I want the truth. That’s what it came down to. Not writing style. Not subject matter. Not even character. Just “Truth”—its complexity, its many facets. It didn’t matter whether the fictional characters knew about the truth, discovered it, stumbled upon it, or were killed by it—that’s not what I was searching for—what mattered is how I discovered or accepted that “Truth.”I’m talking about my top five picks for the Reader’s Choice award at Jason Evan’s Clarity of Night’s “Truth in Wine” contest.
Ironically, my personal favorite, “Vintage” by Jimmie Vee did not make my top five. I desperately tried to justify why it should be my number one pick; however, the discovery of “Truth” rang hollow. Oh sure, I loved the writing style. I loved the story. I certainly could identify with Tripp as he admired his wine bottle, as he drank from it and discovered the wine’s vinegary taste; unfortunately, his deliberate actions did not meet my acceptance of “Truth”. Maybe it was the return of his smile, how it meant an acknowledgment that Vivian had died over nothing, her accusatory voice silenced forever. He felt perfectly comfortable with the outcome. He’ll remain an abuser, a murderer. But to not show disappointment over the wine’s vinegary taste after admiring its contents is to show an absence of “Truth.”
I could go on and on—there were so many excellent entries—but to do so would not change my mind regarding my top five picks. My list includes stories involving female coworkers whose differences blossom, an ex-Vichy accepting his fate once presented with a vial of poison, a young couple's romantic encounter in a barn while their country becomes involved in war, the intimacy between objects after a glass of wine is spilled, and an illegal immigrant’s longing for his homeland, a country he ran away from. Without further ado (and without explanation) here are my top five picks in descending order:
Five: "Exit Strategy" by Angelique H. Caffrey
Four: "Judgment Day" by Peter Dudley
Three: "Truth in Wine" by Bebo
Two: "Intimacy" by Precie
One: "Moussa's Stop" by Dottie Camptown
*Footnote: I posted this after the Reader’s Choice deadline so as not to influence others.
31 comments:
Well, how funny, we have very similar tastes. Two of yours choices, plus you yourself are in my top 5. I'm not so brave as to divulge place. Mostly because all of them could have been number 1 for me, as could have another 5 I didn't get the opportunity to place. Sadly...
After narrowing my list from twenty to ten, things got dicey. I had to keep asking myself, what should I be looking for? What is it that should determine the top five? Answer: "Truth".
By making my picks and placing them, I've come to realize that there are many many more deserving stories. Jason and Jaye really do have their work cut out for themselves. The talent pool keeps improving.
Lastly, thank you for including me in your Readers Choice selection. So, what was my ranking? I know, I know--I thought I'd ask.
All very cool -- and that's the truth.
Truth is where you find it and the truth is that you found it. Nice picks Jim, I even read them all.
*shrug* no one got my vote because I just wasn't looking for anything from the contest other than the writing part of it and once that was done (damn that misplaced comma) I was finished.
I do hope though that you and some of your picks get the nod though.
I had Exit Strategy as 1, you as 2, Pete as 3. I had Precie and Dottie on my very short list by the way, but like you said, there were so many deserving stories. I had other things help me determine, using rules for what flash fiction is, I needed a clear beginning, middle and end, with conflict, tension, and a clear resolution. It came down to needing to be surprised at the very end. Some of my very favorites didn't make my top 5 as a result because they felt more like vignettes than flash.
Wow! Number 2 eh? The biggest concern I had with my flash-fiction piece: Too much dialogue. With a 250 word maximum, dialogue tends to take away from writing style.
"Exit Strategy" certainly meets your criteria: clear beginning, middle and end, with conflict, tension, and a clear resolution.
Thanks for sharing.
In your case the dialogue worked. I liked the subtle way I discovered the POV was a mailman. I enjoyed the set up. I could see the setting with the cooler on the uncut grass, the house, the kids, the whole thing. You writing style was just used sparingly, but with just enough power to see there was one. Things such as 'last street before lunch'. I am remembering all of this without rereading, so that should tell you how well it stuck. Powerful story there JR.
