%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| >> Book >> Other >> ID #1620624 |   |
| |||||||||||||
  |
| 9. Broken Bird | ID #692271 |
| Posted: 4-4-2010 @ 6:50 pm EDT Edited: 4-9-2010 @ 9:22 am EDT | |
|
Comment: In "Broken Bird"  Free_Rip   introduces us to Riley. Her wishes, her attempts at freedom and her breaking. The control the nemesis exercises over his fold and the satisfaction seen on his face when Riley answers his question makes him truly someone I love to hate. “Congratulations, my Dove.” Augh! You have to read this!Q&A with the Author Question: I checked out your bio and I just can’t resist calling attention to your motto. 'Think about the world, get confused as hell, then take a step back (maybe eat some chocolate) and try to scrape off some meaning to show through a story.' I absolutely love it! What inspired you to adopt such a philosophy? That’s just the first thing that came to mind- I suppose because it’s exactly what I do. I find that the more I read about philosophy, science, psychology and such… the less patterns jump out at me. Evidence and theories conflict, even though each of itself may seem perfectly reasonable. As many people have said before ‘learning may give you some answers, but it gives you many more questions.’ Seeing as I need to do this for inspiration, I’ll then take a step back and think about how I could take just a few of those principles the event shows and stick them into a new situation. I suppose that’s why I nearly always write about things that haven’t happened to me- it’s hard enough coming up with a situation that fits the principles you want to show, try one that is also something you’ve experienced. *Shudders and huddles in corner with flashlight* Question: In Broken Bird, you introduce us to a community under tight religious rule. How did the characters in this story come to life in your mind? I make stories based on messages, same with the characters; they’re always representations for larger ideas. I’d just been watching some you tube videos to avoid paperwork (isn’t my work ethic inspiring  ). The videos showed religious ‘education’ teaching preposterous things like global warming being no big deal and some scenes which bordered on child abuse. After watching them, I started to think about what it would be like to grow up in those societies, believing it all as true.If every time you questioned it you were shut down, how would you break free from all you had ever known? That’s what this story is about. Someone’s attempt to break free and showing how strong those invisible shackles of upbringing really are as even someone so driven as this is trapped. It’s a story of a hopeless cycle and how nearly everyone will simply submit if it is easiest- no-one wants to be the first to defy, or the first to support those who defy. So, that’s where Riley came from. The priest was my version of an embodiment of all that’s wrong in these religions- he was manipulative, powerful, controlling, unwilling to leave any choices to someone else and he manages to make it seem right and holy. Lastly, the village people were showing the majority of people in these situations who just let it all slide, convince themselves it’s right because to do otherwise would be so very inconvenient. People never value their morals as much as they say or think they do. Even what seems obvious from the outside will be unconsciously denied by them to allow them to feel as if they are ‘true believers’ and virtuous for it. This is the idea behind the village. (This idea as brought around by reading about ‘belief in belief’ on the ‘Less Wrong’ blogs regarding rationalism. Good stuff.) Question: What was the first story you wrote? Ever. And how old were you when you wrote it? This is a hard one. I have a terrible biographical memory; I can say I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, but that’s not saying too much. The first story I remember writing was when I was six- it was about my trip from England to New Zealand, where I now live. I’ve even got it stored in a box somewhere; I still wince when I see the run-ons and total lack of grammar! Question: Who inspires you most? I’ve never been that inspired by people. A few philosophers and bloggers spark my imagination, but it’s through their ideas. Generally, I’m inspired by any well-thought out theories, any shocking events or societies, or psychology experiments showing a darker side of human nature. I couldn’t keep pen off paper for weeks after reading about the Stanford Prison experiment. Question: Where do see yourself in five years? Any goals you’d like to share? I see myself… with a really cool hair-do…  Seriously, though, I’m not completely sure. I’m interested in so many fields, I’m having trouble deciding. Currently, it’s looking like I might be a policy analyst but that could change within the month. Something in politics, sociology, law or experimental psychology. Not sure quite what; I’m at university and taking pretty broad courses so I can still do any of them that I want when I decide. Other goals... well, to spread ‘thinkingness’ where ever I go! (Do you like my cool new word?  )Question: Is there anything you like to say to your fellow authors and readers? Just to think about everything. Never assume a belief is right because it’s well-grounded in your other beliefs. Think ‘well, how do I know that belief is true? Because it’s based on that one? How do I know that’s true?’ You may very well find you have an entire, complex, floating belief system based on no real world evidence whatsoever. If you can’t say- ‘well, that’s true because this will happen if I do this, or because there are these experiments and evidence to support it’ then the belief is probably not worth having. Although I don’t show it, the only way Riley or anyone else in that situation would be able to break down their beliefs is to never stop that questioning. Never say ‘Oh, because it’s in the bible, or because that respected guy said so, or because everyone knows it.’ She would have had to keep at it for a long, long time and it was probably a traumatic experience, one most people choose never to have. So, when you’re eating your meal, think ‘hey, I’ve always eaten meat… what do they actually do at factory farms?’ Look it up. I was thoroughly disgusted and shocked the first time I learnt about the strategies they use. It’s not farms or barns where animals run around happily enough until they’re slaughtered. The factory-farming industry is the largest torture organization existing. And that’s a fact. Also, never give up, always stay curious and remember the power of perception- for only when we understand can we conquer. Hope you enjoyed reading this! You’re all awesome  |
| 8. A Man Who Has It All | ID #686377 |
| Posted: 2-4-2010 @ 8:50 am EST | |
|
Comment: What would you do? Really? I don’t know his name – I think it was me, because youme  put me in this guys skin. Persistence, spirit, the thrill of life. I felt the cold air burn my lungs, smelled the steak sizzling on the grill, and laid my head on the cushion as sleep wash over me for the last time. I won…Apathy lost. You have to read this story. Q&A with The Author: |
| 7. Reindeer Nightmares | ID #680786 |
| Posted: 12-23-2009 @ 3:24 am EST Edited: 12-26-2009 @ 8:08 pm EST | |
|
Comment: If I ever had a clear image of reindeer before, Skot smooth destroyed it! Each character portrayed in this story had such a distinct set of personality traits and emotions – including the whale (well, he may not have had emotions at that point). For a genuinely unique comical experience, you have to read this story! Oh, and bring your heavy coat. Hugo might share a swig of whisky, but, dinner’s on Sir Fitz Winchester and Jasper Greenfinch esquire. Q&A with The Author: Question: As I read your bio, I was impressed by the eloquent way you relay your thoughts. I could cut and paste the whole thing right here just to exemplify. But, that wouldn’t urge the readers to check you out for themselves and enjoy your port. You mention traveling the world and writing about the “great” times in your life. If you could pick one, which would you choose that gave you the greatest inspiration? Thanks! I found the bio really difficult to write. I ended up with loads of bios that were to be honest, drivel. So I opted for a pseudo stream of consciousness, just describing an image in my head that I think would be my perfect place to be. These 'great' times are simply those times that have enabled me to envision my place so clearly. One key moment would definitely be the time I spent living in outback Australia. I used to visit aboriginal communities with my parents, and eventually we became respected by these locals. This brought about an amazing time- I went to aboriginal schools, elders took my family out on walks in the desert to hunt for certain foods. I even ate ants. It's hard to really put into words how much inspiration this long experience gave me. It taught me to revere a sort of barren peace, I suppose. The (downside) is that it has nurtured a complete disrespect within me towards money. It seems quite a weak concept-eating ants and walking through the desert gives you a much greater scope. And would you believe it, they tasted just like lemons? Question: Reindeer Nightmares is such a fun, original piece. How did you develop these characters with such distinct personalities in the short time allotted for a contest? And for me – which is your favorite? Well, I have to give a lot of responsibility to the prompts you suggested in the competition. I'd gone through a lot of prompt-based competitions that day. Eventually, I was annoyed by the prompts themselves. So, when I saw yours- 'That was not a reindeer!'-, I'd finally found one open enough to actually let someone get down to that business of writing. As for the characters' names, I wanted the most flowery, pretentious, pipe-smoking names I could think of. After that the characters seemed to 'happen'. Disharmony is a great device. In a short space of time, and in a tight amount of words, I really wanted to craft a world in which nothing made sense but an undercurrent of chaos. In that vein I made the personalities as discordant as I could. Writing about problems is a swifter story to write than one about resolutions, so makes an easier competition piece. As for my favorite, I think Reindeer Nightmares is my best piece on WDC. I was so excited once I'd envisioned Hugo Trull and Finneus Trench, stamping through the blizzard like discontent itself. I really attacked it with relish, so I wasn't wasting time. Question: When did you begin writing? And Why? I began writing, maybe when I was seven, and I think because I felt inspired by my English teacher and my books. I'm not sure. All I know is that I started writing after I'd read hundreds of books. The books were a preparation, so I was armed before I made a fool of myself, writing away. At ten years old I would bring my best friend back to my house, then force him to read the latest chapter of whatever. I feel quite sorry for him now... you'd never do that to your girlfriend or other half. Now I'm more of a writing extremist. I think it's the most lasting and beneficiary form of expression. People gain no safety from books being censored. It's an art that really can endure a lot of punishment, so it makes an excellent dream to chase. Question: How much of your own personality do you put into your characters? Sometimes I wonder if I'm a character and they're putting their personality into me. Question: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers, or your fellow authors? Readers: An aspiring author needs to be savaged like a gladiator. Please, please, send me criticism, really ruthless criticism, the kind of criticism that would keep someone awake at night. It means I'll either write better stories, or stop writing the bad ones. Readers and authors: One final thing. 'Never take life seriously, no one gets out alive anyway'. I don't know who said that, but I like it. If you're reading or writing, don't worry if you're having a bad time of it. Sometimes literature just doesn't work out, which is a good thing. |
| 6. The Mailman | ID #680664 |
| Posted: 12-21-2009 @ 11:20 pm EST Edited: 12-28-2009 @ 8:50 pm EST | |
|
Comment: This piece caused me to stop. Think. Look beyond my hectic life and realize how only a moment taken out of my day could change another's perception. In this poem, a soul waits. Seeing himself as empty, hollow, holding a ghost of himself where he used to be. Forgotten. "There is no letter for you today." I wonder...a shut-in? An aged parent, neglected, set aside while life calls to his children? We, all of us, have the ability to reach out and touch our brother, sister, parents, friends. No one should suffer the void of being alone. Q&A with The Author: Question: In your portfolio, you sport contests, stories, poetry, groups - many celebrating the Native American writer, the least not being "The Native American Writers and Friends" . Could you take a moment and share with us what inspires you the most out of these entries?My favorite writers as a young man were Jesse Stuart, John Steinbeck and Louis L'Amour. The thing about my work that is most inspiring to me are my short stories. Almost all the short stories in my portfolio are not really short stories at all. They are excerpts from a novel I am writing. I think with the exception of about three stories, all are from the book. Whenever I write, whether it is a song, a short story, or other form of writing, I try to make the words pleasing to the ear. I suppose I am a poet at heart. . . Question: The Mailman brings us into the heart of a very lonely man. What prompted you to write such a piece? The Mailman was written by a man whose heart was broken. I think it was in the year 2000 when this story took place. The man in the piece had the good fortune to find a woman who might , on another day, be described as a long, lost relative. However, in this instance the man was completely unaware the woman existed. She was much older than him, probably in her seventies, when he found her. When he learned who her mother was, he knew her grandfather was his own great, great uncle. Time passed, and as it did so, they learned more and more about each other. It soon became clear they were related through almost every line of their ancestry. Hehe, is it possible to be cousins ten times? The man's heart became attached to the heart of this lady. He loved her tenderly. He was fifty years old, and she became only the second woman to have ever received roses from him. He knew she loved him very much, as there were tears in her eyes when he handed her the roses. She told him her grandmother might as well have been his grandmother, too! Four years passed. . . then on a day which still brings him pain, he learned she had died. His heart was broken. Question: When did you begin writing? And Why? I began writing when I was sixteen years old. It was terrible! Hehe! I like to think I have learned a few things since that time so long ago. It began as a way to express through silent words those things I could not bring myself to say aloud. Later, I learned there were several writers in my family, and this gave me the courage to continue writing. Question: How much of your personal life do you put into your writing? And how did your own life’s experiences attribute to it? I have never learned the secret of writing about someone else. . . Ninety percent of my work is taken from my personal life. The experiences bestowed upon the characters in my work are, with the exceptions of a few stretches of the imagination, and a couple of name changes to protect the innocent, my own. Question: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers, or your fellow authors? I would encourage my fellow authors to never give up, to know that each tomorrow brings new light to shine on their words. I would say to my readers, "I hope you have been pleasantly surprised by the thoughts you have had while reading my words." |
