Renfield
from Hell is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 28, 2012 - 7:44pm
His name was Bud Dwyer, he was a Pennsylvanian, just like me. I was 10 when he shot himself. I missed it when the aired it on the local news, but I remember talking about it in class the next day. There was also a slew of jokes that immediately followed. Kind of fucked when you think about it - as 10 year olds there's an onslaught of Bud Dwyer jokes shortly after he killed himself on live tv.
I wasn't born back then. I saw the footage near 10 years ago being projected at some goth-techno show (the band was called Terrorfakt I believe.) Kinda gruesome but I seem to remember the rest of my formative years to be an entire barrage of soul-raping morbidity as well. He always reminds me of this specific song though:
don't come in here
you'll see something ugly
it's not the kind of thing
you'd expect from a body
TomorrowHill
from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you?November 28, 2012 - 7:45pm
@Otis: $1.87 and a styrofoam cup!
Wonder Woman
from RI is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 28, 2012 - 8:12pm
@Leah C'mon now, New Jersey isn't that far away from Rhode Island. We're practically neighbors!
sean of the dead
from Madisonville, KY is reading Peckerwood, by Jed AyresNovember 28, 2012 - 8:28pm
Yes, I really do love Castlevania! Wow, how did you know?
leah_beth
from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once.November 29, 2012 - 5:34am
@wonderwoman - I live in SC now, though! Which is a little bit (like, five whole states!) further away! Booooo geography!
Bekanator
from Kamloops, British Columbia is reading Ugly Girls by Lindsay HunterNovember 29, 2012 - 6:14am
@Chris: Because of your avatar, I picture you insanely yelling everything you write.
Wonder Woman
from RI is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 29, 2012 - 6:19am
@Leah, yeah I tooked to quickly. At least it's warmer in Charleston!
And now I've got this stuck in my head (at 1:50):
Renfield
from Hell is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 29, 2012 - 6:33am
Think I figured out what I'm going to write about.
Wonder Woman
from RI is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 29, 2012 - 7:15am
A couple of dogs bent on beating up a singing and dancing cat?
dufrescm
from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepNovember 29, 2012 - 7:22am
I'm stymied. Started 3 times and scrapped each one. Blarg!
jyh
from VA is reading whatever he feels likeNovember 29, 2012 - 7:34am
Sheesh, I love some Looney Tunes.
TomorrowHill
from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you?November 29, 2012 - 7:38am
@Becca: NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! I AM CALM AND WHISPER-QUIET AT ALL TIMES!
leah_beth
from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once.November 29, 2012 - 7:39am
Hahahahaha, I am sitting in a shared office with a bunch of loud software developers right now....and I'm cracking up watching Looney Tunes and singing the Charleston song to myself. They're looking at me....
It is warmer here - 70s this weekend. All are welcome to come visit. :)
OtisTheBulldog
from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazNovember 29, 2012 - 8:57am
Tell those Mt. Dew Code Red slamming nerds to be quiet when you're watching cartoons.
Wonder Woman
from RI is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 29, 2012 - 9:18am
YOU KNOW WHERE IS THERE A CAT?!
I love Looney Tunes, too. Not a fan of the new one on Cartoon Network, though.
Sound
from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael WehuntNovember 29, 2012 - 9:30am
First draft done.
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 29, 2012 - 9:31am
So, editing and not smoking isn't fun. I really should have decided to stop smoking AFTER I wrote, but Alea iacta est.
OtisTheBulldog
from Somerville, MA is reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot DiazNovember 29, 2012 - 10:17am
Matt Attack - have you tried an e-cig? I'm a smoker too and trying to quit. I'm not a heavy smoker (until I'm heavy drinking) but it has helped me immensely. I bought the Logic brand. You can get it to where there's no nicotine, too. They only last a week or less depending on how hard you hit it, but it really does satisy that craving.
I didn't smoke for 12 days until the battery died and it was Thanksgiving. I think I might invest in a nicer one to help wean me off it until I can kick it for good.
sean of the dead
from Madisonville, KY is reading Peckerwood, by Jed AyresNovember 29, 2012 - 10:27am
My suggestion to quit smoking is just make sure you want to. Once you do, you'll quit cold turkey and not worry about it again. I don't know, think about your health, how nice it would be to breathe easier and not stink, how much money you will save, whatever makes you really want to quit.
I smoked over a pack a day for 17 years, then quit cold turkey about 3 months ago. I haven't "cheated" once, not even 1 drag.
What I'm saying is, good luck everybody. Food tastes a lot better on this side of the fence...now to figure out how to lose these new pounds I've gained.
