I love the supporting character in this story, Ben. In him, you created someone who can be trusted to hold the pain of another person with dignity and tenderness--a beautiful example of wholeheartedness.
I really enjoyed the pause in the tale as the narrator takes control of the trauma at last …”I could gather the memory and decide how I would tell it.”
Beautiful story, Ben, told with sensitivity. The sensory details put me right there, in the concert hall, in the snowstorm and in the ramen shop. I love the reckoning or awakening, her courage to face a past trauma and trust her partner with it. 💚
Oooh, I feel so sorry! I know that this is what everyone said, but if you love music, please try again. One mistake at one point in time is not the end of the world.
Thanks, Kelila! I was honored to get to retell your story. There were some definite overlaps for me. I got a music degree back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!
So well told, Ben. I was right there with your main character on that stage and then with the two of them in the ramen shop. What a moment of change. What a crafting of it. Much love to you and to your prompter, both of you bubbling over with talent on multiple fronts. 🎶🖊️♥️
Fantastic, Ben. A delicately told story, heartfelt, emotional. I enjoyed all sides of this: the way Peter listened, the way the narrator thought on what to say, and what was actually said.
Very moving to know this came from a submission from another writer.
This reminds me of when I graduated college, a 'few' years ago. It was a long time before I could eagerly pick up a book and appreciate it for what it was, apart from being assigned reading.
The ultimate irony of life is that something that is a joy when you want to do it, becomes tedium when you have to do it. Especially if you are expected to meet someone else's standards.
Thanks for this story, Ben, and for all your efforts on this project. May it never become tedium.
Brilliant. As a guitar player without a music degree I am fortunate that I never had to be judged by professors. Just by listeners. I would not do well in the academic or classical music worlds. I play for the joy of playing and love of music.
In fact, when I started teaching guitar, I was turned down by a music school because I didn’t have a music degree. Then they asked me to fill-in for a teacher for a month. I did and they offered me a job. I guess experience and skill also count. 🤣
Thanks, Mark. Yeah a music degree offered me very little in the way of preparation for the real world but I was grateful for the experiences I had acquiring it.
Great writing.... As someone who spent three years in a conservatory of music (bachelor's degree in music therapy) and had to go through juries, I was right there with your every word. I totally understand why this character walked off and left her life with music for so long.
I remember how gut-wrenching it was that at the end of the piece, you got NO reaction from the faculty members scoring you. Zilch. Just a few quiet scratches of pens or pencils on their notepads, but no words and certainly no applause. It WAS traumatic!
So brutal. I've known several musicians that left their instrument and never played again. It's tragic and, unfortunately, often understandable. The "jury system" sounds like a ringer, although, as described here, I sort of get it, too.
Oh, Ben, this was such a tough read, but so elegantly put together. It really had my heart aching for all the artist's souls who have been damaged beneath a spotlight far too hot, and had me mourning all the great music that never got made for this very reason.
I love the supporting character in this story, Ben. In him, you created someone who can be trusted to hold the pain of another person with dignity and tenderness--a beautiful example of wholeheartedness.
Thanks Ann. 🙏
I really enjoyed the pause in the tale as the narrator takes control of the trauma at last …”I could gather the memory and decide how I would tell it.”
Thank you, Hannah. I appreciate the kind words.
Beautiful story, Ben, told with sensitivity. The sensory details put me right there, in the concert hall, in the snowstorm and in the ramen shop. I love the reckoning or awakening, her courage to face a past trauma and trust her partner with it. 💚
Thanks, Julie. There were so many parallels in my life with this prompt, it was a little bizarre to write. I'm glad it landed for you.
I was wondering that. Your sensitivity to the subject served you well.
Oooh, I feel so sorry! I know that this is what everyone said, but if you love music, please try again. One mistake at one point in time is not the end of the world.
I do believe this was my prompt.☺️ I love what you did with it. The characters are gorgeous and it really brought back some memories.😅 Thank you.
Thanks, Kelila! I was honored to get to retell your story. There were some definite overlaps for me. I got a music degree back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!
❤️
So well told, Ben. I was right there with your main character on that stage and then with the two of them in the ramen shop. What a moment of change. What a crafting of it. Much love to you and to your prompter, both of you bubbling over with talent on multiple fronts. 🎶🖊️♥️
Thanks, friend. I’m glad you liked the story. It was surprising to have such an easy way in to my prompt.
Fantastic, Ben. A delicately told story, heartfelt, emotional. I enjoyed all sides of this: the way Peter listened, the way the narrator thought on what to say, and what was actually said.
Very moving to know this came from a submission from another writer.
Thanks, Nathan. There were some parallels with my own experience so it wasn’t hard to get inside.
This reminds me of when I graduated college, a 'few' years ago. It was a long time before I could eagerly pick up a book and appreciate it for what it was, apart from being assigned reading.
The ultimate irony of life is that something that is a joy when you want to do it, becomes tedium when you have to do it. Especially if you are expected to meet someone else's standards.
Thanks for this story, Ben, and for all your efforts on this project. May it never become tedium.
Beautifully told Ben, I felt every tremble in her hands as she stood there, the distance between confidence and trust is immeasurable isn’t it!
Thanks so much, friend. It is a vast chasm to cross, putting yourself out there in any capacity.
Tell me about it. it's stressful reading it for me.
Brilliant. As a guitar player without a music degree I am fortunate that I never had to be judged by professors. Just by listeners. I would not do well in the academic or classical music worlds. I play for the joy of playing and love of music.
In fact, when I started teaching guitar, I was turned down by a music school because I didn’t have a music degree. Then they asked me to fill-in for a teacher for a month. I did and they offered me a job. I guess experience and skill also count. 🤣
Thanks, Mark. Yeah a music degree offered me very little in the way of preparation for the real world but I was grateful for the experiences I had acquiring it.
Great writing.... As someone who spent three years in a conservatory of music (bachelor's degree in music therapy) and had to go through juries, I was right there with your every word. I totally understand why this character walked off and left her life with music for so long.
Thanks Maia, I did my share of juries too.
I remember how gut-wrenching it was that at the end of the piece, you got NO reaction from the faculty members scoring you. Zilch. Just a few quiet scratches of pens or pencils on their notepads, but no words and certainly no applause. It WAS traumatic!
And I have to imagine not a peep or expression during. What a high wire.
❗️
So brutal. I've known several musicians that left their instrument and never played again. It's tragic and, unfortunately, often understandable. The "jury system" sounds like a ringer, although, as described here, I sort of get it, too.
Beautiful, Ben. 💜
What a beautiful piece of writing.
Thank you, Teyani.
Such a heartbreaking story. I love the dialogue creating a mystery around the past trauma. Great work, Ben.
Thanks so much, Kate. That means a lot to me.
Oh, Ben, this was such a tough read, but so elegantly put together. It really had my heart aching for all the artist's souls who have been damaged beneath a spotlight far too hot, and had me mourning all the great music that never got made for this very reason.
Thank you, Chloe.
God, that's heartbreaking!