Line by Line, 8/12/2020

#WritingCommunity,

You are invited to #LineByLineTime, A Mini Critique Hour hosted by @graestonewriter on Twitter.

In the movie, Gore Vidal’s Lincoln, the president “runs the lines” of The Gettysburg Address with his aides, saying, “I have a short short short speech, which I will try out on the chickens, as the farmer said.”

(Marvelous, powerful movie that has haunted me all these years.)

Each week #LineByLineTime writers share lines from their WIPs. (Try it out on the chickens, as the farmer said.)

During the hour, there will be a focus question, a chance to share, and a wrap-up question.

…NexNext Time: Something poetic or literary

Wednesday, August 12th, at 9:00 PM Eastern, the #WritingCommunity will share something poetic, beautiful, or literary. Each story, regardless of genre, has a line or lines that move us, change us, and stick with us.

I am using Betsy Byars Good-bye, Chicken Little for simple examples of our Line-By-Line exercises. Byars wrote MG books for years, won prestigious awards, and knew her stuff.

This week, Byars reflects on the effect of the sun on cold, winter days. The Little household is stricken with grief at the death of a beloved uncle.

The winter sun shone through the icy panes. Jimmie’s mother believed there was special power in the winter sun—this was why dogs and cats, sensing something beyond human knowledge, lay in it at every opportunity. Jimmie moved closer to the healing rays.

This scene became a part of me, and there have been times, I have moved closer to the healing rays.

I hope you will join us Wednesday. Feel free to make helpful suggestions about other lines the group might explore in the future.

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