Meg, O Meg, Oh My. This story is a juggernaut. You have such an original voice and a style all your own. You took this horribly painful experience that someone else might have handled too delicately or too faithfully and it would have felt like a Lifetime movie. Instead, you grabbed it, wrestled it to the ground until you were inside the narrator. Then you infused the story with jet fuel to deliver that Meg O. warp-speed pacing. Bravo!
When you say the word "technique" I get all shy and quiet like, cuz I didn't know I was applying a technique and maybe I should have known that or at least considered that someone might inquire about it later. 😉 If you're fond of this type of phrase turn, you can call it whatever you like. Omniflection. Reverse mirroring. Concentrism. Meg2. These all sound cool to me. 🙂
The composition of this piece is remarkable, Meg. So unusual. If your name was not on it, I would have known it was yours immediately. You are developing a very strong,clear, recognizable signature. Your ability to get into the head of a young gay man ( when you are neither of those) is amazing to me. I try again and again and still have trouble writing the young male POV and voice. You have so much talent, kid, I am in awe. Such a painful, heart breaking story.
Thank you for this wonderful comment, Sharron. I've been taking an impromptu crash course of the self these past two years and have learned (with some discomfort) that my heart behaves very much like that of a young person and maybe that's why I feel at home writing in that headspace. It's what I know best. 💜 And while I could never fully occupy the shoes of a young gay man and wholly know his experience, I have worn the shoes of an anxious person with a fragile sense of self-worth for a very, very long time. Some battles within the heart are universal, at least in the way our minds and bodies process those feelings, and that's what I'm always looking for when I write from behind the eyes of someone I'm not.
Thank you for reading. And for your unwavering support and encouragement.
Here's to annihilating that "fragile sense of self-worth" we both suffer from. How much praise do we need to believe in ourselves? I mean, really! IF you find time, I would love your comments on my two posts this morning. Both just one-minute micro-fictions. Once again, I attempted to write from a youthful POV. I don't seek praise here, just any suggestion you might have for improvement. bassanois@cruzio.com It is a very busy time of year, so if you are swamped, ignore me. ha ha ha
HA! I will certainly give them a read. We just returned from an exhausting getaway with the kids, so I may be a few days from formulating suggestions, but I'll get to it for sure.
Re: chronic self-worth fragility - we are stubborn AF, that's the problem. But stubbornness has its merits. We're still here, and still writing... right?? 😉
Right. I can't seem to locate my "log off" button. I have been on at max speed for two years. There seems to be no end to it... They will find me dead under my lap top one of these days.
Thank you, Leo. And you're welcome. I enjoyed the experience of writing this story very much. Yes, we can relate, which is the true beauty of this type of exercise! It's a reminder that we share more than we realize with people who are unique from us. The human experience links us in so many ways.
Well done, Meg! I so enjoyed the way you put this together. Your construct for the narrator made him so relatable. How many of us know what it’s like to be flung from confidence to utter vulnerability as we navigate our worlds and social interactions, to have everything reordered by a simple cruelty.
Thank you, Holly! I agree - the strings that hold us up when we're young and figuring it all out are so thin and taut. It takes a lot for us to trust that they can carry us, only to have them break and let us down again. I felt that familiar fragility in my gut from the moment I read the prompt. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story that came from it. 💜
I'm really blown away by this piece, and so wish I knew the prompt because this feels like the most original piece of writing I've experience in a really long time. It felt like something from a Ted Chiang collection.
Thank you, Troy. I hope I'm not making myself seem considerably less cool by admitting I had to look up who Ted Chaing is, but now I know that he is incredibly cool, so thank you for that immense compliment.
I can't reveal the prompt but will just say it provided the perfect fuel for a "hero's choice" story. Almost a "dark night of the soul" moment if it was pulled out of a longer work and could stand alone.
I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. Thank you for reading and for introducing me to Ted Chiang, who I should be reading, and will be adding to my TBR list immediately.
