If you love to read short stories, you will enjoy Story Chat. For links to all of the stories bookmark the Story Chat Y2 Page. Comments are closed after 30 days because of scammers. If you have comments on other stories, you can make them on this current post.
Something to Think About
- What theme or themes did “A Daily Regret” have?
- Does the story remind you of any memorable one you’ve read?
- Why do you think Reggie chose this venue to tell his story?
“A Daily Regret” by Gary A. Wilson
“Let me start the recording.”
CLICK
“This is Tom Deerling and today I’m interviewing, Reggie Mattox, the renowned creator, and CEO of Cynosure Artisans.
“Thanks for speaking with me Mr. Mattox. I can promise you that all my followers know your name and how you created the wildly successful, privately held, Cynosure Artisans. You’ve launched the careers of thousands of artists and raised the bar for other media houses. The story of how you created and grew CA to its present state is now very well known, so, as agreed, let’s explore something different. You’ve been very successful, but no one is exempt from real life. I think my followers would like to know if you have any regrets – anything you would do differently if you could go back and change something.”
“Thanks, Tom. To make sure we’re clear with your audience, we agreed to this question in advance, giving me time to think it through and you’ve agreed to publish the interview, as delivered, with no edits, thus the recording.”
“All correct. We did and I look forward to hearing what you’re willing to share.”
“Very well.” [deep breath] “I admit, I struggled with this but came to a perspective that I’m willing to detail. Okay, let’s do this. I do have one big regret.
“I’m older now and these days I live a quiet and reasonable lifestyle, but that was not always the case. I was out of control when I was younger.”
“Ah – yes. There have been, shall we say, more than a few tabloid stories and. . .”
“Ugh – let’s not discuss those – they are humiliating now because I know I deserve most of what was written. Let’s just say that I was a heavy partier, abused alcohol, and recreational drugs, and had inappropriate relations with too many women. It’s all true and I own it. But Tom, I want your followers to know if they care, that I’m not that man any longer and I regret my previous life.”
“Wow – um, Mr. Mattox. I did not see this coming. Your reputation has always been defensive if asked about these things.”
“Well, I had to talk myself into sharing it, but it was the first thing that came to mind when you offered this interview. I wanted to find something less embarrassing, but my biggest regret is the emotional damage I left in my wake and the price I’m now paying.
“You see, I have a brother. . .”
“Ethan – yes. He works near San Francisco doing IT something, correct?”
“Correct. He has a wonderful family who are so special to me, partially because he did life right and has the rewards to show for it. My nephew and nieces are priceless joys – every time I’m with them.
In my life; that is, my previous life, there was one woman and relationship that was worth anything and I walked away from it – from her. You might have read about Amelia. She and I were briefly together in Denver when I was starting Cynosure Artisans. She was an amazing singer with one of the bands. She was also smart and kind and – and I never should have let her go. Instead, I went on to make myself sick.”
“Sick? I don’t think we’ve heard about. . .”
“You would not have. It was so embarrassing; I kept it quiet. [deep breath] Tom, I caught a nasty venereal disease and it left me sterile. I can’t have children of my own. What I caught was treatable, but I hid the fact for too long and by the time I took it seriously, the damage was permanent.”
“Mr. Mattox – I’m sorry to learn of this but my followers – they’ll want to know – what did you catch?”
“I hate that I know this name by heart, but it was Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a nasty bacteria, better known as gonorrhea. Even if there were a cure for me now, I’m too old to have and raise children, so I focus on my business and try to live a quieter life.”
“And Amelia? What became of her?”
“As I recall, she was devastated when I told her I was moving on without her. I had parties to see to, other women to bed, other heights to reach. I know she would still hate me, so I don’t know where she is, but now, barely a day goes by that I don’t think of her.”
“Mr. Mattox – I don’t know how to proceed. You’ve completely blown me off course with this regret.”
“Please, Tom, I’ve been presuming on your willingness to be referred to by your first name all along. I apologize. It’s something of an artifact of my position – a bad habit I’m still trying to unwind. Please call me, Reggie.”
“Um – well – let me think. Ugh, no, I don’t think I can call you by your first name. I had an ulterior motive for asking for this interview and think it would be wrong for me to address you so.”
“Why’s that? I’ve been honest with you, and I think. . .”
“That’s just it. I believe you have been honest with me and my followers. I wasn’t expecting anything like this and need to rethink how. . . . I need to step up to your honesty and match it with my own.
