08, 08:57pm

really enjoyed this non-fiction piece, especially the remarks on the genesis of "deer" in there. creativity and risk go together well. those who try to play it safe may not ever get a full look at the bottom of their own well, though there's sure space for all kinds and types in this world.