FAWC 5: Line, Please!

[sr71plt]

That would take some time, though, and probably initially people would tear his efforts apart and be mean like Pilot is being.

Oh, in what way? I don't think I've ever been mean about his writing. In fact, to this point, I've been about the only one who has declared on the board that he does some good writing (even though what I've read hasn't been erotica)--and who has declared more than once that his writing is better than the ratings he's being given. There's a difference between having and delivering some nice writing techniques yourself and in declaring yourself as a guru for everyone else to follow and who personally is inventing these techniques day by day as he reports to us hour by hour.

As an example of his "I'm an expert" technique, go back to the FAWC 4 thread. You'll find a posting from him where he mentions and comments on the work of a few of the entered authors (before any were identified with their work) as if he, the expert, knows the writing of each. Scroll down a bit and you'll see a post with several calls on who of those folks wrote what and you'll find only one correct call (and that one having a high possibility of being correct because of the number of entries I submitted). While on the thread look at all the puffed up "I'll be the judge of these stories" posts he dropped. Then go and look as his shallow "critiques." Most of you who said you couldn't wait to see his critiques were just hoping to avoid his shallow, dismissive, one-line judgments. He's made you afraid of him--and has done that without showing any expertise whatsoever.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Oh, in what way? I don't think I've ever been mean about his writing. In fact, to this point, I've been about the only one who has declared on the board that he does some good writing (even though what I've read hasn't been erotica). There's a difference between having and delivering some nice writing techniques yourself and in declaring yourself as a guru for everyone else to follow and who personally is inventing these techniques day by day as he reports to us hour by hour.

Youre my hero, Bubba. I cant figger why Laurel doesn't refer all submissions to you. I mean, her fund of stories isn't a small fraction of yours.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

How much can a green E be worth if the presenter has no oeuvre of stories?

 

[sr71plt]

How much can a green E be worth if the presenter has no oeuvre of stories?

You must think they are worth a lot since you keep patting yourself on the back for having one even when you don't have one.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Oh, in what way? I don't think I've ever been mean about his writing. In fact, to this point, I've been about the only one who has declared on the board that he does some good writing (even though what I've read hasn't been erotica)--and who has declared more than once that his writing is better than the ratings he's being given. There's a difference between having and delivering some nice writing techniques yourself and in declaring yourself as a guru for everyone else to follow and who personally is inventing these techniques day by day as he reports to us hour by hour.

As an example of his "I'm an expert" technique, go back to the FAWC 4 thread. You'll find a posting from him where he mentions and comments on the work of a few of the entered authors (before any were identified with their work) as if he, the expert, knows the writing of each. Scroll down a bit and you'll see a post with several calls on who of those folks wrote what and you'll find only one correct call (and that one having a high possibility of being correct because of the number of entries I submitted). While on the thread look at all the puffed up "all be the judge of these stories" posts he dropped. Then go and look as his shallow "critiques." Most of you who said you couldn't wait to see his critiques were just hoping to avoid his shallow, dismissive one-line judgments. He's made you afraid of him--and has done that without showing any expertise whatsoever.

You left out how I called PATHETICLEE's story, PICK OF THE LITTER, first.

Why do I worry you?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You must think they are worth a lot since you keep patting yourself on the back for having one even when you don't have one.

I know it annoys you and refutes your bullshit, once again.

 

[sr71plt]

I know it annoys you and refutes your bullshit, once again.

You need to look up the definition of "refute." Fact is I think you need to actually purchase a dictionary.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You need to look up the definition of "refute." Fact is I think you need to actually purchase a dictionary.

Try 'emasculates' or gelds.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, I can see you are upset and reverting to unsubstantiated (and often irrelevant, as well) one liners. That's your specialty. Keeps you from having to address the actual point.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

I read it, JBJ. You should have entered it. It would have done poorly, but you should have entered it anyway.

Your style is, of course, distinctive. It's a brisk walk; you take big strides, cover lots of ground, point out only the most interesting landmarks. It's no-nonsense storytelling, and, at times, very well-written, minimalism at its perfect, infuriating best.

Is it erotic? I don't know that it is, but that isn't a requirement for me. It certainly didn't turn me on, but I had a stroker for breakfast, so I was perfectly preped for an afternoon of interracial double-murder.

