Question for the Class + First 2 pages

The opening I brought in was from Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones." Like some of the other openings we read, it beautifully juxtaposes a detached tone with a sense of nostalgic longing (a powerful combination).
I had a question for Elmaz regarding workshopping critiques that she suggested I post in the blog. I've taken plenty of fiction workshopping classes (including Y.A.), and I feel that I've taken enough literature classes to critique poetry, but I haven't taken any nonfiction or memoir writing classes. I've been basically approaching nonfiction as I would prose fiction, including verbal critiques. Does anyone have other ways that they approach nonfiction/memoir workshopping? Or tips? Or questions about how to approach Y.A., poetry, fiction, that we could all discuss?
Thanks
-Kim

Yesterday's reading was intense...

but you are amazing women. Thank you so much for the great feedback. I appreciate every comment. Some of you are incredibly intuitive readers as well. I don't know how this story is going to play out, what voice I'll use, which details to include or exclude. The process of writing, then reading aloud, then hearing feedback is crucial to my being able to do this work. Scary, but doable--because of all of you. I realized last night that even though I know only some of you, I trust our group as a whole. I might cry sometimes...just so you know....but please continue to be as honest as you can. I do not take offense! Thanks again for yesterday, Martha

my book...

Hi class,
The book whose opening I fell in love with and brought to class but did not read is Mama Makes Up Her Mind and Other Dangers of Southern Living by Bailey White.

It is a memoir, it is hilarious and if you haven't read it yet, you should. The opening isn't just the first two pages, but the first chapter/short story of the book (which is about 2 1/4 pages, so i was close).

Peace,
Alexi

Titles and Authors

Hi Ladies,

I'm not sure if Elmaz and Emily want the titles and authors of the books we chose in comment form or in a separate blog, so my apologies if I'm not doing this correctly.

My book is: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

See you all next week and thanks for all the great input today in the workshop! You ladies rock!

Black fishnets and white snow

In class we talked about a couple of ways juxtaposition of tone and subject creates an emotion, or tension, between what and how something is said. In the opening of Middlesex the narrator lays bare pithy issues ranging from gender identity, rebirth, and social alienation in a detached and journalistic voice, yet in Madeleine is Sleeping we see simple images of sleep and the human figure portrayed through highly dramatic language.

How do you see juxtaposition appear in your own work? It could be between two images portrayed, between images and tone, setting and dialogue, for instance. What kind of tension is created by your use of juxtaposition? And how does that tension serve to drive your piece forward?

Schedule updates:
We're spending the 2/6 class finishing up workshopping our first two pages. Be ready having read Ruby for group discussion on 2/13.

To recap the homework for this week:

1. Send me the titles and authors of the books you chose to model for your first two pages, or post them on the blog yourself. If you send a link to the books themselves, I'll post that too!
   
2. Write a rambling, informal letter to Elmaz and Emily on what you want your thesis to be about by Friday 2/2.
   
3. Breathe.
   
4. Read and write comments on the first two pages submitted by your classmates. This can either be notes in the margins and/or a short written critique, however you are so inspired.
   
5. Maybe start reading Ruby for the 2/13 class.
   
6. Are you still breathing? Phew.
   

e pluribus bloggum

Everyone should now be added to this blog so you can post at will.

The first page.

How do you get your reader committed to reading after the first page?

In the excerpt you've chosen for your "best first two pages" example, what about the first page gripped you? What questions did it raise in your mind that made you want to read on?

Look closely at word choice and tone of the piece. How did the language affect your reaction to the story?