MeFi Short Fiction Anthology Due Date Nears! February 14, 2008 7:47 AM Subscribe
The Metafilter Short Fiction Anthology: P/Virse Edition deadline is approaching! There's just over two weeks remaining, so if you have yet to start clacking away, now is the time! I'm sure I'm not the only one eager to see what folks have come up with!
If you think you'll have something ready in time, drop me a line so I can get a sense of how many authors we have. You can mail your story to 'mefi.fiction.anthology' at gmail if it's already done.
For the time being, I'll publish the stories as Google Docs on the above Gmail account to let interested editors (and any other interested Mefites) have a peek. If we get enough people (both authors and readers) to make actual physical printing viable, we'll pursue that option as well.
Details on setting and the like can be found in the original thread, linked above.
If you think you'll have something ready in time, drop me a line so I can get a sense of how many authors we have. You can mail your story to 'mefi.fiction.anthology' at gmail if it's already done.
For the time being, I'll publish the stories as Google Docs on the above Gmail account to let interested editors (and any other interested Mefites) have a peek. If we get enough people (both authors and readers) to make actual physical printing viable, we'll pursue that option as well.
Details on setting and the like can be found in the original thread, linked above.
Wow, very nice. As I read through it I thought I wasn't fond of it, then after I finished it, I was elated. Great job.
I got sick and quit working on mine when a bunch of cynical responses to other things made me question whether I wanted to finish the couple I have. I suppose 2 weeks is enough, and if they aren't all that great, they can be left out.
Good work robocop is bleeding. Mine will be nowhere near as interesting, but hopefully there will be a variety of work and of different lengths so that there's something for everyone.
posted by cashman at 8:03 AM on February 14, 2008
I got sick and quit working on mine when a bunch of cynical responses to other things made me question whether I wanted to finish the couple I have. I suppose 2 weeks is enough, and if they aren't all that great, they can be left out.
Good work robocop is bleeding. Mine will be nowhere near as interesting, but hopefully there will be a variety of work and of different lengths so that there's something for everyone.
posted by cashman at 8:03 AM on February 14, 2008
I started one, quit, started it again, quit, and am now starting again, I think.
posted by rtha at 8:30 AM on February 14, 2008
posted by rtha at 8:30 AM on February 14, 2008
I started, got really enthusiastic, wrote several pages worth of setting and character development, only to realize that I hate the way my writing sounds.
What I really need to do is take a day off work, get liquored up, and just plow through it. But my fear is that I'd sober up later and see that I had just written different variations on terms for 'penis' over and over again.
schlong, cock, wiener, dork, wang, meatpipe, dick, johnson, tubesteak, prick, etc, etc.
Though, now that I think about it, that actually has some interesting artistic merits which elevate it over what I've already written, so...
posted by quin at 9:11 AM on February 14, 2008
What I really need to do is take a day off work, get liquored up, and just plow through it. But my fear is that I'd sober up later and see that I had just written different variations on terms for 'penis' over and over again.
schlong, cock, wiener, dork, wang, meatpipe, dick, johnson, tubesteak, prick, etc, etc.
Though, now that I think about it, that actually has some interesting artistic merits which elevate it over what I've already written, so...
posted by quin at 9:11 AM on February 14, 2008
Heh, I feel that, quin. I wrote mine on an Eee PC while at a bar. Nothing like a few pints to get that maudlin tone! The trick is finding the right cut-off point to prevent cockfoolery.
although tubesteak is a great word. maybe it should be the theme for next go-around?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:26 AM on February 14, 2008
although tubesteak is a great word. maybe it should be the theme for next go-around?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:26 AM on February 14, 2008
although tubesteak is a great word. maybe it should be the theme for next go-around?
Girlzone Mefi pleads no.
posted by headspace at 11:15 AM on February 14, 2008
Girlzone Mefi pleads no.
posted by headspace at 11:15 AM on February 14, 2008
I was thinking of writing a story for this when it first got announced, but I thought the "P/Virt" terminology was kind of silly. As that thread went on and on, and all kinds of ridiculous stuff started showing up on the wiki I decided not too. I mean, the wiki was just filling up with all sorts of absurd things, people were declaring new rules all the time, it was really annoying.
posted by delmoi at 11:58 AM on February 14, 2008
posted by delmoi at 11:58 AM on February 14, 2008
I am glad I am not the only one who backed out! I thought I had a pretty interesting Hamlet rip-off on my hands, but real life and real job has intervened. I suppose I could try to puke something out in the next two weeks, but I don't think that'd it'd be worth reading.
posted by absalom at 11:59 AM on February 14, 2008
posted by absalom at 11:59 AM on February 14, 2008
Also: did the wiki ever open back up? I thought Lore pretty much ran the sandbox with an iron fist.
posted by absalom at 12:02 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by absalom at 12:02 PM on February 14, 2008
I've got about six story ideas and no stories so far. I'm inclined to run with rtha's plan: open a bottle of scotch and get going.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:09 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:09 PM on February 14, 2008
cortex, I think that's quin's plan.
