To everyone. Thank you for supporting the Pixie Project. The last of the packages went out yesterday, and UPS tells me that all but one will arrive by Christmas. I am exhausted!
Mr. Palahniuk, I was so impressed with your comments. I also wanted to say that I enjoy your writing. Five of your books live inside my bookcase that I bought used years ago. Sorry it's not fancier. Is it possible to submit a story that I wrote for similar treatment?
This is my work-around. If the story is already posted I can comment on it without violating copyright. Please limit the story's length to 3000 words, tops. That's not a lot, but this exercise is a teaching tool. Thanks!
Hey Chuck, I've been meaning to ask you something about Knock-Knock. On the first page, the oncologist says, "It's metastasized and you've got six months to live." But on a page or two later, the narrator says "six weeks." And I've always wondered about the reason for the discrepancy.
And before I forget, I was flipping through Make Something Up the other day. You wrote a line in a particular story (can't remember which one) but you described someone's red face as the same red you see when you close your eyes and look at the sun.
Enjoyed this read! Great job Nick. This story idea has so many great directions it can go. Chuck, I really enjoyed your input here. Some points you’ve made have made me want to make some minor re-arrangements in the order of things in my latest short story. Can’t wait to read more Gloves Off analysis!
I love reading a movie-theater story, particularly because I spend a good amount of my childhood and a decent chunk of adulthood in one thanks to my great-grandpa who went into the movie theater business a hundred years ago! It’s nothing fancy, but all I’m getting at is I have a really really really soft spot for this setting, which brings me to…
Your story!!
Very cool all around. I love that a cat is involved (totally plausible). I love the concept of Slash-in Theater!! And I’m digging your main character.
I do agree with Chuck when he says get into scene fast! It’s something I have to constantly remind myself when I’m writing but it really is effective.
You have this line I love, “And so, inevitably, at the end of this shit show, I will end up mopping up puke and beer and popcorn off the floor at six in the morning.” And I totally want your story to start with this cleaning experience, except I understand that it might have to occur in-between shows, since the climax of your story happens when a movie is about to let out.
Chuck mentioned his experience, “First you wear a back-pack leaf blower and blow the loose popcorn and wrappers from the rear seats down to the stage, where you shovel or vacuum it. Then you mop.”, and I just want to add, Correct, Correct, Correct! Haha!
There are so many smells you can touch on as well… Good and bad. Fresh popcorn. Sour pop. Spilled pop syrup. And of COURse the AC is going to go out. It must!
I know I'm late to the party, but I would LOVE to see a revised version of this if it ever comes around! I also wanted to recommend the Joe Hill short story Best New Horror to get a look at a character worrying about becoming a trope as he becomes a trope. One of my favorites.
I really liked this story, but Chuck, I think I loved the story you created in your comments even more. It felt like reading 2 stories in 1. Or 1 smushed story where you and Cal were characters.
Woohoo Nick!
Got the bookmark. The owl matches the tattoo I got for my Mamaw, and the totem glued to my dashboard.
Excellent!
She literally had thousands of pieces of owl kitsch. I miss my Mamaw.
To everyone. Thank you for supporting the Pixie Project. The last of the packages went out yesterday, and UPS tells me that all but one will arrive by Christmas. I am exhausted!
Way to go, Chuck! You deserve all the eggnog this Christmas.
Lactose intolerant. But I love egg nog.
What? I was under the impression that you were guzzling down egg nog every Christmas lol
Thanks for sharing Nick!
There are so many possible directions to go with this, and I’m excited to see what you make from Chuck’s feedback.
DITTO. I feel quite lucky just to have witnessed Chuck commenting on a piece.
Mr. Palahniuk, I was so impressed with your comments. I also wanted to say that I enjoy your writing. Five of your books live inside my bookcase that I bought used years ago. Sorry it's not fancier. Is it possible to submit a story that I wrote for similar treatment?
Hello Pam. No problem. The place to put links to stories is here:
https://chuckpalahniuk.substack.com/p/a-call-for-stories-iv
This is my work-around. If the story is already posted I can comment on it without violating copyright. Please limit the story's length to 3000 words, tops. That's not a lot, but this exercise is a teaching tool. Thanks!
Hey Chuck, I've been meaning to ask you something about Knock-Knock. On the first page, the oncologist says, "It's metastasized and you've got six months to live." But on a page or two later, the narrator says "six weeks." And I've always wondered about the reason for the discrepancy.
Thanks for sharing your story, Nick!
Hah! I wish I could invent a good answer. Just lazy I guess!
LOL! I'll accept it.
And before I forget, I was flipping through Make Something Up the other day. You wrote a line in a particular story (can't remember which one) but you described someone's red face as the same red you see when you close your eyes and look at the sun.
I LOVED that line. It was so fresh.
“I was hoping the Peee-oowwww-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh. Wuh. Wuh. was drunken Cal getting his genitals crushed”
Ahhahahahahahhahah. Oh Chuck. You’re cracking me up.
Enjoyed this read! Great job Nick. This story idea has so many great directions it can go. Chuck, I really enjoyed your input here. Some points you’ve made have made me want to make some minor re-arrangements in the order of things in my latest short story. Can’t wait to read more Gloves Off analysis!
Hey Nick!
I love reading a movie-theater story, particularly because I spend a good amount of my childhood and a decent chunk of adulthood in one thanks to my great-grandpa who went into the movie theater business a hundred years ago! It’s nothing fancy, but all I’m getting at is I have a really really really soft spot for this setting, which brings me to…
Your story!!
Very cool all around. I love that a cat is involved (totally plausible). I love the concept of Slash-in Theater!! And I’m digging your main character.
I do agree with Chuck when he says get into scene fast! It’s something I have to constantly remind myself when I’m writing but it really is effective.
You have this line I love, “And so, inevitably, at the end of this shit show, I will end up mopping up puke and beer and popcorn off the floor at six in the morning.” And I totally want your story to start with this cleaning experience, except I understand that it might have to occur in-between shows, since the climax of your story happens when a movie is about to let out.
Chuck mentioned his experience, “First you wear a back-pack leaf blower and blow the loose popcorn and wrappers from the rear seats down to the stage, where you shovel or vacuum it. Then you mop.”, and I just want to add, Correct, Correct, Correct! Haha!
There are so many smells you can touch on as well… Good and bad. Fresh popcorn. Sour pop. Spilled pop syrup. And of COURse the AC is going to go out. It must!
I do want Cal to die. (Save the cat!!)
Can’t wait to see where you take this. Have fun!
Kill Cal! Kill Cal! Kill Cal!
Thanks for sharing, Nick. I love the framework you have here, and I want to see what happened when you crank it up to 11.
I think you mean, kill kill kill... Cal Cal Cal... (Friday the 13th music/FX joke in case that makes no sense)
I know I'm late to the party, but I would LOVE to see a revised version of this if it ever comes around! I also wanted to recommend the Joe Hill short story Best New Horror to get a look at a character worrying about becoming a trope as he becomes a trope. One of my favorites.
I really liked this story, but Chuck, I think I loved the story you created in your comments even more. It felt like reading 2 stories in 1. Or 1 smushed story where you and Cal were characters.
I want more Cal!