R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 9, 2012 - 10:01pm

LBL - Line by line

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 9, 2012 - 10:17pm

Line by line, it's cool  I didn't know at first either lol

That's fine about the draft, honestly, if I have already spoken to you and saved you a spot then you can take your time.  I am so busy with my master's class right now that honestly I won't have time to go over any stories until next week.  This weekend I need to devote to writing a paper for my Psych class.

SurLeQuai's picture
SurLeQuai from Indiana is reading The Night Circus February 9, 2012 - 10:47pm

Yay, thanks--takes some of the pressure off, which will hopefully up quality. Last-minute-me does not write well, I can tell you that.

Typewriter Demigod's picture
Typewriter Demigod from London is reading "White Noise" by DeLilo, "Moby-Dick" by Hermann Mellivile and "Uylsses" by Joyce February 11, 2012 - 5:38pm

Line by line, my friend. Title suggestion

BLEEDING WALLS

BLUNT FORCE TORTURE

GIGGLING VOICES

HEAD OVER HEELS IN AGONY- a psychosis anthology by litreactorians.

 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 11, 2012 - 6:38pm

The title of the Psychosis Anthology was just going to be Psychosis unless people think I should change it to DEMENTED or something extravagant.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 11, 2012 - 7:40pm

Okay, this is the list of stories I have (pending any rewrites)

Is this everyone who turned in a story and I accepted it so far?

Is anyone dropping out?  Is anyone still wanting to turn in something who didn't get to?  You still can if you want. I just didn't want anyone writing something at the last minute but if someone has something prepared that they have been working on that's fine. I just want polished final copies.

ALSO LAST WARNING: please, please, please turn in final copies in 12pt, New Times Roman, double spaced, 1 inch margins, title 6 spaces from top of first page. title not in capitals, just title and your name right below it centered, no "by".  no page numbers, no special formats, no magic boxes with arrows, no glamorous fonts, no deep embedded indentations that won't freaking leave, no asterixs or line breaks between paragraphs that are visible, no underlines, no italics unless they are a part of the story. Don't make the title larger or different than the rest of the text.  Thank you!

Psychosis Anthology

1. Another Lost Day by Bryan Howie
2. Grin on the Rocks By Rebecca Jones-Howe
3. In the Absence of Violence by Joshua D. Moyes
4. Jump by Dakota Taylor
5. Perfectly Natural by Jessica Taylor
6. Sine Qua Non by Kenneth Goldman --reprint
7. The Return by Liana V.
8. Vox Populi by Nicholas Wilczynski
9. Sermons of my Childhood by Josef Van L.
10. Released by Richard Thomas --reprint
11. The Thing About Finn by Renee Pickup ????
12. The Long Halls of Dead Days by Daniel W. Gonzales
13. Job Security by Bradley Sands –reprint?
14. The Woman Ahead of Me by Monica Drake
15. Run Into His Arms by Sam Jackson
16. Time and Place by Martin Garrity
17. Disassociated by Cristiana Zanelli
18. Grandmother by Sarah Davenport
19. Everywhere and Nowhere by Robin van Eck
20. Trial by Fire by Nathan Pettigrew

21. Holes, Fillers and the Days Between by Jami Kali
22.  This is What Living Like this Does by Rian Moon
23. Doughboy in Control by Scott Barbour
24. Phantom Pains by Jason Van Horn 
25. Shrill Cries Cut the Quiet by Rachel Cohen
26. The Frequent Flyer by Jamesey Lefebure 
27. Wake by Robert Thomas --reprint
28.  Numb by Winnie Ferree
29. Dear Baby Doll by Scott Carver
30.  A Table for One by J. Dulouz
31.  Neurotic Hooky by Christopher Jaramillo
32. Charred by Sara Leslie
33. Silence by Tessa Yelton

UPDATES:  Yes, Monica Drake of "Clown Girl" fame contributed a story, one of Palahniuk's favorite books. yes, a major publisher is looking at some stories from the book now.  yes, I am trying to recruit a literary agent to pick up the book. Traci Foust is no longer doing the prologue, she is too busy with her novel. Other than that, I look forward to everyone's rewrites who are still doing rewrites.  Remember, endings are key. Personally there is nothing I hate worse than reading a short story and feeling like, "What was the point of that?" That's why it's important to me to have concrete endings.  You don't have to cut off any limbs, yeah I'm looking at you Jason, but give us a climax. Thank you.

Richard's picture
Richard from St. Louis is reading various anthologies February 11, 2012 - 8:06pm

well hot damn, monica drake! how awesome. i took a class of hers at the Cult, met her several times at AWP, such a generous person. loved Clown Girl. wow. color me impressed.

oh, and i like the title just Psychosis. or maybe Psychosis: Stories

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 11, 2012 - 8:12pm

I changed the title back to Puppet Show!

Deeply embedded indents are fun. Was I formatted right?

Also impressed, though, not to downplay your work here. Great job bro.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest February 11, 2012 - 9:18pm

Monica Drake??? Shit man, that's freakin' awesome!

jl85's picture
jl85 from originally East Tennessee now Southern California is reading everything I can February 11, 2012 - 11:30pm

Holy shit...Monica Drake!! That's fucking awesome man, how did you pull that one off??

Definately impressed!!!

jl85's picture
jl85 from originally East Tennessee now Southern California is reading everything I can February 11, 2012 - 11:36pm

Oh yeah... and Psychosis is fine with me

Psychosis: An Anthology of Mental Illnesses

Or something along those lines. Whatever the popular vote is, I'm cool with either way though.

Nighty Nite's picture
Nighty Nite from NJ is reading Grimscribe: His Lives and Works February 11, 2012 - 11:53pm

I'm really excited that everything seems to be coming together the way it is. 

Also Psychosis is legit. Demented sounds like it might rub someone the wrong way. Psychosis sounds much more clinical and rolls off the tongue better. 

I did like An Anthology of Madness though. Or maybe, on the subject of being clinical: Psychosis: A Study

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 3:32am

Hmmm, I do like Psychosis: An Anthology of Madness.

Actually, you can thank Chester for getting Monica Drake on board.

Sorry, Nick, Puppet Show it is!

I almost thought about dividing the book up into sections:  Clinically insane and Dementia. Because some of the stories are about people who are normal but just fucked up, other ones are about people who are off their damn rocker and are never coming back.

Typewriter Demigod's picture
Typewriter Demigod from London is reading "White Noise" by DeLilo, "Moby-Dick" by Hermann Mellivile and "Uylsses" by Joyce February 12, 2012 - 4:30am

Monica Drake sits next to me! I feel so proud. This will probably decrease the quality of my story because HERE is mega fancy awesome writer writing about womanship, and HERE is weird teenage boy  writer-ette writing about a projection of himself having pedophilic sex with a projection of himself. 

Jason Van Horn's picture
Jason Van Horn from North Carolina is reading A Feast For Crows February 12, 2012 - 6:09am

I thought the cutting off of limbs was a requirement. Well don't I feel embarassed.

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff February 12, 2012 - 7:03am

Yes, Psychosis: An Anthology of Madness.

One thing, Danny: my story would be Pest by Cristi Zanelli

I hope you received the revision in your email, or else I did something wrong or messed up with the address? Anyway, you're gonna get the polished version by Wednesday.

J.Dulouz's picture
J.Dulouz from New England is reading The Sirens of Titan February 12, 2012 - 7:07am

damn, JUST missed the 666th post. figured maybe I could make an exchange with the devil for some writing skills. or maybe some scrambled eggs. its still early.

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff February 12, 2012 - 7:21am

hoi, 666 was mine then. Is my soul sold now? One less thing that hurts when the weather is changing :)

J.Dulouz's picture
J.Dulouz from New England is reading The Sirens of Titan February 12, 2012 - 7:46am

you are free! well, at least until you die. but we don't have to think about that right now.

 

Jason Van Horn's picture
Jason Van Horn from North Carolina is reading A Feast For Crows February 12, 2012 - 9:51am

Yes, I definitely like the Psychosis: An Anthology of Madness title suggestion

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 12, 2012 - 10:13am

Chester's been doing some great behind-the-scenes recruiting.  Monica Drake in our little (but not so little) anthology?  Now that is truly insane.

Also, count me as down for Psychosis: An Anthology of Madness.  I wouldn't say it's clinically accurate or anything, but I think it represents the work inside well enough.  It sort of pokes fun at the old-timey use of "mad" to describe people who aren't normal, but when you read the stories, you realize there's much more to the word itself.

Nighty Nite's picture
Nighty Nite from NJ is reading Grimscribe: His Lives and Works February 12, 2012 - 11:23am

I like the section idea. Maybe going a step further and grouping them by their DSM groups.

Cognitive Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Personality Disorders etc etc. Of course this might not work out entirely. Some stories may be in sections by themselves or with a few others, other stories may be lumped together with 15 others.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 1:33pm

Now if we all petition Clevenger to give us a book blurb on the front cover saying, "These motherfuckers are awesome" then we can sell a few thousand copies. Also since many of us are in different states and in some cases different countries, if we all try to market to our local area papers or get ARC's out to local newspaper/magazine critics, we could expand our reader base.

Like I was thinking of taking out an ad in Seattle Weekly if I could and promoting it.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 12, 2012 - 1:39pm

That is.... intriguing. I'ma poster-bomb Greensboro. (and do that other stuff too).

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry February 12, 2012 - 1:39pm

I know somebody that makes posters.  Incindiary ones that inspire conflict.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 1:40pm

You could just use that image of the broken face mask and put our web address underneath it.  Create a Banksy style underground fandom. We could make people think it's a movie, or a book or an album or a video game or a comic.  Then we tell them it's a book lol  Then 75% of the illliterates go "Whatever, I don't wanna read something!"

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 1:41pm

On the cover I'm going to put a quote from Brandon saying:

"This book made me jizz in my pants" ---Brandon Tietz.

He didn't say that but I'm sure he wouldn't mind lol

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 12, 2012 - 1:53pm

I was just going to use the cover art or some of the other psychosis anthology art that I've seen around here, I wasn't trying to start a riot, per se.

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. February 12, 2012 - 2:28pm

I like Psychosis: An Anthology of Mental Illness better than 'of Madness' (if we're voting - but really I'm just happy to be part of it).

Liana's picture
Liana from Romania and Texas is reading Naked Lunch February 12, 2012 - 2:55pm

Wow, Chester you're not fooling around... This is exciting! Danny kudos for getting closer and closer to putting it together.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human February 12, 2012 - 3:08pm

Damn, I'm late.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 12, 2012 - 3:43pm

"I know somebody that makes posters.  Incindiary ones that inspire conflict. "

Me!  That's Me!  I do that!!

Also, I am a fan of 'Mental Illness' over 'Madness', but that's just me.  I know we're all mad here, but my character isn't.  But it doesn't matter that much.

EVeryone seems very excited, so I'm excited by association.

 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 4:22pm

Well, Becky's pictures and pamphlets and articles based on the stories are a cool viral campaign idea. They might just have to be web based content though.  What could be cool is that if we make the webspace really matter and have the bonus content on there so people feel like they are getting even more out of the book.  THat's why I suggested auto versions etc. Maybe we can auction off a "CHANCE TO MEET ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE PSYCHOSIS ANTHOLOGY" then say "you must provide your own airfare, hotel and feed the author". 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 4:30pm

@nk--I want a riot!  I want people pulling out their hair in the streets and screaming our names. I want a movie based on the book based on a movie about the book that was a movie, I want an album that is a comic that is a book that is a recipe!  I have no idea what I am talking about!  WHY AM I SCREAMING!

 

There were a few serious things I wanted to address.

I'm not going to do the contract thing yet for the stories, for several reasons. If it gets picked up by a publisher then they will have you all sign a contract with them so there is no point in me getting permission to publish your story unless we decide to self-publish but everyone seems to be against that so I am giving us a good six months to try and do it legit. As I said, I am waiting to hear back from two people right now. If we do decide to go the self pub route though then I recommend we do a kickstarter account so that we raise money to promote it and then just go an amazon print on demand thing. Again, that is a last choice. I still have a lot of people I need to stalk and I am a good stalker.

The second thing I want to mention is because this book got rather long, if it does get picked up by a publisher, I hope they don't mind the length or else we may have to cut a few stories. Before anyone gets riled up by that statement, quite honestly, it will be probably the stories that came in the latest and weren't workshopped. That being said, there are some that weren't workshopped that I just loved so I will fight tooth and nail to make sure they make it no matter what. But honestly, don't worry about that right now, I think getting this thing published is the most important thing and 400 pages isn't that long.

Bekanator's picture
Bekanator from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter February 12, 2012 - 5:34pm

Thanks for keeping us updated, Danny.  I'm really geared up to hear what the publishers have to say, good or bad.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 12, 2012 - 6:28pm

You handle Port Orchard, I'll take care of Greensboro. I'm not opposed to investing in a little bit of ad space if it comes to that, but I'm still not going to start any riots here. That's the last thing I need on my resume at this point.

