Happy Birthday to Us – 7 Years.

What can we say?

Do we have a skin complaint?

Do we feel lucky?

Are we a colour of the rainbow?

Which of the dwarves would we be?

And could we consider ourselves a continent?

Probably none of them but what we are is privileged to have been here for seven years!!

This posting is all about that celebration, so none of the usual shite from me…Well apart from that introduction!!

We have a few bits and pieces to get through, so first off let’s get the reviews done for last week.

We had two new writers who we welcome with all our usual wishes, fun on the site, see more of their work, that sort of thing!

And the other three writers have all been here before.

Our topics this week include; communication, a toll, a character, an injury and a lesson.

As always, our initial comments follow.

First up we had our first new writer.

Michael W. Clark got us up and running with ‘Anne: Office Monster.’

‘I like the panic and madness, fear and confusion.’

‘The style suits this very well.’

‘This will be so recognisable for many of us.

On Tuesday we had Anthony Billinghurst’s latest story, ‘The Bridge At Drochaisling.’

‘A very curious piece.’

‘Excellent writing!’

‘This was a lot of fun.’

Our next new writer was Aishwarya Suriastava. The week’s back was broken and also this was our actual anniversary date. It was a pleasure to publish, ‘A Given’ on this special day!

‘A modern parable of sorts, I liked this a lot!’

‘So well put together.’

‘This was quite entrancing.’

There is no introduction needed for our wonderful fellow editor – Leila was published on Thursday with, ‘Amy And The Felinespy: A Feeble Fable Of The Fantasmagorical.’

‘Another wonderful trek into commonbeak and catspeak.’

‘This explains so much!’

‘Brilliantly inventive but recognisable.’

And we finished off with another old friend.

Tim Frank completed our week with, ‘ The City, The World.’

‘Surreal and interesting!’

‘A nightmarish glimpse of an alternative reality, I would think.’

‘Peculiar but very interesting so all good.’

That’s the round up weel rounded up so onwards and upwards…

Memorable Lines.

If any of you have read these specific postings over the last few years, you will know that we pick out certain lines that we have thought to be exceptional.

There are never many but every one is of such quality that we need to showcase and celebrate.

To the writers of these wonderful words, we tip our hats!!

I Only try to give you direction because sometimes you seem so utterly rudderless.
(A Good Person – Fred Foote)

I have hypertension, arthritis and hemorrhoids. I have two ex-wives and a slave driving boss. I don’t have the time, energy or interest in keeping anybody happy but me.
(A Good Person – Fred Foote)


He confused not wanting to live with wanting to die.
(Gameday With Gran – Shawn Nocher)

Drinking is my joy, it takes me to my solitude.
(My Plea For Solitude – Harrison Kim)

There’s a reason why fairy tales stop at ‘Happily Ever-After’, it’s because there ain’t no such thing.
(The Raccoon And The Fitness Trainer: A Feeble Fable Of The Fantasmagorical – Leila Allison)

She said it in a way some women let a secret trickle and go on about its way as if they’ve not let it go at all. (The Last of the Roses–Tom Sheehan)

Macey McGarry was a face licker. (Macey–Hugh Cron – Scheduled for December 3rd)

I’ll take away the boy’s disease and remove your soul at the same time. I’m ambidextrous, you see. (The Devil You Don’t Know–David Henson)

Neither parent really wanted him, but they expected him to live their way. (The Flight of Time–Yashar Seyedbagheri.)

See doesn’t even see me. I am every old woman in this store. (Troublemaker--Cathy Adams)

I was told you will sniff my chair after I leave and only ask about sex. (Visiting Dr. Redd–Constance Woodring

***

Talkable Untalkables!

Although it has been unasked for, a Talking Untalkable Fictional Character has something to say.

A Ghost Talks On the Topic of Talking Untalkables

The Editors at Literally Stories are living human beings. And although they are to be counted among the most open minded of such creatures, there is one topic on which they display negative bias: “Talking Untalkables.”

I, Judge Jasper P. Montague, died  early in 20th Century, thus being dead, I am at the head of the list of Talking Untalkables. The Eds. do not understand how dead persons can tell a story. They greet that with the same degree of perplexed vexation and sometimes hostility that they have shown to closets, books, all flora and fauna, accumulations of water and body parts–to name some, that for one unsupported reason or another have spoken during stories submitted to the site.The Eds. say “Go ahead and have your untalkables talk, but there had better be a good explanation for it.” 

To be fair, many Talking Untalkables have been published, but every one has had a good reason for doing so. John D. Connelly’s Laundry Night comes to mind–not only do his untalkables talk, they also make obscene gestures. But mostly, relying on Talking Untalkables that just talk as though it is perfectly understood by all usually leads to shame and despair.

There’s a perfectly good reason why I talk. I have something to say and I can say it through thermal dynamics. I mix the hot and cold spots 
that can be manipulated by ghosts and create tiny vortexes that move the keys on a computer. Ha! But if you write a tale that features an apparently sane and sober person walking past a freshly pinched loaf of dog feces and that pile begins to speak, you might want to think up a reason for that happening,

Remember–we untalkables talk plenty–but Editors are always wanting to know the how  of it.

Untalkably Talkable Yours.

Judge Jasper P. Montague
Versatur Circa Quid!

***

A Statistical Matter

On October 31st 2014, I recorded my first entry in the Submissions Tracker Excel Document (aka the Spreadsheet of Wonder or Spreadsheet of Doom depending on my mood). From that point until the end of April 2020, 5406 stories from 2868 authors were logged – nearly nine million words that mattered enough to people to put them down on a page and send them in to LS.

Almost exactly a quarter of these stories ended up being published on the site, 70% of them did not. This is not a reflection on their merit, quality or the red ink, sweat and tears that went into them, simply a case of them not fitting for us at that time. I hope that most of them found happy homes elsewhere.

