Good choice Drew.
Flash, I think everyones off to see Val arent they? Im just a clueless northerner, so i cant be certain, but I think thats what they said.
Go on Flash. If you do it then I will. The Curve was extremely good, Drew. Rather intimidating to follow.. not really accustomed to this. Like the idea, Liana.. I know I have my favourites with many of the regulars but it would be interesting to see what they come up with.
My own favourite is always something I've just written or am about to write. The former is always in dire need of a re-think/edit and the latter, of course, doesn't exist yet. A toughie.
And if no-one else joins in I'll be embarrassed as a shameless self-promoter.
I'm sitting here writing - I'm doing the second part to A New Head, as mentioned in the thread just below. This one is called Bums-R-Us.
I write a few lines and then look on the internet. My concentration these days is shot. I should go back to the typewriter.
We're going to Copenhagen on Thursday. Today being Saturday Gary is packing. He's just asked me how many underpants I'm taking.
"Well, we arrive on Thursday," I said, "so that means clean ones on Friday..."
"No," said Gary, "Thursday night. You'll need new ones Thursday night to wear through Friday."
Oh, the life of domestic bliss.
Well i think mine are all equally bad so i'm not playing , just being a spectator that's me.
They're off watching Val Doonican? i wish i'd known he was playing.
Ok, I'll do mine. Its the one I've just written, a poem called Glass... and the same as Drew, it's mainly because it's an intensely personal piece, although I am technically really pleased with it too.
Yep. You know the optical illusion where there is a triangle of tubes? It doesnt matter where you start from, you cant grasp at the actual beginning of it? It twists back on itself.
Ok, now I sound like a complete arsehole, but that's what it's meant to do. :o)
I liked it. Marbles as in marbles? I kept thinking of marble floor. Don't know why. It is much better than some of your earlier ones, Liana. Not that they are bad.. but there's more to this.
Tried to submit this new one I've been working on but can't log in under either of my names (OK, the game is up) ..just get the authentication error thing every time. Punishment for not having an at-home connection, I s'pose. OK, I'll give it one more go and then I'll have to toddle on home.
"Take two, they're big," he said.
Kenny's Christmas
http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=1281
This is my take on the story of Jesus, but I seem to be the only one to figure that out so far, so maybe it wasn't very successful. The ending needs some work, but one day I'll expand this into a novella (he said optimistically).
The Grand Two-Bit Ballroom
http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=15475
My personal favorite. I'll expand this one too one day (more optimism).
I think that it is generally the piece on which I am working or have just finished. I wrote a piece (not on here, on UKAuthors) called Christian and The Ruggie that was written in a few hours. You know what it's like; sometimes you can huff and labour over work but just sometimes, in those mystical brainstorms, things can slide out like a calf from a cow. That was Christian And The Ruggie: it slithered out and then got up virtually straight away on jittery, then confident legs.
It was a joy to write.
Look at you, you coy lot. I have absolutely no compunctions about self-aggrandaisement. My favourite piece of mine on abctales is this one:
http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=35377
I think it could be improved. I think most people won't think it's my best. But it's everything I want a story to do right now. No more, no less. For me, it's not a massé shot off the cushion into the top right pocket, it's just a simple pot - but that's what I'm into right now.
I shall have a squiz at everyone else's. It's always interesting to see what an author considers his or her best work; whenever a favourite musician of mine has named their favourite of their own tracks, I've never agreed. Kooky, huh?
I have two favorites...i love this one because I love both characters, and this took me FOREVER to write...i must have worked through five or six play rehersals and study halls on this, pluscountless hours at home.... http://abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=37905
I'm also pretty partial to this one, alot because i love the main character, and because i really like where I'm going with it, even i cant seem to get there...sort of like getting lost going to Disney World or Six Flags...youre really really happy that you're ALMOST there, but you still cant quite get there...http://abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=37904
ooh, an opportunity to plug... waste not...
http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=39096
It's a poem, called China's Abrade. And it's my favourite because... well I just like it and I think that it's ok. It's the type of poem I could read if it wasn't mine, I think.
7pm.. I just woke up. Strange feeling in the head when you've slept too much.
Mine's called Hotel (was submitted but still stuck in Editorsville.. mind you, it IS the weekend.. they should have some time off after all)
Like Mia.. I think it's something I could read if it was someone elses. Maybe it should be a poem though.
All these links to plough through. Where to begin?
Smillieboy.. liked this.. especially the line 'preparing to hurt myself with the contents of my shopping bag.' Wish I'd written that.
Flash, loved yours too. Why so coy? I wouldn't have finished on a question if it was me. Would have let the reader imagine a bit more. But still great. Great dialogue. Loved- 'his memory searched for words, the best he could find, like grasping for tiny jewels in sifting silts of black sand.'
Ems's is a stunner. Can't think of any negative critical feedback for the mo. I loved how the branches just encroach on the car before you realise they've crashed. Brilliant.
Rokkitnite's was a bit mysterious. Liked it but can't quite make it out. Is the point that once you realise or have something pointed out to you then there are just more questions? Things you don't know. Maybe reading into it too much. Need to become a bit more familiar with your other stuff, maybe. Can understand where you're coming from, regarding your comments.. sometimes it's good to have a piece that isn't whacking you round the head with a message.
Tried to find Wolfgirls at ukauthors (just joined myself) but was a tad tricky ..anyone got a link? Flash? You seem to be good with these kinds of things.
Ralph's and Mia's were great too. Thought there were similarities. Mia's ..very fecund ..like an overripe fruit, ..lovely.
Think I've read Martin T's before.. makes me want to do a massive spring clean on my flat and cook myself a decent meal.
Will have to print the rest out at work.. Justyns two long ones etc.
Trying again. I've thought it would be useful if one could mark the pieces within one's abc set so as to give the reader guidance toward the author's idea of the better pieces. Accordingly, two of my poems, good I think, but also pretty accessible, which may be as important when suggesting an approach to an archive of a number of poems. (http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=38026) a(http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewStory.cgi?s=37986)
Yes, that's a corking poem, Liana. Lo, not only are you producing again but doing it at the top of your game.
Enjoyed your recommendation too, Drew. Very stylish, stylised, and pacy. Be mad to pretend I understood it all - but it brought back the deckchair holidays of childhood.
Haven't checked out other people's recommendations yet, but I will do. Useful thread, this.
d.beswetherick.
8-24-03
I like my story----- Southern Comfort Not Hardly----
I like it because, the pitcure is so vivid in my mind. I love remembering my family as we were then. It makes me feel peaceful.
Liana: I've read "Glass" 6 or 7 times and it keeps getting better. Musical, and imagistic, and willful, and intelligent. Flash: I don't read much of the short fiction at abc but did read yours. Tight. Understated. Really good dialogue. And the ending is very fine. Uppercase: I enjoyed "Southern Comfort, Not Hardly". It's straightforward, and literate, and effectively "saves" the way it was for those coming after. How do you do those clickable links?
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