Okay, I'm reaching, but just give me this little glimmer for a moment. Let's recap:

Lorrie Moore is a brilliant writer. (a priori)
Lorrie Moore and I are against writing plot and supporters of plot writing. (shaky assumption)
Therefore, I may too have the ability to be a real writer, and not just a disgruntled project manager who claims to be a writer. (conclusion)

Alright, so Moore never says that she dislikes all people who support plot, only a pore-faced teacher who dislikes her plot. This general dislike is inferred. Don't worry. I have a degree in English. This gives me license to infer.

Speaking of a degree in English, this means that I have a duty to not only set forth an argument but deconstruct the argument, as well. Prepare for deconstruction.

My argument has two things going against it. First, the supporting quote to the argument is from 1985, which could mean that Lorrie Moore has since advanced far beyond her inability to write plots. In fact, plot writing may have been the hurdle that she overcame to get where she is today. In which case, I've got a long way to go.

Second, the quote is from a piece that is supposedly "fictional." The main character's name is Francine, not Lorrie, not even a derivative of Lorrie or Moore or any combination thereof. And it is a common error for readers to assume that the narrator of the story is the author him/herself. And if we must suppose that the main character is not Lorrie Moore at all, but just another being from Moore's imagination, then perhaps this character's inability to write plot is fictional as well, and only a plausible defect used to make this character likable and human.

Leading me to a new conclusion that if Lorrie Moore were to write a non-fiction piece on how to become a writer, she would begin with a lesson in plot itself. And, if she were to go a step further and teach a course in writing, the course would focus on plot, more plot and nothing but plot.

Only the strong in plot writing will survive.

Posted at 11:43 PM Comments (0)