Just over a hundred stories were withdrawn after we started reading them and, in true artefact-in-abandoned-nuclear-facility style, the spreadsheet still shows 36 in a pending state (I can assure you they don’t remain there!).

In digging through the data this morning (it’s what I do for a living after all) it was so lovely to see so many names that have supported LS for so long – the incomparable Tom Sheehan, Frederick Foote, Adam Kluger…far too many to mention but every single person important and appreciated.

Of the more than 600 published authors on that frozen in time list, over 500 of them were one timers on LS, which makes the milestone achievements of the likes of Tom, Hugh, Leila, Frederick and others seem even more remarkable.

I’m more of an occasional visitor to LS Towers these days but thanks to the generosity of spirit and friendship afforded me by Hugh, Diane and Leila I’ve got an open invite and indefinite leave to remain. I feel extremely privileged to have played a role in the Literally Story (see what I did there) and it’s been such a joy to see it thrive and grow after I stepped back (much credit to Leila here for supporting Hugh and Diane in a way I could no longer do). It’s hard to do justice to the impact and influence all the LS editors past and present have had on my life but as I’m a numbers guy let me just say that I’m 100% grateful.

For everyone reading this – thank you for being part of the LS journey. Here’s to many more years of storytelling magic.

Nik

***

A word from us!

I don’t think that when Adam first suggested we start up this site any of us (five originals – hello Adam and Tobbe – I hope you are well and happy) had any idea what it was going to become. We are so thrilled and proud and humbled (yes at the same time – we’re writers we can multiemote – if that’s not a word it should be). There are so many of you out there with wonderful stories, exceptional writing and such passion for the written word that it is a constant pleasure to work with you and to showcase your stories.

That’s not to say that there aren’t the very rare occasions when something happens to upset or even annoy us but they are so very few and far between that they don’t matter. It’s hard work, it’s immensely time consuming but it’s also an enormous pleasure. None of us can know what is coming in the future, I think that is more true now than every before, but I would love to think that Literally Stories has a few more years yet.

To my fellow editors I just want to say thank you. For your friendship, humour, support and good will. You enrich my life and I can’t imagine a reality without you up there in the ether. One day – One day we’ll have that drink!!!

dd

***

So seven years!

Who would have thought it?

I can’t ignore the usual thanks to our amazing writers and those who read and comment. I will have a few drinks to all of you. Not singularly as I would end up in A&E again, I learnt a few years back about toasting lists. Man that was some grocery shop!! It ended up with hallucinations and a stomach pump.

I need to mention, three exceptional records that we’ll have by the end of the year.

First – Yash. This amazing writer has had more stories published in a year than any of us.

Second – Tom Sheehan has had his 150^th story accepted. (It will be published sometime in the New Year.

Thirdly – Leila has not only had one hundred stories accepted – She has had a hundred consecutive acceptances.

I leave my plaudits to Tom and Leila for the appropriate postings. Please watch out for both their milestones.

Talking about Leila, it has been an absolute pleasure working with her. She stepped in when we needed help and hasn’t disappointed. Her interaction between us has been funny, enlightening and educational – We’ve learnt a few more colourful phrases!

Leila brings another perspective when we are discussing the submissions and I would say, overall, she is always in the writers corner!

The site is healthy. We are well in advance with our stories and we continue to attract new writers as well as having our old guard like those already mentioned and Dave, David, Harrison, Doug, Marco, James, Fred to name but a few.

We have tenacious writers who work so hard at their craft like Dianne Willems, Rachel Sievers, Jane Houghton and Ed McConnell. Their acceptances may be few but I can’t express how much respect I have for them as people, professionals and their stories have enhanced the site.

This is an absolute pleasure to do and it keeps me out of mischief!

I’ve ‘met’ or should I say corresponded with so many amazing folks that make my life a much happier place.

And just to finish off, I will have a specific toast for a few individuals.

Our two past founders who are sadly not around the site anymore are always in my thoughts.

So first toast to a beginning goes to Adam and Tobias. (Has to be Bacardi – That was my beginning!)

Second toast – To my Welsh friend and also founder editor – Nik who I try to keep in contact with. (It will have to be a Guinness with a Black Rum chaser in tribute to his mad pastime. Guinness and Black Rum are the only things that will ever make me run!)

Third Toast – To our newest editor, Leila. This lady is one of the most interesting people I have virtually met – See what I did there! (It has to be a Gold Label Jack!)

And lastly – Well apart from Gwen, there has only been one constant in my life over the past seven years and that is Diane…Thank you so much X

(There is no thought needed, a double Talisker!!)

All the very best to all my fine friends!!!!

Cheers!!

Hugh

***

Now would be an excellent time for high minded, life affirming wisdom. Then again there are no bad times for that high minded, life affirming wisdom, so it is once again obvious that I have little of that to offer.

When lacking high minded, life affirming wisdom to share, it is best to be brief.

I want to thank Hugh and Diane for bringing me in off the street and giving me a position of moderate respectability. Some say that loitering around an establishment for a number of years in hopes of gaining permanent entry is a mark of futility, yet here I am.I should go on and on about my co-Editors, but the only truly wise thing to do is point out all the ties that Hugh, Diane and Nik have helped writers when the Eds. at other sites would threaten to call the cops. I have been a recipient of their largess, and I have seen it extended to others. Sometimes writers are like feral stray cats; we lash out at a helping hand automatically because so few hands have been extended to us in a friendly manner.

Although we trade in words, those would have little meaning without thoughts and actions to give them meaning. So, I raise a glass to seven years (of which I’ve been around for six), and toast this most humane of sites.

Leila

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay