[authorafrica] Re: Caine Prize's wining piece
- From: "Mulholland" <balloons_210a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <authorafrica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:31:50 +1000
Bravo Velentino!
Best regards,
Ken Mulholland.
----- Original Message -----
From: <ffsd@xxxxxxxx>
To: <authorafrica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, 25 July 2005 6:04
Subject: [authorafrica] Re: Caine Prize's wining piece
> My dear friends,
>
> Like the rest of us, I have taken time to read again and again Segun
> Afolabi's 'Monday Morning'. And my view ...my view is this: the story is
> not extra-ordinary, themetically that is. It is simply about a family
> fleeing unrest in their country and how they try to adapt to a new
culture.
>
> What is however extra-ordinary about the story is its presentation, the
> plate he served the meal in! And I think this is where he nailed all of
us.
> Segun understands what a short story is!!! Until recenetly, I thought I
> did!
>
> Segun did not waste time begining his story! Did you guys hear me? He did
> not waste time beginning his story. He began and started running with it.
> The reader had no choice, but to run after him. Who is the little boy?
This
> Emmanuel, this rude Emmanuel, who is he? Why are they where they are? What
> drove them away ...it is one question after another!! We are trapped into
> reading on. Then you discover that the mother has one hand chopped off,
and
> you want to swallow the story!!!
>
> Segun succeeded in doing very well something we are adviced against in
> creative writing: seeing through the minds of each and every single
> character, because, then we would confuse our readers. We are told it is
> not adviceable to have every character as a viewpoint character. Segun
> disregarded this rule. This is a monumental achievement for him, because
he
> succeeded, in that we are not so confused after all. And the judges must
> have marvelled that he was able to do this. I believe that because Segun
> was seeing through each and every mind, he decided to cut down on
dialogue,
> using exposition rather. It was an experiment. I belive, he said, 'Let me
> try this style out and see!' And it worked!!!
>
> I think we should tell ourselves something: Even though the rule says,
> 3,000-10,000 words, we should assume we do not have the luxury of Dr.
> Cook's website, that we are writing for a magazine which would not publish
> our stories if it exceeds 4,500 words. That way, we woun't go rambling,
> like I did in my story, 'The Lone Crusader', which I am now revising.
>
> The point that I am making is that we should begin our stories as late as
> possible, using flashback to inform readers of things that had happened in
> the past. And our stories should have something to say about human
> conditions: that is the essence of literature. Our stories should reveal
> something about humanity. Most stories don't manage to do that. And
> therefore do not serve their purposes.
>
> I think we will be lucky this time around. Let us take closer looks at
> exceptional short stories we have read before and ask ourselves again why
> they succeeded. This is how we will begin to master the craft of short
> story writing. This lady that was shortlisted last year and this year, if
> only we can read her stories and see how she managed to be shortlisted
> twice at a roll.
>
>
> To me now, the issue is not principally about winning the Caine Prize or
> any prize for that matter, but rather, writing a story that I can be proud
> of. Who said writing short stories is easy? Novels are better. Then we can
> ramble and ramble and ramble and hope that our readers don't fall asleep.
>
> I hope I have not offended any one. We are one family now. We cannot all
> see the same thing at the same time. Therefore, what I see I must tell
> others. Then, no one is left behind.
>
> Segun Afolabi was precise, with his thoughts, language!! And all the other
> Caine Prize winners were!!!
>
> Stay blessed.
>
> Valentino.
>
>
>
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: john oryem oryemjohn@xxxxxxxxx
> Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:29:57 -0700 (PDT)
> To: authorafrica@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [authorafrica] Re: Caine Prize's wining piece
>
>
>
> Dear Writers,
>
> Great thanks to our brother Aniettie Isong for providing us with Segun
> Afolabi's winning story; Monday Monrning. Like Valentine Umelo and any of
> us there, I tried everywhere to get the story as soon as it appeared in
the
> short list. I failed gloriously. Being an avid listener of the BBC
> programs, I followed the story twice on African Perspective.
>
> The story was simple and exact. One would sympathize with the characters.
> The Father and the stubborn, the Mother all had their experiences. I could
> have located the country of the family's origin because of the closeness
of
> the story to Africa's life.
>
> As of the story winning the prize this year, it is surprising for me. The
> judgment is mine. If you read past entries that made it to short lists in
> previous years, you may come to my conclusion.
>
> Did the story make a difference in me? Yes, am encouraged to write more
> stories whether they win or not, I shall write. May be I have to present
my
> stories as simple as Segun Afolabi's. There are always surprises with
> judges and critics who read our writings. If I'm to choose a better story
> as a judge, I will go for a story written by a familiar writer in his or
> her environment and circumstance. Remain original in your writings. Don't
> imitate S. Afolabi for the next submissions.
>
> Have your day in full!
>
> John Oryem
>
>
>
>
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