Just Going For a Cabbage, by site co-founder, Diane M. Dickson, is a fine example of seamless technique. The neighbors alert the MC to what’s really going on and cause the story to bloom fully in her head and for the reader at the same time.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns – Just Going for A Cabbage by Diane M Dickson”
Dear Daisy
Greetings!
Leila caught a cold while composing this weekly update and claimed that she was only worth “two-thirds of my usual genius” (a statement which proves that the common cold has no ill effects on the ego). Instead of calling out sick and thrusting her duty on her fellow Editors, she asked that I, Daisy Cloverleaf, write the introduction to this week’s wrap and that she would handle the middle and end. Which is precisely what has happened.
Continue reading “374- Dear Daisy, The Week That Still Is, And Nine New Ways To Avoid Heaven”
Maybe it says plenty about our race that we often find ourselves in the corner of the Bad Guy. And in the case of this story, the “victim” isn’t always a beloved member of society. In fact there are some amongst us who dislike cyclists and spandex and their blatant disregard for traffic rules and pedestrians. Not all, nor a majority of cyclists are pushy, passive aggressive sociopaths, but enough are to be annoying. You will find that circumstance at the heart of Dough Hawley’s Bike Killer. And when you read it, please take a look at the almost as entertaining string of comments below it.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns – Bike Killer by Doug Hawley”
Leila and her lists are killing me!!
I am also a list lover.
So from that I’ve thought about one thing that saddens me about a story compared to a song…A song can make you smile straight away, a story, well you need to get into the crux of it. To be fair though, the ending of a story is better, a lot better, than a few beats of a drum.
Continue reading “Week 373 – The Difference Between Stories And Songs, No Place For ‘Whistling Jack Smith’ And What The Fuck Will We Be Writing About?”
There are many amiable characters in the archives and there are guys like the eponymous star of Hugh Cron’s Hans.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns – Hans by Hugh Cron”
The Nobel Prize For Being a Corporate Tool Goes To…
Almost everything we read online is either a blatant lie or plain wrong. (Forget the “fake news” euphemism–for a kiss is but a kiss and a con is but a con.) For instance, I recall intelligent sources telling me that we use something like ten percent of our brains, and the rest may as well be cornbread stuffing until enough evolution goes by. Although this “fact” (like countless others) is certainly nonsense, someone smart started that misconception, which I bet more people believe than do not.
I’ve finally reached the point where I no longer blindly accept “facts” minus proof. I probably would be better off if I had arrived at this point sooner, but, maybe, “better late than never” is, at times, a valid sentiment–though still not much use in situations when the pardon arrives after the gallows has dropped.
Continue reading “Week 372: Family Circus of the Damned, Five Points of Light and Making Sad Amends”
If I was better educated–or at least paid closer attention during what education I received–I’d know all the words the professors use to describe and sometimes drain the blood out of the written word. I am certain that there are fancy definitions for what goes on in Frederick K. Foote’s Peculiar Folk, but, really, in the end, no matter what something may be in the scientific sense, does it walk when you read it is still the most important thing of all.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns – Peculiar Folk by Frederick K Foote”
If we go by past weeks, Leila will be doing the post next week, which means, I want to mention something this week, that, if I was doing this post next week, I would have mentioned it then.
Easter is creeping up on us, just like that crazy cat Judas did to a Roman before he whispered into his ear. I don’t think he won ‘Friend of the year’ that year. Anyhow it has struck me how there aren’t many religious things in the shops. There are plenty of tacky bonnets to put on your poor old demented granny. (I still believe that should be classed as a form of abuse!) And there are loads of ‘Easter toys’ which have fuck all to do with Easter. Now-a-days, wee Johnny and Jeannie don’t get a Jesus action figure that when his side is squeezed, he bleeds from his hands and feet (Red syrup not included) they get a Paw Patrol or Peppa Pig play centre…How very Christian!
I’m thinking on organising a market stall and going to The Philippines next week to see if I can sell any of that job lot of ‘No More Nails’ that I acquired, just in case those Snowflake Millennials want a go.
…Supply and demand guys!
Anyhow onto this week’s posting number 371.
You don’t really need courage to take on some subjects, you just need to be true to the subject.
In these times of ‘Trigger Warnings’ that become a fecking half page list, the PC brigade and The Enraged, I reckon a lot of writers fear what subjects they take on. Do you know that ‘The Enraged’ get sexually aroused when they see that there will be plenty for them to be enraged about after they have read every word!
I’m not too clear if they realise what being sexually aroused is. Well not with other people.
If you have ever had this fear after writing a story my simple piece of advice is don’t be!!
If the attitudes, opinions and situations are all about the characters then you have no need to worry.
I’ve mentioned this before and we had a discussion a few weeks back that has made me re-think this. I did and am still happy with that sort of reasoning.
In one of the hostels where I worked, there was a trainer who really did know his onions. He was a Mental Health Professional and was probably one of the most knowledgeable, genuine and level headed guys that I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. He insisted that we all have our bigotries, hidden or otherwise. We all have our preferences, hidden or otherwise and we all have our fears and insecurities, hidden or otherwise. He stated that this is what makes us human and what makes us a good person is knowing how to manage these.
I know that a helluva lot of folks would be outraged at that statement and would deny any of their own shortcomings but the guy had a point and a huge set of balls for constantly saying it.
No-one should fear what they write due to us all now becoming (??) or striving to be (??) completely tolerant and perfect Human Beings.
…’Perfect’, ‘completely tolerant’ and ‘Human Beings’ are words that will never be truthful if put together and stated as fact.
A word of warning, if you’re ever tempted to write a perfect character with no prejudices from your perfect point of view, it will only be believed by a Unicorn who is in a coma after a rainbow sherbet overdose.
Okay onto this week’s stories. Two new writers, two long time friends and one of our lovely editors had their stories published over the last five days.
As always our initial comments follow.
We have a weekly constant at the moment and that is a tale from Tom Sheehan.
‘A Saddle In The Desert‘ was our first story of the week.
‘Reminds me of those old cowboy films.’
‘This held me all the way through.’
‘It flowed very well and I know this is one of those that Tom loves to write.’
On Tuesday, the imaginative and enigmatic Leila Allison privileged us with her pen.
‘The Good News Club‘ was her latest story for us.
‘Great pace.’
‘Wonderfully enthralling.’
‘The ending was solid and satisfactory.’
Our first new writer was Serenity Marshall. We welcome her and hope that she has fun on the site.
‘Waiting For Daddy‘ was next up.
‘Authentic.’
‘Serenity conveys a culture without telling us, that is well done!’
‘Poignant but the middle section with the vision of the future lifted this to something special.’
A.J. Lyndon was next up with ‘The Seventh Wave’.
We extend the same welcome to our second new writer and we hope to see more stories from both of them.
‘Not my favourite genre but this was very well done. I enjoyed it!’
‘The style suited the MC.’
‘The subject has weight.’
We completed the week with one of our most interesting writers. Tim Frank is always worth a read!
‘The Peephole‘ was published on Friday.
‘Odd! But odd in a very good way!!’
‘Loved the sentence, ‘He was a virgin, a fact he didn’t hide from his mind.’
‘Weird – But I enjoyed this!’
That’s us for another week.
Please keep / start commenting!
Is there anyone out there that would like a shot at The Sunday Re-Run – Anyone? Helllooo? Is there anyone there???
We know you read it, we can see the viewing figures so come on, give yourself a showcase to write a spiel and ask some questions on an older story that you’ve enjoyed!
Just to finish off, I have a confession to make – I haven’t read much Dickens but I’m aware of the times he wrote about.
This came to me as I was reading what our Chancellor, Richie Rishi Sunak was ‘helping’ our poorest people with. In true Scrooge McDuck style, the little arrogant’ out of touch’ millionaire two hundred times over’ wealthy fuckwit’ handed folks pennies when the economy is taking back pounds.
I have no problem with anyone being wealthy (I wish I was myself!!) but the fucking hypocrisy in that man doing a job where he is making decisions regarding the lowest earners is nothing but a fucking insult!!!
…And for the little snottery nosed, over privileged twat not to see this, is an arrogance only a British Cabinet Minister is happy to live with.
I just remembered something regarding our completely in-touch with the poor prick of a chancellor.
There was an episode of ‘Question Time’ where the panel were asked what Politician would make a good Bond and some sycophantic fuck stated, ‘I think my boss, Rishi Sunak’ would make a great Bond.’
I was nearly sick and just prayed for some audience member to shout out,
‘James Bond?? More like Pussy Galore!’
…I would have happily chipped in for their bail!!!!
Image: – Google Images
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Mom was a world class liar. Once in a lifetime. She believed that a solid lie should have few moving parts; this theory allowed her to capitalize on the specious notion that true-sounding things are brief. Mainly, Mom got her whoppers over with a confident attitude,brevity and something in her eyes that told you not to fuck with it further.
Continue reading “Good News Club by Leila Allison”
Adam Kluger’s Pooboogle is a first class example of the ray of light finding a down and outer kind of story. A form probably first thought up by one of the girls on the Ark. Yet Adam has not only updated the shape to fit the times, he still manages to find something new to say. I can’t locate specific examples (maybe the six fingered guy) as much as I got a refreshing vibe from the story. Maybe it is because of all the sour tales out there which attempt relevance by conveying steady rain and suicidal tendencies.
Continue reading “Literally Reruns – Pooboogle by Adam Kluger”
literally stories 