tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86241806792308505712024-02-20T15:55:49.570-08:00Hank Petterson - Giving it a goUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-16107962165048377082013-11-24T03:14:00.000-08:002013-11-24T04:18:33.491-08:00Terribleminds : FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE: 200 WORDS AT A TIME, PART ONE<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Omega squadron…welcome
aboard the T.A.Corvette-Niblack. I’m Commander Harden. We’ll have a formal
briefing tomorrow at 0830. For now get acclimated to the Niblack. I’ll have my X-O escort you pilots to the
mess hall…we rescued eight slaves from the Altair 7 mining colony…they are
helping out in the mess hall until we can transfer them to a colony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “One last thing …all you new pilots…when you finish your meals;
raise your hand…do not… leave …until a steward clears your plate…no talk or eye
contact with them…If they ask for your forgiveness…you nod your head… again;
don’t… leave… until they take your plate. “ The Colonel chewed his lip, and
wiped his eyes. “Or I’ll flush you out of a airlock.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Why forgiveness, Sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “They were mining slaves on Altair 7…most of their families died
of starvation…they’ll sit down and finish your food for you. But…the waste…they
are ashamed… of the hate they feel towards you… Squadron dismissed!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Commander Harden flipped the intercom switch and walked over to
the nav. Station. He was reviewing the course projections when Col. Markson of
the newly arrived squadron walked over as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Altair 7 was a mechanized mining operation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “It reduces waste.” Harden replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-64881572743005569152013-11-24T03:10:00.002-08:002013-11-24T03:10:44.947-08:00Janet Reid...flash fiction contest 11-22-13 runner<br />
<div class="fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-left-outer" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 190px;">
<div class="fauxborder-left" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 13726px; position: relative;">
<div class="fauxborder-right" style="background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 13726px; position: absolute; right: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="fauxcolumn-inner" style="border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; height: 13726px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="cap-bottom" style="background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="cap-left" style="background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: left; height: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="cap-right" style="background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: right; height: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-right-outer" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;">
<div class="cap-top" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="cap-left" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: left; height: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="cap-right" style="background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: right; height: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="fauxborder-left" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 13726px; position: relative;">
<div class="fauxborder-right" style="background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 13726px; position: absolute; right: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="fauxcolumn-inner" style="border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; height: 13726px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="cap-bottom" style="background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="cap-left" style="background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: left; height: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="cap-right" style="background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; float: right; height: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="columns-inner" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; min-height: 0px;">
<div class="column-center-outer" style="float: left; position: relative; width: 700px;">
<div class="column-center-inner" style="padding: 0px 15px;">
<div class="main section" id="main" style="margin: 0px 15px;">
<div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1" style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="blog-posts hfeed">
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class="date-header" style="color: black; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">Friday, November 22, 2013</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="" name="497348523868643325"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/11/i-love-writing-contests-alot.html" style="color: #ff9900; text-decoration: none;">I love writing contests alot!</a></h3>
<div class="post-header" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
I love my alots.<br />I love my alots a lot!</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
The alot is the creation of Allie Brosh whose new book Hyperbole and a Half generated a fist fight here at FPLM when one copy turned up early and we all wanted it.<br /><br />And I know you all will want a copy too cause it's, after all, alot of book!<br /><br />So, let's have a writing contest!<br /><br />Usual rules:<br />Write a story with 100 or fewer words. (Every word counts, including the title if you use one; you don't have to)<br /><br />Post the story in the comments column of this blog post when the contest is open.<br /><br />The contest opens at 9am Saturday 11/23 and closes at 9am Sunday 11/24. All times are Eastern Shark time.<br /><br />[Make sure your entry appears! There should be no lag time between posting your entry and seeing it appear. If you do NOT see your entry, tweet to me @Janet_Reid and I'll try to help you.]<br /><br />Do not post anything BUT entries in the comment section, ok? If you want to offer kudos or observations, wait till the results post on Monday. (your comments will just get deleted and you don't want that)<br /><br /><br />Use the following words in your story:<br /><br />lot</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
heroic<br />caring<br />alert<br />flammable<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
So this is my entry....sorta based on the book concept Runner...by Patrick Lee. (I loved his Breach trilogy)</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No one chooses their <b>lot</b> in life… it’s a genetic crapshoot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The five man squad flanked
her. They herded her with flashlights mounted on semi-automatic rifles. She
dodged their lights… like she was <b>flammable</b>,
protected by darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The girl;<b> </b>weak but<b> alert</b>… was a delicate porcelain figure in a blackened landscape, scrambling
for her life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He watched… thought of
his wife and daughter that he couldn’t save last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without <b>caring</b> about his safety… wasn’t <b>heroic</b> just instinctive, he swept down.
