Peter Hoppock will lead a discussion of Delicate Edible Birds by Lauren Groff, selected by Richard Russo for inclusion in “The Best American Short Stories of 2010.”
Delicate Edible Birds follows five WW2 war correspondents as they flee the German army overtaking Paris. It is written in third-person omniscient point of view—according to Richard Russo, the least favorite of modern writers, while being the most difficult to master. Based on the story and accompanying materials we'll explore craft issues like: how point-of-view helps create the “voice” of the story; how shifting from one character’s pov to another creates a kind of rhythm which carries with it the expectation of change; and how pov choice influences other craft elements like dialogue and setting.
Groff, a frequent contributor to the New Yorker, is the author of four novels and two acclaimed short-story collections. She has been a finalist for the National Book Award and won numerous other accolades, among them the PEN/O Henry Award and multiple Pushcarts.
DOWNLOAD DISCUSSION MATERIALS HERE:
Peter Hoppock, an OCWW Board Member has published numerous short stories and two novellas in a variety of literary online and print journals. His novella Mr. Pegg to You was a finalist in the Press 53 Novella Competition. He has also published articles on teaching and coaching in professional journals for both skiing and soccer, in which he has held advanced national educational credentials for more than 40 years. Hoppock co-edited OCWW's anthologies, Meaningful Conflicts (2023) and Turning Points (2021). Join Peter's session to participate in the e-launch of Meaningful Conflicts and help us hit #1 in our category!
HOSTED BY: Sam Farler
