FAWC 5: Line, Please!

[slyc_willie]

I love that we mobbed the posting schedule with our stampede of stories. Having to wait until Monday when I should be working to read them? Not so much.

Yeah, it would have been nice to have the weekend to read them, but we can't always have our druthers.

It's good to know a posting date, though, rather than have to go from day to day expecting that to be the day (although we've done a bit of that too).

Just hope this delay doesn't take a bite each out of this exercise and the Nude Day contest (which seems to have taken forever to drag in).

I'm foreseeing leaving the stories posted until around June 26th (which would be ten days), in order to give people the time to read them all. That goes six days into the Nude Day contest, but I don't see any other alternative. This FAWC was pushing it close as it was; in hindsight, I could have moved the cutoff date back half a week. But we would have possibly lost out on at least as many stories.

 

[slyc_willie]

Anticipatory bump in the hopes that the stories will post soon . . . .

 

[sheablue]

Fingers crossed!

Although, of course I have more work to do ...

 

[Blind_Justice]

That's how you start a dreary Monday. Brew a pot of coffee, prepare some toast, check FAWCkers profile and realize all stories are up. Now, picking the first to read... decisions, decisions...

 

[slyc_willie]

That's how you start a dreary Monday. Brew a pot of coffee, prepare some toast, check FAWCkers profile and realize all stories are up. Now, picking the first to read... decisions, decisions...

How right you are. I was hoping they would hit at midnight.

Have fun reading. There are some rather long ones there . . . .

 

[sr71plt]

I doubt they'll be up for another hour or two.

 

[slyc_willie]

For the nonce, at least, they can be seen here.

 

[xelliebabex]

For the nonce, at least, they can be seen here.

How exciting to arrive home from work and have lots to escape into

 

[slyc_willie]

How exciting to arrive home from work and have lots to escape into

I'd give you a hint regarding a particular story, but that would be giving me away . . .

 

[sheablue]

So exciting! And it's supposed to rain here for the next couple of days. What a great excuse to stay in and read!

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I looked at all of the stories and am stunned by the mediocre quality of all. Even the best writers, like PATIENTLEE and LYNN, are perfectly hidden in this mob of meh, if theyre in there I cant find them. I cant recall when I've seen so many clunky openings. Reminds me of the FREE anthologies Amazon gives away.

No scores, no comments.

 

[Blind_Justice]

May I throw a pillow at that grouchy old dude in the bleachers? I forgot to bring my frags...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

May I throw a pillow at that grouchy old dude in the bleachers? I forgot to bring my frags...

Grouchy has nuthin to do with it, I usually award lotsa 5s, but this stuff is crap. I expected one or 2 to rise above the mob, didn't happen. So stick your grouchy up your ass and do better.

 

[yesterdays]

mesmerized

I was drawn to this story by the title, since for as long as I can remember I've liked the word, and have sometimes felt mesmerized (in a good way) in my life. It's very well written, and I was captured by its spell, caring about the characters, especially the narrator. The descriptive language is rich, without slowing the story down, and made it seem quite real. The things in the first sentence were key to the narrative, which has a strong drive and vivid ending. I won't, of course, give any spoilers, but....I guess I would just like to say to the author that I'd like to see these characters in a different kind of story. But I rate it very highly.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I was drawn to this story by the title, since for as long as I can remember I've liked the word, and have sometimes felt mesmerized (in a good way) in my life. It's very well written, and I was captured by its spell, caring about the characters, especially the narrator. The descriptive language is rich, without slowing the story down, and made it seem quite real. The things in the first sentence were key to the narrative, which has a strong drive and vivid ending. I won't, of course, give any spoilers, but....I guess I would just like to say to the author that I'd like to see these characters in a different kind of story. But I rate it very highly.

Upon the table lay three items: a handkerchief, a book, and a knife. I eyed them suspiciously. Where did Shawn find this stuff? They looked ... dirty. I wanted to take the sad square of cotton and swipe the grime off the knife, it was really quite a beautiful piece, all carved silver and really daggery, but those rust stains looked suspiciously like ... something else. I cut my eyes to Shawn, who was wandering the small, dusty room like a kid in a candy store.

There is so much wrong with this. Silver doesn't rust, iron rusts, silver tarnishes. WTF is DAGGERY? Silver isn't carved, wood and ivory and marble are carved. Silver smiths hammer silver or pour silver into molds.

 

[yesterdays]

empires of the stars

I could almost see the brightly-colored cover of a sci fi pulp from the 1940s or 1950s as I started to read it. I kinda wish the author had kept just with this parody-narrative, but....I did think the way this one went was actually pretty funny. I was smiling and giggling a bit at times. Another winner for me that I'm rating very highly. Nice way to start the day. I wish the author would at some point take on a longer parody-narrative with more explicit sex scenes.

 

[yesterdays]

Upon the table lay three items: a handkerchief, a book, and a knife. I eyed them suspiciously. Where did Shawn find this stuff? They looked ... dirty. I wanted to take the sad square of cotton and swipe the grime off the knife, it was really quite a beautiful piece, all carved silver and really daggery, but those rust stains looked suspiciously like ... something else. I cut my eyes to Shawn, who was wandering the small, dusty room like a kid in a candy store.

There is so much wrong with this. Silver doesn't rust, iron rusts, silver tarnishes. WTF is DAGGERY? Silver isn't carved, wood and ivory and marble are carved. Silver smiths hammer silver or pour silver into molds.

It wasn't rust, obviously, it was blood.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

It wasn't rust, obviously, it was blood.

It says rust. And silver doesn't rust. Leave it at stained. Readers think the narrator is stupid.

 

[xelliebabex]

I'd give you a hint regarding a particular story, but that would be giving me away . . .

There was an unusual word used recently in this thread that is in one of the 5 stories I have read so far (I started at the bottom of the list) that I believe gives a big clue to the writer, so thanks for that, I am sure you know who you are!

For those of you who aren't sure about reading the longer stories, I would urge you not to skip over "The True Oracle" if you like Sci-fi/fantasy. I found it a great read. I know that outs me as not being the author but its well written at a good pace so you don't really mind turning all seven pages and I think it deserves the read

Now I am off to bed before I get sucked into reading another story, or maybe just one more...

Edited to 6 stories

 

[yesterdays]

inspiration and desperation

I liked this one a lot. Wish it had gone on longer and gotten more racy. I feel a First Time classic in the making. Very much hope a sequel is written!+++ The names of the colors were a nice touch.

 

[patientlee]

The list is overwhelming. I don't even know where to start.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

The list is overwhelming. I don't even know where to start.

Right?

 

[PennLady]

Right?

I start at the top and then filter by length. Short stories first. But that's just me.

 

[jomar]

I start at the top and then filter by length. Short stories first. But that's just me.

I think I'll adopt that.

 

[yesterdays]

lorelei's call

I think this one's funny, and then funny-*hot*, and then funny again! Very well done. I would like more. Maybe the author could consider transforming it into a larger erotic-comedy story? Hope so....