  Short Stories
This week: Holiday Stress Edited by: Legerdemain  
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Holiday Stress
With all the holiday stress, running and shopping, cooking and cleaning, by the time you get to relax and go to a holiday party, you're exhausted. Some writers find it hard to be creative when they're busy burning cookies or trying to keep the dog from peeing on the Christmas tree. On top of that, add alcohol and family gatherings to the mix and there's bound to be trouble. Some good advice is to "turn the other cheek" and imagine it's one of those below the waist. 
Use your shopping time to do some people-watching. Some very interesting personalities surface during the holidays and if you distance yourself from the situation, it can be downright funny. Take a little time during family gatherings to tell your relatives how much you love them or how you appreciate them, rather then airing your grievances. And if Grandma has too much eggnog and says something inappropriate, just think to yourself, this is going to make a great story sometime in January.
Take a little time each day for yourself; to reflect and relax, it's amazing how wonderful that feels. We'll have plenty of time after the holidays to settle down and write to our heart's content. And then you can turn those holiday disasters into a great comedy short story. Write on!
How do you find relief from holiday stress? Send in your reply below!  Editors love feedback! |
Excerpt: "Listen to this," laughed Soren, holding up the letter. "'Did you even know my name?' That's just funny. I don't think I ever did know her name."
Excerpt: It's not the cold that steals your sight, it's the sun's glare off the snow. You might think I'd hate the winter for blinding me. But I don't, you see my sight was fate's price for my true love, living in Antarctica.
It began as an ordinary trip. It was summer in Antarctica. Warm doesn't describe life at the South Pole, it wasn't, but at least you didn't instantly freeze to death. That's a big plus in my line of work... I like getting paid by the living. I remember her moving to the seat next to mine glancing out the window of the plane, "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said.
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Excerpt: Make your own breeze, he thought. Luther took the length of rope he had in the shed. He wove it through the scrap board leftover from repairing the porch steps, tying knots underneath. He climbed the willow tree and looped the rope over the steadiest branch. Just to be safe he sat on it and pulled the rope till it made a stretching sound. He pumped harder until the earth became a fluid ocean around him and the air became mercifully cooler if by only a couple degrees.
Excerpt: The red light district, on Hay street in CrossRoads, North Carolina, that was where Grey was traveling. His 1970's pop top Volkswagen Van was about maxed out on mileage or was it. It didn't matter, all he could think about was her, Scarlette. They had met on a train not too many years after he acquired his VW Van. In the early years, of the van's life, he had used it more for camping than traveling. It had provided refuge for him in his early adulthood. Now that he had transitioned into his middle years, Grey was ready to use the van for traveling.
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Excerpt: She shivered at the memory. Waves of gooseflesh erupted across Carrie's skin and tears swelled to blur her vision. Hanging her head, she tucked a tangle of inky hair behind her ear. A muted apology tumbled from her lips. It sounded in the empty kitchen and her tenuous hold on bravery gave way to the quiver of her chin. Her husband's name slid off her tongue, followed by the heated caress of tears against her cheeks.
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Excerpt: Pauline wrapped her arms around her tighter in an effort to keep warm. "How long do we have to stay out here for your stupid fraternity initiation ritual?" she asked Bob. The night chilled the graveyard and the monolith they leaned against was even colder and hard. His arm over her shoulders provided little comfort.
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Excerpt: Charley worked at warehouse B north, which was in Container City. The expansive complex was located pretty much on the industrial side of Miami, abutting thousands of square miles of the Everglades, far removed from the civilized smiling faces on billboards, schools, homes, air conditioned offices, and the populated sandy beaches stretched along the Atlantic Coast. Every thing dreamed of from washing machines to bananas to furniture to cars to thumbtacks, to pretty much everything consumed by everyone, first passed through Container City.
Excerpt: Santa muttered under his breath as he pulled presents out from his sack and put them under the tree. He turned to go back up the chimney, then stopped and sniffed. "I smell a child," he growled in a low, un-Santa-like voice. He followed his nose to the sofa, and pulled it away from the wall; there huddled the trembling Clarissa.
