Saturday, January 16, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival XVI
The newest Storyblogging Carnival is now online at Tales by Sheya. Have a look. If you'd like to read previous versions of the Storyblogging Carnival, I have a complete index.
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
Friday, January 15, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival XV
NOTE: This is a repost of an old post, so there may be dead links.
Welcome to the Fifteenth Storyblogging Carnival. Here we gather fiction from around the blogosphere to share with our readers. The previous carnival was right here at Back of the Envelope, while the complete listing can be found here.
One Tank
by Lee Zanello of See the Donkey
A 400 word brief story rated G.
They are best friends, possibly more, and they have the whole road ahead of them.
[It's not often that you see a story written in 2nd-person present tense, but it works well here. -DSC]
I, Werewolf
by Andrew Ian Dodge of GoD:blog
A 2,266 short story rated PG.
A short story written in the misery that was my years at my alma malus: Colby. Published warts and all as a hint at my literary beginnings.
Chapters 41, 42, 43, and 44 of The Child (Beginning)
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
The next 2,306 words of a 35,756 word novella in progress.
Could things possibly get any worse?
[While this story can sometimes be read as a Christian allegory, I'd recommend reading it as story first and allegory second.-DSC]
A Meating of Mines, scenes 7,8, and 9
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
The next 2,366 words of a 10,291 word story in progress rated PG-13.
Rolf doesn't have so much to say, we learn that Zantar--far from being slow--is practically the Shakespeare of Dwarfdom, and Something finally Happens.
[After my hectoring last time, Dave finally included a full story word count. Meanwhile, his comedic screenplay kicks into high gear and there is much plot progress. -DSC]
Boll Weevil
by Lyle Skains of Hermitville
A 4,213 word short story rated R.
Jake Fuller travels home from college for the first time, reuniting with his childhood love. He discovers, however, that the girl in reality is much tarnished compared to the girl he holds in his mind.
[While a little heavy on the sexual content (nothing explicit, though), this story is very well written. Lyle is a new participant in the Storyblogging Carnival, and he introduces himself with not one but two stories, both well written and with very different voices. -DSC]
Guns, Boats, & Cadillacs
by Lyle Skains of Hermitville
A 4,373 word short story rated PG.
As she cares for her ailing father, Charlotte's life has turned into an endless cycle of Groundhog Days--until today, when she quite literally loses him.\
I hope you enjoyed this carnival. If you would like to participate or even just join the mailing list for the Storyblogging Carnival, please contact me.
Update: The link for Andrew Ian Dodge's story was wrong. It's fixed now.
Welcome to the Fifteenth Storyblogging Carnival. Here we gather fiction from around the blogosphere to share with our readers. The previous carnival was right here at Back of the Envelope, while the complete listing can be found here.
One Tank
by Lee Zanello of See the Donkey
A 400 word brief story rated G.
They are best friends, possibly more, and they have the whole road ahead of them.
[It's not often that you see a story written in 2nd-person present tense, but it works well here. -DSC]
I, Werewolf
by Andrew Ian Dodge of GoD:blog
A 2,266 short story rated PG.
A short story written in the misery that was my years at my alma malus: Colby. Published warts and all as a hint at my literary beginnings.
Chapters 41, 42, 43, and 44 of The Child (Beginning)
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
The next 2,306 words of a 35,756 word novella in progress.
Could things possibly get any worse?
[While this story can sometimes be read as a Christian allegory, I'd recommend reading it as story first and allegory second.-DSC]
A Meating of Mines, scenes 7,8, and 9
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
The next 2,366 words of a 10,291 word story in progress rated PG-13.
Rolf doesn't have so much to say, we learn that Zantar--far from being slow--is practically the Shakespeare of Dwarfdom, and Something finally Happens.
[After my hectoring last time, Dave finally included a full story word count. Meanwhile, his comedic screenplay kicks into high gear and there is much plot progress. -DSC]
Boll Weevil
by Lyle Skains of Hermitville
A 4,213 word short story rated R.
Jake Fuller travels home from college for the first time, reuniting with his childhood love. He discovers, however, that the girl in reality is much tarnished compared to the girl he holds in his mind.
[While a little heavy on the sexual content (nothing explicit, though), this story is very well written. Lyle is a new participant in the Storyblogging Carnival, and he introduces himself with not one but two stories, both well written and with very different voices. -DSC]
Guns, Boats, & Cadillacs
by Lyle Skains of Hermitville
A 4,373 word short story rated PG.
