At this point in the story I’m thinking that things are about to get really heated. After all, we’re talking about a prophesied, possibly world ending battle looming just ahead. So what…who cares? Just because it’s the biggest battle of all time, that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to care. Let me give you a somewhat drawn out explanation of what I felt I was up against. The real life battle of Gettysburg, during the American Civil War, was the biggest, bloodiest, and arguably the most important battle of the war, and therefore probably the resulted in the the eventual Union victory. You’ve all likely heard that before…but…who cares? We don’t tend to care about events unless they’re tied to people. Now, let me tell you about someone who it’s hard not to care about. Colonel Joshua Chamberlain was in charge of the Union’s critical left flank. He and his men were positioned at a location known as Little Round Top. After fierce fighting he and his men were all but out of ammunition and the enemy was coming on strong. Many, if not most, commanders would have called for a retreat. Some would have surrendered. Colonel Chamberlain knew if he lost Little Round Top, the Union might very well lose the battle. The way he saw it, there was only one acceptable alternative…he ordered his men to “fix their bayonets” and let a desperate charge down the hill into the the well armed enemy’s ranks…and won the day. His incredibly brave and selfless act is not one I well ever forget. I heard his story over thirty years ago and I still care about it. That’s what I knew this upcoming battle in the story had to be about…people, not events. I want the readers to look deep into the forest and wonder and worry about the trees. Let’s go see if it’s a chapter worth caring about.
EHLSEWHERE Chapter Twenty Nine
When I started Ehlsewhere I wanted more than anything for it to be a story that matters to the people who read it. I wanted it to matter because it has some good, thought provoking themes, and because the characters are deep and relatable. I will tell you–without having to if you’ve been reading along, that my ability to accomplish that has been hit or miss to this point. I tell myself that this in only first draft and I can raise my writing in future drafts, and I hope that’s true. This chapter gives me hope that it is. I’m very happy with it in almost every respect. Honestly, this reads like second draft material to me. I’m not saying that it’s great writing, but it is some of my best, first draft or otherwise. My biggest criticism on this first read through is that the chapter ended a little abruptly…I may add a final paragraph on what Chahrity’s perspective is on everything that just took place to close it out.
Have a blessed and joyous week,
Mike
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