I’ve dissected, rats, lambs brains, three spine sticklebacks, fruit flies (yes you can. It’s tedious but you can) but never a cat or human. Dont know if I could do it. But there’s a prompt; the hesitant medical student who doesn’t know how he got to his third year of med school without having done any dissections.
Great prompt, just as I’m wrapping up some other projects. The past few months I’ve written several short stories, based on your suggestions and a list of ideas I keep in a notebook. I’m having a blast. I have to manage my time, but these excursions make coming home to my novel comforting. I don’t know if you’re reading my brain or something, but the timing of your lessons is impeccable. Thanks again.
Chuck! I'm so glad to see you post again! And thanks for this. I remember asking you about how you like to write each of your novel chapters as standalone short stories a while back and you said you needed time. Do you remember that? Was this post especially for me??
And on Saturday? Wow, that's faster than expected. Can't wait.
I swear I'm doing this all wrong. Because a lot of time that's my thinking. My mind says you have to follow the "natural" progression, from start to finish. Even though it doesn't have to be. But the idea of creating bits and pieces and aggregating them into a story is growing on me. I often deny myself the part of the story that sparked my interest in the first place because it usually ends up in the middle or the end. And sometimes when I start at the beginning, I start too early in the story and get bored with all this throat-clearing. But I deny myself from going straight into the goods because...it feels like I'd be eating dessert before I've eaten my food. Or like opening my presents on Dec 24th.
I wrote a few shorts years ago. One day while reading it over again I realized it was the same character but different scenarios, so I crammed them all into one story. I think it worked… this reminded me of that
I see this going somewhere dark and tragic. What if he finds the lonely old cat lady dead on the floor, huggin kitty's food bowl, a pillow perched against the kitchen cupboard, her eyes open and sad as she waited and waited? Goddamn, Chuck—you bring out the weepy little bitch in me.
Most Buy Nothing groups or the rat hole that is Next Door share a chip reader since lost/found pets are practically a daily occurrence. Do with that what you will, but I like the scenario in which folks of all walks share (or could share) this common thing (literally).
The problem of the dead cat could be resolved Re-animator-style, maybe with some replacement parts.
For anyone who's interested, there's a Doctor Who audio play called "Medicinal Purposes" in which the exploits of Burke and Hare are used as time travel snuff tourism. It also questions whether the ends justify the means, given that modern medicine is built on anatomists' work on stolen corpses. The audio plays are usually targeted for a more mature audience than the show is, and this episode includes David Tennant as a side character (it's before his run).
It's my understanding that to pull a reader on board and take them to a place they wouldn't agree to go to, you gotta be funny. Make them laugh to lower their defenses a little bit.
Am I right in saying that?
But wouldn't humor undermine the seriousness of the topic?
Is it a compromise?
I see a lot of writing that uses way too much cleverness and jokes as a way to skirt around anything troubling and to avoid conflict.
I’ve dissected, rats, lambs brains, three spine sticklebacks, fruit flies (yes you can. It’s tedious but you can) but never a cat or human. Dont know if I could do it. But there’s a prompt; the hesitant medical student who doesn’t know how he got to his third year of med school without having done any dissections.
I love this visual of soap slivers!
Great prompt, just as I’m wrapping up some other projects. The past few months I’ve written several short stories, based on your suggestions and a list of ideas I keep in a notebook. I’m having a blast. I have to manage my time, but these excursions make coming home to my novel comforting. I don’t know if you’re reading my brain or something, but the timing of your lessons is impeccable. Thanks again.
Chuck! I'm so glad to see you post again! And thanks for this. I remember asking you about how you like to write each of your novel chapters as standalone short stories a while back and you said you needed time. Do you remember that? Was this post especially for me??
And on Saturday? Wow, that's faster than expected. Can't wait.
I swear I'm doing this all wrong. Because a lot of time that's my thinking. My mind says you have to follow the "natural" progression, from start to finish. Even though it doesn't have to be. But the idea of creating bits and pieces and aggregating them into a story is growing on me. I often deny myself the part of the story that sparked my interest in the first place because it usually ends up in the middle or the end. And sometimes when I start at the beginning, I start too early in the story and get bored with all this throat-clearing. But I deny myself from going straight into the goods because...it feels like I'd be eating dessert before I've eaten my food. Or like opening my presents on Dec 24th.
It's fucked up lol
I wrote a few shorts years ago. One day while reading it over again I realized it was the same character but different scenarios, so I crammed them all into one story. I think it worked… this reminded me of that
A post about soap? I should have sud-spected.
(That was for Karen S)
Is this cause no one would let you publish the vivisection story? God I need a job. I would love to steal that btw.
I see this going somewhere dark and tragic. What if he finds the lonely old cat lady dead on the floor, huggin kitty's food bowl, a pillow perched against the kitchen cupboard, her eyes open and sad as she waited and waited? Goddamn, Chuck—you bring out the weepy little bitch in me.
Most Buy Nothing groups or the rat hole that is Next Door share a chip reader since lost/found pets are practically a daily occurrence. Do with that what you will, but I like the scenario in which folks of all walks share (or could share) this common thing (literally).
Maybe the cat is in cahoots with the student...
The problem of the dead cat could be resolved Re-animator-style, maybe with some replacement parts.
For anyone who's interested, there's a Doctor Who audio play called "Medicinal Purposes" in which the exploits of Burke and Hare are used as time travel snuff tourism. It also questions whether the ends justify the means, given that modern medicine is built on anatomists' work on stolen corpses. The audio plays are usually targeted for a more mature audience than the show is, and this episode includes David Tennant as a side character (it's before his run).
I’m guessing the “Save The Cat” structure probably won’t work here since the cat is already dead.
You access the chip and find some bitcoins on it. People don't trust banks anymore.
My brother and I used to collect all the slivers of soap, and microwave them into “new soap,” until one day, when we did it and the microwave blew up.
Before I forget.
Something you said confused me.
Here's a question.
It's my understanding that to pull a reader on board and take them to a place they wouldn't agree to go to, you gotta be funny. Make them laugh to lower their defenses a little bit.
Am I right in saying that?
But wouldn't humor undermine the seriousness of the topic?
Is it a compromise?
I see a lot of writing that uses way too much cleverness and jokes as a way to skirt around anything troubling and to avoid conflict.
So maybe I'm jaded.