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Themes and Deviations's avatar

Why is it that the worse it gets, the better we like the story? Maybe like is the wrong word; maybe compelling is a better word.

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Themes and Deviations's avatar

Yeah, everyone loves a train wreck. It’s so far out of the ordinary that you can’t bear to look and you can’t bear to look away.

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C. James Desmond's avatar

Joseph is a beautiful train wreck.

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C. James Desmond's avatar

Controversy sells.

I've found that the more fucked up Joseph is, the better response I receive. For example--chapter one, "SUPERMARKET," opens the book with Joseph at his worst, in the throes of dopesickness, rushing into a public bathroom to get right. Sixty likes. Thousands of views. About twenty comments. The next chapter, which begins the story of his childhood--not even half that.

The thing is: one does not work without the other. The chapters are just pieces of the picture. Together they tell a larger story.

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Paul Clayton's avatar

Just bought a kindle copy. Hope it’s good. I’ll read it when I’m finished my current read—Crime and Punishment.

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C. James Desmond's avatar

Thanks so much, Paul!

It'll certainly be a juxtaposition to Crime And Punishment, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

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Paul Clayton's avatar

Good. I'm encouraged that you launched it on your own, without a big publishing corporation. Been trying to get a publishing contract for my own latest, The Fake Memoir of a Mid-List Writer, but after 18 months of pitching it, no cigar. So I'll give it another three months and then publish it myself.

You might want to consider a post about your 'writer self' and your road to publication. It might encourage others, or maybe not.

Anyway, good luck!

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C. James Desmond's avatar

I like the title!

Frankly, I don't really care about encouraging others. I'm not here to teach or advise, I'm here to showcase my words.

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Paul Clayton's avatar

Okay. I get it.

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C. James Desmond's avatar

People need to put in the effort and find their own way. That's my opinion, at least.

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Paul Clayton's avatar

Yes, put in the effort to write well and tell a story. But I'm in favor of 'every man for himself.' I think writers should help each other, if possible.

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Parker McCoy's avatar

I'm definitely picturing somebody finding him in the jeep. Nice tension...

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C. James Desmond's avatar

This is one of the chapters that is more fact than fiction. I still have my journal from the time I based this on. 2016. Nearly a decade ago.

This is from the journal, verbatim:

"I met a girl named Abi at the charging station outside of the CVS in Harvard Square. She was shy and cute and we talked for about an hour until 11:30 PM. I was high and half drunk, but the conversation grounded me immensely. After she left I wandered around Cambridge and broke into about 20 different cars.

I only stole change.

That's a good line.

After I hit every car within a mile of the square I found an open garage and slept in the back of a Jeep until around 6:00 AM. It's even more pathetic now that I've put it into words and written it so simply.

And no, I did not sleep.

I just lay awake in a stupor wondering if the owner would come out and call the cops on me.

I could use a drink but my stomach is still aching from that cheap sugary wine."

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A.mlek Alhendi's avatar

Beautiful narration that describes the scene with words of quality.Hd

While reading, we walked with you step by step and smelled the spoiled wine.

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Mar 14
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C. James Desmond's avatar

My honest opinion: it's bad.

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Mar 14
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C. James Desmond's avatar

No.

This isn't an advice column.

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Mar 14
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C. James Desmond's avatar

"You are better of without me....

I have sinned

I have been a saint

They say the worst thing is to love someone who doesn't love you back

Such simplistic fools

Fools who haven't lived

The worst thing is to love someone who doesn't want to be loved

For they will destroy you together with themself

It's like a wave crushing against a rock"

Cliche. Cliche. Cliche. Cliche.

Also, it's "off."

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Mar 14
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