Something has been playing on my mind this week after eating some Japanese crackers – Do fish taste the way that they do due to the seaweed? Or does seaweed taste the way that it does due to the fish?
It was my turn to do Posting number 556 which has fallen on Halloween week.
I was going to start with some Halloween jokes but they were fucking awful. I then tried to find some dark / sick Halloween jokes but still no joy. I even looked at some of that programme ‘Horrible Histories’, but it was shite. It made me feel worse when I realised that it was a kids’ programme!
I have decided that as an opener and one to set the tone, here is a wee bit of music. This is probably the only bit of Techno that I like. (I am a bit partial to some German Techno as I hope that they’re being ironic!)
The 31st scares the shit out of me. Not the undead, monsters and ghouls, that has always been like New Year at my family’s house. You see, it’s the kids. Wee snot covered monsters insisting that we need to look them up and down and talk about their clothes. If you did that any other time of the year, I’m sure the Police would have some type of Taskforce on your arse.
What’s even worse is they now bring their enthusiastic parents with them! I think they should only be allowed out if they are bandaged and their little angel is wearing a part of their parents’ bodies as earrings. I’d be more than happy to fill little Jeanie’s bucket full of sweets if she was wearing her dad’s testicles. You know the type of guy I’m taking about, the one with the serious limp, no will to live and who sounds like a BeeGee on helium. Weird thing is, sometimes their spouses are the happiest, they always have a smile on their faces.
Now, that is nothing to do with the relationship between the couple, it has more to do with the wife’s acceptance of ‘There Can Be Only One’ (Sceptical how the new film will go!) and she would never need to take another kid out at Halloween.
I watched ‘Monster’. It’s not the most factual story regarding Gein but it’s given me some ideas for decorations that I’ll let the kiddies touch. We can even play a game!!!
That ties onto our next piece of music. You’ll see there is a pattern here. I could have went with the usual suspects like ‘Love Bug Starkey’, ‘House On The Hill’, Ray Parker Junior, ‘Ghostbusters’ or even Bobby Boris Pickett with ‘The Monster Mash.’, or ‘The Monster Swim. (They’re both the same song!)
I’ve just seen that Springsteen did a live performance of The Monster Mash’ – Go figure!!!!
‘Thriller’ could have been a belter – Not for the song or the video, more for Jackson strutting his stuff. Many a wee boy knew all about his stuff.
But after much thought, I chose this one for the Gein link, I wonder what was used for that??
I do have a relevant question for everyone who has been published on the site. Let’s take a day that the site has five hundred visitors and your story is headlining. What would you prefer, four hundred and ninety nine of them getting exactly what you were going for and one reading it differently. Or four hundred and ninety nine of them going off on a different meaning to what you intended and one getting exactly what you were going for? I’ll be really interested in your thoughts.
Okay onto this week’s stories.
It was one of those weeks where every one was a new one!
We welcome all the writers, hope that they continue to submit and of course, have a lot of fun on the site.
As always, our initial comments follow.
First up was Alice Baburek with, ‘Restless Souls’.
‘This held me.’
‘Alice is another writer of the tenacious type.’
‘You get involved with this.’
On Tuesday we had Wayne Eton’s, ‘Just Tired’
‘Perfect Pace.’
‘Excellent Writing.’
‘Nice details with the arcade and the people in his life.’
The back of the week was broken with, ‘Listen To Elliot Smith.’ This was written by Joel Bryant.
‘This has a great idea in it, which most don’t.
‘A bit of depth to this.’
‘Very enjoyable.’
Next up was Grace Lee with ‘A Sister’s Promise.’
‘We all have our own shameful little histories that we had nothing to do with.’
‘Depressing done very well!’
‘This was good to read.’
And to complete the week we had ‘Rescue’ by Michelle Stoll.
‘The ending was a surprise.’
‘Excellent tone.’
‘A satisfying ending.’
That’s the round-up well and truly rounded up.
Keep on reading, writing, submitting and saying thanks!!
To end we will go back to all things evil and dead!!!!
I saw on the 13th October that fucking thing thatcher would have been a hundred. I’ll leave my celebrations until the 8th of April!
I’d like to steal one of Leila’s regular features and do a list.
Forget about accuracy, some are more accurate than others and some are just mental, this is my list of the best Serial Killer films.(Or instigators!!) I’d love to know your thoughts.
In no particular order
– ‘The Deliberate Stranger’ (Bundy)
– ‘Prophet Of Evil’ (Ervil Le Baron)
– ‘To Catch A Killer’ (John Wayne Gacy)
– ‘On Frozen Ground’ (Robert Hansen)
– Murder By Decree’ (Jack The Ripper)
– ‘Aquarius’ (TV Series…I think!) (Charles Manson)
– ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ (Charles Manson)
– ‘Ten Rillington Place’ (Christie)
– ‘My Friend Dahmer’(Dahmer)
*- ‘Devil In The White City (H H Holmes)
* This film is more of a hope. This Scorsese film has supposedly been on the drafting board for years!!!
