Comments on: The Carver’s Daughter

By: karen from mentor

karen from mentor — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:21:44 +0000

Chris,
I thought that this was such a beautiful piece. You really captured the daughter’s voice. The funny thing is since I had no frame of reference for YOU, I thought that this was written by a female. Then when I saw that you are indeed a man, I was even more impressed at the way you captured the father/daughter connection.

I think that being able to write from either a male or female perspective regardless of your own gender is the mark of really good writing.

thanks for sharing!
Karen :0)

By: Uncle Tee

Uncle Tee — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:12:15 +0000

Beautifully written, great story. Brings back memories of my first jack knife. Her father sounds like a great mentor.

Mine:
http://uncleteebooks.blogspot.com/2009/09/fiction-friday-september-4-2009.html

By: Pippa Hennessy

Pippa Hennessy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:14:09 +0000

Chris, that’s a beautiful story. I love carved wooden things (anything really) and I’d love to have the talent you describe so well. I’m reading LE Modesitt’s Saga of Recluce at the moment (it’s not very good really), he describes a lot of crafting, particularly smithing but also woodcrafting, and you’ve got more of the heart and soul of it in that short piece than he’s put into umpteen books!

By: Stephen Book

Stephen Book — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:05:59 +0000

Chris,

This is a wonderful and reflective story. Look how many have already remembered their own fathers because of your story, and what an awesome gift that is. Like Shannon and others, I was thinking about how much writing is like carving wood. A job well done here. Thank you for sharing what the prompt inspired out of you.

By: Eric J. Krause

Eric J. Krause — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:34:13 +0000

Excellent story! Beautifully written and a very nice narrative on how important it is at times to show patience.

By: netta

netta — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:31:32 +0000

What can I say that hasn’t been said already? Chris, this is just beautiful, and really well done. I had to grab for the tissues. You strum each and every heartstring in this story, you rotten guy.

*sniffle*

By: admin

admin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:40:54 +0000

Thanks Judy, I’ll have to give that some thought. The dialogue helped with a couple of problems. I wanted a transition into the present time and also wanted to show that the torch has been passed down from father to daughter and now to daughter. You’ve given me something to think on. I always appreciate suggestions and critiques so thank you for that. I’m glad you enjoyed the story.

By: judy b.

judy b. — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:00:27 +0000

Sorry to comment yet again, but I neglected to say that I like this story very much.

By: judy b.

judy b. — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:59:36 +0000

One thought: Using dialogue to reveal what the statue is is not as strong as letting the characters and the statue speak for themselves. If you cut this dialogue, the images have more space to resonate:

“Is that a new statue, Mama? Is it for Grandpa’s funeral?”

Beth nodded and turned to her daughter. She smiled through red brimmed eyes.

“Yes it is. Do you like it?”

“Yeah, it looks just like him.”

By: judy b.

judy b. — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:55:30 +0000

I like how the story is revealed slowly, on its own time, just as the sculptures emerge from the wood.