But it's a mighty fine one, and time-honored to boot, so maybe I'll try it, too. I've even got an absurd amount of good scotch at home (I'm not a big drinker, but I like the good stuff, so bottles accumulate over time, what can I say).
posted by rtha at 12:18 PM on February 14, 2008
But it's a mighty fine one, and time-honored to boot, so maybe I'll try it, too. I've even got an absurd amount of good scotch at home (I'm not a big drinker, but I like the good stuff, so bottles accumulate over time, what can I say).
posted by rtha at 12:18 PM on February 14, 2008
Clearly, I have gotten a jumpstart on quin's plan, then. And yeah, we can throw all three of our stories into a special subjection, A Confluence of P/Lushes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:26 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:26 PM on February 14, 2008
I have a story but no time to write it. Maybe I can outsource it to India? Are people still doing that?
posted by Eideteker at 12:30 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by Eideteker at 12:30 PM on February 14, 2008
Note to everyone except robo: Stop whining and write something! This is not the most important thing you will ever do in your life. This will not be recorded on your permanent record. Do not overthink this. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
Anyway, my story is partially finished and partially terrible. Luckily I have no shame, so I will be submitting my story whether or not it ends up having any literary merit. Most likely not.
posted by burnmp3s at 12:45 PM on February 14, 2008
Anyway, my story is partially finished and partially terrible. Luckily I have no shame, so I will be submitting my story whether or not it ends up having any literary merit. Most likely not.
posted by burnmp3s at 12:45 PM on February 14, 2008
Why not stick this on the Meetups sidebar so you can all see the deadline approaching and the rest of us know when to check out the thread for stories?
posted by ODiV at 1:33 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by ODiV at 1:33 PM on February 14, 2008
After reading the wiki I'm kind of let down.
Specifically about this section.
When a sensitive leaves normative reality for the P/Virse, their personal autocausality field goes with them, but the rest of their body is left behind. What remains is a fully-functioning person with no free will or self-awareness.
Up until now I was under the impression it was actually a different reality being constructed and not just a different take on virtual reality. The fact that these people have to care for their "shells" is kind of disappointing. Having these people actually affect a reality which is different, but just as real as ours seems like it would've been more interesting.
These guys need to pop out for food instead of stalking the elusive spam-gazelle. :(
posted by ODiV at 2:05 PM on February 14, 2008
Specifically about this section.
When a sensitive leaves normative reality for the P/Virse, their personal autocausality field goes with them, but the rest of their body is left behind. What remains is a fully-functioning person with no free will or self-awareness.
Up until now I was under the impression it was actually a different reality being constructed and not just a different take on virtual reality. The fact that these people have to care for their "shells" is kind of disappointing. Having these people actually affect a reality which is different, but just as real as ours seems like it would've been more interesting.
These guys need to pop out for food instead of stalking the elusive spam-gazelle. :(
posted by ODiV at 2:05 PM on February 14, 2008
These guys need to pop out for food instead of stalking the elusive spam-gazelle. :(
Long-haulers could plan ahead with an IV drip and a catheter.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:56 PM on February 14, 2008
Long-haulers could plan ahead with an IV drip and a catheter.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:56 PM on February 14, 2008
Up until now I was under the impression it was actually a different reality being constructed and not just a different take on virtual reality. The fact that these people have to care for their "shells" is kind of disappointing.
Yup, it's stupid. And how did it even get decided on? I wasn't participating in that thread too much so I guess I can't complain too much but it seemed like the whole concept was sort of hijacked at some point by people who were more interested in world building then actually writing. I thought the initial idea was kind of silly, but then people or someone just started adding more and more facets to this idea despite the fact that they served no purpose whatsoever in terms of helping to foster a creative writing project.
And on top of that, the ideas were kind of dumb like the P/Ball. Not only is the name silly it has this property: "If enough pressure is applied, it simply disappears." What?! Why is that the case? it's totally arbitrary and unnecessary.
These facets are not there to help writers, they are there because some random person decided it was interesting. But adding restrictions creates new problems.
Plus, the fact that ideas kept changing meant that story ideas became obsolete as they were thought up. In fact, you could argue that RIB's story violates the concept of "leaving shells behind" that ODiV pointed out.
I hate being a sourpuss and raining on everyone's parade, sorry. The creation of the world and the rules should have been more democratic, and the facets of the universe should have been kept to a minimum. And they should have been things that made writing the stories easier. "Hooks" to hang a plot on. Not just random ideas.
Oh well, maybe next time.
posted by delmoi at 3:02 PM on February 14, 2008
Yup, it's stupid. And how did it even get decided on? I wasn't participating in that thread too much so I guess I can't complain too much but it seemed like the whole concept was sort of hijacked at some point by people who were more interested in world building then actually writing. I thought the initial idea was kind of silly, but then people or someone just started adding more and more facets to this idea despite the fact that they served no purpose whatsoever in terms of helping to foster a creative writing project.
And on top of that, the ideas were kind of dumb like the P/Ball. Not only is the name silly it has this property: "If enough pressure is applied, it simply disappears." What?! Why is that the case? it's totally arbitrary and unnecessary.
These facets are not there to help writers, they are there because some random person decided it was interesting. But adding restrictions creates new problems.
Plus, the fact that ideas kept changing meant that story ideas became obsolete as they were thought up. In fact, you could argue that RIB's story violates the concept of "leaving shells behind" that ODiV pointed out.
I hate being a sourpuss and raining on everyone's parade, sorry. The creation of the world and the rules should have been more democratic, and the facets of the universe should have been kept to a minimum. And they should have been things that made writing the stories easier. "Hooks" to hang a plot on. Not just random ideas.
Oh well, maybe next time.
posted by delmoi at 3:02 PM on February 14, 2008
Yeah, I was originally going to write a story for this, but the whole concept started to become confusing and, in parts, contradictory. In short, at first I was excited, but now, not so much.
If I could just hijack the thread for a moment to provide an update of my own, the Metafilter Writers Collaboration is, so far, on track. I turned in Chapter One back at the start of the month and now WPW is enthusiastically working on his chapter. It's still early days yet, but so far, we're on track.
