Bondwriter

We've been clear enough on what would happen should the band encounter some unsavory fate. At least, I hope so. Killing a fictional character in such a set-up would ensure general wrath and fair punishment.

Along the line of Ieshwar's suggestion (the library): literary games (and you'll shine, hopefully) One you might have full access to The n+7: take a text and replace all nouns or verbs with the seventh word coming after in the dictionary. The dictionary game (needs at least five players, so not proper for a date): someone picks up a word no one knows in the dictionary. Everybody writes down a definition. The person who chose the word collects the papers and reads them aloud. In turn, everyone votes for the most likely definition. Scores: 1 point for those who chose the right definition 1 point for getting a vote for your fake definition As many points as there are voters for the person who chose the word if no one finds the good definition. (Of course, the definition must be copied verbatim; the form has to be agreed upon at the beginning) Making a video: great fun in making a 2-minute video based on whatever you feel like (the nerdy types I hang out with usually illustrated poems, in a very silly manner most of the time). Designing/ shooting/ editing will get your whole evening busy.

I read the chapter with attention and could not -not in any possible way after three reads - see you being featured in this chapter. Beyond the Old Goat Bagelry, but had it been a British pub, it'd have been the Red Lion or the White Horse. There was indeed a mounted goat, but it just was there to help introduce us to Saul Braunstein's character. And Shadowgod is King of Evocative Descriptions. I had not voiced it this way so far, but yes, this is a title he may claim.

Happy belated birthday!

As Menzo stated, it's customary here. It used to be only with people of the other gender or relatives, but since the late 80s early 90s, it's required with all friends that are reasonably close. Do we spread the flu faster this way?

Sending all sorts of good vibrations your way! Speak your heart out! You're witty! You're cute! You share interests! This will work out.

Well, two chapters in a row with the same title? Even though you announced another one that had to do with outside verifying? Thanks Emoe, for the confusing tequila thread... Will The Scar's paternal feelings be moved?

I'd love to know that there's going to be yet another twist concerning Jerry/ The Scar, but I doubt he'll be redeemed. And isn't it a fixture of fiction villains to always feel bad about having to destroy their enemy? List the James Bond villains in your mind, you'll always ind a scene in which they're sorry, and deem their opponent valuable, and wish him that being eaten by sharks won't be too lengthy and painful...

OK, I like it, but it'll take another reading to find some clever comment. Mundane situation + nursery rhyme tactics= there are certainly smart things to say about this poem.

Does the phrase "ungrateful as a goat" exist? If not, it should be invented. You come to defend the said animal, by pointing out that for once, it didn't use a wicked cliffhanger, and all you get is more denial. As we say in my country (about a donkey, generically called Martin), "Donne du pain

I don't know whether I can be as tolerant as Graeme. The way I was brought up (Catholic) had nevertheless managed to get biblical literalism out of the way. When I wrote to my grand-father (university professor in biology AND devout catholic) about my Minnesotan host family's full gospel beliefs, he was appalled. He went into the "metaphor" and "imagery used so that humans may understand" stuff. And he really worried that I had fallen into the clutches of medieval misfits. At the same time, I had cousins ten years older than I am, and their "lifestyles" seemed quite alien to me when I was 12. I think you shouldn't confront your cousins, and hopefully, setting an example could help them to grow out of the education they're getting on their own. If they're really being brainwashed by their environment, there's not much you can do. Just make sure you're there for them, and that they know you're not judgmental, even if they go the bigot way. It will be time to part later on should they want to. Big hugs, and make the most of the time you spend with them in the here and now.

I couldn't agree less. Who could seriously claim that:

I speak French and English, and can manage with Spanish or German, or Dutch if it's a need for vital information. As long as the stories are not hosted in other languages, the exchange language should remain English. I've come across no site like this one in French, but what would be more interesting would be a sort of "franchise" at some point, if we can get enough people to provide stories in French. I think it would create a demand; a lot of conversations with friends got me to think that there was a need. I know that for our tugstories site it's in the plans to have the stories translated into French, Spanish and German. It's just a lengthy, not very gratifying job. I've translated some of my own stories, but it's very boring, so we'd better recruit people with the ability to do so.