He felt the caress of angel’s feathers, as
he took the girl under his wing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then they ran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Runner<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-497348523868643325" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-34817710999733306542013-11-24T03:05:00.003-08:002013-11-24T03:05:56.888-08:00Another Janet Reid blog flash fiction contest<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">Friday, November 15, 2013</span></h2>
<div class="date-posts" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="" name="8126377991846576807"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/11/the-paint-yourself-into-corner-writing.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">The paint yourself into a corner writing contest</a></h3>
<div class="post-header" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
Yes, the painting continues.<br />Yes, I'm out of my mind.<br />Yes, I've repainted one wall...one ACCENT wall...six times.<br />Yes, this is getting out of hand.<br /><br />When things get out of hand it's time to have a writing contest.<br /><br />Usual rules this week: write a story with 100 words or fewer. Post the entry in the comments column of this blog post. Comments will open when the contest does: 7am Saturday 11/16/13. The contest will close at 7am on Sunday 11/17/13.<br /><br />Use these words in the story:<br />straw<br />butterfly<br />wing<br />sage<br />peach<br /><br />You must use the entire word but it can be part of a larger word if you elect:<br /><br />Strawberry is ok; SS Trawler is not.<br />Butterfly is ok, butterflies is NOT<br /><br />Bonus points if you know what the common thread is for those words.<br /><br />If you need a mulligan, delete your entry and repost. Only ONE entry per person is allowed.<br /><br />Questions? Tweet to me @Janet_Reid or ask on the Facebook page where the contest is posted</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
Results:</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<div class="Default">
<i>(5) french sojourn 12:35pm</i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“Elmer, you can’t un-ring a bell.” Lloyd said.<br /><br />“Say I was to go back… like twenty years, and yank out them <b>straw</b>berries by the <b>sage</b> bushes over ta Fred’s backyard. And… perhaps I planted a <b>peach</b> tree they-ah.”<br /><br />“Well there’d be a fuckin peach tree they-ah, it’s called the <b>butterfly</b> effect Elmer.”<br /><br />“Then I could change history...wouldn’t have to worry bout the possibility of a time line paradox?”<br /><br />“Elmer…Einstein’s Closed time like curve wouldn’t allow it.With all due respect to your Appalachian American heritage…there ain’t no way you can<b> wing</b> it back to your prom night… and un-kiss your sister.”</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
The contest submittals are getting better as I feel my writing is improving...but there are so many great writers out there. Real fun to now look for some of the regular contributors.</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8126377991846576807" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 640px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-37262032975851434242013-08-29T01:43:00.001-07:002013-08-29T01:43:43.915-07:00<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/08/the-gone-fishin-writing-contest.html">The Gone Fishin' Writing Contest</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4792499465039690812" itemprop="description articleBody">
Vacation!<br /> Yes indeed it's time to hang up the Gone Fishin' sign and retire to reading books instead of manuscripts, turn off the phone, and put a padlock on the email inbox!<br /><br /> To celebrate the start of a week off, let's have a writing contest!<br /><br /> Usual rules:<br /><br /> 1. Write a story using 100 or fewer words. <br /><br /> 2. Use the following words in the story<br /><br /> beautiful<br /> downtown<br /> queens<br /> rental<br /> cat<br /><br /> You must use the exact letters of the word in order, but the word can be part of a larger one:</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4792499465039690812" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4792499465039690812" itemprop="description articleBody">
So I messed around for awhile and submitted the following:</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4792499465039690812" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4792499465039690812" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4792499465039690812" itemprop="description articleBody">
<dt id="c751762981854548312"> <span dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14262858704848580714" rel="nofollow">french sojourn</a></span> said...</dt>
<dd>NASA projected the point of impact to be downtown Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Unfortunately the asteroid flattened its trajectory and lit up the atmosphere like aurora borealis on crack… one last beautiful sunset for humanity. <br /><br /> When the asteroid broke into thousands of guided meteorites, the results were catastrophic…all the major cities were razed. Then… they attacked...hell bent from above.<br /><br /> Mortally wounded, Mother Nature capitulated… giving up her parental obligations to a godforsaken planet. <br /><br /> Eve and I escaped to Red Rock One and watched, on the lone satellite feed, as they harvested everyone, except us.<br /><br /> Then they left…so we’re starting over…again.<br />
<div class="comment-timestamp">
8/24/13, 11:18 AM</div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<b>And here are the seven finalists:</b></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>(3) French sojourn 11:18am</i></div>
<div class="Default">
NASA projected the point of impact to be downtown Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Unfortunately the asteroid flattened its trajectory and lit up the atmosphere like aurora borealis on crack… one last beautiful sunset for humanity. <br /><br /> When the asteroid broke into thousands of guided meteorites, the results were catastrophic…all the major cities were razed. Then… they attacked...hell bent from above.<br /><br /> Mortally wounded, Mother Nature capitulated… giving up her parental obligations to a godforsaken planet. <br /><br /> Eve and I escaped to Red Rock One and watched, on the lone satellite feed, as they harvested everyone, except us.<br /><br /> Then they left…so we’re starting over…again.</div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
And a writer I recently have been communicating with submitted the following:</div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>(7) Myra King 6:06pm</i></div>
<div class="Default">
I live downtown next door to an extreme cleaner. OCD, not commercial. Sadie Badenoch. Sadbad we called her at school but she wasn't bad. And before the gunman came she was cat sleek beautiful. <br /><br /> My rental-room looks into her kitchen. Six a.m. I see her cleaning to Queen's music. Mercury rising. Her house gleams like the stars.<br /><br /> Ten a.m., safe behind my impenetrable screen, I watch her prepare for outside. Living in the real world. <br /><br /> Keys jangle. Her hands dart round, up and down her front door's frame. Her ritual protection. Takes two hours before she leaves. <br /><br /> Wish I could.<br /><br /><br /> And the winner is Myra King 6:06pm. One of the things I love about this entry is that it works on several levels. I read it at least five times and each time found something new to admire.<br /><br /><br /> Myra, drop me an email (janet @ fineprintlit dot com) and we'll figure out what kind of prize to send you.<br /><br /> Thanks to all the writers who took time and creative energy to enter the contest. I loved reading what you wrote (even you Lenny!) <br /><br /> Congrats to all the winners.<br /><br /><br /> This is the last contest of the summer. I've got a week's vacation coming up, and then it's back to work for the fall season. </div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
My first time as a finalist, real happy. There were 72 entries and they were all incredible, happy to get a shout out. </div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
<br /></div>