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:09 PM on February 14, 2008
If I could just hijack the thread for a moment to provide an update of my own, the Metafilter Writers Collaboration is, so far, on track. I turned in Chapter One back at the start of the month and now WPW is enthusiastically working on his chapter. It's still early days yet, but so far, we're on track.
posted by Effigy2000 at 3:09 PM on February 14, 2008
I love it. Sort of Xanth meets Matrix meets Jung. Also reminds me of Journey of Souls, a newage book about a hypnotist who records stories of people remembering life between lives. There's a section where the subjects tell of being trained to create by being sent to different worlds and having to concentrate and make the whole miasma into something. Creating a sun takes lots of souls, everyone is identifiable by color (blues being higher than yellows or somesuch). I don't take any of it too seriously because I had some pretty trippy experiences under hypnosis in a class once. The teacher led us through some exercise of what would our future self look like if reincarnation were possible and I think my experience would make great story fodder.
Xanth: everyone has a magical talent, only some people can do big things and others can only make spots appear on walls. I ate that stuff up as a kid, even wrote to Piers Anthony and he kindly wrote back and sent me photos of himself with his new word processor and a trackfeed printout of other authors and book titles that I might be interested in (David Eddings was one, if I recall).
Robocop is Bleeding, you have a great way of pulling someone into a scene. Awesome. A little editing for readability is in order, but :::shrug::: moi aussi, in that regard. I was a little unclear on who "She" was without a more detailed backstory, but I was very clear on the flowers turning into a gun. I'd like to see the Vietnam thing separated more so that I know he is a person with a special talent and not just someone hallucinating. Perhaps another backstory with him exerting these special P/Vert talents in Vietnam. Really great concept you guys, and I have no problem whatsoever with the tubesteak stuff as long as you have no problem with breasts and vajajays. It's fiction, after all and it's your dream, so make it as big as you want.
Cortex: if I can come up with why the chicken crosses the road on one cup of coffee in 15 minutes, you can develop one of your stories for this, man. Let's do it, who cares if they are crap, it has to start somewhere. I'll show mine if you show yours.
I'm in :::spits on hand::: Anyone else? Let's make this a bi-partisan thing, guys and girls. The only requirements are your mind and imagination. If anyone wants to criticize, they'd better have a kickass story to contribute or we will make them a character in the next run.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:17 PM on February 14, 2008
Xanth: everyone has a magical talent, only some people can do big things and others can only make spots appear on walls. I ate that stuff up as a kid, even wrote to Piers Anthony and he kindly wrote back and sent me photos of himself with his new word processor and a trackfeed printout of other authors and book titles that I might be interested in (David Eddings was one, if I recall).
Robocop is Bleeding, you have a great way of pulling someone into a scene. Awesome. A little editing for readability is in order, but :::shrug::: moi aussi, in that regard. I was a little unclear on who "She" was without a more detailed backstory, but I was very clear on the flowers turning into a gun. I'd like to see the Vietnam thing separated more so that I know he is a person with a special talent and not just someone hallucinating. Perhaps another backstory with him exerting these special P/Vert talents in Vietnam. Really great concept you guys, and I have no problem whatsoever with the tubesteak stuff as long as you have no problem with breasts and vajajays. It's fiction, after all and it's your dream, so make it as big as you want.
Cortex: if I can come up with why the chicken crosses the road on one cup of coffee in 15 minutes, you can develop one of your stories for this, man. Let's do it, who cares if they are crap, it has to start somewhere. I'll show mine if you show yours.
I'm in :::spits on hand::: Anyone else? Let's make this a bi-partisan thing, guys and girls. The only requirements are your mind and imagination. If anyone wants to criticize, they'd better have a kickass story to contribute or we will make them a character in the next run.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:17 PM on February 14, 2008
Let's do it, who cares if they are crap, it has to start somewhere.
I just bought a bottle of Glenkinchie based almost entirely on a shared (with the liquor store clerk) contrarian presumption that the guy who wrote the whiskey bible we looked it up in was a great big blowhard, so I consider myself committed.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:24 PM on February 14, 2008
I just bought a bottle of Glenkinchie based almost entirely on a shared (with the liquor store clerk) contrarian presumption that the guy who wrote the whiskey bible we looked it up in was a great big blowhard, so I consider myself committed.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:24 PM on February 14, 2008
Yeah, ODiV, that innovation came after I already had my story in mind. I liked the more magical realism end of things just happening. So I ignored it and kept things "classic."
I encourage everyone else who wants to to do the same. If you've got a story about P/Virt zombies, then go ahead.
But this has taught me about herding cats and the importance of selecting a broad theme rather than a setting to get more people interested and writing.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:56 PM on February 14, 2008
I encourage everyone else who wants to to do the same. If you've got a story about P/Virt zombies, then go ahead.
But this has taught me about herding cats and the importance of selecting a broad theme rather than a setting to get more people interested and writing.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:56 PM on February 14, 2008
But this has taught me about herding cats and the importance of selecting a broad theme rather than a setting to get more people interested and writing.
I don't think the "specifics" were the problem here. I actually had a class that was a writing workshop where all the stories had to happen in a specific town, with specific characters for whom we were given rough character sketches. We even had a map of the town, etc. For me, I felt that the restrictions actually helped keep me focused on developing characters, etc. And "Subverting" the concept was half the fun.
But the problem isn't that the "setting" was specified. It wasn't, there were no characters, no locations, nothing like that. What we had was a lot of little pointless points of metaphysics. Imagine if you had all the rules of star-trek (warp drives, tachyons, teleporters, wormholes) but you didn't have any of the characters, any of the planets, any of the ships and maybe a vaguely specified federation.
posted by delmoi at 4:18 PM on February 14, 2008
I don't think the "specifics" were the problem here. I actually had a class that was a writing workshop where all the stories had to happen in a specific town, with specific characters for whom we were given rough character sketches. We even had a map of the town, etc. For me, I felt that the restrictions actually helped keep me focused on developing characters, etc. And "Subverting" the concept was half the fun.
