Come Along to the Next ABCtales Live Event!

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Tue, 2005-04-19 08:20

Am I the only one totally put off by the 'worthy' speakers at the next ABC Tales event? I was thinking of going, but changed my mind sharpish.

Don't misunderestand me, this stuff is not unimportant, and maybe I'm way off the mark, but I get the impression that ABC Tales puts 'content' and 'worthiness' ahead and beyond of pure writing, or the pursuit of imagination, characters or indeed form.

By all means have someone talking about depression - I suffer from it myself, and it can be crippling most of the time, but where also is the light, where is the escapism, where is the damn fiction? I crave imagination to escape the day to day humdrum awfulness of it all. I personally have had enough of the dark side in my life without wanting to listen to someone else banging on about it, or indeed write about it myself.

Imagination in writing is just as important as realism, surely?

Thoughts anyone?

Tue, 2005-04-19 16:40

Tony Cook

We'll give you a free one before you read - then you can do a stormy!

Tue, 2005-04-19 17:08

fergal

Oooh, goodie.

Tue, 2005-04-19 17:10

Liana

Thank Christ. I'm ok with Lidl's vodka then Ferg?

Tue, 2005-04-19 17:12

fergal

Oh, most definitely.

Tue, 2005-04-19 17:13

fergal

And to reiterate: definitely.

Tue, 2005-04-19 17:22

Liana

lol

Wed, 2005-04-20 16:46

Rokkitnite

Will there be abc mugs on sale? I left mine behind, last time. *boo hoo*

Wed, 2005-04-20 17:51

jude

oooh yes, I'd like to buy another one because the one I have is just so super!

Wed, 2005-04-20 18:33

#10

david floyd

"Will there be abc mugs on sale?" Yes, while the omnipresence of God may continue to be debated, we can categorically assure you that ABCtales mugs will be available for all eternity.

Fri, 2005-04-22 00:33

#11

martin_t

i think the thread starter was worried about the event being worthy, well it was in parts, and all the better for it, it was also in no particular order, sexy, funny, disturbing and astonishing - and as tony said, so fucking what if it was worthy (or words to that effect)

Wed, 2005-04-20 19:00

#12

mississippi

I'm an ABCtales mug.

Wed, 2005-04-20 19:01

#13

smillieboy

Has often been said.

Fri, 2005-04-22 01:54

#14

smillieboy

Just got home. It was everything Martin said. Worthy, so fuck. [%sig%]

Fri, 2005-04-22 06:57

#15

kjheritage

Hi Smile ...in a good or a bad way?

Fri, 2005-04-22 07:32

#16

justyn_thyme

*awaits pics*

Fri, 2005-04-22 08:38

#17

smillieboy

I'm in fine fettle KJ, top of the world!! Bloody knackered though.

Fri, 2005-04-22 08:58

#18

fergal

Kj - it was worthy in the best of ways. A brilliant night and some briliant writing too.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:04

#19

Maxwell Eddison

oh, I hate to say this, and sorry Tony for saying this but I found Can of Madness abit.... crap really. Sorry guys. I'm sure lot's and lot's of people love it :)

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:11

#20

Emma

I wonder if Jason Peglar is better with apostrophes than you?

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:24

#21

Maxwell Eddison

I wonder if you're really as pig ugly as you read.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:28

#22

mississippi

Here we go again.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:29

#23

smillieboy

No need. There is no need. No need.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:30

#24

jude

yaaaawn

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:37

#25

Maxwell Eddison

I'm totally aware that I have a prob with where I place apostophes. I don't need some spotty arsed lesbian making light of it all the time.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:41

#26

Emma

I'm sorry you found it so hard to accept that someone drew attention to your little errors, Maxwell, but moreover, that it was done in a way as to point out the shortfalls in your effort to make a comment on a person's work.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:42

#27

Radiodenver

Would you prefer that she wasn't spotty arsed, or not a lesbian. Would it be okay then?

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:44

#28

Emma

Actually I'm bisexual, and have extraordinarily smooth skin... *blows kiss*

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:48

#29

jude

M'axw'ell. I have problems with apostrophe's as well. My arse is prone to spots but I am hetero. Is it okay therefore if I bring it to your attention that your comments are making you sound like a complete cock?

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:48

#30

Maxwell Eddison

I understand, Emma. If you take into consideration that the book was probably proof read and therefore mostly devoid of grammatical errors then you'd appreciate that I was referring to jasons story. I don't think it was well written. But that's my own opinion. Whether you've got a spotty arse or not, you're still a bitch.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:49

#31

jude

oh dear I had said today was too happy for arguments. I think I shall toddle off to my bedroom now to sip Zinfandel and sing Taize.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:51

#32

Radiodenver

At this point, I think a complete 'cock' would be a lofty goal, difficult to achieve under the best of circumcisions...errrr circumstances..