<div class="comment-timestamp">
Cheers Hank</div>
</dd></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-4443063452911307642013-08-19T15:43:00.000-07:002013-08-19T15:43:10.776-07:00<div class="Default">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Another fun Janet Reid Flash Fiction Contest</b></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>8-16-2013</b></div>
<div class="Default">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="Default">
Usual rules:<br /><br /> 1. Write a story using 100 words or fewer.<br /><br /> 2. Include the following words in the story<br /><br /><br /> Degrees<br /> Chum<br /> 3 <br /> Bucket<br /> Pants </div>
<div class="Default">
<dt id="c3386366562277537776"><br /></dt>
<dt id="c3386366562277537776"><img alt="Blogger" class="comment-icon blogger-comment" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" /> <span dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14262858704848580714" rel="nofollow">french sojourn</a></span> said...</dt>
<dd>Old Chum:<br /><br /> I got your re-writes, great dialogue… really sings. Speaking of which, I noticed on your notes you wanted to use Doris Troy’s 1963 hit “Just one look” as background music, in bar scene: 3. <br /><br /> Background!<br /><br /> You want her… fine...but the scene better be two mimes. No one’s gonna listen to dialogue, while she sings. I don’t have any music degrees, but she hits every high and low note in the bucket. Christ… I even hear her smiling as she sings. <br /><br /> Are your pants around your ankles… are you balancing cashews on your dick? <br /><br /> Because you’re fucking… nuts!<br /><br /> Background?<br />
<div class="comment-timestamp">
8/17/13, 10:39 AM</div>
</dd></div>
<div class="Default">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="Default">
My wife Cindy was shown this after I had entered and said. "You sound F&@#-ing nuts for sending in an entry that could be offensive........</div>
<div class="Default">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Special recognition for entries with lines that really stand out:</b></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>French sojourn 10:39am</i></div>
<div class="Default">
Are your pants around your ankles… are you balancing cashews on your dick? <br /> Because you’re fucking… nuts!</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Cheers Hank.</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-35018915937503221352013-08-12T10:42:00.000-07:002013-08-12T12:52:56.003-07:00<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
So Janet Reid held another Flash fiction contest, see below;</h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/08/the-dangerous-fiction-writing-contest.html">The Dangerous Fiction Writing contest</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3270122385832935959" itemprop="description articleBody">
I couldn't resist a book with a literary agent protagonist. Barbara Rogan's A DANGEROUS FICTION started as lunch reading. Got home and could NOT stop (except for brief moments to catch my breath!) until I finished reading at midnight.<br />
<br />
When I tell you one of the plot points is my worst fear, you'll know that the only thing to do now is have a writing contest with the book as a prize.<br />
<br />
The usual rules:<br />
<br />
1. Write a story using 100 words or fewer<br />
<br />
2. Use these words in the story:<br />
<br />
<br />
fiction<br />
slush<br />
spade<br />
hear<br />
262 </div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3270122385832935959" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3270122385832935959" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3270122385832935959" itemprop="description articleBody">
So after monkey-ing around: My entry.....</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3270122385832935959" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3270122385832935959" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">California: 1928<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> The
Desk Sargent wanted nothing to do with this Nob Hill jezebel. He knew, as soon
as she spilled her dirty laundry, she was trouble. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “So
you’re tellin’ me, your boyfriend took off… after transferring some of your
slush funds into a fictional account in Boston?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “If
my husband finds out… I’ll have nothing… he can never know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Lady,
that leaves us out … you need a private eye.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “A
gumshoe?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Heard
of Sam Spade, his office is at 262 Sutter Street.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “Is
he good?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> “If
he can find a bird… it’ll be a piece-of-cake finding a rat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not bad,<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="Default">
<b>Special recognition for entries that were not quite a story but still enticing:</b></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>French sojourn 10:11am</i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>But I wonder if I should have said.</i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>"If he can find a falcon....it'll be a piece-of-cake." </i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>Reference to the "Maltese Falcon"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I was hoping I wasn't being to obtuse. </i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-79890188803397188622013-08-07T00:29:00.000-07:002013-08-07T00:32:16.792-07:00<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A new flash fiction writing contest I was turned on to by Janet Reid.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Fun concept;</i></span><br />
<br />
So this is where the contest comes in.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Want to win an ARC of REALITY BOY?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> All you have to do is follow 3 little rules, and you're in. Go crazy. You have two whole weeks. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CHALLENGE:</span></span><br />
<br />
<ol style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Your story <span style="font-weight: bold;">MUST </span>start with this sentence: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Janet was early. **</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Your story <span style="font-weight: bold;">MUST</span> end with this sentence: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Of course, she didn't.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Your story must be <b>100 words or less.</b></li>
</ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">DEADLINE:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Sunday August 18th at 11:59PM EST</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PRIZE:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">A signed Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>REALITY BOY.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>Please leave your entry in the comment area of this blog and don't forget your email address! </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>So I entered this after an hour of writing; upon reflection I would call it</i></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Romeo and Juliet - Harpswell, Maine 1977. (but then again who would name a 100 word f.f. entry?</span></span></i><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></b>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"> Janet was early. The tide….well the tide
was running late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"> She
fired up the old diesel, un-cleated the Mary Lou, and took off after her
husband. Jack was old school; he had placed a dozen palm sized rocks down his
hip waders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"> We
learned our lesson from Lonzo Gilbert. Why, it must have been twenty odd years
ago he was swept over the side of his lobster boat. They fished him out a half
an hour later, after the seagulls had at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"> Jack’s