Before the last piece of music, I do have a Halloween piece. (I only stole one)
– A skeleton had been going to the Job Centre for ten years and was very disillusioned as all he had been offered was Marathon Running or Super-Modelling. He took to the drink but the mops were costing him more than the beer. He eventually became a super successful entrepreneur. He bottled his bath water and sold it as stock.
Ironically, he is now staring in a reality show called ‘Beauty and The Bones’ with super-models. He was delighted when he realised that he wasn’t the thinnest one there.
Looking back at that list, there was only one song that I could end with.
And by the way – I’d rather have had him as P.M. than all of them.
literally stories 
I am not a great lover of horror stuff and halloween the way that it is these days does nothing at all to grab my attention. It’s just a money spinner for rich companies and another stress inducer for parents. I think in the US it is different because it has deeper roots there in its present form. Here I prefer the idea of mischief night, salt on the doorstep and Samhain.
As for the question about who gets what you’re going for in stories, that’s interesting. I have a series of police procedural novels in which I made the main character really unlikeable and it may have backfired a bit when I read comment that say ‘I’m not reading any more of these because that detective is really unlikeable.’ So yes, they got what I was going for but it didn’t do me any favours. Fortunately there are plenty of other readers who seem to get that all detectives are different and some of them are not that nice. Great, thought-provoking post – thanks dd
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Hi Diane,
I don’t think that anyone could say that ‘Rebus’ or ‘Tom Thorn’ are completely likeable humans but no matter what, overall, they do what they think is right…And because of their character, they are fun to read about.
Nice and normal are so over-rated!!
Thanks as always!
Hugh
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Hello Hugh
Happy Halloween and I am proud to say I worked at a place in which someone played the Clown tune over the PA. Should have seen the boss run to the office and disconnect when the “red balloon up your ass” came on after the doors open.
I think the seaweed rules myself. Such a strong thing that people who eat it must taste like it. As for the question about the 500, my attitude is like the Clown. “Do you like my story? ‘No.’ Well you can shove that up so on and so forth.”
I watch the Zombie Firefly Flick every year. The Rejects was okay until he got heavy toward the end. The diabolical humor was the key.
I believe Lord Such did himself in. Ah, that’s how it goes.
Great work
Leila
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Hi Leila,
I would have bought the P.A pirate a drink!!!
I think I regard the answer to the reader question as this, I am more than happy if a reader takes what they will out of the story. I think nonplussed is the biggest dread of any writer from a reader!!
I’ve not watched Mr Zombie for a while, will need to rectify that.
Thanks as always!!
Hugh
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Hi Hugh
My problem is if I ever stop to think what people might take from a Talking Goat I might sieze up and vanish with a poof. I do my best to get across but with utter disregard for the reader. That is a big no no in the Elements of Style. Sigh and oh well!
Leila
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Good fun for the season. I especially like the clown video. Glad I’m not clownaphobic. (There’s a hilarious episode of Frasier on the topic although I’m sure it’s no laughing matter for those who have the condition.) I was at O’hare Airport many many years ago and there was some guy in a clown costume entertaining kids in the waiting area. It was a bit creepy, and I can only hope I wasn’t seeing early-on JW Gacy. I’d rather have the readers get what I was going for than not if I had to choose. Seaweed.
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Hi Dave,
I remember that episode!! So many brilliant lines in all of the series.
When you see the pictures of Gacy in that costume, he shouldn’t have been convicted of looking like what he was!
Brian Dennehey (Sp??) did a cracking job in that film. My pal always gets stuck saying that actor’s name and can’t get out, it’s hysterical as he pronounces it, ‘Brian Denneyhennnyhennyhay’
Thanks so much for all your support and comments.
Hugh
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Hugh,
Downtown Dunedin, Florida was filled with several hundred children, parents, and dogs in costumes on Friday. A horror? No! It concentrated them away from our apartments and houses. Everything was in the true spirit of Halloween — which is?
Great post! — gerry
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Hi Gerry,
The true spirit of Halloween must be Blackheart Rum!!
Glad the weans didn’t annoy. We were also lucky as none of the wee scrotes came to our door. Some people would be saddened by that, we were elated. (Will be eating bags of mixed sweets for a while!!)
Thanks so much for the comments!
All my very best to you and yours.
Hugh
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Many, many years since I’ve seen it, but I have very fond memories of Vincent Price’s ‘Theatre of Blood’, surely a serial killer classic. I seem to remember Diana Rigg was his co-star. bw mick
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Hi Mick,
I loved that film, it was so OTT it was genus!!
I forgot that Diane Rigg played his daughter.
Hope all is well with you my fine friend.
Thanks so much.
Hugh
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Hi Hugh
I’ve never thought about fish and seaweed causing each other to smell. lol. Fish do live in a strange world. I think it’s the fish all on their own.
I hear what you are saying about these parents dressing up and taking their nearly adult children around–I can see the little ones. Do their parents also want candy if they are dressed up like Bill Cosby?
I think I would like the same perspective on a story that I was going for by most of the readers. Except for the ending I would leave that open to interpretation. If only one person got the same perspective as me, but the others liked it that wouldn’t be so bad at all.
A story shouldn’t be a “paint by numbers ” experience for the reader, but clarity is also very important.
Sometimes stories take on a life of their own even beyond the writer’s prose and intentions, so this is a very intriguing question.
Christopher
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Hi Christopher,
I think the fish or seaweed question is on a level to the chicken or the egg. I’ve not yet made up my mind, I’ll need to find some reasoning, stupid or not!!
Jackson would also be a worrying choice!
I don’t really mind if any of my stories are taken differently to what I meant. HAH! Clarity is not my forte!! So I need to go with that!!
Thanks so much for your time and comments my fine friend.
Hugh
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I’ve never been a big one for Halloween. I’ve always thought it crazy that 364 days a year we tell our kids not to walk up to strangers houses and not to take candy from strangers, etc. Then reverse it for one day. I guess it’s okay to tempt predators if you look like a monster.
I like to think that my writing is enjoyable to people, and quite often that is the only point. But if they miss the point and like it, I’m okay with it. I’m also okay with them getting the point and not liking it. I guess what I’m saying is that I’ll be happy so long as people actually read what I’m writing.
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Hi Thurman,
Fair points regarding Halloween! Same with Santa, should we encourage children to sit on a strange man’s knees?? I wonder what an AI Santa would learn? Maybe to hide in plain sight??
I agree regarding readers. As long as they don’t give up one third in!!
Thanks so much for the comments.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Hugh
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Great week of stories. Just spent the weekend watching a selection of 6 horror films – the best being Sinners (which I recommend).
As for the question about 500 visitors, I’m going to be my usual pretentious self and say it really doesn’t matter. I’m a firm believer that once a story is published, the opinion of it no longer belongs to me, it’s left home in other words.
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Hi Paul,
That’s a cracking metaphor for reader interpretation, ‘The story has left home’.
As the parent to it, you’ve done your best and all you can do now is see where it goes!
I don’t know that film but will seek it out.
I think the four most underrated Horror Films in my opinion are, ‘The Believers’, ‘Near Dark’, ‘Angel Heart’ and ‘Bag Of Bones.’
Thanks as always my fine friend.
Hugh
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I expressed my feelings about written show stoppers for me in Saragun Springs, so I won’t do that again except “weaponize”.
Never finished “Catcher In The Rye”, couldn’t spend another minute with Holden. Tried more than once. It’s a classic. Go figure.
Submission highly praised one place rejected another. At least I never got a “We get many fine submissions. This isn’t one of them.”
In non-answer to Hugh’s question. I prefer mild praise for a story. Dislike is of course invalid (chuckle) and high praise it obviously inappropriate.
My first Halloween in God’s Waiting Room / The Village / Sunset City no trickers came by, but we did get to boogie to a kick-ass oldies band.
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Hi Doug,
Thanks as always.
Don’t knock high praise unless it comes with a condition and a cost!!
How weird is this!!!!
…I couldn’t think of anything better than listening to an oldies band (Whilst drinking Jack) and just as I’m typing this, ‘Stagger Lee’ by Lloyd Price has just came on my playlist!!
I think I realised the strength of this song as I’ve heard so many versions from Taj Mahal, Nick Cave up to ‘The Vintage Explosion’ (A Glasgow Band who fill up where ever they play – The lead singer has some voice and I’m determined to get to see them.) Every one of these versions are brilliant in their own way and it takes a special song to carry all types of style and voice!
Hop you and Sharon are doing well!!
All the very best my interesting friend.
Hugh
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Also Lloyd Price, just recently deceased – Lawdy Miss Clawdy, covered by Elvis. Both versions good.
Scariest horror show in the USA, maybe the world, is the long running, should have been cancelled years ago, 47iq/TanTrump/Don the Con.
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I find it most intriguing when people find a different meaning in my stories than I intended…. in fact, it’s downright scary at times to know “maybe that’s what I was really intending, but unconsciously.” As for killers being interesting, I worked at a hospital for the criminally insane for three decades and there were Hallowe’en Parties and people dressed up. As zombies, mummies, one guy had a Pope outfit, another wore the uniform of a Vietnamese army general. Well, he had actually been a Vietnamese army general. The inmates also carved pumpkins using six inch knives. The winner won a nice chocolate and candy prize. I mean, this was minimum security only hehe so no problem. For me, though, this was indeed the scariest and most stupid event of the year. Fortunately, nobody ever got stabbed.
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Hi Harrison,
I wrote a story, that, in my head, was a clear vampire story but none of my fellow editors picked up on that. The last line that (To me) made it obvious was one that my fellow editors suggested that I should have left out as it was confusing.
My point is clarity is in the eye of the reader!!!
I’ve mentioned before that I worked with folks with addictions and I learnt something about seasonal celebrations – They didn’t care.
I was really worried about the first Celtic / Rangers (Two Glasgow football teams that all numpties catch on to – Religion as in Sectarianism also rears it’s ugly head!) football match as I thought this would have been a blood-bath. However, I was safer, being myself with twenty four residents than I would ever have been going into a pub with only five folks in it!!
…I’ve never really worked out what that says about our Scottish Society or mentality!!!
Thanks as always my fine friend, your comments are always much appreciated.
Hugh
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