Excerpt: "I'm not so sure about that, look out the window. Rudolf, Comet, and Vixen are making snow angels for crying out loud. Dasher and Dancer are doing three-sixties over the pond. And look at that lazy elf, sleeping on the sacks in the sleigh. I should go out there and slap his little pointy nose. I told you that one was trouble. Spends more time looking for ways to get out of work that making toys and testing games."
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This month's question: How do you find relief from holiday stress?
Last month's question: What were some of the best and worst comments you've received in a review or review-response?
atwhatcost responds: One of my best and worse reviews came from the same person. I entered his/her contest. (It's hard to know if people are men or women by their names sometimes, so to avoid confusion, I'll go with the person was male.) The promised review for my entry was poetic, but didn't make much sense to me, so I wrote back and asked. That's when the real review came. His thought seemed to be, "Why review, when I don't know what kind of review the person wants?" Anyone who dares to ask for more info, then gets a fantastic review. Something to think about when you get strange reviews the first time. ;)
It never hurts to politely ask for clarification. 
Alexandra Jones  replies: Great Question! Someone once told me in a review that my plot was "very cliched" and that I "must be very young". It smarted a bit, but I did my best to take the comment in stride, and remember that in reality they weren't wrong. The plot was cliched, because sometimes cliches are great for creating emotional resonance, and I am only twenty, so I guess I still qualify as a young writer. When I do receive criticism that is on the harsh side, I just remember that if I am ever going to become a published author, that I need to get used to negative comments, regardless of how unjustified or malicious they might be. It's just part of being a writer.
It is, and we all have to learn to not take the criticism personal and move on with the project.
wccronin submits: I tell the truth when reviewing, and I tend to separate the factual errors from opinion, though my star rating encompasses writing, style and opinion. Though I'll admit if I open something that's crap (no spacing or indentation, poor spelling, etc) I don't say or rate anything and just close it without reading further. I would rather give the person time to fix it, than give a rating under 3.
Not always the best method, but it's hard when there's nothing nice to say. Never rating low does skew the global rating balance of the site. It's much better to rate low with helpful suggestions AND offer to rerate when the item is edited.
edgework  says: Worst review ever: Your poem is very confusing and seems to need quite a bit of work I think. I got lost at the very begining[sic]. Your rhyme scheme is put off [sic] by not giving each their on[sic] line. You should go through and figure out where you want everything to be,[sic] It might make it better. I had to read it several [sic] to even understand what you were trying to convey.
Have a good day. --- RATED: 1.0 Anonymous and private, no less.
It's okay to write back and ask for details.
J. A. Buxton  comments: The best reviews are those that give constructive criticism in a polite way. The worst are what I call "teener text reviews." The former I always thank, but the latter I ignore. If they can't take the time to use proper English, they don't deserve my reply.
Wut? U don take d time 2 rply?
Jeff  answers: Great NL topic this week, Leger! I've gotten quite a few bad reviews, including this one not too long ago: "I was VERY MUCH SURPRISED HOW YOU CONCLUDED THE TIME, ENVIRONMENT AND SEASON. FINALLY I LIKE IT BUT IT WAS NOT EXCELLENT." And: "I liked it, although I'm not sure I understood it. Keep writing!" And my personal favorite, about a science fiction story: "Hello, i just wanted to say that your story should maybe focus on more modern day activity and not as much future or harder things that most people dont understand." And don't even get me started on all the "reviews" that are really just comments or questions. A 2.5 rating for a group item with the message, "How do I sign up?"  There are of course, too many good reviews to mention... and most of them are too large to copy and paste here because they're thorough, informative, and helpful. 
Sometimes the review field is mistaken for an email field. Generally that happens with new members and it would help to reply, explain the difference and inform on how the rating system works. Help them understand the difference between a comment and a critique.
LJPC - the tortoise replies: Hi Legerdemain! Super articulate and helpful newsletter. I take a long time to do reviews and have been lucky never to have gotten a rude response. I have gotten insulting or foolish reviews on my works, but that's life. The most confusing thing for me is when I get a glowing review, telling me how much they loved the story, and then they rate a 4.5.  With no clue as to why it's not a 5.0, I can't improve it. Oh, well. -- Laura
Some members won't rate a 5 unless they feel it's an award-winning piece.
