Discussion Thread: Writing Workshop: Original
Work of Creative Nonfiction Peer Edits
I chose “Sketch” from the three selections because I appreciated its fascination with creating a story
from an everyday, generally mundane event like the café sketch-artist encounter (mundane from the
perspective of the writer). This is actually funny to me, seeing as this is a “creative nonfiction”
assignment and the story in question presents the most boring of scenarios to analyze, albeit in an
entertaining way. I think it’s kind of neat…
Anyway, of the three stories, “Sketch” is my favorite, because it encapsulates what I believe creative
fiction should be. It’s told in the present-tense, from a first-person perspective and it incepts the idea of
a "NYC java house" to the reader to create truthful imagery in the form of a rustling, bustling city-like
setting that the protagonist finds him/herself in. It creates a very lived-in atmosphere that way as the
idea itself suggests that while there is a main character, there are perhaps others there as well, doing
different things and getting through life (In addition to that, I think “he” is actually a “she”, because the
main character accuses the sketch artist of “checking her out” and for being “plain and unattractive”). It’s
entirely believable that a situation like this could happen because, really, how many java houses are
there in New York City? Many… and people go there all of the time, not to mention that you’re almost
guaranteed to meet strange new people with strange quirks each time you visit.
On the subject of characterization, we’re shown that the main character is self-conscious, a bit
narcissistic and preemptively judgmental towards others (I like when writers develop personality quirks
for their characters designed to help propel the story forward). Her personality traits alone are the
catalyst for the plot of the story, under the guise of a “feeling”. In fact, the main character misjudges the
sketch artist almost immediately, (“Yes, the sketcher is checking me out, which doesn’t flatter me, he, so
plain and unattractive.”) centers the situation around herself and even goes as far as to question his eye
movements because she’s conscious of her own attraction level. She causes her own mental down spiral
and then puts on an act to dramatize what could otherwise be a simple exit from the java house. It’s
hilarious, while also tragic.
Due to the fact that the main character centers the situation around herself (not forgetting the fact
that she created the situation, too), a plot is born. She must now deal with the misunderstanding
towards the sketch artist and therefore her discomfort with him. (“I become uneasy, self-conscious about
what unflattering version of me the charcoal brings out.”) This is the story’s conflict.
Pairing the plot of misunderstanding and discomfort with both the characterization that displays the
main character’s social awkwardness towards the sketch artist, as well as the busy and likely “loud” New
York City setting that this socially awkward character is placed in, we’re provided insight into the changes
that the main character goes through by the end. This would be her discovering that no one really thinks
as highly of her as she does, and… that no one really thinks of her at all. Not even the sketch artist, who
seemingly drew her to be just as unattractive or uninteresting as she assumed him to be. A bit of a
poetic, but fitting end I think, to this solid Creative Nonfiction story.
Cited Sources:
Rigoberto González (2009) “Sketch” Liberty University Online Bookshelf: Creative Writing
(vitalsource.com)