But the problem isn't that the "setting" was specified. It wasn't, there were no characters, no locations, nothing like that. What we had was a lot of little pointless points of metaphysics. Imagine if you had all the rules of star-trek (warp drives, tachyons, teleporters, wormholes) but you didn't have any of the characters, any of the planets, any of the ships and maybe a vaguely specified federation.
posted by delmoi at 4:18 PM on February 14, 2008
Maybe I can outsource it to India? Are people still doing that?
Of course. How else do you think Rushdie pays his bills?
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:27 PM on February 14, 2008
Of course. How else do you think Rushdie pays his bills?
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:27 PM on February 14, 2008
I've been in Scotland and had the single malts (many of which I don't remember the name, but the people who bought them for me stand out). I love Scottish fiction as a matter of fact. Trying to think of the short story anthology where one hilarious the aliens invaded Scotland and had Scottish accents.
In any case, this is all sort of a writer's universe, isn't it? I sit and create worlds in my mind and then someone calls me up and it sort of goes "poof!" But I still think this is a workable framework and will get right down to it. No more thinking allowed, only action.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:31 PM on February 14, 2008
In any case, this is all sort of a writer's universe, isn't it? I sit and create worlds in my mind and then someone calls me up and it sort of goes "poof!" But I still think this is a workable framework and will get right down to it. No more thinking allowed, only action.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:31 PM on February 14, 2008
Trying to think of the short story anthology where one hilarious the aliens invaded Scotland and had Scottish accents.
That was the Irvine Welsh short story in Children of Albion Rovers
posted by ZippityBuddha at 4:36 PM on February 14, 2008
That was the Irvine Welsh short story in Children of Albion Rovers
posted by ZippityBuddha at 4:36 PM on February 14, 2008
I was under the impression that authorship was limited, but maybe I'm thinking of a different thread or idea. Glad to see that's not the case, as I have a terrific/terrible idea for a short story in this setting.
Now I just need to buy some scotch.
posted by cog_nate at 4:36 PM on February 14, 2008
Now I just need to buy some scotch.
posted by cog_nate at 4:36 PM on February 14, 2008
The confused reader, a few months from now: "Well, I mean, these stories are a lot of fun, yeah, but what's this obsession with single malt?"
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:43 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:43 PM on February 14, 2008
Are comic strips allowed?
Oddly enough, someone already asked that. I say yes, if only to make robocop is bleeding's story less lonely.
The confused reader, a few months from now: "Well, I mean, these stories are a lot of fun, yeah, but what's this obsession with single malt?"
To mix things up, I'm going to have the main character in my story drink vodka.
posted by burnmp3s at 4:54 PM on February 14, 2008
Oddly enough, someone already asked that. I say yes, if only to make robocop is bleeding's story less lonely.
The confused reader, a few months from now: "Well, I mean, these stories are a lot of fun, yeah, but what's this obsession with single malt?"
To mix things up, I'm going to have the main character in my story drink vodka.
posted by burnmp3s at 4:54 PM on February 14, 2008
cortex: No one who would say "what's this obsession with single malt?" belongs in a conversation about scotch. Or, you know, anything for that matter.
posted by absalom at 5:13 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by absalom at 5:13 PM on February 14, 2008
Okay I'm done where do I submit? The story, I mean.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:21 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:21 PM on February 14, 2008
When you guys decide to have a round of stories about the drinking of scotch and the marvellous magical hijinks that inevitably ensue, I'm in!
No, not really. I never figured out how to write fiction. My brain is slightly broken, I think.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:27 PM on February 14, 2008
No, not really. I never figured out how to write fiction. My brain is slightly broken, I think.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:27 PM on February 14, 2008
Well, we could settle on a drinking a round of scotch and seeing what hijinks inevitably ensue
posted by absalom at 5:35 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by absalom at 5:35 PM on February 14, 2008
Here ya go. Read it and chuckle (or groan). I riffed a little off of your story, Robocop, to give it continuity and to let any others who feel they can take up the challenge keep it going, eh?
Stavros, I'll give you single malt and scotch hijinks at a later time. Just stay away from the DMZ for now, 'kay? We like you in one piece.
I'd love to hear a vodka/Russian take on this stuff, go for it! Keep on writing, who cares how good it is? Write, write, write, we can edit it later! Let's get the roundrobin story vibe going on!
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:45 PM on February 14, 2008
Stavros, I'll give you single malt and scotch hijinks at a later time. Just stay away from the DMZ for now, 'kay? We like you in one piece.
I'd love to hear a vodka/Russian take on this stuff, go for it! Keep on writing, who cares how good it is? Write, write, write, we can edit it later! Let's get the roundrobin story vibe going on!
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:45 PM on February 14, 2008
Your doc isn't visible, Marie. I think you're supposed to send it to robocop (not that you can't post it too, I'm just saying).
posted by cashman at 6:29 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by cashman at 6:29 PM on February 14, 2008
Zippity: you are my hero! I'm ordering this now, cuz it was a loan from an artist friend whose been out of touch. I've been agonizing over this for YEARS. So a big, BIG thank you!!!
And now a Scottish story: I was with my smarmy ex (not my current husband), in Edinburgh, and we were wanting to go dancing. We were attempting the Eerie Pub Crawl, whereby one can go to several select pubs and gain a free t-shirt (we made three). This was right after Scotland beat England at football, so there were many people at the pubs. Many. Many, many, many people.
