Short Story Spotlight: Green is Green
As I mentioned before, I have an ever-growing repository of short stories that I am interested in reworking into at least one anthology at some point in the future. Green is Green is one such story that, with the help of the weekly writing group I attend (I LOVE public libraries!) I have a very clear idea how to improve.
Where the Story is Now
Here's a quick overview:
In a world where everyone is named after an adverb, a child named Anxiously fights against the restrictions placed on her and others by the government. Everyone is expected to live according to their adverb name at all times. Her mothers, Overconfidently and Courageously, bulldoze their way through life without a thought for the consequences, and her little brother, Strictly, struggles to closely follow rules that are beyond his ability to comprehend at such a tender age.
Anxiously has a secret. She knows, in her heart, that her name is actually Scientifically, something that a teacher at her school helped her to understand.
But there are consequences for failing to live up to your name, and Anxiously/Scientifically has to make a decision to face up to them, or keep living an inauthentic life.
You can read Green is Green in its current form at Reedsy.com, where I try to publish at least one story a month.
Where the Story is Going
With the help of my writing group, I've realized the following:
- I need to spend more time building out the context for this strange, dystopian world. Why is it the way it is? Why do they have such a strange naming convention, and why does it matter to the government if you don't live as you're named?
- The switches between the court scene and the rest of the story are abrupt and need a bit more attention.
- The names are difficult to keep track of, especially when comparing 'real' names to 'nicks,' so spending more time establishing this aspect of the world would also be helpful.
By the time I'm done, I expect the story to be both longer and more fulfilling as a narrative.
Now, to find the time. . . 🕰️