| 5. A Binding Promise | ID #677239 |
| Posted: 11-22-2009 @ 7:54 pm EST | |
|
Comment: This very well written piece celebrates strong ties as Meg is called by Lily to fulfill a promise. Amid tragic circumstances, these two find that friendship reaches beyond mere words. |
| 4. Christmas Without Food | ID #677241 |
| Posted: 11-22-2009 @ 8:01 pm EST Edited: 12-18-2009 @ 4:19 pm EST | |
|
Comment: Reality takes many forms. For some it's filled with luxurious conveniences, others may be surrounded by war and death. In this piece by Oldwarrior - Disabled Veteran  , we get an inside view of the reality for a child who's guardians have a different view of what necessities are. A sobering poem of what far too many live with, A Christmas Without Food left me with a prayer in my heart for these children. Bless them. And all who abide such a reality.Q&A with The Author: Question: In your portfolio, I notice you have many works, from poetry to novels. Where do you get your inspiration for such a wide variety of writings? I draw my inspiration from the multitude of things I have done throughout my life including military, travel, and from all that I have learned. I also draw from the vast amount of reading I do. Question: A Christmas Without Food is a hard look at what it’s like to belong to a family who’s priorities just aren’t geared to the welfare of their children. What prompted you to write such a piece? I wrote this piece because it reflects my childhood. When I lived with my mother I was abused by my stepfather (I had 6), and when I lived with my grandmother we almost never knew where the next meal was coming from. Question: When did you begin writing? And Why? I began writing when I joined a street gang in Chicago called the Scorpions. We lived in a pat of the Museum of History (illegally), and to keep out of as much trouble as possible I started writing notes about our doings, about the gang, and my hopes for the furture. I also did a lot of writing in the military on lonely guard posts and during down time. Question: How much of your personal life do you put into your writing? And How did your own life’s experiences attribute to it? Most of what I write is oriented to my personal life and all except my SciFi is from either experience or from daydreaming. Question: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers, or your fellow authors? Write, read, write, read, If you want to be a writer, you have to love to write for the sake of writing, creating, dreaming. Otherwise, you do not belong in the writing field. Those who write just for the hope of financial gain are not true writers. I’d rather have a million people read my writing than a million dollars from a publisher. |
| 3. Intimate Pleasures - Caution to sensitive readers | ID #677243 |
| Posted: 11-22-2009 @ 8:07 pm EST Edited: 11-22-2009 @ 8:11 pm EST | |
|
Comment: This intimate moment in a couple's lives is best just read and enjoyed. My Word, HuntersMoon - Gone4Awhile  ! Whew! |
| 2. Good Conversation | ID #677240 |
| Posted: 11-22-2009 @ 7:55 pm EST Edited: 12-18-2009 @ 4:15 pm EST | |
|
Comment: How about a nice conversation with a stranger to lighten your mood? Join Kyra and Jason as a little innocent attempt at relaxation obviously turns into something that will come back to bite them. Q&A With the Author Question: You display works in your portfolio from comedy to a look at adopting a child with mental illness. Where do you get your inspiration? Most my inspiration comes from real life. I usually take incidences that have happened and add some fiction to them. Question: Good Conversation is a light hearted look at what happens when someone just wants to get away from the grind and relax. Well, it happens that's what two people just wanted to do that this time. Did you have a couple in mind when you wrote this? What was your inspiration? This was actually written for a contest that had words that you had to use throughout the story. I guess I could relate to the female teacher since I teach at a small rural school, and am sometimes seeking an escape from the "small town" eyes. But other than that, both characters are fictional as are the events. Question: When did you begin writing? And Why? I've dabbled in writing since grade school, but I didn't really begin writing consistently until about a year and a half ago. Question: How does your own life’s experiences attribute to your writing? My life experiences contribute greatly. I often take characteristics from people I know to build my characters. The setting is usually based on a place I'm familiar with as well. Question: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers, or your fellow authors? Write from your heart; you can never go wrong with that. |
| 1. Sarah's Image - A Gost Story | ID #677236 |
| Posted: 11-22-2009 @ 7:47 pm EST Edited: 12-18-2009 @ 4:17 pm EST | |
|