A group of young men in the back of our current pub (Mary something or other) expressed interest in my smarmy-ex's camera. I asked them where we should go dancing, as we wanted somewhere avant-garde and punk. I mentioned a club beneath the tracks.
"Nah, nah, that's no good, too dangerous. Go to the Dob."
"What?"
"The Dob."
I leaned closer (this was either before or after they bought us an almost clear single malt, which was, btw, the sweetest elixer in the entire world, and I say that now after having been on tours and in local pubs up north on subsequent visits). Scots are so friendly and I'm proud to have Scots in my ancestry because of their friendliness and cleverness and omg the cooking, yum! So many excellent chefs! Anyway... the young man said:
"The Dob, the Dob, the bloody fucking Dob!"
Finally, I got it. The Dome. It was a club.
So we waited at another pub, because the Dome didn't open until late, then paid a lot of money to get into a disco. Rats. Americans don't like going to UK and hearing American music, we want other stuff. I once went to a pub in London and the band was covering George Thorogood. But then later on another trip I went to a Ceilidh on a spur of the moment invitation, and it was awesome. Where the hell do you get that in the states? I keep hearing about how UK'rs are so reticent but whenever I go there, they are so friendly and welcoming and have such a great sense of humor, so wtf?
Anyone else got stories? C'mon, you can keep up with a girl, can't you? :-)
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:33 PM on February 14, 2008
And now a Scottish story: I was with my smarmy ex (not my current husband), in Edinburgh, and we were wanting to go dancing. We were attempting the Eerie Pub Crawl, whereby one can go to several select pubs and gain a free t-shirt (we made three). This was right after Scotland beat England at football, so there were many people at the pubs. Many. Many, many, many people.
A group of young men in the back of our current pub (Mary something or other) expressed interest in my smarmy-ex's camera. I asked them where we should go dancing, as we wanted somewhere avant-garde and punk. I mentioned a club beneath the tracks.
"Nah, nah, that's no good, too dangerous. Go to the Dob."
"What?"
"The Dob."
I leaned closer (this was either before or after they bought us an almost clear single malt, which was, btw, the sweetest elixer in the entire world, and I say that now after having been on tours and in local pubs up north on subsequent visits). Scots are so friendly and I'm proud to have Scots in my ancestry because of their friendliness and cleverness and omg the cooking, yum! So many excellent chefs! Anyway... the young man said:
"The Dob, the Dob, the bloody fucking Dob!"
Finally, I got it. The Dome. It was a club.
So we waited at another pub, because the Dome didn't open until late, then paid a lot of money to get into a disco. Rats. Americans don't like going to UK and hearing American music, we want other stuff. I once went to a pub in London and the band was covering George Thorogood. But then later on another trip I went to a Ceilidh on a spur of the moment invitation, and it was awesome. Where the hell do you get that in the states? I keep hearing about how UK'rs are so reticent but whenever I go there, they are so friendly and welcoming and have such a great sense of humor, so wtf?
Anyone else got stories? C'mon, you can keep up with a girl, can't you? :-)
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:33 PM on February 14, 2008
Anyone else got stories?
Why, yes, yes I do. Quite a few of them, actually. Many involving alcohol, even some from Edinburgh.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:40 PM on February 14, 2008
Why, yes, yes I do. Quite a few of them, actually. Many involving alcohol, even some from Edinburgh.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:40 PM on February 14, 2008
Stavros, mmm, quite the reading candy, sort of like Belgium chocolate compared to generic. What do you say to using your downtime to mentoring the folk here who want to write but are a bit hesitant? I'll do it if you will.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:53 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:53 PM on February 14, 2008
Here's one of mine. And another. Only one involving alcohol, and neither Edinburgh.
posted by cog_nate at 6:57 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by cog_nate at 6:57 PM on February 14, 2008
Thanks for your kind words, Marie, but I have no idea how to write, I just kinda do it. If I actually thought about what I was doing when I'm banging away at the keyboard, I think I'd probably lock up and fall over.
Come to think of it, I haven't written jack squat (anywhere but here) in ages, so I think I may already have locked up and fallen over.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:58 PM on February 14, 2008
Come to think of it, I haven't written jack squat (anywhere but here) in ages, so I think I may already have locked up and fallen over.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:58 PM on February 14, 2008
Stavros, are you kidding? You are a stupendous writer. Honestly. WTF man? I almost fell off my chair about not liking fruit. Good grammar, economy of words, sarcastic but not too biting, I wanted to read more. I thought you were a professional writer, that's why I asked if you would mentor other writers here. No shit. Isn't that what you do for a living? Writing?
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:11 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:11 PM on February 14, 2008
Hee-hee, Cog, so good slice of life stuff, I felt your pain!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:23 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:23 PM on February 14, 2008
Isn't that what you do for a living? Writing?
No, he works in a circus sideshow, amazing the audience by typing things on a keyboard.
It's all shenanigans, though: his master has trained him to respond to subtle hand gestures, in return for a few grains of ground corn.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:42 PM on February 14, 2008
No, he works in a circus sideshow, amazing the audience by typing things on a keyboard.
It's all shenanigans, though: his master has trained him to respond to subtle hand gestures, in return for a few grains of ground corn.
posted by UbuRoivas at 7:42 PM on February 14, 2008
Ubu, is that a P/Vert thing that you're doing? 'Cause I want to hear more, having lived in the land of Cindy Crawford, who obviously was corn fed.
In any case, thank you for that visual.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:57 PM on February 14, 2008
In any case, thank you for that visual.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:57 PM on February 14, 2008
Thanks again, Marie, but no, I'm not a professional writer, if that means getting paid to do it. I'd love to be, I think, maybe, but I've never had the kind of gumption that it requires to go chasing paychecks for it. I just like words, and like telling stories (even if I fail epically at making them up (or believe I would, if I tried)), and I've always kind of hoped that I'd just get discovered and have riches and fame and cocaine and hookers showered down upon me. Yeah right.
So it hasn't happened so far, but when folks occasionally tell me that they like my stuff, as you just have, it makes me feel mighty fine. So I thank you.
It's all shenanigans, though: his master has trained him to respond to subtle hand gestures, in return for a few grains of ground corn.
For 'ground corn' substitute 'beer and raw meat', but that's about the size of it!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:22 PM on February 14, 2008
So it hasn't happened so far, but when folks occasionally tell me that they like my stuff, as you just have, it makes me feel mighty fine. So I thank you.
It's all shenanigans, though: his master has trained him to respond to subtle hand gestures, in return for a few grains of ground corn.
For 'ground corn' substitute 'beer and raw meat', but that's about the size of it!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:22 PM on February 14, 2008
aw, how cute! i had a pet rat who loved to lick beer off my fingertip!
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:32 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:32 PM on February 14, 2008
Wait a minute! What just happened there?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:44 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:44 PM on February 14, 2008
Stavros, you have talent. I am an okay writer and you are a great writer. I've been published in print and so can you be published, with or without pay. Pay is better. You are in a freaking gold mine there, write it all down because it's worth a book at least. As it stands, your writings are shiny by themselves; really, I'm not blowing sunshine up your ass. You are a talented writer and can pursue that as a career if you choose. Send query letters and clips to newspapers over the internets, man. I have articles published from "print" that I use as clips, use your current writings wtf, there was a writing ad on Metafilter in January if I remember.
Ubu you are the epitome of wit. I see you as more of a visual person, though, don't ask me why. Do you do graphic design? Or art?
I love beer and raw meat, as long as they serve it with capers. With the meat, not the beer.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:57 PM on February 14, 2008
Ubu you are the epitome of wit. I see you as more of a visual person, though, don't ask me why. Do you do graphic design? Or art?
I love beer and raw meat, as long as they serve it with capers. With the meat, not the beer.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:57 PM on February 14, 2008
hey, wow! i've now got a fancy new mac, and there's a fussball table in the middle of the office! and there's a vending machine with nothing but Mountain Dew, no coin required!
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:09 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:09 PM on February 14, 2008
Ubu, I am now paying full attention to you. Frank Sinatra on the iPod (You Make Me Feel So Young). You have the floor. I'll just sit here and eat chocolate torte and shut up. Making me shut up is a talent in itself.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:20 PM on February 14, 2008
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:20 PM on February 14, 2008
*mouth goes dry; legs tremble slightly*
(here goes...)
"So, what is it with vending machines? Has anybody here gone to a vending machine, paid up & not received their drink?"
*silence*
(man, just not clever, ubu, making your stage debut at an all-you-can-eat torte cafe!)
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:29 PM on February 14, 2008
(here goes...)
"So, what is it with vending machines? Has anybody here gone to a vending machine, paid up & not received their drink?"
*silence*
(man, just not clever, ubu, making your stage debut at an all-you-can-eat torte cafe!)
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:29 PM on February 14, 2008
Glad I read this thread, as I had somehow never seen the bit about "shells" to which Delmoi takes such strong exception. Naturally, my half-formed story assumes (and as a premise!) that a sensitive individual can physically enter a field, walk around within indefinitely, and exit again at any point.
Well, at least two weeks remain in which I can recast the damned thing. You can look forward to a lot of awkward textual side-stepping, though.
posted by Iridic at 11:16 AM on February 15, 2008
Well, at least two weeks remain in which I can recast the damned thing. You can look forward to a lot of awkward textual side-stepping, though.
posted by Iridic at 11:16 AM on February 15, 2008
So I ignored it and kept things "classic."
I encourage everyone else who wants to to do the same.
Oh! Okay, then.
posted by Iridic at 11:18 AM on February 15, 2008
I encourage everyone else who wants to to do the same.
Oh! Okay, then.
posted by Iridic at 11:18 AM on February 15, 2008
Hi, folks.
Yeah, I dunno. This whole thing kind of went in a weird direction. A lot more questions were being raised than answers, and in trying to stomp out some of the paradoxes, I think I tossed out a lot of the stuff that made the setting interesting to me, and apparently to some other people as well.
I don't know that I'd agree with robocop that a broad theme is generally a better idea than a setting, but I think there was something about the way the setting got created that was seriously askew. I'm tempted to go into a long musing about what that something might have been, but I'll leave it for now.
So yeah, I'm going to try and carve out some time to start a short story, see if a little writing will get me feeling it.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 2:14 PM on February 15, 2008
Yeah, I dunno. This whole thing kind of went in a weird direction. A lot more questions were being raised than answers, and in trying to stomp out some of the paradoxes, I think I tossed out a lot of the stuff that made the setting interesting to me, and apparently to some other people as well.
I don't know that I'd agree with robocop that a broad theme is generally a better idea than a setting, but I think there was something about the way the setting got created that was seriously askew. I'm tempted to go into a long musing about what that something might have been, but I'll leave it for now.
So yeah, I'm going to try and carve out some time to start a short story, see if a little writing will get me feeling it.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 2:14 PM on February 15, 2008
In the interest of turning this into a learning experience, I'm going to share a few thoughts.