“You see my father left my mom in the same way that you left Amelia. She was devastated, found that she was pregnant with me, never married but focused on raising me and carving out the best life she could for us. She was honest with me about my father and was, and she still is an amazing mother.”
“I’m sorry to hear this but. . .”
“So – I can’t call you, Reggie, sir, I should not even be calling you Mr. Mattox. I need to both, address you by your proper title of – of Dad and tell you that Mom would love to hear from you.”
Now It’s Your Turn
This is your chance to ask the author questions, discuss writing techniques, and chat with other readers and writers about “A Daily Regret.”
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
151 responses to “September Story Chat: “A Daily Regret” by Gary A. Wilson”
[…] to Story Chat – September Summary “A Daily Regret” by Gary A. Wilson Thank you to all the faithful authors and chatters who participated in two years of Story Chat. It […]
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[…] to Story Chat – September Summary “A Daily Regret” by Gary A. Wilson Thank you to all the faithful authors and chatters who participated in two years of Story Chat. It […]
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Very interesting comments from all! 🌞
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There were quite a few of them. It was a popular series.
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[…] 275 recent views, 74 likes, and 146 comments, Gary A. Wilson’s story, “A Daily Regret” continues to make Story Chat a raging […]
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[…] September 6th Story Chat introduced Gary Wilson’s story, “A Daily Regret” Read his great interview-style fiction to find out what could have been so bad as to cause someone […]
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[…] September 6th Story Chat introduced Gary Wilson’s story, “A Daily Regret” Read his great interview-style fiction to find out what could have been so bad as to cause someone […]
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This was a delightful read that flowed through nicely. The ending was a surprise for me, but I loved how Gary finished off the story. I had no idea how the story would end until I reached the final few lines.
I have always been told stories containing nothing but dialogue are hard to write, but Gary did a great job with it. The conversation was good and full of emotion which I think many writers have problems getting over to the reader.
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Hello Hugh.
I’m so glad you took the time to read and weigh in.
I’m also glad that it worked for you. I wasn’t sure I could pull this off. You know I love the no-narrator technique, but this one was a reach because of everything else that was going on.
And that notion of not knowing how a story would end until the last few words – I love when an author does it for me and I was hoping that few, if any, would see that coming.
Thanks for the great feedback.
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You pulled it off, Gary. In fact, your story has been going around in my head since I read it because I loved the ending so much. I enjoy reading dialogue stories as you can build your own scene in your head, including what the charchters look like.
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How true. I think it is even better for the character to describe a person even more than a narrator. They don’t get lost in the wordiness, but cut to the chase.
“You need a haircut dad. That straggly beard make you look homeless. At least trim it up.”
“Don’t pressure me. It keeps my chest warm at night. You know your mom’s always hot. She likes the windows open even in the winter with just a thin sheet on the bed.”
I love dialogue. 🙂
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There you go. You proved it, Marsha.
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It’s fun to play around with it.
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Thanks Hugh,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this one. It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements.
Thanks for the great feedback.
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Chu ching! Winner story! 🙂
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I’m feeling kinda humbled here.
Thanks Marsha for constructing the stage for the event.
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You are welcome, Gary.
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Big 😀 here!
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Thanks Marsha for making this happen.
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks for the great feedback.
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I agree. He did a great job with the dialogue. It didn’t even feel like that was the only thing there. I felt I was right there with them.
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And this is why I love this technique.
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Yay, you did what you love! 🙂
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[…] September 6th Story Chat presented Gary Wilson’s new story, “A Daily Regret”. Look for it. It’s the last of Year […]
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I really enjoyed reading another of your unusual stories Gary.
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Unusual – that’s a good word, Willow. 🙂
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Thank you Marsha, I like the unusual 💜
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A little surprise makes a story interesting. 🙂
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Yes indeed it does 🙂
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Hi Willow. I’ll take ‘unusual’ because I enjoy reading one of those more than, what would they be called – perhaps, ‘template’ stories. If a story of mine finds a happy audience with you, I take that as a sign of success. Thank you for reading my efforts.
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It’s a pleasure Gary I really enjoy your stories 😉
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You are so kind Willow and I’m so fortunate to have you as a reader.
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I really enjoy your stories 🙂
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Indeed, she is a great writer as well. 🙂
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You have a smooth tongue, my friend. Perfect for hosting a challenge like Story Chat. 🙂
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Hey Willow,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks for the great feedback.