As she cares for her ailing father, Charlotte's life has turned into an endless cycle of Groundhog Days--until today, when she quite literally loses him.\
I hope you enjoyed this carnival. If you would like to participate or even just join the mailing list for the Storyblogging Carnival, please contact me.
Update: The link for Andrew Ian Dodge's story was wrong. It's fixed now.
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
Voting woes
I moved from Waltham to Everett, two towns in Massachusetts just outside of Boston, on January 1st. When I did so, I changed my address with all the necessary bureaucracies and, because Massachusetts law requires it, sent in a new voter registration form with my new address. In retrospect, that may have been a mistake.
At issue are two Massachusetts laws. The first is that you must register at least 20 days before the election. If you do the math, you can see that it was physically impossible for me to register with my new address once I'd actually moved here and still vote on the much talked about special election on January 19th. It didn't occur to me to register here before I moved--I'm not sure that's even possible. But, if you move away from an area, the second law allows you to still vote there for up to 6 months after. However, if my new registration has caused my old precinct to purge me from the rolls, then I may not be able to vote there either. I was not aware of this law until I inquired, else I would not have sent in a new registration until after the special election.
So what am I going to do? Since I couldn't find specific contact information for the city of Waltham's election commision, the only option I can think of is to show up at the polling station on January 19th and see if I'm on the roll. We'll see.
At issue are two Massachusetts laws. The first is that you must register at least 20 days before the election. If you do the math, you can see that it was physically impossible for me to register with my new address once I'd actually moved here and still vote on the much talked about special election on January 19th. It didn't occur to me to register here before I moved--I'm not sure that's even possible. But, if you move away from an area, the second law allows you to still vote there for up to 6 months after. However, if my new registration has caused my old precinct to purge me from the rolls, then I may not be able to vote there either. I was not aware of this law until I inquired, else I would not have sent in a new registration until after the special election.
So what am I going to do? Since I couldn't find specific contact information for the city of Waltham's election commision, the only option I can think of is to show up at the polling station on January 19th and see if I'm on the roll. We'll see.
Labels: Politics
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival XIV
Welcome to the fourteenth Storyblogging Carnival. Once again, we collect stories from around the Blogosphere for your reading pleasure. The previous Carnival, "Storyblogging Carnival the 13th", was at Doc Rampage's blog, while the archives linking to all the Carnivals can be found here.
I don't mean to cause a panic, but I'm starting to become concerned with the number of evil spirits appearing in the Storyblogging Carnival in recent weeks. Of course, between Andrew's Cthulhu tales and my own continuing story concerning the psychotic mutant demon Red-eyes, the Carnival hasn't been completely free of these creatures since the first one. In recent weeks, though, the number has substantially increased, and this Carnival is no exception. Some of them are from the Cthulhu mythos, some are the demons of Christian theology, and some I have no idea where they come from, but they are all agents of corruption and very dangerous. An exorcism may be in order.
The Cool Cat
by Rosie of Tales by Sheya
A 215 word brief story rated G.
Proud momma just had to share this one.
[This story is by Sheya's seven-year-old daughter, Rosie. It's very cute. -DSC]
Once
by CWW of A 2D Life
A 543 word brief story rated PG-13.
Not every second chance at life should be taken.
[CWW is a new contributor, and I wrote the blurb for this story myself. Even though there are no evil spirits in this one, it still has the greatest creepiness per word ratio of any story here. -DSC]
A Meating of Mines, scene 6
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
A 1,530 word scene from a continuing story rated PG-13.
Once again, nothing much happens, but Rolf sure does talk a lot.
[As usual, Doc is very funny even when nothing much happens. I'd say even more nice things about this scene if he'd give me a wordcount for the whole story like he's supposed to. -DSC]
In Plaid Sight
by Andrew Ian Dodge of Dodgeblogium
A 2,721 word short story rated PG.
A wandering male is found in Cardigan in front of political office. The Sage must find out what happened to him and why.
[Andrew once again shows us how common madness is in the Cthulhu mythos. -DSC]
Chapters 38 through 40 of The Child (Beginning)
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
The next 2,980 words of a 33,450-word novella in progress rated G.
Into the Dark Valley...
[Sheya's story has become much more suspenseful and exciting recently, as the comforts of the Master's home have been left behind. -DSC]
A Parable of Rain
by Jeff Harrell of The Shape of Days
A 5,419-word short story rated PG.
Willy Judson prayed every day. One day, his prayer was answered.