boat went down this mornin’, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"> I
wonder if she forgot the rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Of
course, she didn’t.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Nice fun story. Cheers Hank.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-14274945141670408782013-08-05T05:57:00.001-07:002013-08-05T05:59:40.882-07:00<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">The last Flash fiction contest was a tough one. All of the entries were incredible, the winning one below was wonderful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The five words were based on a novel of the battle for Britain. The air war specifically.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">blitz</span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">tube</span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">blackout</span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">finest</span><br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">hour</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">(5) Amy Schaefer 3:37pm</span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;">I stumbled along the frozen path. Mother nudged me onwards, <b>hour</b>s becoming days as we fled the cacophony of bloody death. Exhausted, sick on rotten <b>tube</b>rs – still everyone limped on. The news <b>blackout</b> was meaningless; the war filled our world.<br /><br />“Halt!”<br /><br />The nightmare shapes of the Easter 101st Rutting <b>Finest</b> leapt from the shadows. I shrank back from their infamous pink-and-purple Egg eyepatches. Had they really each sacrificed an eye to the Bunny?<br /><br /><b>Blitz</b>en stepped forward. “There’s no ransom here. Santa won’t bargain.”<br /><br /> “The Pole fell two days ago.” The three-stripe bunny flashed sharpened teeth. “And we’re having venison tonight.”</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;">I loved the duality of dichotomies in her lines. "There's no ransom here. Santa won't bargain."</span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">I submitted on that was based on the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, to a degree.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Finest
gal” sailed towards the dance, wearing nothing save her threadbare jib. Duluth
had broadcast a report of rogue waves running westerly, before an untimely
radio blackout.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Taking
the worn canvas sea anchor from its tube, he rigged it to the bow. The old ketch
hove to, as he anticipated the blitzkrieg of three- thirty-five foot waves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He
thought of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s crew in the murky graveyard below. “Finest gal’s” bow knifed through the first of
the three sisters*. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Does anyone know where the love of God
goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?”* He thought, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">* Lyrics
by Gordon Lightfoot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">*”Three
sisters” Nautical term re: Lake Superior<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am happy with her acknowledgement, once again. I will improve my writing one line at a time. </span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Special recognition for entries with a great line or lines: </b></span><br />
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;">"<i>Finest Gal</i> sailed towards the dance, wearing nothing save her threadbare jib"</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">french sojourn 9:31am</span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Cheers Hank</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-43008176856662867402013-08-01T02:48:00.003-07:002013-08-01T02:48:44.381-07:00<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Latest results for Janet Reid Flash fiction contest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I exchanged my entry and went a little odd with a art critics entry. A rather festive entry, but what the hay? A little crass, O.K. a lot of crass, but fun</span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Pete Kotz;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Interim Editor @ Village Voice;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
I attended Hans Schuler’s premier
art exhibit "SELF- a portrait in radical introspective" last night….
believe me; it will be his…. "last night". <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Someone compared him to some lily livered icon….and I answered; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Darling he's more like HandyWhorehole…..Heavens!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Appropriately held at the new “Highline” Gallery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
I chatted briefly with the
creature running the exhibit, Alice Humphrey. You can double kiss her career
goodbye. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Sandra Pak over at Ch.7said; and I quote “"Blood, Saliva, and
nudity," <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Reminds me, make plans for tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Miss this one kiddies;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Hated it!.....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
Your favorite art critic;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Jersey</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A little recognition, but beggars can't be choosers. Really enjoy the exercises in creativity. She has warned us of another in a couple days.</span><br />
<br />
<h2 class="date-header">
Wednesday, July 31, 2013</h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<a href="" name="8365916690430730937"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/07/twice-is-nice-alafair-burke-writing.html">Twice is nice Alafair Burke writing contest results!</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8365916690430730937" itemprop="description articleBody">
Some terrific entries on this contest!<br /><div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Special recognition for entries that were about LONG GONE!</b></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>Curt David 11:55am </i></div>
<i></i><br /><div class="Default">
<i>french sojourn 4:32pm</i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<i>Cheers Hank.</i></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-18560962540735681162013-07-27T00:24:00.001-07:002013-07-27T00:24:36.410-07:00<br />
I have written for a few Janet Reid Flash Fiction contests lately. It's fun and a good exercise for writing, below are my three latest that i submitted for the contest.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/07/twice-is-nice-writing-contest.html">Twice Is Nice Writing Contest!</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
I bought a copy of LONG GONE by Alafair Burke last year at Murder by the Book in Houston while I was there for Stephanie Jaye Evans book launch.</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
Use these words in the story:<br /><br /> art<br /> jersey<br /> lily<br /> double<br /> kiss</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
Well it starts in 6 hours, so I may revise my entry considerably, but here is one I'm working on.</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3177303255345539137" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alice Humphrey was
livid; she had pulled off the art opening from hell that should have been a
kiss of death for any curator’s career. The artist, Hans Schuler; was a no talent
throw pillow from New Jersey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Alice had closed the gallery, and was sharing a
couple glasses of Pinot with her friend Lily. Alice showed her next week’s
opening announcement; <i>Antonio Jacobsen;
The Audubon of Steamships.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> But she still dwelled on Hans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That hack is a genius,
selling an unlimited run of prints for $700 each.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“For all the unwashed…..