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Thanks so much for this
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Hi OF,
You’re very welcome, but I feel like I’m the one who owes thanks to my readers here. If you’ve reviewed the feedback – I have a ton of ideas now how I might make the story better and have gains insights to what serious and respected readers think of my work – again – more chances to improve my craft. I’m in their debt.
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Hey OF,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks for the great feedback.
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Thanks for reading. 🙂
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Gary
That was such a delightful ending that earned the heart! Reggie’s maturity and openness felt so realistic and I could imagine his eyes gettin wet right after the big reveal if being a dad (esp after thinking that was not ever an option for him)
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Hi Yvette,
Thanks for giving it a read and I’m glad you enjoyed it so.
You may have seen from the comments above that I wanted to see if I could pull off having both men not know fully how this interview would go and then get them credibly to the the surprise ending. Having both grow was also important as was the whole notion of grace and that there is frequently a place for both forgiveness and hope.
It sounds like the dialog-only feature also worked for you.
If yes, then I’m a happy author.
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I just watched a movie in which a private eye discovered that he had a grown daughter for the first time, and I thought of your story. 🙂
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It really did work (dialogue)
And now I see more of how both not fully know —
Oh and the dialogue only part also felt cultural timely because podcasts seem to be huge right now (and I guess before that we had decades of radio)
But the interview felt so real
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What a nice comment, Yvette.
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That was a huge payoff for him, wasn’t it? I think the payoff might have gotten lost in the power of the reveal. But you are right, he might have been in shock even.
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☀️😊☀️
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Hi Yvette,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks for the great feedback.
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I just checked it out (even tho as I said before – I think the time for reading is SO VARIED among people and even fast readers have slower or faster days so it can be varied even more —
And a nine-minute read for who? I am just curious as to how folks come
Up with the reading time for a story – is it an average ?
I have seen it on other articles here and there so just curious
Oh and I enjoyed the action and details in the story and left a comment on the post
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Hi Yvette,
Way back when I was getting started I wanted the essays in my first collection to not exceed about 10 minutes for an average reader. My own time is all over the map so I went looking for some kind of average. 300 – 400 wpm was what came up most often so I used 300 and went back to writing. Some of my readers like having an estimate to plan when they read and have thanked me for providing it but others, not so much because it doesn’t work for them.
Part of the beauty of being us is that we’re all different.
Thanks 😊
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Thanks for sharing that –
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Wow 😮 this is an amazing story!
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Glad you like it. 🙂
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Hi Rollercoaster.
I don’t think we’ve met so I’m particularly glad that you gave me and my story a chance.
That you thought it to be ‘amazing’ really makes my day.
Thanks for the great feedback. I hope you swing around my story blog because this is the type of story I like to create – credible human drama.
https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/quick-links-to-newest-stuff/
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Hi Rollercoaster,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
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To share your post is a great idea to do, Gary.
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Good question. I actually love the all dialogue technique. I am terrible at writing descriptions and for me writing is more about the relationships anyway.
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We all have regrets. Most of ours don’t turn out to have such visual consequences, I think. Can you imagine the regrets of the people responsible for weapons of mass destruction or someone who had run over a child? There are worse things in the world of regret, I think.
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I’ve wondered about this, but such things leave me lacking a useful point of reference other than it must have been terribly difficult.
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I can’t say that I have a reference point either, but one of our pastors hit a child and killed it. He told about it in one of his sermons and it opened my eyes to how tragedies could happen to anyone. I pray almost every time I drive that nothing like that would happen to me. A truck driver neighbor of mine killed a woman who pulled out in front of his truck. He looked into her eyes, but couldn’t stop his truck from hitting her. It traumatized him, of course.
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Ugh – Marsha, this is the stuff nightmares are made of. I hope to never have such a point of reference. Brrrr
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It is. Talk about regrets!
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Brilliant story, Gary. I like the dialogue and interview style of the structure, I think it makes it very easy for the reader to picture it but also adds to the pressure of the reveals. I have recently read a book that uses this style called “Daisy Jones and the Six” which you may enjoy.
I think the father reveal was handled really well, the interviewer was clearly expecting the interviewee to be as per the tabloids and wanted a confrontation but when presented with a softer side to him, it changed his perception and I think that reflects real-life well, we can’t trust all we read in the tabloids and even if it is the truth at the time people do learn, grow and reflect. You’ve captured that well here.
Overall a delightful story that leaves an open ending to how their relationship might develop which is terrific. Everyone has a past, maybe they can build a better future (or perhaps I’m a big softie for the possibility of a happy ending – haha).
Well done (and thanks as ever to Marsha, our gracious host).
KL ❤
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Well – instead of replying to your comment KL, I managed to create a new one instead. Most likely that means you won’t get a notification unless I repeat it as a proper reply so here goes.
Hi KL,
I’m so glad you stopped by – partially because you are always so encouraging but mostly because your analysis is sure to be useful and instructive.
I’ll try and track down the book you mentioned because I know I’ve gotten a tad extreme with my affection for this ‘all dialog’ technique and can’t think of anywhere else it’s been done like I did here.
I did try to put both men at a disadvantage by having the interview NOT go as they expected, but I also wanted their reality to lift them both rather than humiliate or unhinge either of them.
These days, almost all media is equivalent to what we used to call tabloid-quality so, I day dream some of what decent, useful and uplifting media might sound or feel like. I doubt I’ll cause a new fad with this, but wouldn’t it be nice to at least trust our media again someday?
We have one national host here in the US who is very outspoken about allowing people, even those he disagrees with to misspeak in public, apologize and be forgiven so we can all move on. But he’s the only example I can think of where any room is left for grace in this respect, so I never expect to see it in real life – but here – in my story, Tom had an agenda where he did not expect to need to show any grace or forgiveness, but I wanted both men to do the right thing in the end. I hoped it would not land as flat or simply unbelievable. Reggie was not likely expectig any grace and had this happened to me, I’d be mentally scrambled with two huge shocks – realizing that I have a son, a blessing I thought has passed me by and the unexpected notion that Amelia might ever forgive or be interested in seeing me ever again.
For me, his challenge as the story closes is a wonderfully messed up mind facing too much joy for him to have any final words.
Finally, as long as it’s credible, what could ever be wrong with a happy ending that leaves everyone sensing a possible bit of hope or grace for wherever life has left them?
Thanks KL for stopping by and engaging the conversation.
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Thanks Gary, yes that was what I understood from your story. You did a great job of transitioning both characters pov in such a short piece. It’s quite easy for the reader to picture themselves fall into that situation and becoming rather tongue-tied.
I liked the dialogue writing structure, I find it very refreshing. One of my favourite lecturers once said; “If you can write dialogue, you can write.” Meaning, that it’s very hard to capture authentic dialogue it can sound too much like an extract from a textbook, (his example was – would you fall off a cliff and shout….excrement – no you’d probably use a rather more foul form of the word! Lol). Or it can go the other way and sound too fake making you think that; no-one talks like that. I think you capture dialogue very well.
KL ❤
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I agree, KL. 🙂
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Thanks, KL. Have you ever watched the series Jane, the Virgin? In one episode she meets her celebrity father and it had been a big secret to both of them.
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No, I haven’t, Marsha, is it a good one? KL ❤
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It’s 5 seasons long, and I binge watched it in about two weeks. I couldn’t get enough of it. It seems like a silly tv novella, but to me it seemed to delve into relationships at quite a deep level. Each episode started with a flashback into Jane’s life with a Latino narrator. Once they used to a Latina to highlight one of the other character’s back story, and the narrators got into a power struggle over whose story the series was really about. It was so well done, I thought.
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Thanks for the recommendation Marsha, I’ll look out for it. KL ❤️
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I hope you like it. 🙂
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Nice one
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I thought this was a very good story. It is quite odd that I should read it this week as on Wednesday I had a conversation with my 83-year old mother about regrets. She said that as you get older you have regrets about things you did in your life that hurt other people, or failed to support them. I do think that if you have something big in your past, like the event detailed in this story, you would feel regret. Especially, if you ended up all alone with no-one who cared about you. I have not read a fictional story of a public confession like this, but I recently read The Second Mrs. Astor and when I read up what happened to the Astor children, they all seem to have ended up making a real mess of their romantic lives. I enjoyed the story.
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Hi Roberta,
Thanks for engaging both my story and this discussion.
Wow – striking timing indeed with reading this and your conversation.
But the result must be compelling for you after having invested this time with your mom.
I don’t have direct experience to confirm but sense that your conclusion is sound.
