It was hard to decide exactly where this post belonged: on S for literature; on HyperC for its relevance; or here on CW for writing style. Tough decision, so I just went with whatever I opened into.
In BASS 2007, currently reading Beverly Jensen’s story Wake, and noticing a hypertextual pattern the author uses. Because the family is bringing home the body of their father from Connecticut to Canada in a snow and ice storm, there are two story lines going on here that are relevant: the family waiting in Canada and the two characters accompanying the casket on the journey home. Jensen separates them by the traditional book use of white space, but leaves an obvious thread hanging that ties them together.
The family is gathered together in the church waiting for the body:
Then the lights went. There was a loud crack and total darkness came down over them as if a black velvet curtain had been dropped.
"Holy Mother of God," a lone voice rose up.
"Goddamn," another answered from the blackness.
Meanwhile, out on the road, brother and sister, Dalton and Avis, with cousin Stan find themselves stuck on the road:
"Damn it all to hell," muttered Dalton, staring down at the back wheel of the hearse as it spun in response to Avis’s foot on the gas pedal. (p. 183)
In another example, on the road:
Stan bent himself back down behind the wheel. "I reckon it’s three more hours of slow and steady. It’ll be well after midnight."
I’m sorry we got you into this pickle." Avis pushed Stan’s glasses back up his long nose.
"I’d swear them trees cracking back there was Dad firing off his last shots."
And we switch to the church folk:
"It’s well after midnight," Idella said. (p. 184)
Maybe not subtle enough, but very clearly points where the author has found a common link between the two stories, the two groups of character that are separated by space although related by common interest. This would be an obvious text link at these phrases that would bring the story flow from one to the other, closer in parallel time rather than a basic writing space to writing space link that would keep them going on their own paths, separate from each other.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology