I have to thank Nik for his exemplary job in standing in for me last week. He was witty, intelligent and articulate. I hate him! I bet he doesn’t even hold grudges!!
Now folks, I want to explain something, we don’t have any hierarchy at Literally Stories, we all have our roles which to be truthful, we have just sort of fallen into.
The literary legend we know simply as Hugh Cron is taking a well-deserved break from proceedings this week and has entrusted me, his faithful Welsh sidekick, to come up with a few choice words to sum up the week that was at LS Towers*
* not an actual tower – more of a chateau really.
I can neither confirm nor deny if Hugh is adding something extra to his Irn-Bru over the course of the weekend but I can at least confirm that from a roundup perspective what I lack in wit I more than make up for in lack of wit.
Before I begin this weeks round-up we have a couple of comments that we wish to make.
Our thoughts go out to our wonderful friend and fellow editor Tobias who sadly lost his father recently.
We all send Tobias our love and condolences.
And unfortunately, we yet again have to say that our prayers are with all those innocents who were caught up in the despicable events in London.
Well folks, here we are at week 126.
This number is pish and is no inspiration what-so-ever. Even saying that number bores, unless you have that weird wee whistle when you pronounce the letter ‘s’.
So I had to look elsewhere for inspiration.
I’ve began far too many of these posts with this type of comment:
All of us at Literally Stories send our thoughts to those affected by the atrocity in Manchester.
Our football season is coming to an end and that is normally a sign of summer finally turning up. Only in our country does it make sense to play sport in the rain and snow.
Anyhow back to the summer, we don’t handle those three days in June very well. As soon as it’s bright we put on our Speedos and head to the beach. The men don’t dress much better.
Unfortunately a bright day doesn’t necessarily constitute heat here in Scotland but our NHS services are wonderful and on that bright day they are well geared up with survival blankets and hot soup.
Well here we are at Week 124, which followed our highly successful Week 123!
My inspiration for this post actually came from one of my fellow authors. No we were not having a heated debate about anything Literally related. Tobias mentioned growing up this week and that got me thinking whether or not I considered myself as a grown up.
My advancing years suggest that I am. My childish humour, pettiness and hating most things begs to differ.
Well it’s Week 123
…It’s easy as ABC
…Wait a minute, that may be around the wrong way…Or should that be ’round the wrong way’?
I think that was recorded when it was legal for Michael Jackson to play with little boys.
Anyhow, I was on the site commenting when I began to wonder how many of our authors have a look at the related stories that come up? They are listed below the ‘Share This’ icon which is just under the authors name at the end of the story.
Are you too insecure to read a common theme? Well it may be a common tag…I’m not really sure. No matter what, I think it’s quite interesting. For you to have a related theme or style, surely you would take a peek into that person’s work simply for curiosity.
Go on…Look back, compare and give the author a comment. It’s always wonderful to read what someone takes out of your work especially if the site has decided that you are of the same ilk!
The site is all wise and knowing. It works by recognising data and common themes, it changes all these into clogarithms and cross references them with input / output / colour of eyes and what star signs you are.
I need to thank Nik for his professionalism and his knowledge of these technical points. Or as he refers to it, ‘magical shit!’. His firm is lucky to have him!!
Back in the day, (I thought that may have been a more interesting reference but it isn’t…I checked) when I was young, idealistic and stupid, I sent a book to an independent reviewer. Surprisingly, it was returned with a report. I was thrilled. I was brilliant!! It cost me seventy five pounds for someone to tell me that. It was worth every penny. My self-esteem rose to heights that they’ve never reached again. That was actually my first ever experience of feedback.
OK, I now know that it was a pile of shit. No con-women worth anything would piss you off with a bad review. However, this person was either very perceptive or very lucky as she did compare me to an author I loved. She stated that my work reminded her of James Herbert. I was in cloud nine. I still am. Not because of any success or me becoming the new James Herbert but simply because someone I paid mentioned me in the same sentence as one of my favourite authors.
When I think on it, that was the equivalent of a ninety five pound lady of the night screaming that you are the best she has ever had. It’s shallow, I will admit but leave me with my moment, the same moment I would have given the lady of the night.
What I am getting at in my usual cack handed manner is that we’ve given you a platform for some peer comment and input. There is no cost and if there is a common theme or style, surely it would be mutually beneficial.
Our older stories still need to be loved and read. Please have a look back. It keeps them alive.
Onto this weeks stories.
Our subjects include torment, a light-bulb injury, a realistic romance, a hair straightener injury and some observational writing.
We have three new writers, one multi-talented author and one of our delightful editors. You’ve probably guessed that means it wasn’t me!
As always our initial comments follow.
On Monday Mr Adam Kluger added to his extensive back-catalogue with, ‘What Would Breslin Have Thought?‘.
‘I don’t think many could take such a simple story on infatuation and get so much character out of it.’
‘Pretty clever!’
‘Multi-layered with a real character.’
We had our first new author published on Tuesday. We welcome Shelby Leet as well as all our débutantes. ‘Proper Hygiene‘ was next up.
‘This made me grin.’
‘Bonkers and I like it!’
‘This worked even though it made no sense.’
Aaron Kaplan was our next first time author. As well as a welcome, we hope that they all have fun on the site.
‘Two Is The Loneliest Number‘ was Wednesdays offering.
‘This was wry and amusing.’
‘Accomplished, with some really good lines.’
‘A good piece of writing.’
On Thursday we had the lovely Diane dusting off the cob-webs. It has been far too long!! And I am happy to let you all into a secret, Diane did this only for fun. But it was read and we thought that it had a lot more merit than a simple piece of fun!
Even when Mrs Dickson is being playful, there is quality!!
‘Brush Off’ was our penultimate story of the week.
Our last author is also a newbie to the site. Neil James finished off the week. As with all writers, new or old hands we ask you to please send us more of your work!!
‘Our House Has No Windows.’ was published on Friday.
‘Romance turning to shit! That’s more like it!’
‘Full of pathos and longing.’
‘So much emotion very compactly done.’
That’s us for another week folks.
Before I go, there are a few points I need to address:
Insecurity and writers go together like cheese and jam.
I would appeal to Nik’s gaffers to give him a raise!
Please don’t send for a report.
And regarding the ladies of the night, well you get what you pay for!
Hugh
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