Ending up all alone with no one who cares about you sounds like a terrible and bitter place to land.
Great thoughts and feedback Roberta, again, many thanks for being part of the chat.
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Thanks for your comment, Gary. I think there are a lot of lonely older men and women out there who made mistakes that cost them the love of their families. I also don’t have personal experience of this. I have wonderful parents.
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You are so lucky. My parents were both only children. My mother wasn’t selfish, but she was unmoveable in her opinions. My dad was one of those selfish children grown up. Even so I was well-treated and safe for the most part, and had the love of grandparents on both sides and great-grandparents who showered me with love.
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Hi Marsha, I often think that we are given are cards in life and we have to play them to the best of our abilities. A lot of how we experience life is how we see life.
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This is so true. As an older adult, I realize how little my parents knew when they were raising us because they were so young. When you are young, you make the wrong assumption that your parent knew everything and were responsible for everything. It’s a rude awakening when you finally reach the age they were when you were born and you realize that you’re still a kid and so were they. 🙂
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Hi Roberta,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
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Thanks for your lovely comment, Roberta. I’ve never read that story, but it sounds like a good one. I think making a mess of our romantic lives is a human issue that plagues many.
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Yes, the selfishness of youth has something to do with it.
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Sadly, the selfish youth grow up to be selfish adults many times. And then the cycle continues until you get an adultish responsible child.
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Sad, Marsha.
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We all battle selfishness to an extent.
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Ah yes – than and the thought that we are invincible at that age, and the fact that some never really out grow it – plays a huge part as well.
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True that. There is some charm in remaining child-like, but it does get increasingly annoying with age. 🙂
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[…] September 6th Story Chat introduced Gary Wilson’s story, “A Daily Regret” Read his great interview-style fiction to find out what could have been so bad as to cause someone […]
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Wow, I first mused the interviewee agreed to be interviewed in an effort to “get her back.” And then the hidden intention of the interviewer was revealed! Never read anything like it. Yes, I, too, have known many Reggies, and many, men & women, who have lived with relationship regrets for most of their lives. The carelessness with which we can treat each other is sad, really. Thanks for sharing, Marsha & Gary, and enjoy the weekend! 🌞
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Hi Lisa,
Poor Reggie; he has a bad reputation even with my readers and is going to struggle to repair the damage.
I wanted this story to be a challenge to honesty for both men which I thought only made this a better story. When you said, “Never read anything like it.” Were you referring to the all-dialog technique or the idea of someone like this owning his past and determining to remake himself or something else?
Regardless, I’m really glad you took the time to give it a read and engage the conversation with us.
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Hi, Gary, I’ve never read anything where such long-held, deep desires were publicly revealed by two male characters in such a short space of time. 🌞
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Hm – you know what? Neither have I. I just thought it would a fun and positive spin on several levels and then mostly wanted to see if I could credibly pull it all together in less than 1000 words. In the end, it proved to be a fun writing experience. I’m glad you came by to be part of it.
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Me too, Lisa. Lisa is one of the bloggers I will have the privilege of meeting in five days. Isn’t that exciting?
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Without blows, or puffed up egos, and misunderstandings either!
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Thanks for your wonderful comment, Lisa, and welcome to Story Chat.
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🌞
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Hi Lisa,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
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fun interview and read Marsha and Gary. lot’s of painful truth as well. There are a lot Reggie’s in life. My dad still lives with lots of regrets similar to this story and has been married twice and never married the 3rd time and has been with his SO for almost 30 years.. so i guess he’s learned something. He’s lucky he had me and I’m forgiving 💖😇
Great job!
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Hi Cindy.
Thanks for stopping by and giving my story a read, but wow, I did not think I’d have a reader with such similar experience. I’m at that age where it’s tempting to think about my life and where I could have stepped up better – but I did not lead anything like Reggie’s fictional mess of a life.
I’m a lousy celebrity fan, so I don’t even know many actual stories of how these people do what they do. I only know that they are often found at the southern end of the moral compass from where they seem to lead our culture ever lower.
I thought a story about one of them going the opposite direction might be welcome because there is still be plenty of grace for those who honestly step up, own their failures and try to turn their lives around.
Thanks so much for engaging this story with us. I hope to hear from you again.
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Hi Cindy
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
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He is lucky. My dad divorced Mom and I had a hard time forgiving him. I never met his second SO and he was with her and her son for years. I met his third SO and liked her very much. She left him but returned to help care for him before he died even though she had moved on and had another SO. Mom never remarried.