then double timing it to the bank.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Exactly!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
This is based on the book "Long gone", but doesn't really tell a captivating story. meh! I have to go take a run to the deschetteri, "dump", and then start a burn pile in one of our prairies. I think I will rethink my entry....considerably.<br />
<br />
<br />
June 25th 2013;<br />
Announcing the <span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kill Kari Dell (with words!) Writing Contest!</b></span></div>
<br /><br /> Write a story with 100 words or fewer. Use the following words in the story:<br /><br /> kill<br /> dell<br /> plot<br /> sheep<br /><strike>codswollop </strike><b>codswallop</b><br />
<br />
The results, not a winner but noted by her which is always nice.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>These weren't exactly stories, but they were compelling!</b></u>
<br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
<u><b><br /></b></u>
<div class="Default">
<i>frenchsojourn 1:48pm</i></div>
<div class="Default">
“Gorblimey!”<br /> “Why would God do that, Ciril?”<br /> “We gotta kill this bird, Kari Dell; verbally?”<br /> “You erd em.”<br /> “She in the nutter?”<br /> “Nah, next plot over, the Sheep Rodeo Palace.”<br /> “Ropey name for a fancy hotel.”<br /> “Ciril, you thinking they shoulda called you first?”<br /> “For what?”<br /> “Namin’ it, you tosser. You look manky, I’ll go in.”<br /> “At least I don’t smell like bait.”<br /> “Zip it Ciril, it was part of the initiation.”<br /> “Churlish prat!”<br /> “Don’t botch this job, and you’re in too.”<br /> “Slapped in the puss with a mackerel?”<br /> “Codswallopped , you twit.”<br /> “Where is she?”<br /> “We said Monday, right?”</div>
<br />
<br />
I was trying for the feel of the movie- :Snatch"<br />
<br />
<br />
July 19th 2013;<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/07/writing-contest.html">Writing contest!</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8875674242790619178" itemprop="description articleBody">
All those books from ThrillerFest need a new home so it's time for a writing contest!<br /><br /> This week, let's celebrate Mike Cooper's FULL RATCHET (and the great opening scene I talked about yesterday!) with a contest.<br /><br /> Usual rules: Write a story using 100 words or fewer. <br /><br /> Include these words in the story:<br /><br /> Coop<br /> Claw<br /> Ratchet<br /> Full<br /> Back</div>
<br />
<br />
So I toyed with this entry:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Ahh crap, I hate that fuckin
sound.” Vinnie muttered as he ducked into the Pawn shops dark entryway. He squinted
at the angled storefront’s reflection and confirmed his hunch. Behind him a
beat up old Caddy drove by, with its trademark whine from the broken power
steering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ha,
Petrov’s sending Ratchet and Clank in their rusty chicken coop-de-ville. Said
two weeks…. I’ll pay him back in full alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
walked into the pawn shop with his last twenty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Got any hammers?”
Vinnie asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 379.5pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Couple
ball peens.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nah’ framing hammer,
straight claw.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Got one… kinda rusty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Even better…. I’ll
take it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And the results were....not a winner but a mention. Which truth be told just keeps me doing it for my own improvement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<h2 class="date-header">
Friday, July 26, 2013</h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<a href="" name="5316652709696371364"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.fr/2013/07/writing-contest-results.html">Writing contest results</a> </h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5316652709696371364" itemprop="description articleBody">
It took me a while to read all the entries for the <a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2013/07/writing-contest.html">FULL RATCHET writing contest</a> mostly cause you guys are starting to scare the bejeebers out of me! <div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<u><b>Special recognition for a great line or three:</b></u><br /><div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Ha, Petrov’s sending Ratchet and Clank in their rusty chicken coop-de-ville</div>
<div class="Default">
<i>french sojourn 9:00am</i></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Anyway, thats an update as to my writing status. I am trying like hell to get "Port Templar" finished up so I can take it to Saskia's home for christmas. We are flying to L.A. for the holidays and I want to have her reading group review the manuscript. Sounds so poser-ish calling it that.<br />
<br />
Cheers HankUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-5996791215783871822013-04-17T23:48:00.001-07:002013-04-17T23:50:44.522-07:00Honing a Query Letter<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> The Query Letter process is an </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">interesting</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> step in trying to entice Literary Agents in your manuscript. (m/s) Ideally they should be in the region of 250 words. A Query introduces the overall story, in an abridged manner. The Query should describe character, conflict, options, plot, and do so in a voice that illustrates the writers ability. The story I'm trying to finish up is Port Templar. Below are three different Query's. (Of probably 30 different approaches.) Any thoughts? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><u><i>Query one: Telephone message.</i></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> “Co</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">me on dad, be home……</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Come on…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Dammit!...……<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Hey Dad you
there…..pick up…it’s me…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Hey dad, ah… Christ,
I’m sorry to leave this on your cell phone….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Dad,
I know the last sixteen years have been hell…. for both of us…I just found
proof that Lonnie </span><span style="line-height: 28px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> kill Sheriff Cranston.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> Dad,…Lonnie’s alive and I know where he is…..I’m going to
get him, but I gotta go now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> You warned me Port Templar was dark, real dark. Remember?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 27px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> been </span><span style="line-height: 28px;">Sheriff</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> now for six years, and I’m just finding
out the crap that’s been hidden around here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Dad
it’s complicated and </span><span style="line-height: 28px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> sound real…..but listen…remember the wreck of the
Templar back in 1888?...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">It
had that missing lifeboat with the Captain and the Chief Engineer and their
crews. They were lost…well they </span><span style="line-height: 28px;">weren't</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> They landed on that island,… the bird
sanctuary one……Mac..ah… Mackinaw Island.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> That night they found shelter in a deep cavern…and woke up
sixteen years later…..Doc says it’s because of dense formations sulfide mixed
with hydrogen from the cavern… once they awake they’re good for about a year then
they have to hibernate for another sixteen years….shit it sounds insane….if
they don’t hibernate all the years spent sleeping catches up with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Dad, </span><span style="line-height: 28px;">they've</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> been leapfrogging thru time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> The Captain made a ton of money thru investments, and