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:51

#33

Maxwell Eddison

Sorry Jude. A bitch not worthy of any further mind so that's my last on it.

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:54

#34

1legspider

I have nothing against smooth arsed bisexuals (mores the pity)

Tue, 2005-04-19 21:59

#35

Emma

OOOOH, a bitch??? Wow! Everyone who knows me will be so proud... ...I do hope, Maxwell, that you have the intelligence to realise that it was the manner of your comments on Jason Peglar's work that made me bait you. I have no issue with people who have problems with grammar and punctuation, far from it, but if you post comments about a person's work with such outright lack of respect and, furthermore, do not expand and give reasonable justification for your views you can't expect to be ignored...

Tue, 2005-04-19 22:01

#36

Emma

Oh, 1leg - should there be an apostrophe in 'more's'? *cracks whip* *licks lips*

Tue, 2005-04-19 22:16

#37

1legspider

Probably. I deserve to be punished. *bends over*

Wed, 2005-04-20 00:27

#38

Stormy

*inserts poem* How does it feel to be rhymed from behind, spider? With regard to the rest of the comments about me on this thread: you bastards! *mumble whinge, its not fair, no one understands me* But I'm looking forward to it! Don't worry Fergal, I've not read to the London mafiosa either so I'll join you at the bar for a few cheap shots. We could have a drink too, especially if Tony is paying! Max, chill.

Wed, 2005-04-20 00:33

#39

Stormy

PS. forgot to say: kjheritage, come along ... I've enjoyed your comments on the threads, it would be good to meet a new normal person in this jasper dominated otherworld that seems to exist at the moment.

Wed, 2005-04-20 03:50

#40

fatalky

I'd love to come along but after another maniacal binge, I shall have to become a recovering fatalky. Sorry Jude it's AA for me tomorrow. I find the meetings where I am in Oxford lack a little je ne sais quoi, unlike the meetings in London where I shall be returning in a couple of weeks. They have zip vim and vigour. And in central London lots of tv, film and rock stars to gawp at. [%sig%]

Tue, 2005-04-19 08:25

#41

mississippi

>> ...where also is the light, where is the escapism, where is the damn fiction... << Oh, I'm sure that stormy, jude, fergal and rokkitsh..nite will provide plenty of that.

Thu, 2005-04-21 01:54

#42

Rokkitnite

Hallelujah! Almost wants to make me convert...

Tue, 2005-04-19 08:28

#43

smillieboy

KJ, Jason Pegler is only one of many people who will be reading at the event. Many of the ABC tales regulars (new and old) will also be reading their own work, all of which I'm sure will be full of imagination and positivity! I am sure Tony and Mark would say that writing is the heartbeat of ABC tales and that as Jason is a writer, he is reading for that reason, rather than his cause being a 'worthy' one. I think you should reconsider and come along. I went to my first event last year in Brighton and was even talked into reading one of my pieces. It was a low key, fun and laughs affair and I certainly came away from it feeling very positive.

Wed, 2005-04-20 10:29

#44

Tony Cook

It wasn't the writing style I liked in Jason's book - it was the outright candour about his frankly appalling behaviour, his complete frankness about what he had to go through in order to get his manic depression under control and what he's done since that impressed me. I think you will find him to be a very remarkable person and it's a real treat for us to be able to get him for you!

Thu, 2005-04-21 10:30

#45

Emma

Off to catch the train shortly - see you all there! x

Tue, 2005-04-19 09:23

#46

kjheritage

That does sound encouraging. Would be nice to put a few faces to names.

Tue, 2005-04-19 09:26

#47

emily yaffle

It is well worth hearing Stormy read, if you get the chance. He's a very sound bloke, and nowhere near the Terry Thomas fizzog that I was expecting. (Stormy always seems very WWI RAF officer to me, don't know why). I've never seen Jude read, but her work is very good. And I've not met Tim, but he's full of oomph, vinegar and any amount of other zestful substance. Should be a good night. Sad I won't be there (these cockneys forget that people outside London work during the week and this one takes place five days before payday for me!)

Thu, 2005-04-21 10:52

#48

jude

My pink shirt is ironed and hanging up in the office!

Wed, 2005-04-20 10:43

#49

Emma

I'm sure it is, I look forward to it very much...a little hard earned sanity will be a welcome tonic in the wake of the shinanigans on this site of late...

Thu, 2005-04-21 10:54

#50

Hox

My best slippers are buffed and waiting in the car!

Tue, 2005-04-19 09:55

#51

fish

i know KJ ... that abctales lot ...they might seem like wholefood knit your own lentil rug types ... but i assure you they get drunk and embarrass themselves just as much as us less worthy types ... i see my own involvement with abc as having a social conscience by proxy ... i can do my bit thanks to them and i don't have to appear personally earnest ... (social death darling ...) ... so come along ... the evenings are a hoot ... and stormy might even replay his famous falling down whilst reading stunt ... just don't bring any climbing plants with you ...

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