Comment: Scott did a wonderful job of bringing me into John’s mind and heart as he struggled to come to terms with losing his beloved wife. The personal depth related in this story is what pushed it to the top for me. I could feel his pain, regret, loneliness and fear as he faced the inevitable, then was blessed with peace. Thank you, Scott, for a – excuse me *blows nose* – tear jerker. Q&A With the Author Question: You display works of inspiration, poetry, short stories, instruction,... the list goes on in your port! You dedicated several items you share, to your wife. But, I'm still going to ask, where do you get your inspiration? Life is my inspiration. I’d bet that is true of many writers. As we go through life, we experience a million experiences. Lifetimes of events happen to all of us, all the time. Writers keep a running log. A mental journal, if you will. We get ideas all the time but let’s face it, there are not enough hours in a lifetime of days to write them all down, much less write the stories behind them. In particular, creative writers, those of us who write fiction, have a wealth of ideas that we file away. Contests, especially contests with prompts, allow us to dip into that filing system and explore the ideas that life has inspired in us. In this particular contest, it was easy. The contest creator, (Hey, that’s you,!) asked to be moved. You wanted to feel an emotion. You wanted to laugh or cry or feel terrified. I was drawn to your contest because everyone else was running a Halloween contest but you dared to be different. In a month when everyone and their mothers were writing scary stories, you chose the path less traveled. I liked that. As far as getting inspiration, I just sit in front of the blank screen and wait while those ideas rumble through my mind and I pick the one that is best suited for the prompt or, in the absence of a prompt, to my mood at the time. Question: Sarah's Image – A Ghost Story is a touching look at a man’s loss and how he deals with it. What prompted you to write this piece? Sarah’s Image: A Ghost Story came about for the Tickle My Fancy contest. I asked myself, what would move me to feel, right now? What would draw a strong emotional response? That is easy. Right now, at this point in my life, the loss of my wife would be just about the worst thing that could possibly happen. Since I have first hand knowledge of such a loss, I drew on the feeling that I had filed away in that inspiration file we talked about. I opened an old wound and wrote it down, then I added some fiction. Question: When did you begin writing? And Why? I could tell you about the time I bought my first typewriter from a yard sale; an old clunker with loose keys. It was a circa 1932 Underwood. I was in my twenties. That is when I started writing. I never actually became a writer. I was born a writer. My brother and I (Keith (Dutch) Kuttner ) used to sit up in the dark as children and tell each other stories. We grew up in the Bronx in the early sixties. It was a very bad time or many families back then. We would change our reality, late at night, in the dark; we would pretend that life was not the hell we lived. I believe I knew back then that I would be a storyteller. Question: How does your own life’s experiences attribute to your writing? Writing is interpreting life in a way that other people will respond to. All a writer can do is draw upon the experiences of his life or someone else’s life, for that matter, and hope to touch someone enough to draw an emotional response. I honestly believe that true writers, whether they write or not, have the ability to experience life on more than one level. We feel love, hate, pity, jealousy, and so on in a way that is different than non-writers. We react in the way we feel strongest about the situation but we store the other feelings away. It is kind of hard to explain except to say that writers have the gift of empathy. The intellectual identification with or the vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another. The imaginative ascribing to an object, as a natural object or work of art, feelings or attitudes present in oneself: By means of empathy, a great painting becomes a mirror of the self. Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/ We feel, but we also feel the emotions of those around us and understand the motivations for those emotions. “We get it.” And we can impose those feelings on our creative writings so that others can understand them as well. Or something like that. Question: Is there anything you’d like to share with your readers, or your fellow authors? Absolutely. Be true to yourself. If you are a writer, write. There is nothing so tragic in life than a painter not painting or a carpenter not creating, or a writer not writing. If you were drawn to WDC, more likely than not, you are a writer. Many people don’t write simply because they lack the tools of the trade. They mistake ignorance with inability. If you feel the need to write, please, write. It is a calling. Learn the how-to’s as you go. Listen to all the reviews and take advice even if you disagree with it. Try new things and always keep in mind that you, the writer, are the only one who has to be happy with the writing. I would rather be a writer that no one reads and be happy, than a popular writer who writes what he does not like. Not well said but perhaps another author said it best. “Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.” Cyril Connolly |
 Log In To Leave Feedback |
Static Items
Books
Forums
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