I'll be honest. I have different criteria in my voting than most and probably different than Jason.
My biggest criteria is the story. I want a good story. I want to be entertained.
"Writing" is part of my equation, but it's not my top criteria. I'd rather have a good story than a well written piece.
Everybody has something different that works for them, though. Thanks for sharing yours.
Struggling Writer,
A good story was definitely the starting point in choosing my top twenty, but then I had to ask myself how well those stories conveyed the "Truth in Wine" theme.
So ... you don't have to answer ... what picks did you make? There's no such thing as a dumb question, right?
I regret that I wasn't able to take part or to read all the entries this time. The ones I did read were quite inventive.
JR--Wow! Thank you for the vote of confidence! It's interesting that, while you're in my top 5, we only share one entry in our lists.
When the selection process became nigh impossible for me (probably around my top 15), I ended up favoring pieces that, to me, felt like they carried much more weight than 250 would seem capable of. All of my top 5 did much more than tell a strong story with vivid character development...they all made the reader reach beyond the words. (My literary fiction inclinations are showing.)
Precie,
I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the story we share on our lists is the winner. Which one is it?
To be congruent with -the walking man- the truth is as you feel.
_In my sallow mind, though, what you feel, is the balance of sight and conscience. Truth isn't programmed into you by some vagrant outside influance, it's an inherent function that can cause pain to the holder of that truth, and others.
_JR... I believe that is how you
arrived at your choices and as you said, "Answer: 'Truth'."
_m
Hey Magyar,
You are absolutely correct: Truth is what you feel. I'm in constant contact with convicted felons, which is probably why my top five didn't include a personal favorite. Even the hardest of criminals have regrets.
When I met famous flim-flam man Clifford Irving (phoney biography of Howard Hughes) he said most poets come frequently accompanied by a lyre
Geez. I had this liar right in front of me.
And did he make money! Till he was caught.
Hell of a good drinking companion anyway in the blue hills of Mexico.
JRT - I am beyond honored to have made your top 5 among so many deserving works. My goal in writing this was to be true to the characters, as it's actually taken from a longer (possibly novel length) work. It's nice to know that "truth" rang through even in this short piece.
Thank you.
Probably no surprise. Reigning champ Pete's "Judgment Day." Coincidentally, I put it at #4 too. If he doesn't place, I'll eat my hat.
Three of your five made my top 5 too, although we used completely different criteria in selecting them. I like your reasoning - seems a lot more solid than mine ;-)
Jr,
I read your top five and enjoyed them all. I shall have to come back and read all the entries as time permits, but considering what I have read already, I have no choice. I am hooked.
T
Great stories. As always, I am impressed by writers who can do flash and make it work. I look forward to hearing the outcome, but all the participants are winners in my book. I sound like a bleeding heart now...hee hee. But it does take a lot of guts (I don't have) to put it out there...and a lot of sweat. Awesome work.
Precie,
That would mean back-to-back top honors. I liked the set-up and the setting of his flash. In fact, I would've ranked his flash even higher, except I felt he was trying to do too much in that first paragraph. I liked how the Vichy had to deal with his past when presented with that vial of poison; how the truth in the wine was his betrayal of his fellow countryman.
Terri,
... and the three were? ... and the criteria used?
Oh, now I've got to go read these! You stay so busy. How is work going? Family doing well? Take care. D
Hey Donnetta,
Although I haven't taken a vacation in two years, I'm not that busy. Work is now a loony bin. The inmate who assaulted one of our secretaries (prior post) has been shipped to a higher level prison. With a 40-70 year sentence and 7 CSC's, he's got nothin' comin'. Family's great, always will be.
Congratulations on your much deserved win! It truly is a great piece!
Congratulations on winning the competition!
Congratulations on winning the contest!
Way to go, JR, on your winning entry!
Congratulations!!!! Absolutely well-deserved!
Congrats on winning first place.
You well deserve it. MW :)
Congratulations on your success! I am tipping a glass of wine tonight in your honor.
Hey JR,
Well done.
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