Thanks again to Tom for curating STSC and for inviting me to submit. I'm experimenting with something new here: a bit of reflective autofiction based on a critical juncture that I've written about previously in my memoir material, e.g. https://bowendwelle.substack.com/p/09-i-let-confusion-in
Thanks Josh, I appreciate your eyes here. As for autofiction, I have no idea really myself, but I guess this assignment sort of took me there. I produced a first draft that was just too traumatic by itself though, and so I had to give it an introspective layer as well.
This line: “It only took about ten or twelve seconds from the first tremor to the final shimmy, like a big dog just out of a lake.”
Having sat through the ‘94 Northridge Earthquake in a restaurant in Hermosa Beach I remember the feeling well. Perfect description.
Powerful piece my friend. I’m sorry it took you to a dark place. You are well acquainted with your own darkness and that makes the light even more spectacular. 🙏
Thanks again to Tom for curating STSC and for inviting me to submit. I'm experimenting with something new here: a bit of reflective autofiction based on a critical juncture that I've written about previously in my memoir material, e.g. https://bowendwelle.substack.com/p/09-i-let-confusion-in
I can't wait to see how this one lands!
Nice closing line! I'm still trying to understand what autofiction is, so I'll file this away in my archive.
Thanks Josh, I appreciate your eyes here. As for autofiction, I have no idea really myself, but I guess this assignment sort of took me there. I produced a first draft that was just too traumatic by itself though, and so I had to give it an introspective layer as well.
Hi Bowen,
I liked this a lot. It reminds me of a book by Kate Atkinson called Life After Life that posits different lives for the same person.
Best,
David
Thanks for reading David, glad you enjoyed the piece! It was sort of hell for me for a few days, glad it turned into something I could share!
"As much as I know that wanting something else is probably the oldest recipe for suffering,..." Thank you 🙏
Glad you enjoyed this, Julie, thanks for reading.
This line: “It only took about ten or twelve seconds from the first tremor to the final shimmy, like a big dog just out of a lake.”
Having sat through the ‘94 Northridge Earthquake in a restaurant in Hermosa Beach I remember the feeling well. Perfect description.
Powerful piece my friend. I’m sorry it took you to a dark place. You are well acquainted with your own darkness and that makes the light even more spectacular. 🙏