Spinning Closer

Just a progress report on the collection. I have now decided on 15 stories - I wanted to include a couple of more to increase the word count, and I re-examined the theme of the collection. My initial thoughts were that the collection had a lot to do with memory. But that seemed like a hard one to pin down. I guess in a sense, all stories deal with memory - event happening in the past, and the recent past are recalled (even if that past is only seconds old).

A few readers have commented on my work dealing with redemption. I have been rolling that around in my head and it does seem to fit.

Anyway, here is the new story line-up and the projected order. De-Organization of Bob is the major story that has been added and is also my favorite title.

1. Plate-Spinner
2. Why Wyoming
3. Dunked
4. The Days Are Numbered
5. Reap
6. We're here For You
7. Samurai Bluegrass
8. Bare-Ass Bridge
9. The De-Organization of Bob
10. Junkman
11. Broomstick Limbo
12. Prophet
13. Get Your Head in the Game
14. Shuffle
15. Ziggurat

Comments

[Lisa]

You are moving forward. Always a good direction. So, How did you choose the order of the stories? I know I have read a lot of them, but my memory isn't good enough to pick out a reason for your order. Just curious.

[craig]

Hi Lisa - I based the order on a few different criteria - the theme of the stories, type of narrator and length.

The theme of the collection has shifted somewhat, and I do think the title story lays it out the best: obsession.

The past and memory play into this idea. Of course I wanted top mix up the length a bit, as well as male/female/kid narrator. I also have heard to start with your strongest story - I think Why Wyoming and The Plate Spinner are probably the two strongest. Ziggurat has a redemptive finality to it that made it an obvious choice for the last story.

In a way, the order just feels right - but I may be shifting some of those interior stories around once I read through the whole manuscript.