Jason Van Horn's picture
Jason Van Horn from North Carolina is reading A Feast For Crows February 12, 2012 - 7:41pm

North Carolina riots! I'm all for that. Be careful Hickory

SurLeQuai's picture
SurLeQuai from Indiana is reading The Night Circus February 12, 2012 - 8:06pm

So, to be clear ('cause I never seem to be getting it): WHAT do you need by Wednesday, Danny? A second draft, if we've only gotten you one? I'm just worried about getting bumped off since I haven't finished my second draft yet--I'm waist-deep in job applications right now, to be honest, life-after-college shit--BUT I CAN GET IT TO YOU BY WEDNESDAY IF YOU NEED. I just don't want to get cut out because of something that wasn't clear.

(Am I worrying too much?!?! Pyschosis??!?!?!??!)

SurLeQuai's picture
SurLeQuai from Indiana is reading The Night Circus February 12, 2012 - 8:08pm

(Problems spelling "psychosis?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!")

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 8:50pm

Did you make changes to the ending, Surle??  I think that was my only issue.  I am so confused myself, my mailbox is full of submissions and I have like 2, 3 drafts of everyone's stories.  I need to start labelling everything FINAL COPY.

SurLeQuai's picture
SurLeQuai from Indiana is reading The Night Circus February 12, 2012 - 9:37pm

I was plan to to. By when will you need this "final copy?" That's basically what I'm asking.

SurLeQuai's picture
SurLeQuai from Indiana is reading The Night Circus February 12, 2012 - 9:38pm

One of these days I'll stop going back and changing my tenses, and write an actual sensical post.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 9:50pm

This wed or by friday if you need more time.

Tessa's picture
Tessa from Florida is reading The Painted Boy by Charles de Lint February 12, 2012 - 9:52pm

If we're  going back to the title discussion... Psychosis is fine, but that refers to a certain type of mental illness, so I never thought it was the best way to describe the book.  It is catchy, though, which matters a lot.  I thought it would be cool to name it something that goes with an idea like "in the prison of my mind" or, better, "this is the view from inside my mind" because we're taking people inside mental illness.  But as you might be able to tell from my story, I'm no good at coming up with actual titles, just ideas. :D  Anyway, I don't object to Psychosis, but I definitely prefer "mental illness" to "madness".

Speaking of my story, I uploaded a new version on the same thread.  Aliensoul, I'd really appreciate it if you could read it and make sure I didn't make too many changes or change the wrong thing or something.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. February 12, 2012 - 9:55pm

I like Psychosis too.  I guess the debate is over "an anthology of mental illness or madness"  madness sounds exploitative but then again, not all the stories are hard reality, some of them are a little embellished so I'm torn. Plus if we market this as a horror novel as well as a psychological thriller anthology we have access to more fans. Honestly some of the stories in this anthology really do lend themselves to being horror based, my story included I'll admit, Nicks, Jason, etc. Then there are ones like Becky, Avery, Bryan that are more psychological thriller than anything. Then we were going to donate to a real mental health organization so saying "madness" might not be sensitive enough.

How about we just call it, "WHITNEY HOUSTON IS DEAD!" then it will sell a million copies.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 12, 2012 - 10:15pm

I like illness better.

JameseyLefebure's picture
JameseyLefebure from Liverpool, Uk is reading The Gunslinger- Stephen King February 13, 2012 - 3:48am

Hi Danny - I'll get my final draft (with the right format etc by Wednesday!) :) I'm actually really excited by this, but a bit concerned because my story hasn't been workshopped :/

 

James

 

Flaminia Ferina's picture
Flaminia Ferina from Umbria is reading stuff February 13, 2012 - 4:00am

I like Madness more, because it pertains better to a work of fiction.

Mental Illness would be politically correct, but it's not more scientifically correct than Madness if you refer to what happens to a mind under certain conditions.

Bloody hell, the post on the magnus opus made me all philosophical and shit.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters February 13, 2012 - 7:51am

""you must provide your own airfare, hotel and feed the author". 

That sounds excellent.  I'll be working my food preferences into the negotiations as well. 

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin February 13, 2012 - 7:56am

First thing I ask when I pick them up at the airport is "can I borrow 30 bucks?"