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This week: Edited by: larryp
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"Some people didn't say anything, and it just grew and grew inside of them. I wanted to let it out. Even now that I'm back home, and I look at the pictures of the guys, it's hard to keep from crying."
-- Army National Guard Sgt. Sinque Swales
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/13/AR2006051301310....
In this edition, we will look at personal experience stories of the men, women, family, and friends of members of the military. Without them, there would be no celebration of independence.
larryp - Guest editor
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In my last Action/Adventure newsletter, I covered the topic of historical fiction. In this newsletter, I want to address a similar topic – historically based personal experience stories. Since today is Independence Day in the United States, I thought war may be an appropriate topic. The battlefields of war provide the scene for many stories and poems of action and adventure. Stories of soldiers charging the hill or valiantly defending a territory have filled many pages.
Behind every story of valor on the battlefield is another story - the story of the man. Stories of experience provide what the action on the battlefield does not reveal. Camaraderie among comrades in battle develops in a way that it may not be attained any other area of life. It is said that soldiers are fighting for one another, more than any other thing. This camaraderie and the fears of the individual soldier are best expressed in personal experience stories and poems.
When the guns are quite, the action is internalized. A soldier’s thoughts turn to his home and family, and soldiers spend much time talking about things back home. Back home is yet another story – the story of the family who misses and worries about the soldier on the battlefield, while trying to carry on with life in his absence.
General Joshua Chamberlain was a commanding officer in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a man known for being compassionate for the men he commanded. He almost lost his life due to a serious battlefield wound. When General Robert E. Lee surrendered to end the Civil War, General Chamberlain accepted the terms of surrender from the Confederate Army, doing so honorably, with great admiration expressed for General Lee.
Following is an excerpt of a letter written on the battlefield by General Chamberlain to his wife Fanny:
I am very well, & happy as one need be, not all at sorry I came, I assure you. I think I did right & whatever comes of it, I have no fears. Some of our Regt. have just crossed the river at the risk of their lives to bring away the wounded we can see, some have died since we were looking at them. The poor fellows some 8 or 10 we have got are badly hurt in all sorts of ways. They belong to our brigade & were shot in our crossing yesterday. Two were dead when they got over. I took some letters about them to find out who they were. affectionate letters from wives, & answers written but never sent. I sent the letters to the Col. of the 118th Penn. Regt. Which they belonged to. I do not pretend to write much of a letter. You know under what circumstances I am writing. Tell all my friends that I have so much to do, & in such places that writing is out of the question. We have to go in places no body would ever think of going into were it not for the necessities of war.
I must hurry, for we are in a critical moment & expecting some move.
Don't worry about me & take all the comfort you can. Give my love to Dear Daise & to the old Myllys & to Aunties Pattie and Helen.
http://history-world.org/letter%20joshua_chamberlain.htm
Personal experience stories show the human side of the inhumane destructions of war. They reveal the truth of the man carrying the gun and of his family. While it may be argued that they are not stories of action, they are part of the story of men and women who face the hazards of the battlefield. They are the ones who pay the price, endure seperations, and forever carry the memories.
On Independence Day, this newsletter is a tribute to the following highlighted Writing.com authors. While Independence Day is a day of celebration in the United States, I have not excluded the stories of people from other nations.
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From two WDC widows of combat veterans:
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Military combat veterans and other veterans:
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Military wives and daughters
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Other family members and friends
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Written for an old friend I lost. Save me a seat in Valhalla E....
#1068344 by Autie   |
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Feedback from my last newsletter concerning historical fiction.
Historical Fiction is only good if thoroughly researched as you said. A good series for Historical Fiction is The Sharpe Series by Bernard Cornwell.
SamScrewtape
Thank you for recommending another good series for historical fiction readers.
Great newsletter, Kansaspoet!
Darkin
darkin
Thank you so much for the encouragement Darkin; I am glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent job with this newsletter! I truly appreciate the experience you share with us, so that we can evolve into accomplished writers without having to make these mistakes ourselves. Doing a research however does not only apply to this particular topic, it can help you with every aspect of your story. It's a good thing to mention.
PS: Thanks for taking my topic underconsideration. I always liked bladed weaposn and their variety.
likenion
Thank you Day Dream. I have had many people at Writing.com help me with my writing skills. I am thankful that I can pass the knowledge I gain here to others. In many writings, research is very critical. I think the more research we do, the more knowledgable we become, making us better writers.
Great newsletter! I have a problem, my adventure stories are always short!! :( I don't know if you have that same problem, but if you do, how do you fix it?? If your stories do have length, then do you have any tips? Perhaps you could put this into a newsletter.
Little Scribbler
Thank you Matt. I am glad you enjoyed it. Length of a story will vary. For instance, there is flash fiction which often requires less than 500 words. In contests and submissions to magazines, there will often be a limited word count and you will have to keep your length within the required word count. Basically, if not writing stories with required word count, it will depend upon what you are wanting the story to reveal. Some stories are in fact are too short and could be lengthened by such things a more character development. A very good way to add length and depth is by "slowing down" time as discussed by W.D. Wilcox in the last edition of the Action/Adventure Newsletter. One thing you can do is read the suggestions offered in editions of the Action/Adventure newsletter, as well as the For Authors and Short Stories Newsletters. You will find some tips that will help you in this area.
This is yet another great newsletter Larry. You cover some very important points that apply to all genres, not just to Historical Fiction. Well done!
lindamv
Thank you LInda for your encouragement and continual support. I appreciate your feeback. |
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Action/Adventure: July 04, 2007 Issue [#1810]
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