Recently, a bit of snow in Philadelphia so overwhelmed American Airlines, that we got home 24 hours later than planned. [Insert here the litany of gate changes, delays, cancellations, rescheduling, cancellation, disappearing ticket agents, endless holds on phone, airport shut down, etc.]. While graciously hosted by my favorite sister and niece for an extra night, the experience leads me to suggest a new airport feature: volunteer listeners.
A church near home has volunteer listeners who offer active, compassionate listening services for members of the congregation. You can specify if you want A) basic listening; B) feedback; or C) advice.
So if Philadelphia International (PHL) had such a service, I sure could have used it. I’d pick options B&C, and ask for the listener with the FWL badge, for Fiction Writer Listener.
Me: Blah, blah, blah on the flight problems.
FWL: Oh, you poor thing. You don’t deserve this. A 24-hour delay when you had such a nice non-stop at a convenient time!
Me: Yes, and I just bought overpriced lemonade from an airport kiosk which was much too sweet.
FWL: No way! Let me taste it. . . . You’re so right! When life gives you lemonade, it ought to be refreshingly tart, especially after such an ordeal.
Me: Absolutely. And there’s more.
FWL: Tell me.
Me: Well, I’m having trouble with my chapter 5. I need to add XYZ elements, but that would make the chapter too long.
FWL: Don’t you just hate that?
Me: I do. And there’s a tricky character transition as well.
FWL: Oh no! First the lemonade, and now this! How can a person go on?
Me: Not to mention the need to externalize some interior dialogue.
FWL: Flight cancellations AND the showing/telling dialectic. I’m surprised you’re still standing.
Me: Me too. So what do you suggest?
FWL: Well, if I may interject: your gate has just been secretly changed to gate E2 and here we are at E145. Since your flight is also way over-booked and you risk being bumped, my suggestion is to run.
Me: I will, but what about Chapter 5?
FWL: Definitely you should not accept any characters from other writers.
Me: I won’t.
FWL: For your security, keep a close watch on your personal plot points and word count at all times.
Me: OK, but . .
FWL: And, in the interest of emotional integrity, if you feel something, write something.
Me: I’ll try. There’s also a foreshadowing issue, you know.
FWL: I regret any inconvenience but you really need to go. Hurry, and have a nice flight. , , , Next traveler, please.
Pamela Schoenewaldt, historical novels of immigration and the search for self in new worlds: WHEN WE WERE STRANGERS, SWIMMING IN THE MOON, and UNDER THE SAME BLUE SKY (all HarperCollins).
pamelaschoenewaldt.com 
Leave a Reply