compounded interest on his bank accounts. He’s real bad news dad, He’s got
Lonnie. He’s had people killed….he’s trying to force history to his way of
thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> The
Chief Engineer, David and his crew, have been trying to stop him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> Dad…..I’m going to get my little brother back, but I hope I
won’t be coming back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> I love you, be strong like you taught me…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21px;">Sheriff</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Carlyle hangs up the phone,
thinks about David and smiles briefly. Then glares out the window and knows
that nothing, absolutely nothing will stop her</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u><i>Query Two. with a Maine accent.</i></u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">My
name’s Gubby… I run the garage up ta Port Templar. She’s a gorgeous Maine town that’s
got everything; lobstah rolls, steamers, even sells lobstah magnets to them damn
tourists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Port
Templar’s named after this steamship that got caught in a Nor-eastah back in 1891.
She run aground and hove to… then the tide took her to the ledges. And good Christ
did them rocks have at her…oh don’t worry none… all them folks lived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> One of them lifeboats landed on an island, and they took shelter
in a deep cavern. Odd thing is they woke up 14 years later….like that Van
Rimple fella.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> I guess they’re awake for a year, then they have to go back
down to that Godforsaken cavern to sleep for another 14 years. Why if they
don’t, all them years catch up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">It’s
like they’re leapfrogging thru time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> The Captain of the Templar; </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Buchanan</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">…. he’s a wicked… vicious….well
let’s just say I don’t imagine he knew who to send a father’s day card to…if
you catch my drift.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Buchanan’s
been investing a lot of money over time and made a bundle. He’s gotten tired of the course history’s been
charting and wants to steer it himself. He’s even hired mercenaries; why he had
that other Kennedy brother killed and Martin Luther King Jr too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">The
Chief Engineer; David… now he’s a decent fella. He’s been tryin to stop
Buchanan, but he’s in a jam. You see Buchanan had all David’s men killed in
their sleep, that’s the kinda dog he is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> Ain’t much time, so
us locals are going to help David.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> If we stop Buchanan; David’s going to have to return
alone to that chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> Now I seen David
making eyes at our Sheriff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> Let me tell ya; Sheriff Carlyle is… one… tough…
cookie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"> But then again; she ain’t exactly been looking
away from him neither.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><i><u>Query Three, latest concept, still needs honing.</u></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">Sheriff
Tess Carlyle is in a bind; seems she’s finally met Mr. Wright.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">David
Krieger-Wright is the problem; he’s 145 years old and was The Templar’s former
Chief Engineer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">The
Steamship Templar ran aground during a Nor’easter back in 1891.All the
passengers and most of the crew got safely off the wreck and made it to shore.
The rest of the crew managed to beach a leaking lifeboat on a nearby island.
They slept in a cavern and awoke fourteen years later. They’re conscious for a
year, but then they have to return to the cavern and repeat the fourteen year hibernation
cycle. If they don’t; all the years they slept, catch up with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">They’re
leapfrogging through time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">David
has a problem, well two actually. He loves Tess, and his Captain is trying to
kill him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">The
Templar’s Captain; Buchanan, has hired mercenaries and had David’s crew
murdered in their sleep. Buchanan has made a bundle through long term
investments. He uses that wealth to assassinate influential politicians who he
feels are counter to his beliefs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">David
and Tess, along with some locals plan to stop Buchanan from directing the
course he thinks history should take. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"> Neither Tess nor David know how to tell each other they
want to make this time travel romance work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> At least David </span><span style="line-height: 38px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> have to worry about how to tell her;
he’s killed during the assault to stop Buchanan. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">Tess
is inconsolable, but there might be an option. A small trespass in the fabric
of time might get them back together. She could go to his chamber and gamble on
leapfrogging forward through time. Maybe somewhere in the future she could fund
the fabrication of a time travel machine, and save him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">She
would then have to return alone; in her time travel machine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;">But
it would allow Tess and David another chance to be together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"> Either way, Tess has a long journey alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Need to really, really re-work that last paragraph. Sounds like a mouthful of sand. It's hard to condense alternate time lines into two or three sentence's. Anyway, so much for being in the 250 word neighborhood, I'm not even in the same f-ing state.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Anyway, if I gave you a headache reading this, my </span><span style="line-height: 28px;">apologies</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 150%;">Cheers!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-77403275838351784422013-03-16T09:40:00.002-07:002013-03-18T06:13:14.345-07:00Port Templar- Status<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> For the last three years I have written my Blog: French Sojourn. It is the chronicling of our lives, from selling our house in California and the move to Southwest France. A majority of the observations deal with the interactions with our new community, and the renovation of the 100 year old farmhouse. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I have always really enjoyed writing, although not having really any formal schooling in it. Yeah, I had the high school stuff, then went on to study Architecture. My career was in the supervision of mega estates in Los Angeles. (Malibu, Brentwood, and Beverly Hills)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> In my spare time I have been working on a story for the last few years. The first two years I had written 23,000 words....snails pace. This last year it started to pick up, I was up to 40,000. That was quite a few months ago. Lately the story has been really easy to tie together. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Overall, the premise was a difficult one, then the characters had a mutiny and I started letting them react to obstacles. Then I started polishing up my query letter and discovered a voice, not there before. I mentioned Query Shark previously, Janet Reid's blog on...you guessed it Query Letters. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> So armed with this, (I was up to 55,000 words) I re-evaluated the plot and characters involved and had a clean house. I went back, reworked the opening. I eliminated about 10,000 words, and returned to go. I was real fortunate as I have the beginning middle, and ending all charted out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm now at 83,000 words out of 93,000-96,000 words completed. I have all the interactions charted, and list of characters. ( 29 people at last count, all levels, there are probably 10 main ones, 8 mid level and the others are background depth.) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I'm shooting to have it finished within three months. After having incorporated the six beta readers input while I am going over it with a fine tooth comb. (printed and marked up again) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> If all goes as planned I want to send out one query letter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It's all conjecture at this point, but I honestly feel it's a fun story</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> that a reader would enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Possibly next month I will post an excerpt from it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Cheers Hank </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Update; I sent out the Query Letter to Query shark, it will be interesting to see if there any nibbles.</span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-15254204800076415912013-03-02T07:38:00.001-08:002013-03-02T07:54:40.497-08:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> Here's a few more 100 word exercises. I try to think of a situation and then capture it's essence, then trim it down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I think I also post these to get in the habit of letting what I write, be seen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As opposed to be obscene?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21px;">Example 5:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">As the
shadows grow longer in my life, I still remember that summer night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">It was my
second season at the Catskills, and I had my first line to say. I must have
written it 70 times, and said it 300 times aloud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I was
edgy, but I nailed it, clear voice, eyes bright and strong posture. It was
magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“Hello my
name is Oliver; I will be refilling your water glasses this evening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Time
passes, memories cloud, but I still can feel the electricity of that night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Why I bet there </span><span style="line-height: 21px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> a dry mouth in the
house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Example 6:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“Heads up Tommy, that car ain’t got its lights on."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“Yeah, I see it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Good Christ I knew it.” He dials a number on his cell. "</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s Junior, behind yah… turn your goddamn
headlights on, and turn that fuckin music down, you been drinkin?..... You’re
drivin like a school of mackerel ….you get that alignment done like I said?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“She drinkin?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“Shut up….No, not you!…Some Maine trooper pulls you
over, your probation officers gonna hear about it, you know?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“She goin too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“Shut up,…… You goin to happy hour at Rusty’s?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“She goin?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">“Just drive, ……O.K. see ya there Ma.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Example 7:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nika and Mir, her reeker rat
reached the rocks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The reports of five shots
echoed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Ha, gonna take more than that
to stop a sand shark.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She opened her rucksack and
took out the gel pack claymore, then placed it in the sand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Mir raced around her, scenting
the sand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nika patted the sand five times
and the sand shark approached.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She placed her hand in the
shark’s secondary mouth and calmed the shark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">With her right hand she
activated the gel cap, the shark although placated by Nika’s pulse knew she was
trapped as the gel coat took hold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> Anyway, this is what I do for fun. Cheers Hank</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-67578324758989733002013-03-01T03:05:00.002-08:002013-03-01T03:07:01.386-08:00<br />
<b> <i> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I am in the final stages of the old French farmhouse renovation, I have time to work on dialog while working. I am plastering right now so I create small bits of dialog, while troweling. Then when I take a break I go to my laptop and write them down, and trim them to 100 words, like a flash fiction contest. It's kind of like mental gymnastics. </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> Below are four recent examples, just for a laugh. I have to consider these exercises as work, if I am to improve my untutored writing.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Sample One:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Patrolman
Vincenzo, callbox k-12……<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Hey
Penny it’s Vinnie…. send a meatwagon to Madam Changs, found Sully,,,Detective
Sullivan.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Nah,
lead poisoning, both barrels. A guy working second floor at the nookie factory
chased me down.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“No
eyewitnesses. “<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Yeah,
probably…..I said to him…”Sully what you said was wrong, askin the ma if she
wanted him well done or charred.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Yeah,
write it up. I’ll be back in an hour.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>He heard
the old rusty Dodge sedan parked in the alley start up and drive towards him
slowly.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>The old
lady in the back wearing black, was it Sacco’s or Vanzetti’s ma?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">Ferdinando Nicola Sacco</span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;">
(April 22, 1891 – August 23, 1927) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (June 11,
1888 – August 23, 1927</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Sample Two:</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Tommy, whatta we
got?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Body on the
bank, lead poisoning. Our boys on the launch; fishing with a hook line.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Whats Lulu doin
here Tommy?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Witness, waitin
for you.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Tommy I know
your old man took off and yer ma died that winter, and Lulu raised you and your
kid sister, but she’s hard now. You know how she made her money.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Nah, she’s got a
good heart.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Tommy look at
her with your eyes, not your heart, she’s
filing her nails while they’re draggin the lake. Gimme your piece and your
plant gun….”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Blam! Blam<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Lulu?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Blam! Blam!<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Sorry Tommy”.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Excerpt from Watching The Detectives. Elvis Costello<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sample Three:</b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“Did I tell you my son
wants to be a writer?, why he’s got a way with words.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “No, he’s got away with crime…all his life.” <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Oh, he’s sharp.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “He comes from grifters; all you write is bad checks. He
