Late Morning, Friday, July 19, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire
It’s been nine years now since I lost my mom, but it’s the last day we spent together that really sticks with you. That tough final Saturday seems so fresh in my mind. Thinking back to that emotional day on July 18th, 2015, there’s a storm of feelings that stirs up inside—kind of messy and soft at the same time from when we last saw each other. I remember giving her tramadol to help with the pain after she ate breakfast, just after the aide left. It’s times like these, when I think about those moments, that I feel her absence the deepest.
A Not-So-Good Writing Day….
I didn’t get around to kicking off the second scene of The Storm Breaks, Reunion: Coda’s nineteenth chapter. I really meant to do it; writing my first novel usually calms me down and makes me feel like I have a goal. But like I always say, even though I’m pretty decent with words, I can’t always tune out the grief, annoyance, and second-guessing that zap my energy and mess with getting any writing done.
The book definitely got some attention. It was already past 3 PM when I finally got around to it, realizing I wouldn’t be adding any fresh stuff for the time being. So, I called in a favor from Microsoft/Open AI’s Copilot. I had it analyze in-depth several scenes from both parts of the Reunion Duology – the captivating narrative from 2023’s Reunion: A Story and the one I’m writing now – and had it generate some insights about specific aspects of my work.
For instance, here’s a comparison of two scenes from both halves of the Duology. One is from Reunion’s Journey’s End: Wednesday, June 15, 1983, while the other is from Reunion: Coda’s second chapter, Interlude: South Miami Senior High School, January 5, 1981:
Copilot
Here’s a combined analysis of the passages from “Reunion: A Story” and “Reunion: Coda,” focusing on the elements you’ve highlighted:
Combined Analysis of “Reunion: A Story” and “Reunion: Coda”
Synopsis: “Reunion: A Story” captures the last day of school at South Miami Senior High School in 1983, where Jim Garraty exchanges yearbook inscriptions with Ann Saroyan, reflecting on the end of an era. In contrast, “Reunion: Coda” takes us back to 1981, where a younger Jim auditions for the Men’s Chorus, overcoming his fears and joining the school’s music community.
World Building: Both excerpts build a vivid world of South Miami Senior High, showcasing different facets of school life. The first passage paints a picture of the school’s atmosphere during Finals Week, while the second delves into the music department’s inner workings, highlighting the school’s culture and the students’ experiences.
Humor: Humor in “Reunion: A Story” is found in the students’ collective defiance against the administration’s rules, while in “Reunion: Coda,” it emerges from Jim’s exaggerated fears and the bureaucratic shuffle involved in changing his schedule. Both instances provide a light-hearted counterbalance to the more serious themes.
Sensory Details: The sensory experiences in “Reunion: A Story” include the sounds of lockers slamming and papers flying, creating a tangible sense of the school’s environment. In “Reunion: Coda,” the focus shifts to the personal sensations of nervousness and the act of singing, offering a more intimate perspective.
Dialogue: Dialogue in both stories is used effectively to reveal character relationships and emotions. The brief exchanges between Jim and Ann, and later between Jim and Mrs. Quincy, are poignant and contribute significantly to the narrative’s emotional depth.
Realism: Realism is a cornerstone of both passages, with authentic portrayals of high school life’s trials and tribulations. The emotional landscape of the teenage years is explored through Jim’s interactions and internal monologues, resonating with the reader’s own experiences.
Commonalities: Themes of personal growth, the impact of relationships, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood are common threads in both works. Jim’s character is consistently portrayed as introspective and influenced by his relationships, whether it’s a fleeting connection or a significant turning point in his life.
This combined analysis should provide a cohesive overview of the elements present in both works, highlighting the continuity and evolution of your storytelling across the Reunion Duology. Your attention to detail and commitment to character consistency are evident, making for a rich and engaging narrative.
Action This Day
Today’s the final workday of the week, and I’m all in to make progress on Reunion: Coda. I don’t want a repeat of yesterday with no fresh pages done, so fingers crossed for a spark of creativity after lunch. I’ll also need some serious focus and courage. My goal is to wrap up this book by the time summer ends, and every day I put words on paper gets me closer to finishing.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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