The past is tense
In this month’s story we’re going to look at how a narrative about past events within a story illuminates and impacts on what is happening in the present. In Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood our main character, Verna, meets someone who she realises she knew much earlier in her life. This has dramatic consequences in the present. As always you’ll benefit most from this masterclass if you read the story yourself, but please be aware that this one is quite dark with some difficult subject matter: https://writ.rs/stonemattress
It feels complex and thought provoking and ultimately leaves us with a moral dilemma. Verna doesn’t know whether she’ll get away with what she’s done or not, and nor does the reader. But should we want her to?
Like last month’s story, has a gripping opening line. A declaration that the main character had not intended to kill anyone certainly makes the reader want to know how they ended up doing just that.