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Marsha – this had to be a confusing wad of emotions for all involved, but it does sound like his third stepped up to do a hard, but compassionate thing.
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She did. He lived in San Diego and wanted neither my brother nor I to step in. He didn’t want us to see him, and in a way, I agree with his thinking. I nursed my mother to the very end, and it was a special time and created a special bond, but also a lot of regrets of things I wished I’d done better and a lot of mortifying situations for her as well. I don’t have either the regrets nor he the mortifying experiences in my final relationship with him.
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My mom went out in a similar fashion. At first my siblings and I took it wrong, but then realized that she was suffering from watch us suffer from the pending loss.
What an emotional mess we are sometimes.
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So true. All emotions going at once. I suspect it is much like a woman feels when giving birth. Every emotion fully engaged.
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Well now you have a chapter two and three. Yay!
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Hi Marsha,
It has to be a version of an older bit of wisdom: if you want to a good writer, hang out with those who are. Story chat made this happen for me and did so in the context of either them reviewing my work or me reviewing theirs – which was often a tad daunting. This group has made me more aware of the subtle complexities that change a decent story into a wonderful one. I did not want to show up at a story chat with armature-grade typos or grammar errors. I wanted my fingerprints on each story I wrote, but I wanted to know how to make that story great without it being a formula.
This group is so diverse and willing to engage to help peel away at a story’s layers that pressing the submit button to send you a master was something I took pretty seriously.
Hopefully some of the talent that I’ve shared your virtual chat rooms with has rubbed off because I want to write like some of the talent that were in that room with us.
I could have written, A Daily Regret, two years ago, before there was a Story Chat project, but it would not have been nearly as good.
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I have become much more aware, too. There is a lot of thinking that goes into these comments that I think the authors can apply. Not only that I can see that you have made friends by the comments and the posts for Charli’s flash fiction and their comments.
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Hiya Geoff,
Lots of great items to chew on with your comments. I tried to put both men at a disadvantage by not having them know the full truth of what was happening with this interview. Tom clearly knew some that he was interviewing his absent father but was not expected such a contrite fessing up from Reggie. Reggie on the other hand thought he had sufficient control of the interview to allow his to proceed with his great regret, but I did not view him has having any hidden motives – just open confession and ownership of the mess he’d made of his life. There are multiple programs out there and even church counseling that would lead him to public confession of this nature. He’s a well-know public figure – so this is costing him regardless of whatever comes from the publicity.
I did want to close on a surprise – well, just because that’s more fun which is how Tom found himself out done by Reggie’s honesty and whatever he had planned to do to his dad – no longer seemed to be the best path to take.
I tried to leave lots of room for this type of wondering and what-if-ing.
Thanks so much for taking it on and chewing on it with me.
Great findings and feedback!
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always a pleasure, and as you say elsewhere, pure dialogue can be a joy and a challenge!!
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It’s fun to be on the receiving end. Your writing has changed over the year that I’ve known you, Gary. Has the feedback you’ve gotten from Story Chatters influenced you?
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hi Gary
That’s an unusual and clever vehicle for your piece; it lends itself to telling some details in a way that trying to show them in another context would be both difficult and extend the story.
I did find Reggie’s motivations difficult to discern; why did someone who has nurtured his privacy want to reveal this part of his backstory? Why now? And why link that to Amelia? Maybe, Reggie didn’t want to do this but his publicity machine needed him to be seen as more ‘real’, no so private and this was his way. Indeed following that line, maybe the reason Tom got the interview is Reggie’s management knew about the story and felt that would be exactly what Reggie’s image needed. Like when Miley Cyrus dropped the girl next door image for a twerk and a wrecking ball! Could be a total set up!
I suppose this felt a little contrived by Tom, to enable him to link his revelation onto the Reggie’s. In fact, given Tom knew the truth as he started the interview and, one assumes, had some sort of plan to spring it on Reggie, the fact of Reggie’s revelations, whatever they were, wouldn’t really matter, would they? It was getting Reggie in the situation that gave Tom his opportunity.
As I read Tom’s expose, I wondered at his motivations; embarrass his father? Make him squirm? By doing it in an interview context he would probably do that by making it public which might well be more than Reggie wanted.
