Extra Assignment (Invisible Ink, Chapter 5, by Brian McDonald):
Read Chapter 5 of Invisible Ink. Please write a short story using Brian McDonald’s “Seven Easy Steps to a Better Story”. Please feel free to also read Chapter 2 (very short) that describes the “Seven Easy Steps to a Better Story” technique we used in the lectures in detail. You are welcome to make your story as long and complex as you want, but we would like you to write at least ~500 words. The story can be a complete or incomplete story.
“You are a monster! A heartless monster!” I screamed at the driver’s seat while angrily got out of the car. As I was about to slam the door, I glance at the front seat on the right where my sister remained silent. It didn’t take me any moment longer, I flung the car’s door shut and started walking away from the direction of home, where we were supposed to be heading. The door from the driver side popped open, screaming “You are fucking ridiculous, is this necessary?” was her husband, my brother-in-law (or whatever.) “I thought you are my family!,” I could barely hear what I said any more, or see clearly through the tears streaming down my face. He tossed my suitcase onto the sidewalk, said his last bits before driving away, “You were never my family.” I broke down, searched both pockets and reached for my phone. Thank God, Le picked up.
Nights in Saigon are always hot and humid in June.
***
“Here.” Le handed me her artsy teacup, “I’m gonna brush my teeth real quick then I’ll be right back, okay?” I watched her boxy t-shirt disappeared behind the bathroom door. The cup is hot in my hands. The quiet in her apartment makes my mind wanders again.
Le and I have known each other since high school. Gosh, that was six years ago. We bonded quickly cause we both loved drawing and read graphic novels secretly in class. I forgot since when have we gotten so close. Every time that I would be having trouble with my family, she was there for hours of my teary vents, or silently scrolling her phone next to me when I needed to be with someone. I found her present comforting, no matter what she’s doing in the room. She was the one motivated me to apply for college abroad. My family has the means to afford it and wanted me to get a degree elsewhere anyway. Every summer I got back home, needless to say, I would be talking in tears to Le at least once through the phone. Through the hugs she greeted me at her apartment’s door that I found where my emotions are not astray.
This night though, she let me sleepover. I had never fought with the members of my family where I left this abruptly. The thought of my own sister who seemingly ignoring the back and forth between me and her husband about how our dad was treated when he got sick. The conversation in the car went horrible and I didn’t want to look at her husband again, though it is impossible since they both live in my parents’ house. For as long as I have known Dan, when he was still her best friend and not-yet-husband, I always knew that he was hotheaded, but would never have expected him to direct his outburst at me.
After that night and the rest of my summer, I spent time with my family members individually. Since then, my sister has apologized, but her husband has been avoiding me. I felt that I was doing the same- we were never in the same room.
[…]
Reading Highlights:
Below are the core highlights/sections of the two chapters mentioned in this assignment.
Invisible Ink, Chapter 2, by Brian McDonald (p. 14 – 16):
- SEVEN EASY STEPS TO A BETTER STORY
- ONCE UPON A TIME…
- And Every Day…
- UNTIL ONE DAY…
- AND BECAUSE OF THIS…
- AND BECAUSE OF THIS…
- UNTIL FINALLY…
- AND EVER SINCE THAT DAY…
Invisible Ink, Chapter 5, by Brian McDonald (p. 103):
- TELL THE TRUTH
- THE MASCULINE AND THE FEMININE
- DRAMA IN REAL LIFE
- THE MYTH OF GENRE
- CLIMAX
- GOD FROM THE MACHINE
- SUPPORTING PLOTS (SUB-PLOTS)
- SLAVE, NOT MASTER
