Newton had
it absolutely right. Things want to be at rest. Trying to get students moving
and doing is problematic at best, debilitating at worst. I find that more and
more students are less interested in putting forth an effort. I think there are
a variety of reasons for this, ranging from their own particular mindsets to outside
influences (work, family, etc.) to total apathy. Trying to find ways to
motivate and get responses out of students occupies a lot of my time.
Stories
have their own inertia. They are slow to start and get moving, though generally
easier to get moving than students. They have their own particular problem,
though. Stories will retain their inertia at speed (as according to Newton) and
so it becomes a matter of trying to slow the story down. Stories, as any writer
knows, soon take on a life of their own, and can be quite stubborn when the
reins are hauled back.
Fortunately,
stories can be edited. I think I would get in trouble for trying to edit a
student. I’d need a bigger pen.