It sounds like there were wildly divergent expectations. I went into the Wiki thinking that what people wanted was a bit of hardish science fiction with fairly tight continuity, the sort of thing where if P/Virt containment chambers are made of enameled titanium in one story, they're made of enameled titanium in all of them.
It sounds like some people wanted a few wide swaths of inspiration-providing background, maybe nothing more than my original one-paragraph description. Others -- I think -- wanted details, but didn't like the particular details that were provided. I'm not entirely clear on that, though.
My question is this: was there ever a general consensus on what a proper setting should look like, in terms of what detail and how much to provide, or is this just a matter of different people wanting different things?
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 2:56 PM on February 15, 2008
It sounds like there were wildly divergent expectations. I went into the Wiki thinking that what people wanted was a bit of hardish science fiction with fairly tight continuity, the sort of thing where if P/Virt containment chambers are made of enameled titanium in one story, they're made of enameled titanium in all of them.
It sounds like some people wanted a few wide swaths of inspiration-providing background, maybe nothing more than my original one-paragraph description. Others -- I think -- wanted details, but didn't like the particular details that were provided. I'm not entirely clear on that, though.
My question is this: was there ever a general consensus on what a proper setting should look like, in terms of what detail and how much to provide, or is this just a matter of different people wanting different things?
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 2:56 PM on February 15, 2008
So, I've got about 2,500 words of mine done, and a fairly good outline of where it's going. I'm probably about 50% done. I should be able to bang the rest out over the next two weeks. I think it'll be pretty cool.
-It's Raining Florence Henderson
posted by False Dichotomy at 9:57 AM on February 17, 2008
-It's Raining Florence Henderson
posted by False Dichotomy at 9:57 AM on February 17, 2008
I think it was a matter of different people wanting different things, Lore. But I'm not talking about setting. Instead, when I say different people wanting different things, I can look back to the past anthology threads and see:
- Some people who wanted to Write Right Now!
- Some people who wanted to Write With Mefites
- Some people who wanted to Build A World With Mefites, then Write In It
- Some people who wanted to Shit On Other People's Fun
- Some people who wanted to Provide Input, But Not Necessarily Write
...and so on.
Outside of the thread-shitters, we have a lot of people who want to participate in some way (read, edit, write, build, etc) before we even get down to a setting or theme. Unfortunately, all of these different motivations for participation could not jibe well together. For example, the people who wanted to get started ASAP wouldn't want to wait for other folks to plan out a setting, while the folks who want to collaborate with other Mefites wouldn't want to just jump into things without touching base with others. Then when it came time to create/polish/iron out/sketch the setting, we again have people breaking off into wanting different things:
- Exacting Detail of the World (who is president, etc)
- Vague Sketch of the World
- Exacting Detail of the Technology
- To Discuss the What Ifs? of the Technology
...and so on.
So again, we have some splintering (I know I stopped reading the Wiki once I had my story idea, so I totally missed the zombies thing), but things continue. Then folks are reminded about the anthology, so those that were not interested in World Building come back. They then find that:
- There are no problems and they start to write
- Things have changed since their first glance at the setting
- They have What If questions they find hard to answer
- They are not interested in the setting after all
- They have no time
...and so on.
So again, some splintering happens as people realize they want different things.
What I learned from this process is that splintering will happen no matter what, but it is best to take steps to minimize it. Some factors that I think reduce splintering:
- Accessibility - The easier it is for someone to get a few belts of scotch in them and start writing on a whim, the better.
- Momentum - Striking while the iron is hot and people are interested and talking about it is a big help. We want to reduce the amount of time between "Hey, I'd like to do that!" and "I am writing!" as much as possible.
- Community - Working on a project at the same time as other people is a huge help in staying focused. Call it the NaNoWriMo Effect.
...and so on. There are more, but my lunch hour is wearing away.
So when I say that I think a theme would be better, I say that because I think a simple, inspiring theme can get more people writing than other options. And that's my goal here, to get as many Mefites writing together as possible. A common setting can have many of the same factors in its favor, but it can cost momentum due to the development time, splinter community due to some people wanting to world build while others don't, and provide a barrier to accessibility as people have to do some research before getting started.
Hindsight being as it is, I think the P/Virt setting was just too ambitious of us to start with of we wanted to make this an ongoing thing (and again, we come to different people wanting different things - I want a continuing Mefite writing effort, others may want to focus on other stuff). Had I a Wayback Machine, I would have stuck to a theme (maybe something Valentine's related with a goal release date of the 14th) to get people writing. As folks got more used to writing with other Mefites and Mefites got more interested in reading what their fellows wrote, I think we would have had enough people interested in engaging the P/Virse to be able to withstand the inevitable splintering that these things go through. But as it happened, the P/Virse turned out to be a pretty complex subject matter for a first attempt.
Sorry if that's long and fractured. Lunch was over a half hour ago. I hope I didn't come across as hating the P/Virse or anything, as I don't, and think it's really cool that you, Lore, shared the setting with us (my wife was pretty impressed that I was working on a story whose setting was created by the 'Your Roommate Sings Indigo Girls' guy).
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:13 AM on February 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
- Some people who wanted to Write Right Now!
- Some people who wanted to Write With Mefites
- Some people who wanted to Build A World With Mefites, then Write In It
- Some people who wanted to Shit On Other People's Fun
- Some people who wanted to Provide Input, But Not Necessarily Write
...and so on.
