On Writing & Storytelling: Epistolary, or Narrative? I’m Still Undecided….

Late Morning, Friday, October 13, 2023, Lithia, Florida

Hi, everyone, and welcome to another edition of A Certain Point of View, Too. I hope you are all well on this last day of the workweek – and that you’re not superstitious, considering that today is – at least on this side of the International Dateline – Friday the 13^th.

On Writing and Storytelling: Gingerly Stepping into the Epistolary Style

As of right now, I still have not made a final decision regarding what style I want to use for Reunion: Coda’s 12^th chapter.  There are two approaches I am considering: epistolary (telling the story as a series of emails between two characters), or sticking to the same narrative style I’ve used throughout the novel.

The epistolary approach appeals to me not only because it highlights the fact that this part of the story takes place at the turn of the century, and emails began replacing “snail mail” as a form of personal communication in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Jim-and-Maddie segments are set in the early spring of 2000, or two years after the events of Reunion: A Story, so it makes sense for them to communicate via the Internet at a time when they are separated not just by their careers but also by the Atlantic Ocean, at least temporarily.

As I mentioned yesterday, this is not a new technique; Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a good example of an epistolary novel because it’s presented as a series of letters, diaries, and even late 19th-century recordings. More recently, Matt Beaumont wrote e: A Novel (Plume Books, 2000) as a series of emails exchanged by the executives and employees of a fictional advertising agency in London. (There’s also Bob Randall’s 1977 psychological thriller The Fan, which was adapted as a 1981 movie starring Lauren Bacall and Michael Biehn.)

I’m not going to write the rest of Reunion: Coda in this style, which is fun to read – if done right – but is more demanding and time-consuming than the narrative style. If I do choose to go the epistolary route, it’ll only be for Chapter 12; the format requires far more planning and attention to detail.

Last night I started experimenting with the epistolary style and wrote:

Subject: Greetings from London!

Hi Jim,

I hope this email finds you well and happy. I’m writing to let you know that we arrived safely in London this morning, after a long but smooth flight. The weather here is a bit chilly, but not too bad for early March.

I’m so excited to be back in this amazing city, especially for such a wonderful opportunity. We’re going to record a new album at Abbey Road Studios with Maestro Masur and some other brilliant performers. It’s going to be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I can’t wait to share the music with you when I get back.

Speaking of sharing, I hope you received the parcel that I sent you via UPS before I left for the airport. It’s a little something to keep you company while I’m away. I hope you like it and find it useful. Let me know what you think of it when you open it.

I miss you so much, Jim. You’re always on my mind and in my heart. I can’t wait to see you again and give you a big hug and a kiss. Until then, take care of yourself and keep in touch.

Love,

Maddie

MaddieMusica*97@hotmail.com

That’s just a “for practice” email; the final version – if I stick to the epistolary option, anyway – will be different.

Anyway, that’s all the news I have to share before I start my break. Until next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and I’ll catch you on the sunny side of things.