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 29, 2012 - 10:37am
Well, I can go a day or two at this point since I've slowly lessened it. Considering I've been smoking fifteen years and at about a pack a day, I'd say it's alright. I did try the e-cig, it's a backup, but generally I use sunflower seeds and peppermint. The 'Njoy' brand of e-cig you get at 7-11 is just about like the real thing, despite being water vapor. But, since editing takes alot of concentration, its a little more difficult. I think once the story is submitted I won't look back. At this point it's just a matter of moving forward.
Ciarán Micheal
from Liverpool is reading Arrest Us storiesNovember 29, 2012 - 10:42am
I smoked over a pack a day for 17 years, then quit cold turkey about 3 months ago. I haven't "cheated" once, not even 1 drag.
You are a God amongst men. 3 hours without one and I start telling life-long friends I've always hated them.
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsNovember 29, 2012 - 10:58am
Myhusband quit a million times and I always hated when he did. The last time he quit he left a note for me on the table. It said dear Lisa I am quitting again. Just beware. I told him I can't deal with this again. I can't put up with it so don't expect sympathy. Don't even talk to me because I'm not going to listen. Just leave me alone. And he quit. Three pack a day smoker. Of course our little boy had said to him " I'm gonna smoke like you when I grow up." That was the real pull for him to stop, but I also think me saying leave me out of it helped. Now we just sometimes share a cigar on nice evenings. Quitting has definitely saved his life, and maybe my sons.
Renfield
from Hell is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 29, 2012 - 11:35am
When it's time for me to quit smoking, I'm gonna say fuck it and get some hardcore quit-smoking pills. I'll trust pharmacuticles over my own willpower any day. I don't envy you, Matt. I did go pretty much all week or so this week without Red Bull or alcohol. It was fucking rough. Drinking bloody maries now though.
SConley
from Texas is reading Coin Locker BabiesNovember 29, 2012 - 2:38pm
There. Done. I'll let it sit over night, then ruin it tomorrow before i send it in. Stupid story.
dufrescm
from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepNovember 29, 2012 - 2:48pm
Ugh. I hate writing endings.
Dino Parenti
from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands OnNovember 29, 2012 - 3:31pm
I hate coming up with titles.
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 29, 2012 - 3:53pm
I hate editing. I somehow ADDED another 120 words.
dufrescm
from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepNovember 29, 2012 - 4:35pm
@Dino: I usually come up with awesome titles for stories that I haven't written and have no idea what to write about. But I got a title, so I'm good. Lol
@Matt Attack: I LOVE editing. I love it more than I love writing. :)
Matt
from New Zealand is reading This is how you lose her by Junot DiazNovember 29, 2012 - 4:58pm
I hate editing. I somehow ADDED another 120 words.
You can give them to me if you like. My word count is falling well short.
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 29, 2012 - 5:03pm
@Matt Attack: I LOVE editing. I love it more than I love writing. :)"
I think I overthink. I realize the irony of saying that. "I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out."-Oscar Wilde.
You can give them to me if you like. My word count is falling well short.
See that's what has me worried about being in the pit. If I make it past this round, it's 1200 word counts. Word economy. Word economy. Word economy.
Yes I said if, Mat. You bastard.
Dino Parenti
from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands OnNovember 29, 2012 - 5:59pm
@dufrescm: I actually have a few cool titles for stories, but no actualy stories to go with them. Like having baby names picked out without even having a baby-mama:)
dufrescm
from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepNovember 29, 2012 - 6:01pm
Woohoo! I wrote an ending! lol
NikKorpon
from Baltimore is reading Book and books and books andNovember 29, 2012 - 6:15pm
Boom! 2900 words today. Hopefully I can find 2500 good ones tomorrow by 9PM AST (Actual Standard Time.)
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 29, 2012 - 6:25pm
OMFG. Done. Within word count. Polished. Complete. I no longer hate you all. I'll sleep on it and give it one more once over tomorrow.
dufrescm
from Wisconsin is reading Do Androids Dream of Electric SheepNovember 29, 2012 - 6:47pm
Just out of curiosity - would it be wierd to put my round 1 story in the workshop for critique?
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsNovember 29, 2012 - 8:14pm
Not wierd at all. Lots of people do that.
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 DigestNovember 29, 2012 - 8:16pm
I must have missed it, but next round is only 1200 words? Whose genius idea was this? And is that for both brackets?
XyZy
from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal MoneyNovember 29, 2012 - 9:05pm
The 1200 words is the "losing brackets" for the next and continuing rounds. That bracket will be running on an accelerated time frame (one week per round: including writing and voting) so the stories will only be half as long.
