EveryDay

Abstract

Everyday is an experiment in emotional realism. Literal events are reinterpreted according to the emotions of the characters to focus on the internal state in a concrete manner. The story follows a single day of Nettie's life as she struggles to survive the challenges of being home alone with children while trying to balance the tension of her own needs as an individual. Because the emphasis is on the internal, events are small to allow for external manifestations of Nettie's creative view of herself and the world around her. A close third person narrator combines with a lyrically heavy tone to accentuate mood and tempo. Emphasis is placed on the texture of the language and the accumulation of understanding about characters and their relationships with each other. In each chapter, the narrative transitions into a first-person piece from Nettie's point of view that allows her rich internal life to be juxtaposed with the chaotic household around her.