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dagny, flash fiction, protagonist
1st
Draft

Published on:

April 1, 5:40am

Word Count:

970

Work Description

Dagny is the most spendid fictional character ever conceived - just ask her. But you better be careful - she hates writers. Especially her own writer. Anyone reading this might get hurt. Just wait till she finishes that cigarette. And her beer.

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She refuses to be left out of life, left out of anything.

"I'm here," Dagny mutters.  "You better deal with it."

Great - now I must describe Dagny, the girl who wants to live, the fictional creature who wants to outlive her writer.

"Outlive you, you pathetic maggot-eating pizza scum?  Dream on," she says.  She smirks.  "What, you thought I'd give in to your characterization plot?  Whatever."

So this is Dagny.  She's lounging on the futon, surrounded by her favorite books - Proust, Dante, a bit of Jane Eyre, the worst of Sado or whatever his name was.

"I'm not like that," Dagny says.  "I just read it for the pictures."

Right.  So I have to reveal the inherent conflict here, a fictional character versus her author.  I should have made Dagny the antagonist - instead she sits on my couch playing protagonist.

"Oh, but I am, aren't I?  The most splendid protagonist you've ever seen, mind you."

You just called me a maggot-eating pizza face.  That doesn't sound very splendid to me, Dagny.

"And who said you're worth taking too, grape-nuts?"

So she likes to ignore the computer, or me typing away, or the smell of the sweet black rice boiling away in the rice pot.

"Oh, I'm not ignoring it," she says.  "I'm just eating your cookies and cream instead."

Gee, thanks.  That's the last time I invite a fictional character into my apartment.

"You got any beer?  How about that microbrew stuff you served up last week?  That looked pretty good.  I mean, the least you could have done was tasted it - I wanna know what it tastes like."

No, Dags, there's no beer in the house.  I'm too cheap for that.  And what does beer have to do with conflict - ah, jeez, do you gotta light up a cigarette right here, in the middle of the narrative?

"What the heck, author-boy?  I thought you were gonna stick to limited-third.  I don't see my point of view in this here story."  She takes a drag from the Marlboro.  "God, that tastes good."  She exhales.  "So, you got any beer?"

What, you want me to go the store and buy some beer?  The heck with that - you're just, just -

"I'm just your protagonist.  Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going on strike."

Strike?  What on Earth?  My characters can't just go on strike.  I mean - no, she's not sitting on the couch anymore.  Somehow she's...nope, not under the futon, either, and not hiding in the fridge.  Though I am tempted to shrink her down to Tinkerbell proportions so I can stuff her foul mouth in a pickle jar...

"Do and die, author-boy."

Right.  So that's the conflict - fictional protagonist versus her evil narrator writer boy.  Some days I feel like I'm living in a zoo for one - don't touch the animals, they might start writing stories.

"Hey," she asks, "is it my fault you forgot to go to the limited third?  You should have broken your own rules earlier, you know, during the setting assignment."

Dagny, this isn't about you.  This is about running a creative writing class.  Now if you'd just -

"I want a story from my point of view," she says.  "None of this 'Dagny thinks and Dagny says' crud.  I'm tired of being your shadow."

So you'd rather I write you from your own first person?  I don't think so.  Not after what happened the last time.

"What?"  She bats her eyes.  She tries to look innocent, now that she's back in the room.  Really, though, with the way she looks away, the way she holds her chin high and her eyes low, she reminds me of the one waitress at work, the one who never splits tips and never talks and knows that no male will ever hate her because she's cute.

"You could describe my eyes, you know," Dagny says.  "Blue-gray, like the ocean, and I have the most smooth, lovely complexion on Earth.  Wasn't it you who talked about positive feedback?  Well, I could use some, too, you know."

Shut up, you.  I'm trying to describe the

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Discussion

 Oh, hello Ryan Edel. I would like to say two things: One thanks for critiquing my work of Moon Light: The What-If Scenario of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer and great work that you did about Dagny. Apparently what I have been hearing for the past couple of works written about her, she does not like to be written about and especially wants to outlive her writer, the pizza faced, maggot, grape-nut, scum that he is. Oh, no does that mean that if I write about Dagny then I will get beat up to? Oh, I am so scared that I am wetting my pants in such fear, ha ha ha ha! All in all, I really did enjoy this piece of work that you did. What is going to happen next? Are writers that are fascinated with Dagny write about though she throws a bunch and death threats at them, then in the end, they become beaten up badly? Anyway, I would like to see one of Dagny's nwe adventures, they seem interesting to me, so keep up the good work, Ryan. Take care, I hope I hear more from you and I wish for you to read more of my works! Bye bye now!

 Interesting concept it is kind of like McGee and me but on acid. I'd to read more on Dagny her attitude would make her a great anti-heroine in a story.

 Hi Ryan,

I think this'll be short simply because I see nothing to crit in this story.  It's really awesome.  I love the tone and voice.  The dialogue is great and I love the sarcasam between the author and his character. I was hooked from the beginning and could picture her in all of her glory.  She sure is something alright., a rebel and a character whose whole world revolves around herself.

