AUGUST 2019 - MICROSTORY CONTEST (COMMENTS ONLY)

[Jon]

Hope I set this all up right.

[Jot]

Perfect. I just needed to mark it to move to the top of the page.

[Jot]

Can't believe it. I beat Tom the to storyboard. :)

[Paula]

Great theme, Jon. All I can think of, though, is one set in Texas where a homeless Stephen King, struggling seldom-published author, is sleeping one afternoon on 11/22/63 on the grass in a Dallas park when. . . .

[Tom]

Jot wrote: "Can't believe it. I beat Tom the to storyboard. :)"

One thing you need in Texas is a fast draw.

[Tom]

Paula wrote: "Great theme, Jon. All I can think of, though, is one set in Texas where a homeless Stephen King, struggling seldom-published author, is sleeping one afternoon on 11/22/63 on the grass in a Dallas p..."

Or, a young Oliver Stone, stuck for a movie idea...?

[Tom]

I think you'd find it easier to abolish communism than religion, Jot. (Though I suspect both are here to stay.)

[Jot]

it's a side story off of Perpetual Words of Hatred, where one of the characters uses the time suit to break society away from organized religion

[Justin]

Good story Jot!

[Jot]

Thanks dude

[Justin]

Excellent story Tom!

[Tom]

Justin wrote: "Excellent story Tom!"

Thank you, very much, Justin.

[C.]

Mine is up. I decided to do it in present tense. Fun stuff.

-C

[Justin]

Nice one C. Powerful.

[C.]

Thanks, Justin!

[Jot]

Only three stories so far? Gonna have to figure out how to promote this.

[Justin]

This is my busiest week of the year for work, then I'm catching a red-eye at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday to fly to Detroit to visit my friend in prison, then a road trip to Chicago with my brothers to surprise my Dad who I haven't seen in three years. I haven't missed a month yet, but I'm struggling with this month's prompt!

[C.]

Man-up dude. Nobody said great writers don't suffer.
*hee hee hee*

What I want to know is where's the story about JFK dodging the bullet (literally) and putting a round table into the white house and renaming the city of DC "Camelot?" Who is going to tackle THAT fun little tale, forsooth?

-C

[Chris]

5 days and counting. I've got absolutely nothing so far. For some reason my mind is absolutely blocked here, and I can't seem to get past it. I think I may have to skip this month, at this rate.

[C.]

JFK was an alien?

[Jot]

Now that's a good idea for a story, C.

[Jon]

I got a story coming. As the one who started all this I better right???

[Tom]

Chris wrote: "5 days and counting. I've got absolutely nothing so far. For some reason my mind is absolutely blocked here, and I can't seem to get past it. I think I may have to skip this month, at this rate."

I hope you find a way past the block, Chris. I've always loved your stories. (Maybe, if you focused on what Kennedy meant to you, personally? Was there something about him that touched you? Inspired you?)

[Tom]

Jon wrote: "I got a story coming. As the one who started all this I better right???"
I've been hoping you would. (Loved your last one.)

[Tom]

Justin wrote: "This is my busiest week of the year for work, then I'm catching a red-eye at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday to fly to Detroit to visit my friend in prison, then a road trip to Chicago with my brothers to s..."
I for one would miss your input greatly, Justin. You've always contributed a huge amount to the life and spirit of the group.

'Sounds like quite an itinerary you have in front of you. ('Sounds like there just might be a story in it. Had Kennedy lived, in what kind of world would the same journey take place?)

[Paula]

Okay, guys, I just put one up. Raw copy, mostly--but just after I got your message, Jot, I got an idea for one.
So . . .

[Jon]

Chris, not sure if this will help your writer’s block, but my goal with this was not to write “about” Kennedy necessarily. It’s more of a prompt of what would have happened in our past, or present, or future had he lived.

Would it have made a difference? Would the world be largely the same? Would our past have changed? Present be different? Future be worse or better?

Just some ideas...

[Tom]

Paula wrote: "Okay, guys, I just put one up. Raw copy, mostly--but just after I got your message, Jot, I got an idea for one.
So . . ."

Welcome back, Paula. I've sorely missed your writing style. A very interesting and disturbing vision of alternate reality.

[Tom]

Jon wrote: "Chris, not sure if this will help your writer’s block, but my goal with this was not to write “about” Kennedy necessarily. It’s more of a prompt of what would have happened in our past, or present,..."

So far, I'm the only one who's presented a positive outlook on a "Kennedy lives" timeline. ('Anybody else here hail from Boston?)

[Tom]

Karl -

Hilarious story, well delivered, great punch line. Loved it!

[Karl]

Thank you, Tom.

[Jot]

My heart is overjoyed to see four new stories today.

Welcome back Richard. It's been three years since we had you as a steady participant. Hoping I can get you to keep with it, but am happy just to have an old friend back in the mix.

Welcome back Paula. Though only a year away, you have contributed so much to this group, and feels like something is missing when you are not around.

You guys all rock!

[C.]

Welcome back, Paula and Richard!

Great story Karl! I laughed out loud a bunch of times. Great read.

- C

[Karl]

Thanks for the feedback C.

[Andy]

OK, mine's up. I decided to focus on the immediate aftermath of Dallas, and see if I could prefigure or even antedate some of the events since that time. A good exercise and I hope folks enjoy it.

[Tom]

Andy wrote: "OK, mine's up. I decided to focus on the immediate aftermath of Dallas, and see if I could prefigure or even antedate some of the events since that time. A good exercise and I hope folks enjoy it."

I did. Excellent story.

[Jot]

Welcome back Andrew!

[Justin]

Mine's up!

[Paula]

Tom, your story made me so happy! Seriously--it's just good to see.

[Tom]

Paula wrote: "Tom, your story made me so happy! Seriously--it's just good to see."

Thank you, Paula.

[Tom]

Justin wrote: "Mine's up!"

'Glad you made it, Justin. Excellent story. Very well written; really held me from beginning to end.

[C.]

Nice one, Justin!

-C

[Jot]

Welcome back Timothy! A few days ago we had only 3 stories, and now we are up to 10!!! One day left to post.

[Justin]

C. wrote: "Nice one, Justin!

-C"

Thanks C! I took your challenge! :)

[Justin]

Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Mine's up!"

'Glad you made it, Justin. Excellent story. Very well written; really held me from beginning to end."

Thanks Tom!!

[Jon]

Sorry I always think stories are due on the 23rd!! Darn it!

[Jon]

Sorry it’s been my anniversary AND birthday week.

[Jot]

You're good Jon. Story is included.

[Jot]

Timothy, I tally the votes privately to avoid the "political effect" in the voting system, but do post them once the champion is crowned. Also, I make sure to read the stories and cast my vote (to the standing champion) before collecting or viewing any votes from the other authors. This is the fairest method I could come up with to still allow me to participate as a member of the contest.

[C.]

I just wanted to congratulate all the contributors this month. It's great to see folks step up with a very challenging story theme like this month's requirements.

I know you were wracking your brain just like I was, and it was doubly difficult since we had to cook in a bunch of historical story background in 750 words along with doing all the historical research.

Congrats to all the contributing writers this month. You're all winners in my book! (Pun intended.)

-C