How to Begin Whaling

by Steven Dunn

What if you felt like no matter what you did there would be no hope for you to stumble into a happy ending of any kind? That's where Rebekah feels she is, especially as she finds herself in an inpatient facility again. This work is akin to elements of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and Girl, Interrupted; however, it departs from these works in an aim to move the tension from the goings on of the text to the feelings the reader has. This is more a work of healing, thus stands in contrasts to the typical dependence on tension between the characters. This work is the result of overcome the understanding and patience needed to write long form, which was a new process. The goal of removing or reducing expected tension isn’t easy, but the work stays true to the aim with a protagonist that finds herself in a setting that is supportive, leaving the only place for tension to be in her. This is also, where the work might provide implications to the field by being a readable and enjoyable work that avoids the typical or easy tension. Perhaps, building that tension in the reader so that they question why they are looking so hard for tension, question what that reveals about them.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2025

Reviews

[Madilyn Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good! I would have loved to get to see more of why she was there, or how they decided this facility over others! I also would have liked to see her in the real world, or even as a therapist 10 years later working there! I felt like it could have gone on more and ended quick for me!