[This is a compelling story by a new contributor, well worth the read. -DSC]
I hope you enjoyed this carnival. If you would like to participate or even just join the mailing list for the Storyblogging Carnival, please contact me.
I don't mean to cause a panic, but I'm starting to become concerned with the number of evil spirits appearing in the Storyblogging Carnival in recent weeks. Of course, between Andrew's Cthulhu tales and my own continuing story concerning the psychotic mutant demon Red-eyes, the Carnival hasn't been completely free of these creatures since the first one. In recent weeks, though, the number has substantially increased, and this Carnival is no exception. Some of them are from the Cthulhu mythos, some are the demons of Christian theology, and some I have no idea where they come from, but they are all agents of corruption and very dangerous. An exorcism may be in order.
The Cool Cat
by Rosie of Tales by Sheya
A 215 word brief story rated G.
Proud momma just had to share this one.
[This story is by Sheya's seven-year-old daughter, Rosie. It's very cute. -DSC]
Once
by CWW of A 2D Life
A 543 word brief story rated PG-13.
Not every second chance at life should be taken.
[CWW is a new contributor, and I wrote the blurb for this story myself. Even though there are no evil spirits in this one, it still has the greatest creepiness per word ratio of any story here. -DSC]
A Meating of Mines, scene 6
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
A 1,530 word scene from a continuing story rated PG-13.
Once again, nothing much happens, but Rolf sure does talk a lot.
[As usual, Doc is very funny even when nothing much happens. I'd say even more nice things about this scene if he'd give me a wordcount for the whole story like he's supposed to. -DSC]
In Plaid Sight
by Andrew Ian Dodge of Dodgeblogium
A 2,721 word short story rated PG.
A wandering male is found in Cardigan in front of political office. The Sage must find out what happened to him and why.
[Andrew once again shows us how common madness is in the Cthulhu mythos. -DSC]
Chapters 38 through 40 of The Child (Beginning)
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
The next 2,980 words of a 33,450-word novella in progress rated G.
Into the Dark Valley...
[Sheya's story has become much more suspenseful and exciting recently, as the comforts of the Master's home have been left behind. -DSC]
A Parable of Rain
by Jeff Harrell of The Shape of Days
A 5,419-word short story rated PG.
Willy Judson prayed every day. One day, his prayer was answered.
[This is a compelling story by a new contributor, well worth the read. -DSC]
I hope you enjoyed this carnival. If you would like to participate or even just join the mailing list for the Storyblogging Carnival, please contact me.
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival XIII
NOTE: Once again, this is a re-post, so I can't guarantee links.
Doc Rampage has Storyblogging Carnival XIII up. I'm afraid he didn't have a chance to come up with a really cool numbering system, or for that matter, even read all the stories. Hopefully you will, though, 'cause there are some really good ones.
I'll be hosting the next one myself, so come by two weeks from now
Doc Rampage has Storyblogging Carnival XIII up. I'm afraid he didn't have a chance to come up with a really cool numbering system, or for that matter, even read all the stories. Hopefully you will, though, 'cause there are some really good ones.
I'll be hosting the next one myself, so come by two weeks from now
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival XII
Welcome to the twelfth Storyblogging Carnival. I hope you've enjoyed our Carnivals so far, and that you'll keep coming, and consider participating. And now, on with the stories:
Non-Automated Biography
by cbeck of Feeding the Habit
A 209 word brief story rated PG.
For a young man, the curve of a soft neck, the smell of her air, it all eludes the immediate understanding.
aliens
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
A 1,684 word short story rated PG.
Old-style, hi-tech, sci-fi adventure. Short form.
[The frantic pace reminds me of some computer games I've played. -DSC]
A Little Vanity
by Wichidude of Storyman
A 2,090 word short story rated PG-13.
Technology changes, even for the oldest of things. Yet, there is always a little vanity and pride involved in a job well done. Some things change, others remain the same. No matter what you get hit with.
[This one is oddly appropriate for Valentine's Day. -DSC]
Chapters 32 through 34 of The Child (Beginning)
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
The next 2,739 words of a 27,019 word novella in progress rated PG.
They have been chosen; now, they must make ready to go. And that can be more dangerous than it looks at first.
A Sinking Feeling
by Andrew Ian Dodge of Dodgeblogium
A 4,500 word short story rated PG.
It's called a sinking feeling and it involves Cthulhu & his minions...
Thanks for coming by. If you'd like to join the Storyblogging Carnival e-mail list, just drop me a line.
Non-Automated Biography
by cbeck of Feeding the Habit
A 209 word brief story rated PG.