It's rushed, though, even for such a stripped down piece. It's almost a poem, or a song, a little ditty about death and dirty sex. "The Ballad of Two Dicks, A Cunt, A Blade, and A Bullet" in the key of contempt. Like an Appalachian folk song, it relies on stereotypes and preconceived notions. Those kind of things necessitated the kind of brevity you embrace here: they had to be short, catchy, and simple enough to appeal to people who had to split their time between music appreciation and starving to death. You didn't have those pressures. I'd have loved a bit more meat in my cynicism soup.

Still, it's not a bad little tune, though, if you like that kind of music.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I read it, JBJ. You should have entered it. It would have done poorly, but you should have entered it anyway.

Your style is, of course, distinctive. It's a brisk walk; you take big strides, cover lots of ground, point out only the most interesting landmarks. It's no-nonsense storytelling, and, at times, very well-written, minimalism at its perfect, infuriating best.

Is it erotic? I don't know that it is, but that isn't a requirement for me. It certainly didn't turn me on, but I had a stroker for breakfast, so I was perfectly preped for an afternoon of interracial double-murder.

It's rushed, though, even for such a stripped down piece. It's almost a poem, or a song, a little ditty about death and dirty sex. "The Ballad of Two Dicks, A Cunt, A Blade, and A Bullet" in the key of contempt. Like an Appalachian folk song, it relies on stereotypes and preconceived notions. Those kind of things necessitated the kind of brevity you embrace here: they had to be short, catchy, and simple enough to appeal to people who had to split their time between music appreciation and starving to death. You didn't have those pressures. I'd have loved a bit more meat in my cynicism soup.

Still, it's not a bad little tune, though, if you like that kind of music.

I did submit it. You read it. I didn't write it for you or Naoko or Pilot or Slyck, and I see no convincing evidence that any of you know your ass from a period. Naoko's opinion is an embarrassment and makes attention whoring unpleasant. There are really only 3 writers at LIT worth the candle: Lovecraft, PATHETICLEE, and LYNN. I 'm fond of LC but the others can kiss my ass tho they do write well. Their successes prove I know talent when I read it. Theyre like watching Guderian and Mannstein and Rommel roll over the Allies, its wonderful and awful.

Anuther rush job is inching along my assembly line. You wont like it either. Slyck hatches his cockamamie themes, and I do with them what I can. But I aint gonna play his game. My style gives me away.

 

[sr71plt]

There you go. With a minimum effort, JBJ took over the FAWC 4 exercises just by posting that he would be the judge (and not carrying through) and now has taken over the FAWC 5 exercise just by posting a story outside the exercise. His biggest talent is neither writing nor being an expert in writing. It's in getting attention and taking over threads (with a bare minimum of effort and no substance).

 

[AMoveableBeast]

There are really only 3 writers at LIT worth the candle: Lovecraft, PATHETICLEE, and LYNN. I 'm fond of LC but the others can kiss my ass tho they do write well. Their successes prove I know talent when I read it. Theyre like watching Guderian and Mannstein and Rommel roll over the Allies, its wonderful and awful.

You wont like it either

Every writer you name there is certainly talented, but that sentiment, no offense to the storytellers mentioned, is ridiculous. Mainly because this site is bigger than the boards. There are many good writers here that don't show up to the weenie roasts, who simply quietly plink out terrific stuff in the corner. It's myopic of you to think that the only truly talented authors are the three out of your circle of influence whom you respect. It's childish, almost. I gave you more credit than that.

And I never said I didn't like it.

 

[slyc_willie]

Meanwhile, we've got a couple of stories submitted for FAWC 5, just waiting on more.

 

[sr71plt]

Meanwhile, we've got a couple of stories submitted for FAWC 5, just waiting on more.

And letting those who have submitted know theirs was received?

 

[slyc_willie]

And letting those who have submitted know theirs was received?

I just did.

Correction: we have four entries, not two. I forgot that I clicked on a couple of messages last night.

 

[sheablue]

I did submit it. You read it. I didn't write it for you or Naoko or Pilot or Slyck, and I see no convincing evidence that any of you know your ass from a period. Naoko's opinion is an embarrassment and makes attention whoring unpleasant. There are really only 3 writers at LIT worth the candle: Lovecraft, PATHETICLEE, and LYNN. I 'm fond of LC but the others can kiss my ass tho they do write well. Their successes prove I know talent when I read it. Theyre like watching Guderian and Mannstein and Rommel roll over the Allies, its wonderful and awful.

