You can always tell when a story’s just not grabbing somebody. They find other things to do rather than read it.
I’ve been on James Agee’s A Death in The Family for over a month–it’s a short book. I’ve been stuck on a couple of pages halfway through that should be quite exciting–the family "feels" the dead James’ presence in the house.
Is it the writing? Certainly the pace, although it realistically mimics the hours of shock, grief and acceptance than follow an unexpected death. Why then am I not compelled to go forward, why do I find working in Storyspace, putting the laptop together, ironing for God’s sake, more important to do?
I remember how I felt when I passed out my quickly written masterpiece novel to five friends. Waiting, waiting, waiting; nothing. Finally, a "it’s a long book." Translated, that means boring.
But I will finish Agee up as soon as I can. The story is great, it’s just that once I got out of it, I couldn’t seem to get interested in it again. There are so many more books on the shelf to read though, and the rule is: if you don’t finish your meal, no dessert.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology