Feed aggregator

Content warning:bawdy lyrics

‘Twere way down in Bear Country that I did find,
a cute little cub who wagged his behind.
He were so pretty and only eighteen,
that I up and I showed him my Thrashin' Machine. (2/3) #wss366

Content warning:bawdy lyrics

After two more rounds, the Hero and the Demon Lord had linked arms with the rest of the men in the Kinky Cockatrice and were singing bawdy songs at the tops of their lungs: (1/3) #wss366

I wrote a bit more about the odyssey to publish *The Silver Tongue*, my weird little story that just appeared at *The Freak!* https://stevendbrewer.com/the-silver-tongue-at-the-freak/

I have returned to my subterranean lair to escape the murderous heat created by the evil petroleum overlords.

#WritersCoffeeClub July 2: What are the limits of critique?

I think the key limitation is that critiques generally can't tell you how to fix a story. They can help you identify things that don't work (at least for some readers), but then the author has to figure out how to revise the story to address the problems.

"But if it's 'Altered Carbon,' why only charcoal?" he shouted. "Why not #graphite?"
"Or diamond!" howled the Hero.
They clinked glasses again.
"To you, again!" the Hero toasted.
"To me!" the Demon Lord replied.
"To the Demon Lord!" everyone in the Kinky Cockatrice called out. (2/2) #wss366

The Hero and Demon Lord finished their drinks, and then ordered another round, toasting the Hero. And then yet another. Other men joined them, yelling and cheering.
"This is a great drink!" the Demon Lord bellowed.
"I know, right?" (1/2) #wss366

"They contain activated charcoal," the Hero said. "Try it!"
The Demon Lord took a cautious sip. It was good! It was strong with a sweet, tart flavor. The charcoal had no detectable taste. He took another sip.
"To you, my friend!" the Hero said, raising his glass.
"To me," the Demon Lord said. (5/5) #wss366

"Do you come here often?" the Demon Lord asked, trying to make conversation.
"No, never!" the Hero said. "Well… Almost never."
The Bartender set two highball glasses on the counter that were filled with impenetrably black liquid.
"What is that!?" the Demon Lord exclaimed. (4/5) #wss366

The Demon Lord pushed his way through the crowd until he reached the bar.
The Hero made a glad cry and stood up to hug him. "I'm so glad you could come!" he said. "Let me buy you a cocktail!"
He beckoned to the Bartender and said, "Two Altered Carbons!" (3/5) #wss366

The room was packed with men, many bearded and wearing leather outfits. He spotted the Hero sitting at the bar. He stood out, wearing his white outfit and seemed to glow in the dark room. Another man put a hand on his arm and said something in his ear. The Hero laughed and shook his head. (2/5) #wss366

The Demon Lord arrived at the Kinky Cockatrice. It had a colorful neon sign of a red rooster with purple rays emerging from it's eyes that blinked on and off, casting a garish light over the entrance. He paused at the door, took a deep breath, and entered. (1/5) #wss366

After eleven rejections, my weird little story *The Silver Tongue* has been published by *The Freak!* https://www.thefreak.ca/stories/the-silver-tongue/

"And where is this assignation?" Jaygor inquired.
"It's at that… That…" the Demon Lord cleared his throat. "That Cockatrice place."
"The Kinky Cockatrice?" Jaygor pressed.
"Yes!"
"So noted, Lord," Jaygor said with a snigger. (4/4) #wss366

As he rubbed the marker over the surface of the paper, hidden text was revealed.
"Invisible #ink!" gasped Jaygor. "Who would send such a thing?"
"Make an entry in my calendar, Jaygor," the Demon Lord ordered. "I'm to meet the Hero for cocktails tomorrow night at 7pm." (3/4) #wss366

The Demon Lord tore open the envelope and extracted a single piece of paper. Unfolding it, he discovered it was blank on both sides.
"What can it mean, Lord?" Jaygor asked.
The Demon Lord rolled his eyes, then opened a desk drawer and retrieved a marker. (2/4) #wss366

The Demon Lord was hard at work reviewing the reports of his minions when Jaygor arrived.
"Post for you, Lord."
He handed the Demon Lord an envelope.
The Demon Lord studied the envelope, which had no return address.
"Are you sure it's safe to open?" Jaygor inquired. (1/4) #wss366

I've been happy with my most recent Wandering Shop Story fragments: https://stevendbrewer.com/the-hero-demon-lord-and-friends/ #writing

#WritersCoffeeClub Is writing a lonely endeavor for you?

Yes and no. I have a chronic lung condition, so I can't meet people indoors unmasked, which makes a lot of social activities difficult or impossible for me — especially during the winter. At the same time, I have developed a lot of resources for not feeling lonely. I do service for both SFWA & Straw Dog Writers Guild, run a weekly online writing group, and have good support from my family, which all provide companionship for my writing.

#ScribesAndMakers 29. Share the last line of dialogue you wrote.

"I hate you," she said.