Anuther rush job is inching along my assembly line. You wont like it either. Slyck hatches his cockamamie themes, and I do with them what I can. But I aint gonna play his game. My style gives me away.

Jesus, JBJ. You hijack the FAWC thread, which is fine by me, really. You write a story and pretend you're going to maybe actually join in the FAWC fun this time for real. Cool. Then you don't, you just submit it. Ok, but then you practically beg people to read it (or one-bomb it), and when they do, and give you an honest critique, you spit in their faces. What is up with that? If you only respect the opinions or writing of those three authors, why not start another of your own threads and address it to them? You don't have to make anything of Slyc's "cockamamie" themes, you can make up your own stories. No one cares if you play this game, or not. I would personally enjoy it if you did, but it's no skin off my nose.

You're like a big shaggy doggy begging for a treat, and when someone reaches out their hand to give you one, you bite them.

 

[sr71plt]

For me, at least, the usefulness of the FAWC exercises isn't in hiding your technique but in applying your technique to an externally applied construct--and then discussing with others whatever you want about what you/they have written. I see it as a writing exercise among serious writers, not a popularity contest that I bend my writing style to just for ratings or a "win." I don't really mind if others do that--I don't give them props, though, when they suggest that I should be doing that too. When I write more than one story to this exercise, it isn't my way of multiplying my chances of "winning," it's an opportunity to apply techniques in various ways to the same construct that I didn't choose.

 

[slyc_willie]

For me, at least, the usefulness of the FAWC exercises isn't in hiding your technique but in applying your technique to an externally applied construct--and then discussing with others whatever you want about what you/they have written. I see it as a writing exercise among serious writers, not a popularity contest that I bend my writing style to just for ratings or a "win." I don't really mind if others do that--I don't give them props, though, when they suggest that I should be doing that too.

Everyone sees it their own way. I admit I wish I was just a participant sometimes instead of the organizer. I'd love to see how well I can pick out other authors' writing styles. But as FAWC has developed, the part about it I have come to like the most is the story discussion afterward. I like to know what writers were thinking when they wrote their story.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Every writer you name there is certainly talented, but that sentiment, no offense to the storytellers mentioned, is ridiculous. Mainly because this site is bigger than the boards. There are many good writers here that don't show up to the weenie roasts, who simply quietly plink out terrific stuff in the corner. It's myopic of you to think that the only truly talented authors are the three out of your circle of influence whom you respect. It's childish, almost. I gave you more credit than that.

And I never said I didn't like it.

My system is honorable and honest. If you know of better writers, send me their names. I know of others, whose names escape me, but their funds of stories are too lean. If people don't like my assessments, fuck em. I don't post shit like Naoko's If it didn't suck so bad it would be great. What a poser.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Jesus, JBJ. You hijack the FAWC thread, which is fine by me, really. You write a story and pretend you're going to maybe actually join in the FAWC fun this time for real. Cool. Then you don't, you just submit it. Ok, but then you practically beg people to read it (or one-bomb it), and when they do, and give you an honest critique, you spit in their faces. What is up with that? If you only respect the opinions or writing of those three authors, why not start another of your own threads and address it to them? You don't have to make anything of Slyc's "cockamamie" themes, you can make up your own stories. No one cares if you play this game, or not. I would personally enjoy it if you did, but it's no skin off my nose.

You're like a big shaggy doggy begging for a treat, and when someone reaches out their hand to give you one, you bite them.

Uh, I opted outta Slycks Follies, didn't I. Go one-bomb it, you know you wanna.

 

[sr71plt]

I just did.

Oh, really? Trot trot. Not that I can tell. I sent one on Saturday.

 

[slyc_willie]

Oh, really? Trot trot. Not that I can tell. I sent one on Saturday.

There. Sheesh.

 

[sheablue]

Yes, you opted out, but you're still here on the thread for Slyc's follies, talking about your story that you didn't enter in the follies.

And I don't one-bomb anybody. So I don't want to one-bomb you. I also don't want to read your story. Maybe later. I'm too busy right now writing my story so that I can participate in the FAWC contest that this thread is intended for.

 

[slyc_willie]

Obviously, we can't say that FAWC doesn't inspire heated debate.