Doug Rainbow responds: Read some book reviews in the New York Times, the Washington Post, or other major newspaper. Those reviews inform the readership. They dig out the essence of the piece reviewed and report it in an interesting and creative way. Most of these reviews probably help the authors reviewed, but that is not their primary purpose. Like it or not, good newspaper reviewing is my model for reviewing here, too. If I do line-by-line edits (which I admit I sometimes do) I have failed.
Most members here don't review items like movie reviews. It would be hard to guess how many people read the reviews listing to find items they want to read by what a reviewer says in the same way we would read a movie review in a newspaper. They give peer-to-peer reviews by giving critique and advice. I'm not saying you're wrong, everyone has their own review style. As long as members understand that's your review style, they'll be able to see how their item might be reviewed in a broader public basis. That also can be helpful.
fyn  submits: It's like words were made to be used by you.<-----one of my favorite reviews I've ever received regarding a poem I wrote. It STILL makes me smile and gives me that little push when my writing isn't going as well as it might!
A small kind comment can go a long way, if you take the time to send it.
♥Hooves♥  responds: Hi! Thanks for a thought provoking Newsletter! The best reviews I get are when a reader tells me that the item I wrote struck a chord with them or made them think about something in their own lives that never occurred to me when I was writing. All reviews tell me a lot about the reviewer, whether that is the intention or not. On responses to my honest reviews I get surprised when someone interprets a review as an attack. Again, the response tells me a lot about the person though. I learn from reviews and review responses about who to visit and who to avoid in the future, unless I forget.
I just don't see a reason to respond rudely to a review and refuse to review anyone who does. It's not worth the aggravation. There are so many people asking and grateful for the time I would spend on their item.
Free_Rip answers: Yep - honesty's a big thing in reviewing. To avoid bad responses when I've spent effort, I'll sometimes do a quick review (with + and - points) on a piece & if they take it well, send an in-depth on a different piece - especially if they used or considered a suggestion that was more than a quick fix. This way I can spend my time most effectively.
As for the question, the best reviews are too long to fit - but I will say they tore my piece apart and I thank them for it. The worst reviews go along the lines of 'piece of garbage' or 'terrific' or '...(x250)' - all with 1 or 2 star ratings and equally as annoying.
Review responses... the best have thanked me, sent me gps/merit badges/reviews and told me they've updated it according to x and x a suggestion, and could I maybe look over it again? Worst = non-existent. The 'that's not what I meant, good readers are smarter than you' ones are pretty annoying too.
It's always polite to reply and thank a reviewer for the time spent on your item, even if you don't agree with their opinion.
mARi☠StressedAtWork said: Interesting question.
Best Review/Comment Received: "You made me FEEL/SEE it." --reviews about pieces I write that doesn't come from personal experience but the readers felt as if I really knew what I was talking about, as if I were in the same situation...
Worst Review/Comment: "The way you always right about feelings, like love and such-- sucks! Real 'writing' isn't supposed to be like that. You're just combining words based on what you're feeling and calling them poetry!" --that really hurt, I almost felt like giving up... this happened before I came here to WDC.  The worst I got from WDC was: "I hate the way you write, so stop!"
Sending hurtful reviews is completely counterproductive.
BIG BAD WOLF is hopping  replied: One of the worst reviews I got was for my blog/journal, along with a one star. The funny thing is, the review had nothing to do with the blog entry. Instead the "review" said that the site was a scam and that the person wasn't interested in coming on any more. (Thankfully I asked a few friends to r/r my journal to help ballance out the one star. Thank goodness for friends. )
Other "worse" comments would involve people giving my item a two-point-five star (or lower) and not tell me the why, like if my grammer was bad, rhyme sceme weak, or if they just didn't like the topic.
Of course, the "Best comments" tend to be sent to many of my poems, especially my "Oh the Cost" poem. Many servicemen, vets, and their relations have thanked me for it. There is also plenty of praise for my other "Tributes" to unsung heros, like grandmothers and dearly departed friends.
Asking friends to purposely rate your item higher doesn't give your item a true rating. It would be better to wait for more honest reviews, and the rating on the item will balance itself out.
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Short Stories: December 21, 2010 Issue [#4143]
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