Heck no. Is there anything cooler than being real? I'm always so put off when someone pretends to know something they don't know. There's no opening there, no place to find and experience the good stuff that discovery creates.
I hope you enjoy Ted's writing. He's special. So are you. Once I work through these 42 short stories Ben gifted to us, I'm coming back to go through your older works.
P.S. You will find many (but not all) of my older works are paywalled now, but I'd be happy to offer you a complimentary library card to access them. Just shoot me an email if you're interested. stockfiction@substack.com
I plan to read all the SWDS stories as well. It's a big undertaking, but I expect it will be worth the effort. The ones I've read so far have been truly excellent.
It so happens my favorite comments to read are ones that start with happy expletives, so THANK YOU, DONNA!! I'm so pleased the story resonated with you. 💜💜💜Keep it with you for as long as you like. My treat!
Have not read this yet (in the middle of YE accounting, gawd) but wanted to draw my little squiggle here in the comment sands and say, how much I love seeing so much engagement and interest in short fiction. When we can take time to read stories by our friends, our colleagues here, it gives me hope for the world.
May the New Year be a bountiful harvest of words for you Meg!
Heartbreaking
💜
So well done. The construct is so cool. Superheartbeatingquickly.gif
Thank you, Jon!
Wonderful read! The emotions and energy were deeply felt.
Cheers, Sage! I'm glad the story resonated with you. Thank you so much for reading!
🙏 Beautifully done, Meg.
Thank you so much, Troy. 💜
I love the way you find new ways to color story with formatting. Such a great device.
Thank you, kindly, friend.
Meg, O Meg, Oh My. This story is a juggernaut. You have such an original voice and a style all your own. You took this horribly painful experience that someone else might have handled too delicately or too faithfully and it would have felt like a Lifetime movie. Instead, you grabbed it, wrestled it to the ground until you were inside the narrator. Then you infused the story with jet fuel to deliver that Meg O. warp-speed pacing. Bravo!
🙏🏼💜🙏🏼💜🙏🏼💜🙏🏼
“...assuming the shirt wouldn’t fit, and I’d have to return it.
But it’s not the fit of the shirt that’s the problem. It’s me.
I don’t fit.” - whatever the term for this technique - more please.
external to internal observational reflection? Too many words... help me name this trick?
When you say the word "technique" I get all shy and quiet like, cuz I didn't know I was applying a technique and maybe I should have known that or at least considered that someone might inquire about it later. 😉 If you're fond of this type of phrase turn, you can call it whatever you like. Omniflection. Reverse mirroring. Concentrism. Meg2. These all sound cool to me. 🙂
I do like Meg2
The composition of this piece is remarkable, Meg. So unusual. If your name was not on it, I would have known it was yours immediately. You are developing a very strong,clear, recognizable signature. Your ability to get into the head of a young gay man ( when you are neither of those) is amazing to me. I try again and again and still have trouble writing the young male POV and voice. You have so much talent, kid, I am in awe. Such a painful, heart breaking story.
Thank you for this wonderful comment, Sharron. I've been taking an impromptu crash course of the self these past two years and have learned (with some discomfort) that my heart behaves very much like that of a young person and maybe that's why I feel at home writing in that headspace. It's what I know best. 💜 And while I could never fully occupy the shoes of a young gay man and wholly know his experience, I have worn the shoes of an anxious person with a fragile sense of self-worth for a very, very long time. Some battles within the heart are universal, at least in the way our minds and bodies process those feelings, and that's what I'm always looking for when I write from behind the eyes of someone I'm not.
Thank you for reading. And for your unwavering support and encouragement.
Here's to annihilating that "fragile sense of self-worth" we both suffer from. How much praise do we need to believe in ourselves? I mean, really! IF you find time, I would love your comments on my two posts this morning. Both just one-minute micro-fictions. Once again, I attempted to write from a youthful POV. I don't seek praise here, just any suggestion you might have for improvement. bassanois@cruzio.com It is a very busy time of year, so if you are swamped, ignore me. ha ha ha
HA! I will certainly give them a read. We just returned from an exhausting getaway with the kids, so I may be a few days from formulating suggestions, but I'll get to it for sure.
