.Emily’s Line. : Tell the truth but tell it slant

We all have a story to tell, to write, to sing. No one else has the words or recalls how the story unspooled from beginning to end. Each story branches out to include other words. Follow one line and it leads to other places—

If I began with a snowy evening and walking up a hill I’d find myself thinking of a mountain that leveled off on the top and a view of hollers. And then I’d recall driving up a mountain right into a moonshine operation and someone with a shotgun.

Nothing remains on a linear track which is why it’s so hard to tell a simple story. You need to put on blinders and remove what’s extraneous to what you really want to say.

Did I mention finding moon snails that fit into the palm of my hand with little room to spare or jelly fish strewn along the beach? But they are not relevant.


      Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
      Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
      Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
      Oh Lord, kumbaya

Someday I’m going to write me a story. It will begin on an ordinary day. All days are ordinary until something happens that changes the trajectory—then it becomes a story.

      Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
      Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
      Someone's praying Lord, kumbaya
      Oh Lord, kumbaya

To write a story the writer needs to be open to the possibility of characters taking off on their own or seeing events with different eyes.

So let’s begin— Once upon a time...