Jonathan Riley
from Memphis, Tennessee is reading Flashover by Gordon Highland November 29, 2012 - 9:34pm
@duf . I'm going to throw mine in there soon, however, many of us haven't had time to review in the workshop lately because a large portion of the active reviewers are busy reading and writing for WAR.
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 DigestNovember 29, 2012 - 9:38pm
That bracket will be running on an accelerated time frame (one week per round: including writing and voting) so the stories will only be half as long.
- Well that sucks...
Wonder Woman
from RI is reading 20th Century GhostsNovember 29, 2012 - 9:39pm
DONE!! I'll check it out again tomorrow before submitting, but for now...YEY!!!
Fritz
November 29, 2012 - 9:52pm
I'm thinking we are going to be seeing a marked improvement in the alreay previously impressive 'readable meat' from last round - and that just gives me the shivers.. I'm forcasting this round to be one of 'reckoning' (whereby there are a very high rate of very impressive stories)
Am I being overly optimistic - nah - I just think people are coming to realize how hard core this is and are getting into the competitive spirit.
Good luck to all - can't wait to start reading them tomorrow night.
Sound
from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael WehuntNovember 29, 2012 - 9:57pm
I submitted. Not sure how it'll do, or how I feel about it. But fuck, I always say that.
Sound
from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael WehuntNovember 29, 2012 - 9:59pm
@Matt: If you've submitted, care to trade to see what we're up against?
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 30, 2012 - 1:38am
@Matt: If you've submitted, care to trade to see what we're up against?"
Yes suh. I sent ya dem digits, son.
JEFFREY GRANT BARR
from Central OR is reading Nothing but fucking Shakespeare, for the rest of my lifeNovember 30, 2012 - 1:59am
Get a room, you two!
Matasexual. Bow-chicka-wow-wow
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 30, 2012 - 2:08am
Bow-chicka-wow-wow"
HA! I believe it's pronounced: brown chicken, brown cow.
Matt Attack
from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William FaulknerNovember 30, 2012 - 5:16am
F me in the A. It is done. I really feel like I forgot something, or left a comma out, or something.
leah_beth
from New Jersey - now in Charleston, SC is reading five different books at once.November 30, 2012 - 5:43am
Done and done.
And now....I would celebrate, except...
TomorrowHill
from Newfoundland, Canada is reading your mind. You like Castlevania, don't you?November 30, 2012 - 6:14am
Happy Story Day! Good luck to everyone in the first wave!
I wasn't born back then. I saw the footage near 10 years ago being projected at some goth-techno show (the band was called Terrorfakt I believe.) Kinda gruesome but I seem to remember the rest of my formative years to be an entire barrage of soul-raping morbidity as well. He always reminds me of this specific song though:
don't come in here
you'll see something ugly
it's not the kind of thing
you'd expect from a body
@Otis: $1.87 and a styrofoam cup!
@Leah C'mon now, New Jersey isn't that far away from Rhode Island. We're practically neighbors!
Yes, I really do love Castlevania! Wow, how did you know?
@wonderwoman - I live in SC now, though! Which is a little bit (like, five whole states!) further away! Booooo geography!
@Chris: Because of your avatar, I picture you insanely yelling everything you write.
@Leah, yeah I tooked to quickly. At least it's warmer in Charleston!
And now I've got this stuck in my head (at 1:50):
Think I figured out what I'm going to write about.
A couple of dogs bent on beating up a singing and dancing cat?
I'm stymied. Started 3 times and scrapped each one. Blarg!
Sheesh, I love some Looney Tunes.
@Becca: NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! I AM CALM AND WHISPER-QUIET AT ALL TIMES!
Hahahahaha, I am sitting in a shared office with a bunch of loud software developers right now....and I'm cracking up watching Looney Tunes and singing the Charleston song to myself. They're looking at me....
It is warmer here - 70s this weekend. All are welcome to come visit. :)
Tell those Mt. Dew Code Red slamming nerds to be quiet when you're watching cartoons.
YOU KNOW WHERE IS THERE A CAT?!
I love Looney Tunes, too. Not a fan of the new one on Cartoon Network, though.
First draft done.
So, editing and not smoking isn't fun. I really should have decided to stop smoking AFTER I wrote, but Alea iacta est.
Matt Attack - have you tried an e-cig? I'm a smoker too and trying to quit. I'm not a heavy smoker (until I'm heavy drinking) but it has helped me immensely. I bought the Logic brand. You can get it to where there's no nicotine, too. They only last a week or less depending on how hard you hit it, but it really does satisy that craving.
I didn't smoke for 12 days until the battery died and it was Thanksgiving. I think I might invest in a nicer one to help wean me off it until I can kick it for good.
