Monday, December 3, 2007

What's in a Name?

by Adam Drew


Terrel made a mistake. Names are important, you see, and when someone changes theirs, you respect that. Especially when that someone can beat the living hell out of you.

Fifteen rounds passed; Terrel lost thirteen of them, taking blow after blow, shot after shot.

"What's my name, Uncle Tom?" asked Ali with each brutal punch.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, in the editing process, I lost the piece of information that Ali never knocked Terrel out. He probably could have any any time, but he kept beating him, with the intent to humiliate.

Anybody else have this problem? Having a variety of information to be conveyed, and yet something must go?

Ari Collins said...

Absolutely. I can't tell you how many stories I have that have lost a lot in the shrinking. Usually I'll start a story and have about 70-100 words, and I'll really have to think about what details are absolutely necessary. Much has been left on the cutting-room floor.