ain’t the next Frank Hemingway.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Ah..Ernest”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “If a man’s Ernest, he’s gotta be frank. Anyway how’s he
gonna write “A clean well-lighted place” in a dark dank six by six cold
concrete cell? By the time he’s out of the penitentiary, he’ll be an old man;
maybe he could go fishin and write about that. Like that Frank did.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Ernest”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Sample Four:</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Hey Albert, you heard Doreen took off with my brother,
Charlie.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Yep, she always was practical.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “How do you mean.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Well, she’ll still use your grandma’s ring, and the
weddin plates, same last initial.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Guess I never thought of that.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Well, brighten up, she got the itchy mattress sickness.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “How’s that supposed to help me.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Well, the only other guy in town with the same first
initial in his last name is Lonnie, the bag boy over ta Stop and Shop.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “What about it?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Whats your son’s name?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Lonnie; after my grandpa.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i> “Think about it.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>“She
always was practical.”</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8624180679230850571.post-60767321216225064672013-02-26T10:14:00.001-08:002013-03-04T04:49:58.233-08:00<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i> </i>Welcome to my new blog:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My last Blog French Sojourn . Blogspot was a journal of my family's trip and eventual move to the southwest of France. This blog is more about my writing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> This blog is a build up to a story I am working on with the goal of getting it published. I have been working on my writing for a few years and want to keep a timeline of events. (Just say F-ing diary Hank)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> I think it will be more of record of my writing progress, than as an assistance to other writers. Maybe this in itself could be a cautionary example.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am going to post my writing, as difficult as it may be to read for others. I hope it will be noticeable in its glacial progress.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have learned so much recently by following "Query Shark" for the last three years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Janet Reid of FinePrint Literary Management's blog has been the best teacher I have ever had in writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course that added bonus is that I don't get graded.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had never heard of Flash Fiction Contests before a few months ago: This posting on her site hooked me.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</i><br />
<div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1">
<div class="blog-posts hfeed">
<!-- google_ad_section_start(name=default) -->
<br />
<div class="date-outer">
<h2 class="date-header">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>
Saturday, December 29, 2012</i></span></h2>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8624180679230850571" name="1136090626973505763"></a>
</i></span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>
Flash fiction contest! </i></span></h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Let's get the New Year off to a ROUSING start
with a flash fiction contest!</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I just read RATLINES by Stuart Neville and
it's a sox knocker for sure!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Winner of the flash fiction contest gets my
copy of the ARC of RATLINES!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Usual rules:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Write a story using 100
words or fewer.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Use the following words in your
story:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">ratline</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>asylum</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>lodger</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>swords</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>bond</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Contest opens
on 12/30/12 at noon </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">and closes at 12/31/12 at noon. All times are
eastern shark time.</span></i></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">So I toyed with the five words for a while. I didn't want to go pirate-ey so I choose a tangential approach.</span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is what I sent in:</span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i> She blew out the cigarette smoke slowly. It
drifted toward the ceiling fan, drawn like a ratline to a crow’s nest. She
glanced at the pile of Polaroid’s strewn on the bedside table, her asylum of
intimacy. What was his name?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i>He was a lodger
from another time and had no bond to her dreams. He got up from the bed and
tripped on one of the dead soldiers, it clinked against one that was half
empty.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i>He bent down to
pick it up, as though a couple swords had been slid into his kidneys. Christ
what was her name?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Century, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sorry for the font difference, I have a hard enough time with the keyboard, </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">never mind</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> formatting.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;">I liked it, and waited as the deadline approached, there were 91 entries. I didn't win, beginners luck and all, but I was blown away when she posted the results. There were twenty or so honorable like mentions, and I was one. Here is her comment about mine.</span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="Default">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Probably the best use of POV in a flash fiction contest
I've ever seen</i></span></b></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>French sojourn 6:55pm</i></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;">My screen name is French Sojourn because of my other blog. My wife and I were ecstatic, i mean it was kind praise for someone I've followed for a few years. And in all honesty, I think it gave me the push I needed to write this blog.</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;">My lesson: Well honestly after I sent it in I culled it a bit and tried to hone it. I think in the future I will review whatever I send out. Below is a finer version, I think. Like life there are no do overs. Good lesson for me.</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i>She exhaled the
cigarette smoke slowly. It drifted towards the ceiling fan, drawn like a
ratline to a nicotine stained crow’s nest. She glanced at the pile of
Polaroid’s strewn on the bedside table, her asylum of intimacy. What was his
name?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i>He was a four
hour temporary lodger. He got up from the bed and tripped on a dead soldier, it
clinked against one that was half empty with amber bonding fluid. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century","serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><i>He bent down to
pick it up and felt a couple swords pierce his weakened kidneys. Christ what
was her name?<span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Default">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1136090626973505763" itemprop="description articleBody">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0