Mann Ramblings

Okay, you've missed my point, but if the link gave you issues, that's understandable. While I agree that it should be about appropriate word choice, that's not what the source material was about. The meme is a re-hash of information. The quote was intended to support the information in the chart and idea of upgrading a writer's choices. The chart was not intended to be a list of words to use in seduction. The correlation wasn't designed to support in both directions, which is what makes the idea of using the word "morose" and "salacious" in common conversation sound ridiculous. The meme is easily misconstrued from its source material in the way its presented. That was really my point in the end.

Just for a frame of reference: Here's a link for the actual blog article this internet meme was created from: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1xuHX5/:X.l2v0Mz:Ph@Eq4fa/writerswrite.co.za/45-ways-to-avoid-using-the-word-very/# It's about writers using better word choices and how using the word "very" is lazy writing. The quote is an illustration of that but it not describing the list at all. The two are not directly connected, and the photo was thrown in for creative effect. The list has nothing to do with the quote. This is another example of an internet meme: reformatting information for effect, if not for accuracy.

Happy Birthday, Billy!!!

Congrats, Cole! Good to see you up there!

I hope to show my face up there again soon. Promise!!

Finally! A gorgeous man in this thread that doesn't look so young, that touching would wind you in jail. Honestly, I find this photo absolutely fascinating... (and he's not even my usual type.)

Short, moving and very, very real. I liked how you showed that something was missing in their relationship that prompted the affair in spite of the obviously poor decision to continue with it. It's always sad when something ends that might have been salvaged. Well done.

It's Friday? It doesn't feel like Friday to me! Great lead in on Valkryie's response. How can you pass that up now?

Great edgy sci-fi that only Lugh could write. Amazing world building with an alien feel that permeates the story and immerses the reader. A must read for the sci-fi aficionado. Love, love, love it! Now if we can only get him writing more for us!

Happy Birthday!!!! :D :D

Gratz on the spotlight, Cole! I need to find time to play with the prompts again. Love 'em.

I like your smooth blending of your flashbacks and the questionable relationship with his father. Even if there was no incest, the appropriateness is full of blurred edges. Nicely done.

A chase! I see fun games afoot! I like our MC's cheeky attitude balanced with his need for submission. Looking forward to seeing where this takes us.

I don't think anyone is questioning the importance of art. It underlines everything we do and every product that is designed in our lives to some extent. Whether people are aware of it or not, concept and design are integral to our economy. The downside of these kind of conceptual performances is that it colors the perception that so many hold over what artists really do. The artists that draw, paint and sculpt get lumped into this elitist group and people on the fence who don't see the value because of the lack of something produced, see less value in the artists that do. It can actually affect an artist's ability to sell their work because of public perception. Art shouldn't be exclusive to the pseudo-intellectual crowd trying to outthink the dull masses. They hurt their own industry as a whole in the process.

Happy Birthday, you sexy author you! :D :D

Oo! Oo! I loved this one! Read it! Read it! Read it!

This is so well written and impossibly engaging! You captured Eli's frustration and his relationship with Matt in a very real fashion, but still managed to not weigh it down in melancholy and depression. (Which would have been very easy to do.) This was a joy to read. I'm looking forward to more of you work.

This sounds really promising! Thanks for reviewing this, Renee. I might not have found this piece and now I'm looking forward to reading it.

Gratz Dyno on the shout out! Your take on the prompt was incredibly clever. I really enjoyed it.

Fantastic!! Congratualtions! We have another one!!!

I prefer to write out a detailed outline to give me a direction before sitting down to type. I need that structure to keep me from drifting into a corner plot-wise. I re-work and re-work a chapter as I go and make changes over and over. I backtrack often and put things in place that were missing before. I couldn't tell you how many times before I send it off to my editor. I self-edit as much as I can, but I've discovered I'm much better at editing someone else's work! (Forgive me, MJ!) So my beta/editor is invaluable to keep me on track and point out potential pratfalls. MJ is there to say, "No, no, no." and sometimes "Yes, yes, yes." All with the appropriate smilies attached. The benefit of extra eyes to polish your work can not be understated. At some point I'd like to publish, but you can never learn enough. Even with all my successes, I still feel like an amateur at times. You can always get better and learn something new. That's the best part of the craft.

I've said this before, this is a powerful and touching short story. Everyone should get the chance to read it.

You've created an unassuming, yet tender tale that deserves to be read. Every aspect is grounded in reality and the flashbacks were well placed. I loved this. Do more.

It really is too bad when mismatched people are together, but so much better when they split up and improve their lives in the process. No one should live their lives in a relationship that doesn't make them happy. I liked Elliot and Max right from the start and found Pete to be unfortunately too self involved and vapid for my taste. All the players were nicely believable and I looked forward to Max and Elliot connecting. This story could be expanded easily into something even more dramatic, but works well in its current format. Nicely done. (I think I want to expand every short story I read, I think LOL)