I've read stories where the character comes to life before, but nothing like this.  You did a wonderful job with this piece, Thanks so much for sharing and giving me a chance to read it. 

 

Opening Comments

 Heck yeah, there's something I wish to say..

Your story rocks!

That being said, I love your character. She's bold, brassy, confident and could very possibly live outside your head.

Plot

 The plot was hilarious. It was so lively, spontanteous and carefree. It was like the character was actually right in the room with you. The story plot was the perfect length. Not too long and not too short. Your story had a premise and it stayed there throughout the whole story. It never diverted or strayed out the ordinary. Not out of the ordinary in a contrary sort of way. I was highly satisfied with how the story stayed true to the humorous antecdotes with you and your character having words.

Well, this guide template I am using asked if you used any subplots. I would have to say no. This was pretty straightforward and did not need any, It would have diverted from the story if you did have one. And, I would not be giving such high praise.

Pacing

 Here we come to the pacing. The pacing of the plot was dead on. It kept up with your high octane character and never let us go from the ride you took us on. I followed with bated breath wondering what woud come out of her mouth next. It was perfect, what more can I say?

I was not bored nor rushed at all. Like I said, the plot was perfect.

Description

 With your descriptions, you gave us all the just the right amount to describe her flaws, her character was quite clear. The only thing was you could have given a brief overall type of woman that she was. Examples are: Hair color, eyes, height, and weight. I knew she smoked and drank beer and had an attitude. The only thing that would have made her literally come ouf of the page was if you described her a bit more.

(I am just saying all this to get words on the page, ssh, don't tell anyone.. Lol!)

Your character already described herself as having blue-gray eyes and the most smooth complexion on earth. I am adding this:

She had legs that any man would kill to possess. Her sliky blond locks captured the glow of the sunlight pouring in through the windows. Her six foot two slender curves lay provactively upon the pillows of the couch with her pouty lips shining and portraying her love for seductive games. Having the cigarette placed squarely in between the center of her glossed lips did nothing to avert the lust coursing through his veins at the moment...

Okay, now I'm finished, do you like?

Okay, back to the vocabulary. Was there variety? Hmm.. Yes, I would say so. You had just the right amount of words in the just the right amount of places.

 

Point Of View

 POV. I have no complaints here. Your plot's premise was that your character had a mind of her own and that you as the author was having a war with her to stay in your head. You never deviated from that premise and I applaud you for that. Both you and your character's POV were here. Which was how it was suppoed to be. I was never confused about anything in your piece. It was straight foward and as funny as can be.

Characters

 Like I said in my opening statement, your character was almost as real just as if she were actually right along side you in the room arguing. You made her come alive, made her jump off the page and stare the reader straight in the face. I formed an instant bond with her. She had the type of guts, savvyy and brass that I expect from any heroine.

You and your character were very unique. You both had your own attitudes and your ways of thinking. She became bold, you became even more determined. You tried to quiet her but she would not go away.

Dialog

 The dialog was flawless. You had each distinctive personality and consistently stuck with it. The amount of dialog was perfect. I was never once bored, nor lead astray. You kept me entertained with your wit as well as hers. I give the performances in this piece a resounding A++

Grammar and Spelling

 Okay, we're here on grammar and spelling mistakes.

I did not notice any spelling mistakes, as I was too busy reading and being entertained. That's how good this story is. That I didn't notice anything other than how witty this work is.

On grammar, I only have one complaint. My problem which too many commas. You don't need so many. Not unless you did it to prove a point somehow. Otherwise, please edit and take some out. Example:

 

"What?"  She bats her eyes.  She tries to look innocent, now that she's back in the room.  Really, though, with the way she looks away, the way she holds her chin high and her eyes low, she reminds me of the one waitress at work, the one who never splits tips and never talks and knows that no male will ever hate her because she's cute.

Here's the sentence and how it should look:

*What? She bats her eyes, She tries to look innocent, now that she's back in the room.Really, though, with the way she looks away, the way she holds her chin high and her eyes low, she reminds me of one waitress at work, the one who never splits tips and never talks and knows that no male will ever hate her because she's cute.* This is your version.

Here's my version:

"What?" She asks, batting her eyes while trying to look innocent now that she has come back in to the room.

Really though, with the way she looks away, her chin high and her eyes low, she reminds me of a waitress at work that I know. The kind that never splits tips, never talks and knows that no male will ever hate her because she's cute.

Just thought I would throw that in there. Because this is a critique. And, what critique would be complete without one little correction?

Other than this, your work is perfection!

Closing Comments

 In closing, I loved your quick wit and would read this story over and over again. This is a continuing series is it not? If so, you have the makings of a very great following. Your talent is very high. I can tell that you have been working on your craft and honing it. Your vivid tale peaked my interest. And, makes me want to look at other work that you have posted. As a matter of fact, you are going on my list of favorite authors just so that I can track your work.

I know I am just a scribbler right now but, who knows, maybe I will one day work myself up to your level of creativity. And, that's a high complement indeed.

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