"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt

Monday, April 2, 2012

Response to Kody Blackwell's, "Whatever Gods May Be"

Kody Blackwell’s story, “Whatever Gods May Be” is the story of a small town southern man, named Thomas Abrams, losing his faith. The story begins with vivid imagery of Abrams’ first Sunday as Preacher at his local church. We learn he used to coach Football at the school there and served as a Deacon in the church until he had to step up and serve as the Head Pastor. Things seem to be going swell for him and his wife and then we learn she is pregnant! Time passes and it seems like after his visit to the retirement home is when his change begins. He begins to shift from a devout believer who reads his Bible daily and lives by what it says to a doubting Thomas. Quick aside, I think changing the title to Doubting Thomas would be marvelous. I digress. The story ends with Thomas and his very pregnant wife leaving the church after he walked up to the pulpit and proclaimed he just can’t teach something he doesn’t believe in himself. Because of fear of having no job and a kid on the way he lets Bert pay for them for a while. His wife gives birth to a boy that they name Thomas.

I thought it was a well-developed story with a great setting. I thought your characters were well-portrayed versions of real people here in the South and that made your story and characters easily relatable. What I just couldn’t pinpoint was exactly what made him lose his faith. I understand he began to doubt it but I didn’t quite understand why. Especially when all in his life seems to be going so well! Is it not usually a dramatic life event that causes “religious” folk to waver and at times turn their back on their gods? I want to know how he justified quitting and see more of an internal struggle about it. A little more conflict from those in the community around him after he quits would be nice to. Just a small suggestion: earlier I said change the title to Doubting Thomas but I take that back. Maybe just “Doubt.” I think giving the main character a different Biblical name such as Abraham or maybe Cain if ya want to get real metaphorical and then naming the child Thomas would produce a more powerful effect. I enjoyed reading your writing and again, I hope to read the final product.

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