Preface

Let’s break this down.

This is a story.  Like most stories, it has a main character, a central plot, and themes running throughout.  The author hopes, that like most good stories, it has side plots, subtext, gravitas, and above all, fills the reader with hope, a greater sense of self, and a higher purpose of of being.  This last hope, while a bit lofty, can ultimately be seen as a theme in itself, but that would be getting ahead.

Unlike most stories, this one is in the process of being told as it’s being written.  Each entry simultaneously brings the story closer to conclusion and adds thematic layers to previous entries.  Or, pessimistically, perhaps there’s no interweaving morals or maxims to extract from this tale.  If that’s the case, then the author would like to apologize for wasting your time, and he hopes that you take the time to write down your own novella.  Although, the author would like to warn the confident reader that it takes great effort to begin such an endeavor, and if the reader-turned-writer would simply rather send elements of their own to story to the author who, already with such a fantastic, loyal readership, would then incorporate into this, his semi-autobiography.  This term might deserve some further explanation.

At the top of this page, this story is labeled as a Semi-Autobiography (in Prose).  To avoid any legal troubles, it’s best to set the story straight: all real names have been changed for this story to protect both the innocent and otherwise.  All entries may or may not have actually taken place, or, if events herein are even remotely true, they have more than likely been embellished to such a degree, that one, the author for instance, might say they never even took place.  The author holds this as truth.

Also, at the top of this page, above the label of Semi-Autobiography (in Prose), lies the name of the story being told: Citing Artistic Differences.  The author intends for the title to remain enigmatic, but he would like the readers to rest assured that the title is clever on not one, at least two, and possibly three levels if a certain bit of wordplay is used on the first word, “citing”.  Regardless, this is the sort of mystery that should be expected of Citing Artistic Differences, and the author hopes you will play along.

Enjoy the story as the author enjoys writing it and writing it down.  This is only a story, and it should be treated as such.