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they might think , ‘ Oh , Ihave toread Hemingway ’ sshort story “ Hills Like White Elephants ,”’ which is about a man persuading awoman to have an abortion ,” he says .“ Iplay itas ‘ What is he trying to do ? He ’ s amanipulator , and she loves him more than he loves her . Ifthis isn ’ t your relationship , you know someone who does this .’ Reading , you usually have avicarious experience .”
HE FOCUSES ON TECHNIQUE IN HIS CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES . Galef says that inhis workshops , students look at elements such as dialogue , and whether the ending is off . “ Students often overplay endings by giving them heavy action , or tying everything up in abow . Bythe end of the story , you ’ ve done afair amount ofwork , so asimple gesture like aguy running upstairs when he has emphysema is big ,” he says . He also teaches how writers can make minor characters memorable by giving them specific habits and mannerisms .
HIS SON IS FOLLOWING IN HIS PAR- ENTS ’ FOOTSTEPS . In addition to Galef ’ s wife Beth , who scrutinizes her
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husband ’ swriting and sometimes challenges him by asking “ Where ’ s the hook ?”, the couple ’ s son , Daniel , published apoetry collection in July . Galef says he hopes the family will collaborate on anovel at some point .
GALEF ’ S LATEST BOOK IS CALLED BREVITY , AFLASH FICTION
HANDBOOK . After 20 years of teaching how to write super-short pieces of writing , Galef put out abook sharing how agood writing prompt can lead to aconcentrated narrative of just afew hundred words .“ If art is compressed life , flash fiction is even more so ,” he says . Galef also edits the Vestal Review , amagazine that publishes fiction works as short as 300 words .
HE HAS ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS . To get published , Galef suggests taking advantage of the many magazines that are searchable online . “ Input your perimeters — you ’ ve written “ a fantasy story of 3,000 words that ’ salittle dark ” — and search ,” he suggests .“ Then do your research . Send anote saying ‘ I read your latest issue , and it made me think …’ Too many
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people don ’ t personalize it . Talent and persistence will get you far , sokeep trying . It ’ shard toget published if you don ’ t send out your work .” ■
WHAT DOES FLASH FICTION LOOK LIKE ? Galef ’ s “ Selfish ” is 101 words long , and was published , not coincidentally , on 101words . org .
‘ SELFISH ’
Last month , I married myself . My other relationships were short-lived . I was the one who stayedbyme . So Ibought a ring , knelt down , and proposed . After I said yes , I found a willing minister . He congratulated me on my Unitarian spirit . At the ceremony ,“ till death do you part ” made me cry .
But now ? Sure , the sex is good , and there are no dual-career issues . Still , I ’ m already quarreling with myself , annoyed at my lazy habits , engaging in petty self-loathing . How could I have made such a mistake ? Turns out I ’ m really not my type .
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COURTESY OF MIKE PETERS |
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10 BACK TOSCHOOL 2023 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE |