Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz March 15, 2012 - 4:51pm

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a jolly pop?

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts March 15, 2012 - 5:52pm

Okay, almost the weekend. Time to buckle down and get serious.

Good luck everyone. Except for Fritz. I hope a bumblebee stings your typing finger.

Fritz's picture
Fritz March 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

No worries Ren. I sent mine in on monday. So bring on them bees and good luck!

Nikki Guerlain's picture
Nikki Guerlain from Portlandia March 15, 2012 - 6:02pm

wow. go fritz!

Fritz's picture
Fritz March 15, 2012 - 6:32pm

We shall see if it is good enough. Happy writing!

Americantypo's picture
Americantypo from Philadelphia is reading The Bone Clocks March 15, 2012 - 6:45pm

Draft done, just have to cut a thousand words. BOOOOO.

However I do like it and after this is over I'll probably submit it to a few zines. So yay for that.

Fritz's picture
Fritz March 15, 2012 - 6:52pm

Whittle whittle

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 15, 2012 - 7:05pm

I'm still staring at mine.

 

A small devil tried to convince me to add to it and change the entire tone.  I've recently discovered that writer battles breed schizophrenia.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry March 15, 2012 - 7:18pm

Your kid thought your story was too esoteric?

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 7:19pm

still ain't wrote a word :) have the whole evening free tomorrow, just have to transcribe...

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 15, 2012 - 7:20pm

Yes, even my kid realizes when too much is too much.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry March 15, 2012 - 7:21pm

"Mom, this story needs a little more darkness.  More, I don't know, transgressionism."

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 15, 2012 - 7:26pm

Well, the characters have clearly transgressed.  But have they transgressed in a way that is captivating?  Or is it too off-screen?  Do the transgressions compel the reader?   These are the questions we are asking at this time.

Nikki Guerlain's picture
Nikki Guerlain from Portlandia March 15, 2012 - 7:29pm

@manda in the same boat as you. got my notes and stuff in my head but i still got to pump it out. probably tonight/tomorrow morning. i let my stuff stew before i write.

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 7:31pm

me too. i've been working on it all week, but i don't want to write it down til it's nearly done. i fuck up shorts that way and end up pitching and starting over if i don't wait to find the right window in.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry March 15, 2012 - 7:33pm

Yeah, that's what I do as well.  But I call it like it is.  I am lazy.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. March 15, 2012 - 7:36pm

I finished my story today but I'm still giving it a back massage and seeing if it wants a happy ending. I think it's ready to blow.

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 7:38pm

okay. so i haven't been sleeping and have been watching a lot of Weeds and sending way too many late night emails and looking at pictures of vincent d'onofrio.

BUT though i haven't technically been working on it all week, i have been working on it. in my head.

and looking at vincent d'onofrio.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry March 15, 2012 - 7:39pm

Yeah.  Me too.  Except for some differences.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 15, 2012 - 7:41pm

Right, because Utah watches True Blood instead.

 

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 7:42pm

but not the d'onofrio parts. everyone looks at pictures of vincent d'onofrio at 2am when they can't sleep.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 15, 2012 - 7:44pm

Yes.  Naturally.

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 7:47pm

he's so tall and crazy. i would have a clone of him, i think.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 15, 2012 - 7:51pm

I didn't know who he was.  Until just now when I Googled him.  Now I know.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin March 15, 2012 - 7:58pm

Third Draft done, still not sending it in yet.

I just sit around, read through it and wonder if the conclusion is satisfying. 

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 8:03pm

you didn't know... but he... and, The Cell... so troubled... and perfect....

 

@nick - SEND IT IN!!! it's 2500 wds. if you keep revising something that short it'll be too much - it'll go to shit and there won't be anything left of your original beautiful gem left. there's polishing and then there's just rubbing your hands together until you got nothing left!!

Americantypo's picture
Americantypo from Philadelphia is reading The Bone Clocks March 15, 2012 - 8:08pm

Just need to shave a hundred more words. Its not so bad cutting a thousand words off a 6,000 word story, but a hundred off 2600 is goddamn brain surgery.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin March 15, 2012 - 8:17pm

@manda:

Good point, I mean, I'm not having any problems with wordcount right now, but I am aware that I should just call it finished.... one more readthrough...

Americantypo's picture
Americantypo from Philadelphia is reading The Bone Clocks March 15, 2012 - 8:28pm

Jesus, I mean 200 words, not 100. Down to 2600 even. ANOTHER fucking hundred words to whittle out of this thing. Boooo!

manda lynn's picture
manda lynn from Ohio is reading Of Love and Other Demons (again) March 15, 2012 - 8:38pm

@americantypo - have you thought of picking one spot, one scene/section/setting/conversation, that you can just cut out or cut to a sentence? instead of fucking around and yanking sentences everywhere? sometimes it's better to sacrifice one chunk to leave the better parts intact.

yeah, i kknow, i haven't written anyhng and i'm suddenly full of fucking advice...

