As a writer, I’ve always held a particular fascination for children’s books. In my opinion, there’s much to be admired in their simplicity. I feel that anyone can fit meaning into hundreds of thousands of words, but when you’re limited to 30-60k, the lines written must be shaved down to their bitterest and most potent form.
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg-Sloan follows Willow Chance, an extraordinary little girl whose life is changed drastically when both her parents pass away, and then changed again as she continues with a new family who while learning to deal with grief, growth, and differences. Every line is carefully chosen and infused with meaning, and there are scenes that – however short – use words like notes in a melody that will hit you hard when the tune is complete. Sentences are chosen carefully, and each unique turn of phrase pops and reminds you of the voice of the character you’re following. Perhaps it is my personal aversion to heavy description or blankets of text, but Goldberg-Sloan’s prose drives meaning home with every line hit in a style of the craft I’ve always admired.
— Madison Watai is a writer and psychology student. A fan of stories that bring a new perspective to the table, she aims to include her own layers of nuance and insight in her work. When she isn’t writing, she’s often annotating philosophy books, listening to choral arrangements, or dreaming away.
You can read Madison Watai's story in Issue 300 Summer Fiction 2024. Order the issue now:
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