Outside of the thread-shitters, we have a lot of people who want to participate in some way (read, edit, write, build, etc) before we even get down to a setting or theme. Unfortunately, all of these different motivations for participation could not jibe well together. For example, the people who wanted to get started ASAP wouldn't want to wait for other folks to plan out a setting, while the folks who want to collaborate with other Mefites wouldn't want to just jump into things without touching base with others. Then when it came time to create/polish/iron out/sketch the setting, we again have people breaking off into wanting different things:
- Exacting Detail of the World (who is president, etc)
- Vague Sketch of the World
- Exacting Detail of the Technology
- To Discuss the What Ifs? of the Technology
...and so on.
So again, we have some splintering (I know I stopped reading the Wiki once I had my story idea, so I totally missed the zombies thing), but things continue. Then folks are reminded about the anthology, so those that were not interested in World Building come back. They then find that:
- There are no problems and they start to write
- Things have changed since their first glance at the setting
- They have What If questions they find hard to answer
- They are not interested in the setting after all
- They have no time
...and so on.
So again, some splintering happens as people realize they want different things.
What I learned from this process is that splintering will happen no matter what, but it is best to take steps to minimize it. Some factors that I think reduce splintering:
- Accessibility - The easier it is for someone to get a few belts of scotch in them and start writing on a whim, the better.
- Momentum - Striking while the iron is hot and people are interested and talking about it is a big help. We want to reduce the amount of time between "Hey, I'd like to do that!" and "I am writing!" as much as possible.
- Community - Working on a project at the same time as other people is a huge help in staying focused. Call it the NaNoWriMo Effect.
...and so on. There are more, but my lunch hour is wearing away.
So when I say that I think a theme would be better, I say that because I think a simple, inspiring theme can get more people writing than other options. And that's my goal here, to get as many Mefites writing together as possible. A common setting can have many of the same factors in its favor, but it can cost momentum due to the development time, splinter community due to some people wanting to world build while others don't, and provide a barrier to accessibility as people have to do some research before getting started.
Hindsight being as it is, I think the P/Virt setting was just too ambitious of us to start with of we wanted to make this an ongoing thing (and again, we come to different people wanting different things - I want a continuing Mefite writing effort, others may want to focus on other stuff). Had I a Wayback Machine, I would have stuck to a theme (maybe something Valentine's related with a goal release date of the 14th) to get people writing. As folks got more used to writing with other Mefites and Mefites got more interested in reading what their fellows wrote, I think we would have had enough people interested in engaging the P/Virse to be able to withstand the inevitable splintering that these things go through. But as it happened, the P/Virse turned out to be a pretty complex subject matter for a first attempt.
Sorry if that's long and fractured. Lunch was over a half hour ago. I hope I didn't come across as hating the P/Virse or anything, as I don't, and think it's really cool that you, Lore, shared the setting with us (my wife was pretty impressed that I was working on a story whose setting was created by the 'Your Roommate Sings Indigo Girls' guy).
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:13 AM on February 19, 2008 [1 favorite]
*tap*tap*tap*
Is this thing on? I had given up on this, but I was struck with inspiration over the weekend and I need a collaborator -- any good plotters out there in need of inspiration? I have what I think is a good premise, setting, genre, and basic story through line, but I need help filling in the details. I really need someone that's strong with characters, particularly. It's a bigger story than I expected to be able to come up with for this setting and I'm finding it a bit unwieldy for me to plot.
Send me MeMail if you're interested.
posted by empath at 9:01 PM on February 20, 2008
Is this thing on? I had given up on this, but I was struck with inspiration over the weekend and I need a collaborator -- any good plotters out there in need of inspiration? I have what I think is a good premise, setting, genre, and basic story through line, but I need help filling in the details. I really need someone that's strong with characters, particularly. It's a bigger story than I expected to be able to come up with for this setting and I'm finding it a bit unwieldy for me to plot.
Send me MeMail if you're interested.
posted by empath at 9:01 PM on February 20, 2008
I think it's probably round about now that I should admit to myself I won't get my story finished* by the deadline. Which is a shame, because I think I just worked out what the point of the bloody story was yesterday. And the descriptions of the alien hooker were really beginning to work for me.
*Some authorities would argue that the word "started" might be more accurate at this point.
posted by flashboy at 6:51 PM on February 27, 2008
*Some authorities would argue that the word "started" might be more accurate at this point.
posted by flashboy at 6:51 PM on February 27, 2008
Additional Material:
Brandon Blatcher: Sunlit Memories.
Sparx: The Everything Box.
burnmp3s: black paint.
Mine is still: Second Time Around.
Authors, if you notice a need for revision, let me know and I'll add you as an editor to the Google Doc in question. The chances that I've flubbed something in putting up the docs are pretty high, so you may want to give it a scan.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:51 AM on March 3, 2008
Brandon Blatcher: Sunlit Memories.
Sparx: The Everything Box.
burnmp3s: black paint.
Mine is still: Second Time Around.
Authors, if you notice a need for revision, let me know and I'll add you as an editor to the Google Doc in question. The chances that I've flubbed something in putting up the docs are pretty high, so you may want to give it a scan.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:51 AM on March 3, 2008
Yeah, go ahead and give me editor privileges on mine. Google seems to have boxified my Unicode at the beginning.
posted by burnmp3s at 5:43 AM on March 4, 2008
posted by burnmp3s at 5:43 AM on March 4, 2008
Oh, man - I'm just getting over the Hell Flu. Deadline is history. Will you take late submissions?
posted by False Dichotomy at 6:49 PM on March 4, 2008
posted by False Dichotomy at 6:49 PM on March 4, 2008
Awesome! I'm going to try hard to get mine together ASAP.
posted by Eideteker at 11:22 AM on March 5, 2008
posted by Eideteker at 11:22 AM on March 5, 2008
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Sure hope we get some more authors!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:48 AM on February 14, 2008 [1 favorite]