And then my whole line of thinking goes to pot, as you reveal Tom is really there on behalf of his mum, to get Reggie to get back in touch, which suddenly doesn’t seem to hard after Reggie’s regrets.
It’s always interesting how a reader can run with an idea that probably has no link to the author’s intentions. That’s what makes for a good story.
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Oh and Geoff, you’ve done lots of dialog rich story telling yourself so you know well how powerful it can be in pulling in the reader and giving you as the author some fun options for how the story is going to unfold. It has become one of my favorite techniques.
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Opps – I think I just added a new comment when I meant to reply to yours. Please see below as I thought you asked and made some great points. Thanks
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Wow, you gave this some thorough thinking time, Geoff. I love getting into your head as you talk through your reasoning.
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I do wander about a bit…
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It’s a fun ride.
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[…] September 6th Story Chat presented Gary Wilson’s new story, “A Daily Regret”. Look for it. It’s the last of Year […]
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I think Reggie choose this venue to tell his story in the hope that Amelia would hear it and contact him. It’s a story of hope, regret, shame, honesty.
The story reminds me of a chat show we have here in Ireland. Tommy Tiernan is the host, and he chats with his ‘surprise’ guest in a relaxed manner. The questions aren’t rehearsed and quite often the interview goes fairly deep and unexpected. They say (admit) things unintentionally.
Reggie honestly regrets the lifestyle and regrets more that he let Amelia go. Happens a lot, I’m sure.
Tom’s ulterior motive for the interview was to confront Reggie about Amelia and to reveal that he’s his son. Or did he want to interview him only because he’s his son, but only decided to reveal that information after Reggie’s honest admissions?
As it’s a recording, it’s not like a live interview so Reggie wouldn’t have to agree to it being published.
Another thought I had; both men knew the truth about the parentage before the interview and went public with the information as a publicity stunt.?
I wouldn’t be a fan of Reggie’s lifestyle, but I had a little ‘aww’ moment when Tom said that Amelia would like to meet him. Everyone deserves a wee bit of happiness, especially when they show remorse for their wrongdoings.
I enjoyed this story, Gary. Getting so many details to us in the form of an interview was a clever idea.
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Beautifully encouraging words, Gloria. I hadn’t thought about a publicity stunt. It seems like too raw emotional moment to use as a stunt. But it could happen, for sure. Interesting that you have a similar show in Ireland lending a lot of credibility to Gary’s genre.
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Ugh – I sorry Gloria but for my part in this discussion I managed to mangle my replies to many comments including yours by not actually replying but starting a new comment thread which, of course, would not notify the person who posted the comment I was trying to reply to. I must look rude to many of them, but am trying now to correct this. Here’s my reply from when it would have been both timely and relevant.
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Hi Gloria,
I do love a good dialog story and am glad this one worked for you.
In my mind, I did not see that either man knew how this interview would play out.
I may just have to let that dust settle with each reader to see how it landed.
But you do raise some great points. Because this is all dialog, each character could be playing a bluff of some kind where if a narrator said any of this, the reader would be expected to accept it as truth. Having characters say things opens up the possibility that they’re lying, mistaken, spinning an agenda or any of several other angles that, as the author, I could use to unfold a more complex story where both of them grow or – well, the imagination runs wild at this point.
Thanks for engaging the story and for such a great comment.
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I love the idea of a narrator – again all you need is dialogue, but the narrator would act as the stimulator revealing the inner thoughts. I mentioned the Netflix series Jane the Virgin – great story made superior by the narrator who told what was going on in the speaker’s mind. Modern Family does a similar thing with the characters narrating their own inner thoughts. It adds a lot of humor because the characters can say the exact opposite of what they are thinking and the reader is let in on the big secret.
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oh – my Marsha.
I confess, I’d not thought of that angle of a character saying and thinking two opposite things.
That could go nuts.
And fun – this could be lots of fun.
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It also explains why they might say something bizarre.
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Hi Gloria
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
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Very interesting way of narrating the story Gary. I hope it’s a happy ending.
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Hi Sadje.
Thanks for giving it a read. I think Cathy, above, set the stage for what might be a rocky road for poor Reggie – on the other hand, a chapter 3 might be a fun story of how he finally reaches out to Amelia and gets to know the son he thought he’d never have.
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Yes, that would a good redeeming ending
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And then they both discover how little they had in common and they were holding on to a dream that would not have made a good reality show – child or no child. So they become friends and he learns more about Tom.
