August 2009 Week One; Brigit's Flame

[amri]

For: brigits_flame
Prompt: Smoke and Mirrors
Date: August 2009 Week One
FYI: Behind a cut to save friends' lists.
A/N: This is a true story. This is not told for sympathy. It is a tale of survival.I come from West Virginia. I wasn’t born there but I lived there long enough to call it home. I did a lot of things in my life because it was expected. Marry

Comments

[lacruciverbiste]

What a creative use of this week's prompt. I love the idea of a fire being central to this story. It really went along with the week's idea that "things aren't always what they seem," when the main character finds out that the fire that destroyed her belongings and almost killed her actually saved her life because it got her out of West Virginia.

Good luck this week!

~La Cruciverbiste
http://lacruciverbiste.livejournal.com/6199.html

[amri]

Thank you so much for your comment. I had thought of a few possibilities, including a fantasy story but the non-fiction possibility jumped out at me the strongest.

[aine_marihugh]

I absolutely adore nonfiction and I'm so glad that you went with it for this week's prompt.

I have a weakness for stories that express gratitude for things that could just as easily be seen as misfortunes.

Thank you so much for deciding to go with this for this week's prompt. I really enjoyed your story and I'm so glad for you that your life took the turn that it did.

[aine_marihugh]

Oh, crap. This is innana88, by the way. I'm commenting from my writing journal.

[mermaidbia]

I gotta repeat what La Cruciverbiste said - this use of the prompt was terrific, the writing honest, cool and understated, hiding the pain beneath. I like how you did not go for the drama of the situation. Good job!

[amri]

Thank you very much for your comment - I appreciate it!

[mullvaney]

Holy cow! I'm glad you made it out alive, and can write about it here!

[amri]

Thank you!

[amri]

Thank you for your kind words.

[ephemeralbreath]

Hello, amri. I'm Kelly and I'll be your editor this week.

I really like how you started here: "I come from West Virginia." It ties in well with the ending of the story.

I didn't really understand the "nowhere door." Is it one of those old-style apartments that have doors that open to walls? But then how did the firefighters get in from it? Maybe I'm reading this incorrectly, but I'm not really sure what's going on.

Overall, this piece was very strong in its content. I can't believe that happened to you! I'm glad you got out of it safe and out of West Virginia. I really feel what you're saying at the end -- it is our hardships that make us truly appreciate all that we have.

Good luck this week,
Kelly

[amri]

Thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate it.

I almost went into more description about the nowhere door but I felt like it would distract from the tale. It's actually a door that should've gone to a fire escape but it didn't. It was more like a door sized screened-in window.