My suggestion to quit smoking is just make sure you want to. Once you do, you'll quit cold turkey and not worry about it again. I don't know, think about your health, how nice it would be to breathe easier and not stink, how much money you will save, whatever makes you really want to quit.
I smoked over a pack a day for 17 years, then quit cold turkey about 3 months ago. I haven't "cheated" once, not even 1 drag.
What I'm saying is, good luck everybody. Food tastes a lot better on this side of the fence...now to figure out how to lose these new pounds I've gained.
Well, I can go a day or two at this point since I've slowly lessened it. Considering I've been smoking fifteen years and at about a pack a day, I'd say it's alright. I did try the e-cig, it's a backup, but generally I use sunflower seeds and peppermint. The 'Njoy' brand of e-cig you get at 7-11 is just about like the real thing, despite being water vapor. But, since editing takes alot of concentration, its a little more difficult. I think once the story is submitted I won't look back. At this point it's just a matter of moving forward.
You are a God amongst men. 3 hours without one and I start telling life-long friends I've always hated them.
Myhusband quit a million times and I always hated when he did. The last time he quit he left a note for me on the table. It said dear Lisa I am quitting again. Just beware. I told him I can't deal with this again. I can't put up with it so don't expect sympathy. Don't even talk to me because I'm not going to listen. Just leave me alone. And he quit. Three pack a day smoker. Of course our little boy had said to him " I'm gonna smoke like you when I grow up." That was the real pull for him to stop, but I also think me saying leave me out of it helped. Now we just sometimes share a cigar on nice evenings. Quitting has definitely saved his life, and maybe my sons.
When it's time for me to quit smoking, I'm gonna say fuck it and get some hardcore quit-smoking pills. I'll trust pharmacuticles over my own willpower any day. I don't envy you, Matt. I did go pretty much all week or so this week without Red Bull or alcohol. It was fucking rough. Drinking bloody maries now though.
There. Done. I'll let it sit over night, then ruin it tomorrow before i send it in. Stupid story.
Ugh. I hate writing endings.
I hate coming up with titles.
I hate editing. I somehow ADDED another 120 words.
@Dino: I usually come up with awesome titles for stories that I haven't written and have no idea what to write about. But I got a title, so I'm good. Lol
@Matt Attack: I LOVE editing. I love it more than I love writing. :)
You can give them to me if you like. My word count is falling well short.
I think I overthink. I realize the irony of saying that. "I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out."-Oscar Wilde.
See that's what has me worried about being in the pit. If I make it past this round, it's 1200 word counts. Word economy. Word economy. Word economy.
Yes I said if, Mat. You bastard.
@dufrescm: I actually have a few cool titles for stories, but no actualy stories to go with them. Like having baby names picked out without even having a baby-mama:)
Woohoo! I wrote an ending! lol
Boom! 2900 words today. Hopefully I can find 2500 good ones tomorrow by 9PM AST (Actual Standard Time.)
OMFG. Done. Within word count. Polished. Complete. I no longer hate you all. I'll sleep on it and give it one more once over tomorrow.
Just out of curiosity - would it be wierd to put my round 1 story in the workshop for critique?
Not wierd at all. Lots of people do that.
I must have missed it, but next round is only 1200 words? Whose genius idea was this? And is that for both brackets?
The 1200 words is the "losing brackets" for the next and continuing rounds. That bracket will be running on an accelerated time frame (one week per round: including writing and voting) so the stories will only be half as long.
@duf . I'm going to throw mine in there soon, however, many of us haven't had time to review in the workshop lately because a large portion of the active reviewers are busy reading and writing for WAR.
DONE!! I'll check it out again tomorrow before submitting, but for now...YEY!!!
I'm thinking we are going to be seeing a marked improvement in the alreay previously impressive 'readable meat' from last round - and that just gives me the shivers.. I'm forcasting this round to be one of 'reckoning' (whereby there are a very high rate of very impressive stories)
Am I being overly optimistic - nah - I just think people are coming to realize how hard core this is and are getting into the competitive spirit.
Good luck to all - can't wait to start reading them tomorrow night.
I submitted. Not sure how it'll do, or how I feel about it. But fuck, I always say that.
@Matt: If you've submitted, care to trade to see what we're up against?
Yes suh. I sent ya dem digits, son.
Get a room, you two!
Matasexual. Bow-chicka-wow-wow
HA! I believe it's pronounced: brown chicken, brown cow.
F me in the A. It is done. I really feel like I forgot something, or left a comma out, or something.
Done and done.
And now....I would celebrate, except...
Happy Story Day! Good luck to everyone in the first wave!