Facing a problemA Story by Haim KadmanFInding the right solution to a common problem.In one of my recent articles I've mentioned the use of
flashbacks as a useful tool, which I used in turning a short story into a
novel. I haven't got much very experience myself, and I'm not the well known
author or a tutor; I wish simply to share the solution of a certain problem
that I was faced with, that can be food for thought for solving entirely
different problems that any writer might encounter. The idea isn't complicated at all. We get stuck facing
a problem that seems to us as a very hard one, or even impossible to solve at
first thought. But with some mental effort and resolution, we may reach the
solution that would give our creation a unique and significant value, and not
just some acceptable kind of version. As I've already mentioned I've written a short story,
which was to my humble opinion my best one; during that time I was employed as
a free lance translator in one of our main publishing houses in Tel Aviv. The
truth is I've became a translator just to get in a closer touch with the right
personalities in the literary world of our country. I did well and was in very
good relations with the owner, a very wise woman. I've showed her that short
story of mine, with the hope to publish a collection of my short stories, or
she'll add this short story to a collection of short stories by several
authors. She read and recommended me to turn it into a book. But a short story
is a summary of the whole plot, and thus I had a problem how to continue it. In my example the plot describes a meeting, in which a
young man is forced to carry out a mission. Whether he'll carry it out or not it's
unknown yet, but all the details are told already, most of the details are
insinuated, and the main idea is quite clear. At the end of the story the young
man shocked and hesitant outside, on his own - decides to carry it out. All I wanted to highlight in that short story was a
brainwash technique, in which an unexperienced young man is persuaded by a pro
to commit a crime. The meeting atmosphere, the pro's changes of attitude, the
scorn and demands, the accusations, the hidden threats and the successful
result " are the story's heart, there was no need to add the details of the
mission itself. But if it's going to be a book and that short story is
its first chapter, should I change the first chapter, or at least part of it? I didn't want to change it, I liked it as it is. I
decided to find another solution. As his mission had to be carried out on the next day,
the second chapter described his inner struggle on his way home, the dear
price, whether he would succeed or fail, how it would influence his mom, his
relatives and friends. Who might be arrested and interrogated, while he will be
free in some other country. The solution was
reached in the third chapter on his way to carry it out. In flashbacks in which
he recalls what he was told to do and how, step by step (the flashback, his
thoughts, written in italics), and dispersed along his itinerary. From the
moment he wakes up remembering he'd forgotten to adjust his alarm clock. He has
to deceive his mom, for he she'll never see him again. He reaches the central
bus station and recalls how he has to behave, where to get off, where to ambush
his prey and how to commit the crime " the flashbacks are intertwined along his
advancement toward the site of the crime. After I've reached
that satisfactory solution, I didn't have any problem to carry out my mission "
to finish the book. The short story is
the first chapter of my book 'The death sciences' on sale with Amazon Kindle,
or to read it free of charge through their library. Haim Kadmn January 2012 " all rights resrved. © 2012 Haim Kadman |
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1 Review Added on January 3, 2012 Last Updated on January 3, 2012 AuthorHaim KadmanPetach-Tikva, IsraelAboutProfile: A few words about myself: being a native of a small country whose waist is seventeen kilometers wide in a certain area; and in seven to eight hours drive one can cross its length, I was amaze.. more..Writing
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