Re: chronic self-worth fragility - we are stubborn AF, that's the problem. But stubbornness has its merits. We're still here, and still writing... right?? 😉
Right. I can't seem to locate my "log off" button. I have been on at max speed for two years. There seems to be no end to it... They will find me dead under my lap top one of these days.
There are worse ways. 🥂💛
Love this story! I can relate to this story....I think we call can on some level. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you, Leo. And you're welcome. I enjoyed the experience of writing this story very much. Yes, we can relate, which is the true beauty of this type of exercise! It's a reminder that we share more than we realize with people who are unique from us. The human experience links us in so many ways.
Wow Meg. Amazing story. I'm in awe that you produced this in the time we had!
Thank you, Amanda! 💜
I hope to get to all of the stories in the collection in the next week or so. I look forward to reading your contribution!
Excellent! Thank you.
Thank you!
Well done, Meg! I so enjoyed the way you put this together. Your construct for the narrator made him so relatable. How many of us know what it’s like to be flung from confidence to utter vulnerability as we navigate our worlds and social interactions, to have everything reordered by a simple cruelty.
Thank you, Holly! I agree - the strings that hold us up when we're young and figuring it all out are so thin and taut. It takes a lot for us to trust that they can carry us, only to have them break and let us down again. I felt that familiar fragility in my gut from the moment I read the prompt. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story that came from it. 💜
I've never read anything like this before...
I'm really blown away by this piece, and so wish I knew the prompt because this feels like the most original piece of writing I've experience in a really long time. It felt like something from a Ted Chiang collection.
Very cool and inspiring.
Thank you, Troy. I hope I'm not making myself seem considerably less cool by admitting I had to look up who Ted Chaing is, but now I know that he is incredibly cool, so thank you for that immense compliment.
I can't reveal the prompt but will just say it provided the perfect fuel for a "hero's choice" story. Almost a "dark night of the soul" moment if it was pulled out of a longer work and could stand alone.
I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. Thank you for reading and for introducing me to Ted Chiang, who I should be reading, and will be adding to my TBR list immediately.
Heck no. Is there anything cooler than being real? I'm always so put off when someone pretends to know something they don't know. There's no opening there, no place to find and experience the good stuff that discovery creates.
I hope you enjoy Ted's writing. He's special. So are you. Once I work through these 42 short stories Ben gifted to us, I'm coming back to go through your older works.
Happy New Year!
Awesome!
P.S. You will find many (but not all) of my older works are paywalled now, but I'd be happy to offer you a complimentary library card to access them. Just shoot me an email if you're interested. stockfiction@substack.com
I plan to read all the SWDS stories as well. It's a big undertaking, but I expect it will be worth the effort. The ones I've read so far have been truly excellent.
🥂 Happy New Year!
Holy shit (scuse this language) my mind is blown! This is absolutely amazing and heartbreaking and will stay with me forever.
Well done Meg, well done👏👏👏
It so happens my favorite comments to read are ones that start with happy expletives, so THANK YOU, DONNA!! I'm so pleased the story resonated with you. 💜💜💜Keep it with you for as long as you like. My treat!
ATMOSPHERE: WOWED
ARMOR: ... recalibrating ...
MENTAL HEALTH: … BETTER …
EMOTIONAL HEALTH: … CHALLENGED …
MISSION UPDATE: RESTACK
TIME REMAINING: LIFTOFF
Cheers, Adam! MENTAL HEALTH: BOUYED.
Have not read this yet (in the middle of YE accounting, gawd) but wanted to draw my little squiggle here in the comment sands and say, how much I love seeing so much engagement and interest in short fiction. When we can take time to read stories by our friends, our colleagues here, it gives me hope for the world.
May the New Year be a bountiful harvest of words for you Meg!
Thank you, Birgitte! 💜🥂💜🥂💜🥂🍫❤️🍫❤️🍫❤️