Creative Writing Session: Vignette Draft and Outline Progress

Midday/Early Afternoon, Sunday, August 11, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

Hello, Dear Readers. Your dedicated correspondent is still not feeling his best at the moment. I remain concerned about my future and saddened that I can’t stay in New Hampshire, despite experiencing bouts of homesickness, isolation, and minor frustration during my almost eight months here. However, such is life: no matter how hard you try for something to succeed, there will be unforeseen challenges that cannot be smoothed out. This is the case with my current situation, as it once was in Miami from 2015 to 2016.

Despite not having my Remeron prescription and enduring waves of anxiety throughout the day, I managed to write a vignette yesterday for Scene Five of Reunion: Coda’s 19th chapter. I hadn’t anticipated being able to do so; creative writing can be difficult when you’re scared or unhappy (and believe me, I am both). Even as I sat down at my desk after two walks outside and a Maddie Burger for lunch, I thought I would only manage to outline the vignette.

I was surprised when, after a three-hour writing session, I not only had the outline done, but also a complete draft of the vignette.

Here’s an excerpt from the outline I wrote yesterday afternoon.

Ideas for Vignette No. 1, Chapter 19, Scene Five

In Scene Five of “The Storm Breaks,” our narrator/protagonist Jim Garraty gets into a somewhat precarious situation, but that happens later in the scene. To introduce some comic relief, the scene begins with Jim buying a breakfast tray for when Maddie stays over at his place. Rather than simply visiting a large department store or ordering online, Jim takes either the 1 or 9 subway to Greenwich Village on Saturday, March 18, 2000. He seeks a break from his routine at Columbia University, where he teaches World War II courses. Since Maddie isn’t meeting him, Jim dresses casually in Levi’s 401 jeans, Nike tennis shoes, a Columbia University sweatshirt, and a blue baseball cap with a Star Wars logo. He also opts not to shave, believing a bit of stubble looks fine.

The vignette opens with Jim already in the Village, searching for a charming or family-run shop to purchase one or two attractive trays. I’m considering modeling the store, “Vintage Mornings,” after Miracle Max’s shop from “The Princess Bride.” I envision the store owned by a couple in their 30s, a pair of lesbians with contrasting yet complementary personalities. One would be business-savvy and well-acquainted with the store’s layout, while the other, who is bisexual, focuses on ensuring customer satisfaction and perhaps flirts a little with Jim.

The business-oriented one, Cameron, has blonde hair, blue eyes, and is exceptionally organized. She can make jeans and a New York Mets sweatshirt look stylish. Cameron mentions she often receives comments about her resemblance to an actor with the same first name. Her partner, both in life and business, would be Jerry (short for Geraldine). Though not clueless about managing Vintage Mornings, which they started running in December 1999, she still hasn’t memorized the location of every item. Jerry, sporting black hair styled like Betty Paige, scores a 9.5 compared to Cameron’s 10 in attractiveness and is friendly and approachable. While Jerry isn’t a sloppy dresser, her easygoing nature contrasts with Cameron’s more meticulous demeanor.

I could have stopped working on the vignette when I finished the detailed outline. However, I needed to keep my “worry demons” at bay. I’m not good at handling stress or adverse situations, and the only coping mechanism I have is to focus on something that’s not related to the source of stress. So I pressed on, not expecting to produce anything usable for Reunion: Coda. But I thought that even if all I managed to do was write a so-so rough draft, I’d still be one step closer to completing the vignette.

I was surprised that by the end of my rare Saturday work session, I had accomplished more than I expected. I not only had a detailed outline but also a fairly decent, though somewhat rough, vignette for Chapter 19’s fifth scene.

Do you want to see an excerpt from this draft of the vignette?

The chime of the bell is a quaint herald of my arrival into Vintage Mornings. The shop, nestled between Gutenberg’s Hangout and Kushner’s Deli, is a cozy time capsule on Bleecker Street. As I step in, I’m greeted by the sight of a 1940s RCA radio, its silence guarded behind glass, marked ‘NOT FOR SALE’.

Cameron, with her blonde hair meticulously styled and blue eyes that match the clarity of her organized mind, stands behind the counter. She’s the epitome of business casual in her jeans and Mets sweatshirt, which she wears with an elegance that’s almost out of place among the antiques.

Jerry, her contrast in every way, sports black hair styled like Betty Paige, a hint of rebellion in the curl of her bangs. Her easy-going vibe is accentuated by her attire, dressed neatly but with a comfort that suggests she’s at home among the relics of the past.

Their debate over the hottest pin-up is in full swing, with Cameron championing Rita Hayworth’s timeless allure, gesturing towards the sultry 1941 pin-up that hangs behind the counter. “Rita’s elegance is unmatched,” she asserts, “She’s the epitome of glamour.”

Jerry scoffs, pointing to Veronica Lake’s image with her peek-a-boo hairstyle. “Please, Veronica’s mysterious charm is legendary. That hair alone has more allure than all of Rita’s glam shots.”

I know that the vignette needs more work, but I do like how it reads even in its “revised first draft” state.