Pure Writerly Moments 2 (Short Stories, Essays, Book Reviews, and More)

Harry Whitewolf reads - Statues in the Cloud

After working so hard on a book, it's comforting to know that at least one person has read it. My book now exists in at least one person's head. It's also comforting to know that you can rely on people for that all important thing called feedback, revision, editing, and criticism. With Harry's permission, I will now share his thoughts on the 6th draft of "Statues in the Cloud".

Here is Harry's reaction to the book:

Sorry to take a while to proof your book, but I have now finished. Find the document attached.Some "corrections" were more of a choice, so feel free to use or ignore any. Occasionally, I made a change once and not again. For instance, I changed "tile" to "tiles" but later realised that "tile" is an acceptable pluralisation in American English.

The only running thing I didn't change was your use of ellipsis. I believe the correct thing is to use three dots and then leave a space between the next sentence. And also not to use them in conjunction with other punctuation. i.e: "What is this?...I don't know." You shouldn't use ellipses after something like a question mark. So, you often do that. And you often use four dots instead of three. But I really don't think it matters at all, as you use the dots so frequently that it just becomes a part of your style. So, I'd leave them as they are, but thought it was worth mentioning.

I loved the book mate. I mean, I really loved it! I believe it is the best thing you've written hands-down. So may wonderful ideas. So beautifully written. Aya was such as wonderfully drawn character, and her relationship with the writer. I totally felt like she was a real person. And even found myself getting emotional at times. As for the whole story, it was so brilliantly crafted. At the start, it didn't matter at all that there seemed to be little connection between the stories being written, and then you pull it all together so well with the introduction of the LISA story line and the island. I haven't a bad word to say about it. And the way you approach reality, fiction, and timelines and how realness and non-reality permeates everything was excellently executed.I also liked the fact that I feel I've gotten to know you well through your writing, having read all your books. Like, we've never conversed much about our personal lives in any depth, but with recurring themes like your dad, Lester, becoming an adult and all that stuff, I feel like I can read between the lines and get a good sense of who you are and the challenges you've faced in life. Sometimes, very akin to my own life. And it's perhaps better to get to know one another through fiction, as often reality is better told in fiction.

I particularly liked this line from the book, as it's something that very much applies to me at the mo: "Maybe the thing that keeps people away from you is also the thing that makes people near you love you the most."

All the very best,

Harry.

Who is Harry Whitewolf? 

Learn more about the poet, hippie, writer here: https://www.harrywhitewolf.com/