I hate to admit that CJames is right. On the count of the reaction to LIS 26. I must say that not only did I post mean comments in the thread, calling for a fatwa if 27 was not properly resolved, but I also had my own little email harassment campaign. This being said, CJames triggered the same type of reactions a number of times that would require more fingers than I have on one hand. He truly is the Queen of Evilest Cliffhangers. Shadowgod would merely be a duke.

Rereading it, the mercury thing doesn't strike me as much. I see perfectly well the idea of liquid+reflection+grey, and this fits perfectly. Just that mercury carries other ideas with it (magic/ alchemy), astrology, which must be what I read first. The only alternative would be "melted lead", but then you add the idea of heat. So, let your poem rest for a while, it's very good the way it is, and maybe a week or two from now you'll get a magic idea. The steel works well with the windows, by the way.

Well, I think there's nothing to worry about if the word cliffhanger comes up on the first page. At least not for GA. 1/ Google's intent is to record what's going on, and produce an accurate reflection of reality. Hence, if on an author's sites, a fiction writer uses cliffhangers often, and everyone agrees he uses said , it's indeed Google's job to reflect this reality. If, on top of this, the said author is crowned Queen of Evilest Cliffhangers,, how can they forget to record it? 2/ It's been rumored that in case of potential abuse, Google launches an investigation on sites, and tries to find a scapegoat. By this they mean a hairy quadruped of the ovine kind that they can merrily sacrifice on a bonfire. Is this rumor true? Will they manage to find such a being around these parts for fulfilling their nefarious plans? Only time will tell.

I think cliffhangers are great, and writing cliffhangers that get your audience to beg for more is a feat. As for google ranking, you mean I should link to this heavily loaded with cliffhangers post in this very thread so Google would eventually acknowledge CJ as not only being the Queen of Cliffhangers (and evilest cliffhangers for that matter), but also the Kaiser of Cliffhangers? The Stroessner of Cliffhangers, if time proves a Paraguayan connection (besides touristic views) with the Scar?

Actually, I feel really bad about Vladimir. He's an engaging character, the happy carefree nerd. As for Dimitri, I wonder. If Dimitri can get something out of getting rid of The Scar, he could too. The question is: Does getting rid of Instinct push his agenda forward. At the same time, he's kind of losing it as the fateful event is coming close. Time (and CJ) will tell.

The type of poem I love. Except for the mercury lake (a single word that kind of clashes with the steel above, but never mind, I'm weird) that could be replaced by another metaphor, it's tasteful evocative imagery. Nice job, Sir.

I don't think it would be bad if it were third person. Though it was first person, I'm left with a movie-like impression of the scenes, so as long as the tone is similar, I don't see what would change. Except that it would allow you to play even meaner tricks on us poor readers.

I'm surprised that with all the cliffhangers being discussed in this particular forum, it doesn't pop up first in googling "cliffhangers". It does with "evilest cliffhangers" and "cliffhanger queen", so it should end up being CJ the overall champion. But he who writes adventure fiction should use cliffhangers unashamedly.

No cliffhanger this time, but RECKLESS DRIVING! Feeding someone as he drives? What's Gerald thinking. A very nice section on chicken, and Dennis making innuendos is not really convincing, but terribly cute. Or as a Loveboat comedian? Very nice characterization all along. What's the deal with Peter Miller, though?

Well, now, now, CJ, you're turning into some bleeding-heart liberal! "The drugs made me do it..." To me that's the lamest defense someone can come up with. If all people who used drugs had turned into Erics, well, the world would no longer exist. Plus he manages to walk away free, no jail time, not exactly as it happens to those who get caught for JUST the drugs charge. Actually, how much time could he have served in Arizona had he been caught? And the epilogue lets us know he's still as venal, and deceitful. So no redeeming value in this character. But the evidence of you skills for propaganda (which could also be your animal magnetism...)

On an 80s spree: A View to a Kill

Agreed. Number 6 (Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.) is brilliant if it's not in a text displaying poor language skills. Great characterization.