A Writer’s Tip of the Month – August 2007
by Fran Stewart
Precision Postcards
Browsing through treasures at Coffee Buy the Book in Roswell, I came across Robert Olen Butler’s had a good time: stories from American postcards. I’ve always been a sucker for a well-written postcard. Butler, according to the book jacket, collects early twentieth century picture postcards, and had a good time is a collection of short stories, each based on one of the cards. We even get photos of the cards—front and back.
There is an art to writing a postcard, one that we writers would do well to hone. My newest project—don’t I need another one?—is to write postcard-length stories, as a number of writers have done before me. Reports from them suggest that this is harder to do than one might think. How does one get a beginning, a middle, and a satisfying end, into a square that measures three inches on a side?
Write small.
Be concise.
Have fun.
Postcard #1
Tomorrow, I think. The second time the waiter spilled soup in Archibald’s lap, I began to think he—Archibald, not the waiter—must have already been suspicious, since I was so careful not to betray anything in my countenance—nothing, that is, except concern for his dear sweet self. And the bouillabaisse stains on his pinstripes. A miniscule drop splashed on the hem of my yellow silk, but I didn’t mention that to the waiter, who was positively abject with apologies. I plan to wear the yellow to his funeral—Archibald’s, not the waiter’s—before I leave for Paris. See you soon, my dearest.
Postcard #2
Well, mum, she tried it again. You were right, as usual. So sorry I ignored your advice. Not that I’m particularly worried about the outcome. So transparent. Why didn’t I see it as clearly as you did? Had to trip the blundering fool twice. If she could pay him, I can pay him more. Tonight, I think. Then I’ll be home for a good long rest. After the funeral.