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I agree.
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🙏🏼👍🏼
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A bit public for such a revelation. I think perhaps I’d have would up the interview first… The arena rather constrains the interviewees response (although I suppose it is a recording and can be edited).
But as a tale, the revelation is nicely led up to bring that ‘Ahh’ moment.
But think of all the women who will be suing him for their old STDs now he’s made a public confession…
And which celebrity do we think might have inspired this story?
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Hi Cathy.
Maybe I’ a tad cynical but I could see any number of cenobites doing something like this.
I had not thought of the surge of potential law suits that might arise from such a thing. Perhaps a chapter 2 would describe how his attorney asks him, “What were you thinking?”
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LOL, that sounds like an attorney. Leave it to Cathy to feret out the juicy details and take them a step farther. She’s really good at that.
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Cathy you always bring up the out of the box thoughts. Let’s hope he can avoid the suits since he’s trying to come clean rather than to ruin his life. I think many celebrities could be the models for a story like this. Maybe they didn’t birth a child, but those are common themes in stories these days.
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Hi Phil (and I hope I’ve discerned your name correctly. Thanks for giving it a read and for your kind response. I do hope you’ve not been through anything like this. Old Reggie had a rough ride it seems.
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Fenland is Phil’s home area, Gary. His whole blog tells about this unique area of the world. 🙂
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Brilliant, I really enjoyed it.
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Hi Phil. I somehow lost my knowledge of adding comments and instead of replying you yours above, managed to start a new comment thread which would not have notified you. ugh. sorry about that. I must look rude. Here’s what I wrote back when it was timely and relevant
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Hi Phil (and I hope I’ve discerned your name correctly. Thanks for giving it a read and for your kind response. I do hope you’ve not been through anything like this. Old Reggie had a rough ride it seems
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Hi Jacqui.
Thanks for giving this story some of your time and I’m very pleased that you enjoyed it.
I’m a bit confused though. What backstory did you read – because my history is not that of poor Reggie? I made more than my share of mistakes, but I did not dig the kind of hole that he did. Perhaps you read some of my bio or some stories from my ‘I Recall’ collection which are all true stories about my life.
Thanks so much for engaging this story with us.
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Excellent story, and I loved reading your backstory. What a full life you’ve had.
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LOL. That’s not Gary’s backstory. His fiction may read like truth, but he’s not Reggie. LOL
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Thanks Marsha, I thought that perhaps she was referring to my bio-card at the bottom of the story, the box with my photo. Besides, I consider myself fortunate enough to qualify for her final statement – I’ve been blessed with a full life just not Reggie’s – thankfully.
🙂
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I was, Gary, but I see how i made that confusing!
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Sounds like I got sucked into the confusion. LOL
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No, that was all my poorly worded response. Did you know I was a writer?
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Yes, but I sometimes read things wrong. Especially when I see only part of a comment that came before. But yes, I know you are quite a prolific writer. I recently read that wonderful interview about you.
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I do now.
Jacqui, I mangled how I tried to reply to your original note by creating instead a new comment thread thus protecting you from my response so you would not be notified.
Did you know that I’m a blogger who should know better. . . ?
Ugh – anyway. to correct my misstep, I’m coping that response here so you can know it exists and read it if desired.
It doesn’t add much now, but I regret having come off looking rude or dismissive of your early feedback.
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Hi Jacqui.
Thanks for giving this story some of your time and I’m very pleased that you enjoyed it.
I’m a bit confused though. What backstory did you read – because my history is not that of poor Reggie? I made more than my share of mistakes, but I did not dig the kind of hole that he did. Perhaps you read some of my bio or some stories from my ‘I Recall’ collection which are all true stories about my life.
Thanks so much for engaging this story with us.
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You don’t resemble Reggie – at least in lifestyle and personality one bit! LOL
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Hi Jacqui,
Since you like this story, I’d love to hear your reaction to this 9 minute read.
It’s a different genre but uses many similar elements. It starts comfy but then make a sudden turn that should surprise you.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
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Gary, I’m going to write the summary late this time since I’m traveling. I’m not stopping long enough to post. 😀
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No worries Marsha.
I just checked in thus morning to make sure I hadn’t missed anyone and shared a new story link with several.
Saw you spent some quality time with Kirstin in Vancouver. Looked like gobs of fun.
Travel safe
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We are having a great time.
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