Bonnie Jo Campbell's American Salvage was the 2009 National Book Award winner. The collection supports the lesson that a writer can imaginatively explore contemporary life with restraint.
Restraint in plot is important. You do not want to overstretch the action happening in your story, especially if you are not writing with a fantasy, sci-fi, magical realist slant.
I'd like you to read "The Trespasser" from Campbell's collection to discuss next class.
I'd also like you to read Junot Diaz' "Alma," which gives you a larger view of today's literary landscape. Diaz writing style is, to say the least, less restrained than Campbell's in many ways. Here, we see contradiction. Contradiction for the writer is necessary. Despite the unrestrained dialogue and exposition for which Diaz is becoming more infamous, the plot of "Alma" is quite basic.
Additionally, read chapter 4 in The Art of Fiction.
Additionally, read chapter 4 in The Art of Fiction.
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