Im in two minds as to whether I like this kind of self-improvement book which stems from the generation of books bred from 'How to make friends and influence people'. I guess these kind of people skills do help you get along in life. But are they just a form of manipulation? I'm doing my dissertation on self-monitoring, which is a form of impression management so would be interested in what others think.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/poetryworkshop/story/0,15167,1566681,00.html

"I want to ask you to write a poem about any aspect of the association of love with a shared place: how you link a certain room or house with someone you love or have loved, how a house seems to absorb or exude the presence of daily affections or maybe how a passion deepens in the ordinariness of a lived-in space."

...

has anyone noticed the proliferation of this new type of garment ... it is a very short crocheted atrocity that covers the tits and ties in a knot just underneath them ... it is as the poncho has almost died of shame and slithered down hapless women's bodies and is trying to cling on as it gasps its last ...

brrrr ...

http://www.abctales.com/pepsoid/larry_mick_discover_a_new_planet

A nice, short, easy to read laugh inducing piece!

It must be creative Friday - yet another corker:

http://www.abctales.com/darrenswift/waiting_for_the_last

So many great images in such a short story!

This just breaks your heart:

http://www.abctales.com/yutka/the_story_of_adolfo_the_fisherman_a_true_s...

Get out the tissues.

Such a clever book that makes you think about life and the world we live in. But no-one seems to appreciate the ending. If you havn't already read this...i highly recomend it...if you have...what do you think of the ending?

I think that to realise what this dream means to you, you should try and identify the exact feelings you had whilst your dad was turning into his meal. You say it was quite ordinary....but did you feel pleased, bored, dissappointed or thankful that you wouldnt have to listen to his drunken ranting.

http://www.abctales.com/alp/spread

For some reason, this feels like it should be a Monty Python song!

'Filthy wretch' seems a bit harsh, but I can see it's necessary for the rhyme... otherwise...

Nice one, alp!

"P"