For a young man, the curve of a soft neck, the smell of her air, it all eludes the immediate understanding.
aliens
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
A 1,684 word short story rated PG.
Old-style, hi-tech, sci-fi adventure. Short form.
[The frantic pace reminds me of some computer games I've played. -DSC]
A Little Vanity
by Wichidude of Storyman
A 2,090 word short story rated PG-13.
Technology changes, even for the oldest of things. Yet, there is always a little vanity and pride involved in a job well done. Some things change, others remain the same. No matter what you get hit with.
[This one is oddly appropriate for Valentine's Day. -DSC]
Chapters 32 through 34 of The Child (Beginning)
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
The next 2,739 words of a 27,019 word novella in progress rated PG.
They have been chosen; now, they must make ready to go. And that can be more dangerous than it looks at first.
A Sinking Feeling
by Andrew Ian Dodge of Dodgeblogium
A 4,500 word short story rated PG.
It's called a sinking feeling and it involves Cthulhu & his minions...
Thanks for coming by. If you'd like to join the Storyblogging Carnival e-mail list, just drop me a line.
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
A Prediction for the Massachusetts election
So let me make a prediction. If Scott Brown wins the Massachusetts special election (which, while possible, still isn't very likely), health care reform will not pass. I say this not because Senator Brown would vote against cloture on it--he's promised to, but if the Democrats have anything to say about it, the bill will be voted on by the Senate before he gets there. But, if Brown wins in very liberal Massachusetts, I predict that Democratic Senators and Representatives will panic. If the bill is so unpopular that Massachusetts elects a Republican to the Kennedy Senate seat just to stop it, Democrats will desert the bill in droves. It won't have the votes to get cloture in the Senate. It won't even get a majority in the House. The same could happen even if Brown loses, depending on how close it is.
This vote is largely seen as a referendum on the health care bill, and a Brown win will be seen as a popular, and perhaps more importantly, election-deciding, rejection of it.
This vote is largely seen as a referendum on the health care bill, and a Brown win will be seen as a popular, and perhaps more importantly, election-deciding, rejection of it.
Labels: Massachusetts, Politics
Monday, January 11, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival XI
The eleventh Storyblogging Carnival is now up at Tales by Sheya. Check it out. I will be hosting the next storyblogging carnival myself. After that it will be the thirteenth carnival, which, since the Carnival is every two weeks, puts us at the half-year mark. Time sure flies, doesn't it?
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Storyblogging Carnival X
NOTE: Once again, I'm re-posting an old post, so I can't guarantee links.
Welcome to the tenth Storyblogging Carnival. I'm glad we've made it this far. While I was willing to keep doing this as long as people were willing to participate, I had no way of knowing whether people would be interested enough to keep the carnival going this long. Thank you all for your involvement and for your stories.
And thank you to everyone who's hosted so far. The previous Carnival was hosted by Michele Catalano two weeks ago, while the next one will be at Sheya Joie's blog two weeks from now.
Out of Bounds (Unplugged) (Chapter 1a)
by Mark Philip Alger of BabyTrollBlog
The first 643 words of a short story in progress rated R.
The All-Doll Band gives a concert and there's a snowstorm in Ohio in July. Just another day at the Center. (This story is just starting. Future episodes will be posted — one per weekday.)
His name was Bill
by cbeck of Feeding the Habit
A 1,315 word short story rated PG-13.
A man fighting the thing we all face: our own life.
Walking to California, Chapter 2 (Beginning)
by Curtis Schweitzer of a-sdf
The next 1,496 words of a 3,328 word story in progress rated PG.
Chapter 2 of my never-finished NaNoWriMo entry for 2004, detailing the story of a young man who walks from Denver to Los angeles in the wake of a dark tragedy.
[This story is beautifully told. I love the imagery invoked to give an empathic understanding of the tragedy endured by the main character. -DSC]
The Lesson
by Andrew Ian Dodge of Dodgeblogium
A 1,558 word short story rated PG.
The Sage tells the tale of the first time he met one of Cthulhu's minions face to face.
Little Grey Man
by Brian J. Noggle of Musings from Brian J. Noggle
A 1,835 word short story rated PG.
A self-romanticizing postal carrier sees something that alters his self image irrevocably.
Cokey goes flying
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
A 2,182 word short story rated PG.
Jim Kjelgaard wrote YA (young adult) adventure fiction --short (40-word) stories aimed at about fifth- to tenth-grade readers.. Many of his stories were written from the point of view of a dog. He was my favorite childhood author and this story is an attempt to recreate the feel of one of Jim Kjelgaard's dog books.
