| |
| author |
Kathryn Carmichael
| | title |
Death to Dandelions: A Novel
| | abstract |
Death to Dandelions is a creative project exploring the memory of the sixties counterculture through fiction. The novel, set in the fall of 1968, follows a young woman, Margret, as she comes of age in a communal living house situated in a suburban environment. She navigates the cultural moment, finding her place, and friendships with her housemates as they deal with external factors challenging their living situation. In the accompanying Writer's Statement I describe the writing process and influences on my work. Inspired by a short lived 'communal living experiment' located across the street from Drew in the late sixties, I use newspaper coverage and interviews with members of that house to construct my fictional commune and the story surrounding it. I also study fiction, including Emma Cline's The Girls, Lauren Groff's Arcadia, Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys, and Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. I discuss the way these inspirations influenced my writing, as well as decisions I made while researching and drafting. I then explain my revision process; the ways that I identified problems, addressed feedback, used reverse outlines, and made decisions to move the project towards my vision. I also discuss future directions, and the revisions I will continue to make.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2025)
|
| advisor |
Courtney Zoffness
|
| full text | KCarmichael.pdf |
| |
