the inner workings of her creative process, it is
NOT a review of Jane Juska's book, though quotes from Jane
Juska's book are everywhere in the piece as are Pat's annotated
reaction to the book. Like Jane Juska, Pat gives us a glimpse of
her soul. Thank you Pat. Charlene, you twit, thump thump thump.
Date & Time: 12/5/2007 6:08:56 AM
User: Ralphie in Tucson
Note: Nothing really, just felt like mentioning a couple of web
sites I found. Both sites have a workshop-ish flavor and are
worth a surf if only see how other stuggling writers are coping:
http://thenextbigwriter.com/ is one site and
http://www.booksie.com/ is the other.
Date & Time: 12/10/2007 7:41:58 PM
User: J. D. Sartrebleu
Note: Not of a mind to intrude, and only curious, I have to ask
the question, "How many good stories could possibly thrive when
compressed to the stricture of 2,000 words?" I have written
stories for specific literary magazines with 2,000 word
restrictions, but discovered, after a second reading months down
the line, that such a story could bear enrichment, expansion. Of
three such stories completed and recycled following unsuccessful
submission, all have since grown to a length in excess of 4,000
words, and are the better for it. I understand the realities of
postage, but when I look at the best of the best in published
short work in the U.S., I find few that would fit such a small
frame. I just reviewed thirty short stories I have written in
the past three years to see if one might be short enough to
submit here, but the smallest weighs in, currently, at 3,617
words. Could it be pared down? I think not.
Date & Time: 11/23/2007 6:06:04 AM
User: Charlene K.
Note: Pat Laster's piece titled Thoughts On A Round-Heeled Woman etc included
thoughts about everything EXCEPT Jane Juska's book. What's up with that?
Date & Time: 12/1/2007 9:01:05 AM
User:
webweenie@calliopewriters.org
Note: Calliope site users reported having problems with the Forum. Attempts to
post notes larger than 800 characters resulted in an arcane error message and
apparently more than a few puzzled users. It was suggested that 800 characters
isn't nearly enough for people who enjoy words--and obviously we wouldn't be
hanging out here if we didn't like words. Point well made...I kicked up the
maximum allowable note size to 1200 characters, which is about 15 lines in the
text entry box. It's just a simple little forum without provisions for
formatting or line breaks, an experiment of sorts, to provide an opportunity for
members/subscribers to interact with contributors and with each other. Comments?
Complaints? Suggestions? Please zing me a note...
Date & Time: 12/2/2007 7:40:01 AM
User: Matthew
Note: Decades ago, when I was a boy in parochial school, a
well-meaning nun frequently and without warning thumped the top of my skull when
I lost focus and wandered away from whatever piece of work the rest of the class
was studying. Sharp pain accompanied by three bursts of white light and the
beginning of a dull headache would immediately pull me back aboard the study
train without further comment. Dear Charlene, are you even on the right page?
Pat's article is a very personal piece about