THANK YOU, SUE!

Happy Anniversary to our Show Case contributors. Sue Ranscht started it all one year ago.

Authors submit pieces written around a theme and we all comment on them. Those comments include sharp critique as well as praise and they spark discussions about writing and living the writing life. A hundred comments is not unusual and is remarkable, considering that we are a small (albeit passionate) group.

Sample comments worth sharing again:

On Critiques
“Skip the buttering up; get right to the brutality. Saves time. I do not intend to be “brutal” with you — just direct. Okay? Know that I honor everyone who faced down the blank screen to create something of note where there was naught but a void of words before. Truly! Writers write. You are a writer — which leapfrogs you over 90% of the idle ‘someday-I-will’ daydreamers.”
– Carl E. Reed

“I know valid criticism can be disheartening, but don’t even consider stopping. Not even in the furthest corners of your subconscious.”
– John Correll

Farce
“To lighten this up a bit, it was also the case that Kirk was something of a womanizer, or alien-womanizer, and the character often fell into some fleshy imbroglio with a green or blue or other busty hominoid female. How fitting then that Shatner/Kirk rode into space in what can only be described as a giant dildo, a phallus symbolic of his character’s most characteristic trait – a penis in space.”
– Scott D. Vander Ploeg

Rules of Writing
When the rules make sense (as some do and some don’t), it’s better to follow them much of the time but sometimes bend or break them in a thought-out way. This metarule has been stated in many ways by many people. I like the wording in:
«Know the rules, so you can break them effectively.» ~ Dalai Lama XIV”
– Barry Rosen

The Writing life
“Today I finally get to sit at my desk and tackle Multiverse travel. Which means lots of research, reading and answering questions. For me this is fun. My husband gives me the raised eyebrow as he settles into his own fun (heating ducts, boiler pumps, sheet metal etc.)
We all have our loves!”
– Sandy Randall

“Great samples from fellow writers. I am at a buffet table and have overeaten in a good way. Thank you all!”
– Victor Acquista

Experiences that influence our writing
“Monday a young friend of mine attempted suicide. She’s still in the ICU with a heart rate that won’t go above 42 unless they pump her full of adrenaline. They’re contemplating a pacemaker.
Demons have a way of obliterating hope.”
– Sue Ranscht

Happy Notes
“I have written many song parodies as a fun side project, changing the lyrics of famous songs. Some of these parodies have been performed by professional musicians, and I have videos of some of their performances. And I agree with you totally regarding Ayse’s performance. She is a professional opera singer who usually sings arias in operas and in recitals, so I was lucky enough to have her perform my parody.
– Boris Glikman

Fun Writing
“The assailant sprang up, silhouetted by the flickering lamp, and limped toward the street. The roaring monster appeared, lighting the alley like a runway. The assailant shrank from the behemoth machine as it rolled past. Jan laughed maniacally. Those morons were afraid of an automated street cleaner.”
– Christy Moceri

Research
“Around 1586 Kelley told Dee he’d had a vision. An angel had revealed to him that the two men should engage in wife-swapping. And so they did, for a time. That will be fun to write.”
– Mimi Speike

Make writing more fun with Show Case.
Click “Show Case” at the top of this page for details.

And thank Sue for this!

(P.S. To order your very own “Thank You Sue” hoodie, send a sizable donation to Roy@LetsPretend.com)