What is considered a "good" story? Forum

[masked kavana]

I don't have the best stats but consider my story to be pretty unique.

I'm just wondering if a "good" story would be more akin to finding the cure to cancer or something like overcoming extreme adversity.

I've optimistically (or naively) applied to schools that no one would even consider me a candidate for so I hope it give me some kind of boost.

Thanks for the help!

[071816]

A well-written story.

[ahduth]

I like the Brothers Karamazov.

[citykitty]

Tragedy overcome. So like Shakespeare where everyone except you dies in the end.

[JDizzle2015]

I don't have the best stats but consider my story to be pretty unique.

I'm just wondering if a "good" story would be more akin to finding the cure to cancer or something like overcoming extreme adversity.

I've optimistically (or naively) applied to schools that no one would even consider me a candidate for so I hope it give me some kind of boost.

Thanks for the help!

Unless your story is about successfully finding the cure to cancer and then a pharmaceutical company robbing you of it, it won't be akin to finding the cure to cancer.

Softs will not likely make up for subpar numbers for most of the schools you've listed on your profile. However, with a decrease in LSAT takers this cycle, your might outperform your numbers slightly. Good luck!

ETA: I'm a fan of the hitchhikers' guide to the universe.

[cinephile]

Prozac Nation

[blsingindisguise]

Prozac Nation

180. Well played.

[American_in_China]

I advocate rewriting the plot to "Taken" as your own life story.

[Mal Reynolds]

I like the Brothers Karamazov.

Did you actually read that? I love Dostoyevsky but dear lord that book is huge.

[ahduth]

I like the Brothers Karamazov.

Did you actually read that? I love Dostoyevsky but dear lord that book is huge.

Yes. This is one of the best novels ever written. I started (then stopped) trying to learn Russian because the book is so good. Dostoyevsky puts the knife in. Doesn't bother taking it out. I wish I could read Russian - there's no reason for a lawyer to do so, as they don't seem to have substantive law over there.

But when you're wealthy and retired, read this book. It's simple, poignant, and frustratingly complex, all at once.

[Neatrends]

From what I gather any story that effectively communicates to the audience traits that would make you an attractive candidate can be a good story. The adcomms realize not everyone has made some great discovery or has a tragic story.

So you don't have to cure cancer you just have to talk about something you learned from, or a situation that showcased your collaborative spirit, tolerance, creative thinking, or something like that.

Also, Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground is pretty good, and a short read.

[monkey85]

Something written by Tucker Max

[descartesb4thehorse]

I really enjoyed Anna Karenina. Oh, and I am also fond of Invitation to a Beheading.

IB War & Peace amirite?

[Mal Reynolds]

I like the Brothers Karamazov.

Did you actually read that? I love Dostoyevsky but dear lord that book is huge.

Yes. This is one of the best novels ever written. I started (then stopped) trying to learn Russian because the book is so good. Dostoyevsky puts the knife in. Doesn't bother taking it out. I wish I could read Russian - there's no reason for a lawyer to do so, as they don't seem to have substantive law over there.

But when you're wealthy and retired, read this book. It's simple, poignant, and frustratingly complex, all at once.

Very cool, I will add this to my 0L prep-so far that consists of reading everything I have ever wanted to read that has nothing to do with the law. I loved Notes from Underground so Im sure this will be good too.

[89vision]

George Orwell and Jim Carroll are my two favorites, along with Albert Camus and Nietzsche.

[descartesb4thehorse]

Would we saaaay Nietzsche wrote stories?

[Elston Gunn]

I like the Brothers Karamazov.

Did you actually read that? I love Dostoyevsky but dear lord that book is huge.

Yes. This is one of the best novels ever written. I started (then stopped) trying to learn Russian because the book is so good. Dostoyevsky puts the knife in. Doesn't bother taking it out. I wish I could read Russian - there's no reason for a lawyer to do so, as they don't seem to have substantive law over there.

But when you're wealthy and retired, read this book. It's simple, poignant, and frustratingly complex, all at once.

I like you.

[89vision]

Would we saaaay Nietzsche wrote stories?

Author as in "writer of a book." He wrote clearly for a philosopher, IMO.

[062914123]

.

[FantasticMrFox]

Albert Camus

Eh, seriously? I can't really understand your tastes. I hated L'Etranger...although his Myth of Sisyphus was actually pretty interesting.

[descartesb4thehorse]

Would we saaaay Nietzsche wrote stories?

Author as in "writer of a book." He wrote clearly for a philosopher, IMO.

Yea but the thread title.... never mind.

[FantasticMrFox]

Would we saaaay Nietzsche wrote stories?

Author as in "writer of a book." He wrote clearly for a philosopher, IMO.

Yea but the thread title.... never mind.

No you are right don't back down

[89vision]

Albert Camus

Eh, seriously? I can't really understand your tastes. I hated L'Etranger...although his Myth of Sisyphus was actually pretty interesting.

Camus-

I love The Plague. A lot of it is philosophical, but novel-esque. I like the mix. To each his own though.

Would we saaaay Nietzsche wrote stories?

Author as in "writer of a book." He wrote clearly for a philosopher, IMO.

Yea but the thread title.... never mind.

Would we saaaay Nietzsche wrote stories?

Author as in "writer of a book." He wrote clearly for a philosopher, IMO.

Yea but the thread title.... never mind.

When did I say Neitsche wrote stories? I was naming writers I like. You can emulate a writing style, even if that writing isn't strictly telling a story. People on here love to sweat the small stuff, get hung up on things that are meaningless, and then start arguments. Must have a great social life...hence the posting on a Sunday night I suppose.

[NYC Law]

I don't know a good story, but I can tell you a cool story.

[descartesb4thehorse]

Let's stop you right there for a brief synopsis for our viewers at home. Thread title: "what is considered a good story?" Joke of the thread: good stories are unheard of in law school PSs, let's talk about actual good stories. We have fun with that for a bit, some heavyhanded Russian names are bandied about. You necro the thread to try to throw your big bags of mainstream philosophy into the mix. I point out that you miss the point of the thread, you ad hom something about my social life in retaliation. My social failings are pretty obvious to anyone who has posted more than twice in the lounge, so you could have at least put some effort into it. Kind of like this:

Your life in college must look completely different from everyone you know. You can't go to study groups. You can't listen to your iPod while studying. You have to sit in the front. You only take notes by hand. You write EVERY due date down, twice. You schedule the library like it's a job and find a nook in the back and never tell anyone you know where it is. You go to office hours all the time. You have to annotate everything you read which means you print every PDF, and highlight every book. It's expensive. It's time consuming. Its not as fun as going to bars, but it's what you have to do to get to where you want to be.

Story of my undergrad. Nearly verbatim.

Sorry you have some over-diagnosed disease found only in the first world, but when you freely admit your proclivity for dark corners of your undergrad library, think two ticks before lecturing anyone on their social life.

Oh yea, and get that reading comp up to speed if you're ever gonna get an LSAT that'll get you outside of Pitt range.