[This is a delightful little story for the dog-lover in all of us. Unless you don't like dogs, in which case it's for the dog-lover in him. Yeah, that guy over there. He likes dogs, just ask him. Anyway, it is clearly inspired by what may be a true story. -DSC]
Last Gas
by Pete C of Engrossing Tales
A 2,849 short story rate PG.
On a dark, isolated road, the last gas for miles could turn out to be a saving grace... or something entirely, ominously different.
The Strangers in Town
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
A 2,874 word short story rated PG-13.
For Rivkah, this was the strangest birth she had ever attended--beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Trail of the Slug
by Michele Catalano of A Small Victory
A 3,113 word short story rated PG.
Can dreams of vengeance fulfill themselves?
Distaste of Roses
by Jeremiah Lewis of Fringe
The first 3,535 words of a story in progress.
Currently unfinished story about two unlikely people meeting in an unlikely town, and the unaccountable bitterness of rose petals.
Thanks for coming by. I hope you'll be able to visit Tales by Sheya for the next carnival. If you'd like to join the Storyblogging Carnival e-mail list, just drop me a line.
Welcome to the tenth Storyblogging Carnival. I'm glad we've made it this far. While I was willing to keep doing this as long as people were willing to participate, I had no way of knowing whether people would be interested enough to keep the carnival going this long. Thank you all for your involvement and for your stories.
And thank you to everyone who's hosted so far. The previous Carnival was hosted by Michele Catalano two weeks ago, while the next one will be at Sheya Joie's blog two weeks from now.
Out of Bounds (Unplugged) (Chapter 1a)
by Mark Philip Alger of BabyTrollBlog
The first 643 words of a short story in progress rated R.
The All-Doll Band gives a concert and there's a snowstorm in Ohio in July. Just another day at the Center. (This story is just starting. Future episodes will be posted — one per weekday.)
His name was Bill
by cbeck of Feeding the Habit
A 1,315 word short story rated PG-13.
A man fighting the thing we all face: our own life.
Walking to California, Chapter 2 (Beginning)
by Curtis Schweitzer of a-sdf
The next 1,496 words of a 3,328 word story in progress rated PG.
Chapter 2 of my never-finished NaNoWriMo entry for 2004, detailing the story of a young man who walks from Denver to Los angeles in the wake of a dark tragedy.
[This story is beautifully told. I love the imagery invoked to give an empathic understanding of the tragedy endured by the main character. -DSC]
The Lesson
by Andrew Ian Dodge of Dodgeblogium
A 1,558 word short story rated PG.
The Sage tells the tale of the first time he met one of Cthulhu's minions face to face.
Little Grey Man
by Brian J. Noggle of Musings from Brian J. Noggle
A 1,835 word short story rated PG.
A self-romanticizing postal carrier sees something that alters his self image irrevocably.
Cokey goes flying
by Dave Gudeman of Doc Rampage
A 2,182 word short story rated PG.
Jim Kjelgaard wrote YA (young adult) adventure fiction --short (40-word) stories aimed at about fifth- to tenth-grade readers.. Many of his stories were written from the point of view of a dog. He was my favorite childhood author and this story is an attempt to recreate the feel of one of Jim Kjelgaard's dog books.
[This is a delightful little story for the dog-lover in all of us. Unless you don't like dogs, in which case it's for the dog-lover in him. Yeah, that guy over there. He likes dogs, just ask him. Anyway, it is clearly inspired by what may be a true story. -DSC]
Last Gas
by Pete C of Engrossing Tales
A 2,849 short story rate PG.
On a dark, isolated road, the last gas for miles could turn out to be a saving grace... or something entirely, ominously different.
The Strangers in Town
by Sheya Joie of Tales by Sheya
A 2,874 word short story rated PG-13.
For Rivkah, this was the strangest birth she had ever attended--beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Trail of the Slug
by Michele Catalano of A Small Victory
A 3,113 word short story rated PG.
Can dreams of vengeance fulfill themselves?
Distaste of Roses
by Jeremiah Lewis of Fringe
The first 3,535 words of a story in progress.
Currently unfinished story about two unlikely people meeting in an unlikely town, and the unaccountable bitterness of rose petals.
Thanks for coming by. I hope you'll be able to visit Tales by Sheya for the next carnival. If you'd like to join the Storyblogging Carnival e-mail list, just drop me a line.
Labels: Storyblogging Carnival
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]