Americantypo's picture
Americantypo from Philadelphia is reading The Bone Clocks March 15, 2012 - 8:48pm

So... being a fan of longer word counts, I've gotta say that now that I've finished a draft of something at 2500 words, this was a great exercise. It really forced me to make every word count and I have a feeling it's something I'll take with me when I write longer peices. Kudos Litreactor. Still got plenty to learn.

Americantypo's picture
Americantypo from Philadelphia is reading The Bone Clocks March 15, 2012 - 8:50pm

I just clipped at parts here and there. I'm gonna let it sit until Sunday morning and give it one more run through to make sure it still sort of works as it is now before sending it off. And if it doesn't... well I guess I've got to send it regardless on account of hte word count. But whatever, I got a story out of it. I hope people like it, regardless of votes. It's one of the shortest stories I've written in probably EVER. I just wonder if it'll show.

Nikki Guerlain's picture
Nikki Guerlain from Portlandia March 15, 2012 - 9:27pm

I just keep thinking 2500 words! Wow I can do a lot with that many words! Seriously you can fit so much in! That said, I'm not going to worry about using all them all but rather on making every word count no matter what it's final length. Not going to try to fill it up but try to make it as rich and lean and mean as possible. God this is sooo much fun!

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin March 15, 2012 - 10:26pm

Sent!

Nikki Guerlain's picture
Nikki Guerlain from Portlandia March 15, 2012 - 10:37pm

see, it's all about making every word count. Boobs. War. Tape. Sabotage.

yeah i just found my old photobucket account and i'm feeling sentimental so i thought i'd share.

* yeah, i know what you're thinking ... wow, she's not a natural red head.

 

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin March 15, 2012 - 10:48pm

My first thought was actually something more along the lines of: Those are ribs.

No, that was my second thought...

Nikki Guerlain's picture
Nikki Guerlain from Portlandia March 15, 2012 - 10:49pm

the tape made my boobs look all weird so i figured i'd do avery a big one and post it so she wouldn't be all alone with the weird jumbly thing.

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin March 16, 2012 - 3:33am

Okay, I'm done. One more final read through later this evening and then I'll email it to Utah.

Surprised to say I'm actually quite happy with it :D

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry March 16, 2012 - 5:13am

Utah is excited about all these submissions coming in!

Americantypo's picture
Americantypo from Philadelphia is reading The Bone Clocks March 16, 2012 - 5:44am

Alright, I'll be the first dirtbag to just say that Nikki's pics are sexy.

Now all my story ideas have been pushed out of my brain.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 16, 2012 - 6:17am

" she wouldn't be all alone with the weird jumbly thing."

I appreciate that.

Jason Van Horn's picture
Jason Van Horn from North Carolina is reading A Feast For Crows March 16, 2012 - 6:54am

The first thing I thought is that old hag from The Dark Crystal still freaks the hell out of me.

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin March 16, 2012 - 9:14am

I still think we should all pitch in on a Kickstarter fund to buy Nikki a hamburger.

.'s picture
. March 16, 2012 - 10:54am

 

NICK...

Nick Wilczynski's picture
Nick Wilczynski from Greensboro, NC is reading A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin March 16, 2012 - 11:01am

lmfao.

bryanhowie's picture
bryanhowie from FW, ID is reading East of Eden. Steinbeck is FUCKING AMAZING. March 16, 2012 - 11:51am

I love Unkown Hinson.  Squidbillies is one of my favorite shows.  Yeah yeah.

I got a muse.  Womerns.  Yeah yeah.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts March 16, 2012 - 12:50pm

Still nothing done, but I'm pretty sure I'll be bedridden all weekend, so that's a plus. Damn you, Achilles tendons. It's as if the Achilles tendon is my Achilles heel.  (/groaner)

Nikki Guerlain's picture
Nikki Guerlain from Portlandia March 16, 2012 - 12:59pm

@nick I weigh about ten pounds more but my rubs always stuck out. But thx for the kind thoughts :)

@avery no probs I got your back

@typo yessss!

@jacks I know not of this unknown thing. Thx

@howie thx some more

@jason that augrha character totally freaks me out but on the other hand something about her makes me want to sit on her face. But not in a sexual way. Yup yup.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters March 16, 2012 - 1:39pm

Okay, now I'm actually excited for the polls to hurry up and get here!  I completed my brackets and I want to see how close I can get.  March Madness - I finally get it!

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin March 16, 2012 - 2:36pm

Story done and emailed to Utah.

I'm just self doubting, self doubting, self doubting now.... got to stop thinking about it!