On today’s Raw Reading, Alida Winternheimer reads from her current work-in-progress, working title, Playing with the Wind.

Playing with the Wind is a historical novel set in 1920s and 1930s Minnesota. After watching the video clip, read the author’s reflections on this particular text.

Raw Reading

Reflection

In today’s Raw Reading, my protagonist comes to a decision. How do you show the reader that a major choice, one that changes your hero’s arc and advances the plot, is being made?

Well, you do not write: Edie decided to go to Canada.

In this brief excerpt we glimpse the world Edie is going to leave behind and it’s none to shiny. Edie is exhausted, frazzled, doing her best to take care of a small child, and she had no choice but to bring said child, Sparrow, to work with her. It’s not appreciated and in the face of all that chaos and criticism, Edie hears the call: “three notes trumpeted promise, relief, a new life: Canada. Canada. Canada!”

Not only does this show the reader Edie’s decision, it reveals her feelings and what Canada or the idea of it means to her.

This is a first draft. To what extent these words will need revision later remains to be seen. All material herein is copyrighted. © Alida Winternheimer 2021