Nardine Taleb
Editorial Mentorship Letter
I believe what attracted me to “5150” was the voice of this piece. I believe a lot of stories are often lost in trying to paint the setting for readers or persuade the readers that the characters are worth believing and loving. The narrator, Adam, in “5150” is full-force from the beginning of the piece and does not seem to care if we love them or not. They fearlessly tell their story. I felt invited immediately, and more than that, I felt like I could relate to this young narrator trying to put together their life. The characters - Travis, Cassidy, the father - seem to be tools to reflect who Adam is, this narrator who seems tender and hurt, but is also quietly determined to change their life. Moving to New York City – the big apple! – sounds cliche but as the narrator says, “I didn’t put all that much thought into it. I felt like I needed to go somewhere and New York City was, as I understood it, the Place People Go.”
Working with Nina and understanding the vision made even more sense over our call. She explained that this story is part of a bigger piece, which is why Cassidy’s entrance into the story at the end could feel sudden. Cassidy’s appearance was important to me as a reader because I felt that she was the first person to really “see” Adam. She opens up to Adam about her day immediately, and in conjunction with Adam’s closed personality, I could really see the struggle Adam is having. His reflection at the end reveals his state of mind.
I feel that Nina’s piece is a powerful demonstration of how to show and not only tell, of how voice, character, and dialogue could do so much – as we get to know the narrator and, in turn, better understand ourselves. We realize we care.
Working with Nina and understanding the vision made even more sense over our call. She explained that this story is part of a bigger piece, which is why Cassidy’s entrance into the story at the end could feel sudden. Cassidy’s appearance was important to me as a reader because I felt that she was the first person to really “see” Adam. She opens up to Adam about her day immediately, and in conjunction with Adam’s closed personality, I could really see the struggle Adam is having. His reflection at the end reveals his state of mind.
I feel that Nina’s piece is a powerful demonstration of how to show and not only tell, of how voice, character, and dialogue could do so much – as we get to know the narrator and, in turn, better understand ourselves. We realize we care.
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