My vote is somewhere between “cut” and “dissect and use in epilogue.” I like the outrage of the open letter, but where do you want to leave readers at the end? I’d lean into who you are now because of weathering such betrayal on the part of colleagues, examining your own changing self, as a personal essayist would do. I’m not one for resolutions or bowtie endings, but I do like a nod to self-knowledge and resilience amid all the uncertainties we continue to live with.
That's an excellent point! But, remember there is an Epilogue after this Postscript--it focuses on what happened after I quit. So if I do keep this letter, it won't be the last chapter.
Yes, I get that, but why not position your response to Professor Bubbles in chronological order in the narrative - when it fits your emotions at the time? I get that the open letter style breaks the narrative format, but such style shifts *can* work - even feel more authentic - than a constructed story arc. I prefer taking in the actual emotional arc a nonfiction writer went through.
I see. Okay, cool. I'll look into that again once I revisit the Epilogue to gloss. Maybe looking at that again from a distance will give me an idea where to put this, or how to chop it up, or both. Thanks, Martha!
My vote is somewhere between “cut” and “dissect and use in epilogue.” I like the outrage of the open letter, but where do you want to leave readers at the end? I’d lean into who you are now because of weathering such betrayal on the part of colleagues, examining your own changing self, as a personal essayist would do. I’m not one for resolutions or bowtie endings, but I do like a nod to self-knowledge and resilience amid all the uncertainties we continue to live with.
That's an excellent point! But, remember there is an Epilogue after this Postscript--it focuses on what happened after I quit. So if I do keep this letter, it won't be the last chapter.
Yes, I get that, but why not position your response to Professor Bubbles in chronological order in the narrative - when it fits your emotions at the time? I get that the open letter style breaks the narrative format, but such style shifts *can* work - even feel more authentic - than a constructed story arc. I prefer taking in the actual emotional arc a nonfiction writer went through.
I see. Okay, cool. I'll look into that again once I revisit the Epilogue to gloss. Maybe looking at that again from a distance will give me an idea where to put this, or how to chop it up, or both. Thanks, Martha!
Hi Jenn. I linked back to the letter. It's full of authentic rage and hurt. And it's so damn authentic. From the heart. So, yeah, I'd include it.
Okay, cool. Thank you!