READ ME, SEYMOUR: Wow. I owe Krubner big time. He offers really, really helpful criticism of/questions about my short story “Desire.” I know the story is too sketchy. I planned out a lot of the imagery in advance, but the plot (always my weak point) was driven more by instinct and slapdashery. Krubner’s questions, I think, will really help me focus as I rewrite.

I always have a hard time figuring out which things need to be explicit and which need to be subtle. I thought the physical self-image theme was perhaps underplayed, but Krubner totally picked it up, whereas he doesn’t mention what I thought was the more obvious critique of both conformity and individualistic “authenticity.” (Seeking a third alternative between cultural conformity and capitulation to the damaged, unreliable self.) Much to ponder as I knead, scrape, and pummel.