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!
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.
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.
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.
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
Wonderful read! The emotions and energy were deeply felt.
🙏 Beautifully done, Meg.
I love the way you find new ways to color story with formatting. Such a great device.
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.
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.
Love this story! I can relate to this story....I think we call can on some level. Thank you for writing it.
Wow Meg. Amazing story. I'm in awe that you produced this in the time we had!
Excellent! 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.
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.
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👏👏👏
ATMOSPHERE: WOWED
ARMOR: ... recalibrating ...
MENTAL HEALTH: … BETTER …
EMOTIONAL HEALTH: … CHALLENGED …
MISSION UPDATE: RESTACK
TIME REMAINING: LIFTOFF
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!