September 2009
13 posts
The Taiga Shifted Strange: Reflections On Round 1
I was in a writing group when I was in high school, and it wasn’t a good experience. First of all we were really too young and too raw to be able to write well and to critique what we were writing. We had an adult supervisor there, and she gave us some good instruction and insight but by and large we just got together once or twice a month, read each other’s stuff, and then sort of...
My thoughts on Round 1
Shh! Keep it down. Everyone’s sleeping here.
I thought I’d start off my thoughts on the first round1 of stories by speaking about the end of it all. As most of you have probably realized, I’m the cat herder around these parts. For five weeks, that was no problem. We had a couple of delayed chapters but nothing catastrophic. Then came week six.
Many of you are aware that Anaïs...
Oops. I'm sure I asked someone to play a message...
As you’re aware, two of our stories are waiting on their conclusions and the reviews of the first round we’d planned for last week didn’t materialize. Since I spent the last week blissfully away from the real world and (mostly) this here online world, we’re going to just call last week a vacation for everyone. Yeah! I hope you all enjoyed the beach as much as I did, you...
Apologies for the delay
Our apologies for the delay in the final chapters of Maria’s and Anaïs’s stories. Both ladies are hard at work writing and polishing their conclusions while simultaneously dealing with the vicissitudes of the real world.
Expect to see them over the next few days. And next week, stick around for our analysis of the first cycle of stories.
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The Letters of Rose Constance, final Epistle
Previously
13th August
Dear Mister Constance,
Thank you for your acknowledgement of our recent correspondence. It is unfortunate that you are unable to visit at this time but understandable given your circumstances. You requested further information beyond the scope of that contained in the report. I hope that the details provided were of use to you. I shall endeavour to give a more personal...
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The Last Time I Saw Richard, Chapter Six
Previously
“Wait,” I said. “Who exactly are ‘They’? The Persians and the Arabs?” Mary rolled her eyes; Richard snorted. Vince just narrowed his eyes and said, “You really are new to this, aren’t you Matt?” “You have a positive gift for the obvious, Vincent,” Mary said. “Be a dear and explain to our guest what we’re...
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Week 5 Wrapup
Hey everyone, it’s Anaïs, bringing you the week 5 wrapup, and we’re getting close to the end of this cycle. How will our stories end? You’ll have to check in and see what the original authors of each story come up with.
Finkle, Out of Sorts I explored Finkle’s growing tensions at work as well as the antagonistic relationship with his mother, who appears to him in an...
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Limbs Akimbo - Chapter 5
Previously
The next morning, Charlie kept his eyes closed for a long time after he woke up. Mornings were always slightly better than the rest of the day. His very first few moments of consciousness, the moments before he remembered, were all too short and therefore to be savored. His bedroom was essentially unchanged since middle school. Thundercats sheets on his bed. Baseball trophies on the...
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Finkle, Out of Sorts - Chapter 6
Previously.
As usual, Blake’s assessment of which changes were difficult and which easy was comically wrong; this time it had all worked out in their favor. Alan had already handed most of the changelist to Jim and Rick; they’d be done by Monday. For the rest, a few hours effort from one of the graphic artists was all that was needed. Marley said she’d be freed up by 12:30, so...
Our apologies for the delay on Friday's chapter....
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Night Vision, Chapter 5
Previously
“Zoie…you doing alright?” asked Gregory, failing to hide the growing concern in his voice. I could see him glancing at my hand as I moved it over the dashboard. I giggled, which didn’t reassure him.
“Babe?” His voice was half a tone higher than usual.
“I’m okay. Just practicing a piano piece. It helps to take my mind off…things.” I didn’t tell him that...
The Letters Of Rose Constance, Epistle V
Previously
28th June My Darling James, Midsummer has come and gone, and my efforts in the garden have finally begun to show some signs of success. I have replanted the peonies and snapdragons, and am pruning the rose bushes in the manner in which you instructed me, lo those many years ago when a young couple first came to this house, full of dreams for the future and convinced that everything...
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The Last Time I Saw Richard, Chapter 5
Previously.
Richard was a lot calmer after talking with Vince, and after I got a third beer in me I started to relax a bit as well. I ordered another round and waters for both of us; I still felt Vince’s eyes burning a hole in the back of my head and didn’t want to lose all my edge. Richard was oblivious to his new friend’s interest and kept rambling semi-coherently about...
