"Scar" began during our recent Art Lab writing retreat. There was an exercise where pairs of writers interviewed each other and used the notes for a spontaneous write. It's a deep pleasure collaborating with Sari, who has welcomed another new form in another new life. I'm happy you enjoyed the story!
So very much--How fabulous Sari and Oldster and all these collaborations are...I feel fortunate to be part of this community...thank you for your lovely contribution.
Thanks, dear Janet. Please feel free to come to one of the Zoom conversations on writing craft. The next one is on June 22 from 3 to 4 EST. People are invited to send ahead questions about their own projects. For more info, you can email me at lauriestone@substack.com. Chers!
What a novelty to find a scar as a talisman for a positive memory; being allowed barefoot freedom as a child.
Such a lovely vignette. Thank you all.
I still have an obvious scar from a childhood negligence situation, so have clearly gotten stuck in negative connotations of the word. But yes! I’ve got some adventuresome and hilarious scars too. I’ll think about those today. Good comic material…
My favorite might be the high school one I got diving down into a ditch while toilet papering my best friend’s house, at her request! Her dad was a real creep, religious professor on the outside, cheater and violent abuser inside. It was encouraged in that cult.
Or the boxcutter one, from building out a business, that looked exactly like the anatomy skin diagrams when I opened it up, same colors and everything, until the bleeding… Science nerd! The accountant was in that day and nearly fainted when I came to him asking for a ride to ER “This is really interesting. You know it looks just like…” 🙄
ALL the surgical ones are boring, best left to the medical records, except that I used to joke as a kid that my 7” hip to hip scar was a smile with a belly button nose and nipple googly eyes. Ahhh. I see now why it always landed with a thud. Stopped telling that one when the ‘eyes’ became 3D! 🤣
this is so wonderful and alive. i love how the story kept volleying from past to future, daughter to mother, what might have happened or not. it makes me feel the magic of seeing with our minds.
While working in Riyadh, I made the mistake of briefly stepping onto blacktop around 10am. I think I actually FLEW across the road after taking the first step or two. It was 120 F (48.9 C) in the SHADE. I blistered my feet.
Well that's what fiction is after all, right? A deep dive into reality? It was the reality of it that stirred the feelings for me. If it's not true for you, it's true for someone, somewhere.
This is the best description I’ve ever seen regarding fiction!
Wow
While reading ’educational’ material pre-retirement, I only began the decadence of recreational reading a decade ago. Our remarkable library system has a “Peak Picks” of librarian recommended books. Oh my! The vivid worlds I have been to.
An early unforgettable work was “The Island of Sea Women”, by Lisa See. I still shiver at the deep cold and flinch at the military threats. So REAL.
Hey, everyone. Laurie's account was hacked. That's what the Whatsapp comments were. I've deleted them, and she's reported it. Thanks. - Sari
Woah. That delivered a punchline I didn't see coming. (And along with it, some tears.) Beautiful.
"Scar" began during our recent Art Lab writing retreat. There was an exercise where pairs of writers interviewed each other and used the notes for a spontaneous write. It's a deep pleasure collaborating with Sari, who has welcomed another new form in another new life. I'm happy you enjoyed the story!
So very much--How fabulous Sari and Oldster and all these collaborations are...I feel fortunate to be part of this community...thank you for your lovely contribution.
<3
Thanks, dear Diana. Please let me know if you'd ever like to come to a Zoom conversation about writing craft. The next one is on June 22 from 3 to 4.
Writing about yourself in 3rd person really helped me understand how you look back. I enjoyed this one so much 👍👍
This is entirely a fiction. Not about me at all! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Wow, even better! You drew me in w your great writing.
Gorgeous writing. Wow.
Thanks so much!
Wonderful storytelling. I will read anything Laurie Stone writes.
And thanks, Sari, for pulling this all together.
Thanks, Ruth, please come to a Zoom conversation on writing craft some time. The next one is on June 22 from 3 to 4 EST.
<3
Same!!
The writer allowed me in, following and standing in the corner, invisible. Amazing!
You nailed it. That's the device.
The gorgeous writing I always look forward to reading from you. I love this.
Thanks, dear Janet. Please feel free to come to one of the Zoom conversations on writing craft. The next one is on June 22 from 3 to 4 EST. People are invited to send ahead questions about their own projects. For more info, you can email me at lauriestone@substack.com. Chers!
concise and to the point and packed full of provacative thoughts. Thank you.
Thanks for having fun with another form in Another New Life!
ok. I did.
I'm confused . . . you did what?
What a novelty to find a scar as a talisman for a positive memory; being allowed barefoot freedom as a child.
Such a lovely vignette. Thank you all.
I still have an obvious scar from a childhood negligence situation, so have clearly gotten stuck in negative connotations of the word. But yes! I’ve got some adventuresome and hilarious scars too. I’ll think about those today. Good comic material…
My favorite might be the high school one I got diving down into a ditch while toilet papering my best friend’s house, at her request! Her dad was a real creep, religious professor on the outside, cheater and violent abuser inside. It was encouraged in that cult.
Or the boxcutter one, from building out a business, that looked exactly like the anatomy skin diagrams when I opened it up, same colors and everything, until the bleeding… Science nerd! The accountant was in that day and nearly fainted when I came to him asking for a ride to ER “This is really interesting. You know it looks just like…” 🙄
ALL the surgical ones are boring, best left to the medical records, except that I used to joke as a kid that my 7” hip to hip scar was a smile with a belly button nose and nipple googly eyes. Ahhh. I see now why it always landed with a thud. Stopped telling that one when the ‘eyes’ became 3D! 🤣
Such an incredible piece, Laurie. I'm deeply moved. Thank you.
this is so wonderful and alive. i love how the story kept volleying from past to future, daughter to mother, what might have happened or not. it makes me feel the magic of seeing with our minds.
This began with a write during the retreat, based on a story about the other writer’s scar. With her permission, I turned it into this. xxL
it's so good, laurie. so dexterous and playful and poignant.
This is a beautiful essay on love and living. Thank you.
Thanks, it’s a fiction story, though, not an essay.
Thanks for the correction. Regardless, it's beautiful.
I love Laurie Stone's writing. Thank you for featuring it regularly.
A pleasure.
Exactly.
(Substack has suddenly blocked my ability to just ‘like’ any post on the whole platform.)
Laurie and Sari,
Beautiful, spare writing. I love the way the opening event circles back to the end, ingenioisly carrying so much emotion and life along with with it.
Glad you enjoyed this, David.
While working in Riyadh, I made the mistake of briefly stepping onto blacktop around 10am. I think I actually FLEW across the road after taking the first step or two. It was 120 F (48.9 C) in the SHADE. I blistered my feet.
Well that's what fiction is after all, right? A deep dive into reality? It was the reality of it that stirred the feelings for me. If it's not true for you, it's true for someone, somewhere.
This is the best description I’ve ever seen regarding fiction!
Wow
While reading ’educational’ material pre-retirement, I only began the decadence of recreational reading a decade ago. Our remarkable library system has a “Peak Picks” of librarian recommended books. Oh my! The vivid worlds I have been to.
An early unforgettable work was “The Island of Sea Women”, by Lisa See. I still shiver at the deep cold and flinch at the military threats. So REAL.