Would have been great in print! But I'll settle for getting to read it on my screen. This story was unsettling. That first killing was rough, well done.
Thanks Sean. It took me five days to push through it, blocked and spiralling, so I'm just glad it has some working elements left at all. I loved that first part (which I wrote "before") and I like the ending. In between I'll muck around at some point. But I don't get the print part. This wasn't the story they rejected. That one isn't even up on posts-- but might be once the next rejection rolls in. If I'd submitted this, it might've been worse.
Ahh. Sorry, it's been a week. I don't know, this was always deep maybe pile. Lucky and the other one were much stronger contenders, don't you think? And besides, I consider that bridge well and truly burned. I'm not gonna give you the headache, Sean. And you've got a pretty dreamy team as is.
You must really root for the loose cannon in movies. I already used two of my best ideas for posts. Like I said, the others feel too scary to try out. Stick with the stable ones, Sean. I need to see if I still have what it takes after what happened. You really don't need me. The dusty basement is good enough for me!
Once again, sensational! I felt so bad for him at first, and that first killing was like an electric shock! You are so good at getting inside your characters and making us feel them. My partner and I just had a lengthy discussion today about serial killers, and then this showed up in my inbox box. It seems to have come on another parallel wavelength!
Started it before I lost it so I'm just glad it got to the finish line. And we may be grooving again, yes! The next one will be... I don't want to say similar but there will be a killer of sorts. I'm sticking to the shallows for a story or two, before I attempt another Men.
I never really asked what happened. I know this writing thing can be brutal. I spent a decade working in the arts at the support/promote level (visual, literary, performing), and I saw a lot of artists crushed by gatekeepers on a power trip or jealous of their talents. Way to get back up and fly the bird (small, horrible pun)! Your stories need to be in big, juicy collection on my shelf!
Well, more or less what you just wrote. I had a story, couched in my own experience living with an abusive parent, about a boy who uses a halloween costume as a kind of safety blanket and becomes the monster to save his mother from being killed by the abuser. Might not sound like much now but I thought it really sang-- especially the ending. But the feedback called it (using salient points here because my significant other had me delete it): simplistic, by the numbers, poorly written, poor conceptualisation. I was never getting published, as is. Period.
Wow. Unless one is a creative writing instructor in a workshop setting, those calls are above pay grade and subjective. They were delivered in a cruel and unprofessional manner. I ran a writers group during my decade in the arts that was heavy on workshopping, but I came down hard with both feet when, out of the gate, the members began to savage one another. It wasn’t conducive to our growth as creators or to any kind of camaraderie. Over the years, that group became tight, loyal, productive, and respected because we cared about one another’s work. The group is still going strong 20 years later.
This person obviously never had such a nurturing experience and is of the “take your punches and pay your dues” mindset. Or is merely a garden variety asshole. Dispense pity and contempt and move on with your head high, because you are burning star.
You have a talent for capturing everyday moments and making them special. That was especially evident in the first part. I took the story to be a tale of a broken. Wow, was I wrong. The subsequent twists were genuinely unexpected. If you'd posted this on Macabre Monday, I might have expected them. A modern story, but with a Poevian feel.
Thank you, Bill. I felt the power of that first part. With all the turbulence, the rest of the story might've taken a hit. But I'll get back to repairing it at some point. I'm just glad I faced it down. And yeah, I should do trigger warnings. It came to me as your comment popped up that some readers might be expecting something completely different. I'll take care of it! Thanks for the words, Bill. Really appreciate all you've done for me this week!
I actually wasn’t suggesting trigger warnings, though I suppose they aren’t a bad idea. I was merely praising your unexpected twists, which happened multiple times. The level of complexity is remarkable.
Thanks Jim! I'm just glad I got to the end of this one. I fell apart halfway and was sorely tempted to toss it. But I'm determined to finish what I start now. I've got eight in various stages of development so... feed for at least a month! Thanks again, Jim. I'll start wandering soon, just trying to get my legs again. I was in the process of reading one of yours before I lost it and thought it was great, btw. I'm going back for it after the next one!
Would have been great in print! But I'll settle for getting to read it on my screen. This story was unsettling. That first killing was rough, well done.
Thanks Sean. It took me five days to push through it, blocked and spiralling, so I'm just glad it has some working elements left at all. I loved that first part (which I wrote "before") and I like the ending. In between I'll muck around at some point. But I don't get the print part. This wasn't the story they rejected. That one isn't even up on posts-- but might be once the next rejection rolls in. If I'd submitted this, it might've been worse.
I meant in print for an undisclosed bird project.
Ahh. Sorry, it's been a week. I don't know, this was always deep maybe pile. Lucky and the other one were much stronger contenders, don't you think? And besides, I consider that bridge well and truly burned. I'm not gonna give you the headache, Sean. And you've got a pretty dreamy team as is.
Leaving that door open for you until the end of July. Just noodle and see if anything feels good; if not, no worries. Sound good?
You must really root for the loose cannon in movies. I already used two of my best ideas for posts. Like I said, the others feel too scary to try out. Stick with the stable ones, Sean. I need to see if I still have what it takes after what happened. You really don't need me. The dusty basement is good enough for me!
But do remember that signed copy, please!
Once again, sensational! I felt so bad for him at first, and that first killing was like an electric shock! You are so good at getting inside your characters and making us feel them. My partner and I just had a lengthy discussion today about serial killers, and then this showed up in my inbox box. It seems to have come on another parallel wavelength!
Started it before I lost it so I'm just glad it got to the finish line. And we may be grooving again, yes! The next one will be... I don't want to say similar but there will be a killer of sorts. I'm sticking to the shallows for a story or two, before I attempt another Men.
I never really asked what happened. I know this writing thing can be brutal. I spent a decade working in the arts at the support/promote level (visual, literary, performing), and I saw a lot of artists crushed by gatekeepers on a power trip or jealous of their talents. Way to get back up and fly the bird (small, horrible pun)! Your stories need to be in big, juicy collection on my shelf!
Well, more or less what you just wrote. I had a story, couched in my own experience living with an abusive parent, about a boy who uses a halloween costume as a kind of safety blanket and becomes the monster to save his mother from being killed by the abuser. Might not sound like much now but I thought it really sang-- especially the ending. But the feedback called it (using salient points here because my significant other had me delete it): simplistic, by the numbers, poorly written, poor conceptualisation. I was never getting published, as is. Period.
Wow. Unless one is a creative writing instructor in a workshop setting, those calls are above pay grade and subjective. They were delivered in a cruel and unprofessional manner. I ran a writers group during my decade in the arts that was heavy on workshopping, but I came down hard with both feet when, out of the gate, the members began to savage one another. It wasn’t conducive to our growth as creators or to any kind of camaraderie. Over the years, that group became tight, loyal, productive, and respected because we cared about one another’s work. The group is still going strong 20 years later.
This person obviously never had such a nurturing experience and is of the “take your punches and pay your dues” mindset. Or is merely a garden variety asshole. Dispense pity and contempt and move on with your head high, because you are burning star.
A minor attempt? Certainly not!
You have a talent for capturing everyday moments and making them special. That was especially evident in the first part. I took the story to be a tale of a broken. Wow, was I wrong. The subsequent twists were genuinely unexpected. If you'd posted this on Macabre Monday, I might have expected them. A modern story, but with a Poevian feel.
Thank you, Bill. I felt the power of that first part. With all the turbulence, the rest of the story might've taken a hit. But I'll get back to repairing it at some point. I'm just glad I faced it down. And yeah, I should do trigger warnings. It came to me as your comment popped up that some readers might be expecting something completely different. I'll take care of it! Thanks for the words, Bill. Really appreciate all you've done for me this week!
I actually wasn’t suggesting trigger warnings, though I suppose they aren’t a bad idea. I was merely praising your unexpected twists, which happened multiple times. The level of complexity is remarkable.
Welcome back. That was terrific. Your readers, like me, are like the crows. We'll never leave you alone if you stop feeding us. - Jim
Thanks Jim! I'm just glad I got to the end of this one. I fell apart halfway and was sorely tempted to toss it. But I'm determined to finish what I start now. I've got eight in various stages of development so... feed for at least a month! Thanks again, Jim. I'll start wandering soon, just trying to get my legs again. I was in the process of reading one of yours before I lost it and thought it was great, btw. I'm going back for it after the next one!