My 100 Comments On 100 Stories By 100 Writers. Part 4–31 To 40
What I said about what everyone wrote (often while being on the wrong side of a gallon of Belgian lager). Including links to all the stories.
#31 David B. Clear. When Medium Dreams Come True
“Brilliant. The facial expressions are awesome. It seems he may never wake up……Oh dear.
Of course, if that were my dream there would be an extra frame where I notice that I’m naked.
It seems to be a common theme in my dreams. My missus says it’s because I’m a twat.”
#32 KiKi Walter. Gin & Tonic
“You’ll have to forgive me, but I had to go away and read your “about me” page because it wasn’t clear, to me anyway, if this was an actual “memoir” piece or fiction. It was very dreamy.
Tell me, as a memoirist, do you find that your “I” key is the most worn out?”
#33 - Rayne Sanning. On the Other Side of Giants
“That was a really good read. Well-constructed descriptive expression and relatable emotion. It took me about 25 seconds to care about the girl, at the point the parent meeting was described (very good scene). Strong fiction, like this, is thin on the ground on this platform. I will follow and read more of your work. Cheers.”
#34 - Rowen Veratome. To the Corporate Entity Formerly Known as Facebook
“I knew this was going to happen. You see, I took it upon myself to leave a response to every article in this 100 Stories series. I was prepared for this moment, when I would have to read through a whole article, about something I had no knowledge of, even at a cursory level.
I am (who isn’t) aware of Facebook’s name change and it went in one ear and out the other (as my old Nanna used to say). One thing I could take away from this is, the next time I’m in the pub and someone says “That twat Zuckerberg is a fucking megalomaniac.”. I can reply “Nah mate, he’s a fucking Metamegalomaniac, it’s a Jungian thing”. Then lean back in my chair and soak in the adulation.
I know none of that is correct but those blokes in the pub know even less than I do and I will be king for an evening. Maybe a Meta-King even.
Congratulations on knowing so many multisyllabic words beginning with M, Me, Met, Meta.”
#35 - Kristen Stark. Don’t Believe the Lies: The Truth Behind My Social Media Posts
Kristen replied with this link: https://tenor.com/view/succession-logan-fuck-off-gif-14825511
This brief exchange followed and she sent me a new video: https://tenor.com/view/robert-redford-jeremiah-johnson-nodding-yes-nod-of-approval-gif-21066931
#36 Liam M. 9 Tips to Become a Better Liar
“This is an amazing article. No honestly it really is. I just love how you break down all the necessary mechanisms for lying. It’s also hilarious, probably one of the funniest things ever written on Medium.
I just love everything you’ve written, all the way back to October 2020. I’m particularly impressed with your insight regarding crypto. I only said to the missus the other day;
“I can’t wait to get back home so I can read more crypto stuff by Liam M.”
“But you’ve got a ticket to the Spurs V Arsenal match, which kicks off in an hour,” she replied.
“Yeah but there’s too many black people in the crowds these days and Liam said we’re all racist so I can’t go anymore. Anyway, Liam’s crypto stuff is more exciting.” I told her.
“Ha Ha, you’re crazy, you’ve been going on about how amazing Liam M is for weeks now.”
She’s not wrong, honestly, what am I like?
I love all your stuff about Britain or is it England, sometimes it isn’t clear, but anyway who cares, you’re so insightful about it. My God, I would so shit myself if I was able to come and live with you in New Zealand. We could visit all the places where they filmed Lord Of The Rings and then we could have a traditional NZ threesome with a sheep or something as cool as that.
Hey, what’s the obsession with Pinocchio? Not that that’s wrong I love him too. Everything I say here is a fact, and if it’s a fact tell me; am I lying?”
#37 - Bridget Stella Ruxton Wilson. Belinda And Her Pearls
“You’ll have to forgive me but I’m not a reader of erotica per se. However, I have committed myself to read and comment on, all of the 100 stories by 100 writers. On that basis, I have to confess that I’m not qualified to critique the quality of this story.
You obviously have a great deal of energy for the subject and your (written) voice is welcoming to the eye. You’re obviously a skilled writer. I wish I could focus on a short period of time in such great detail like that. Cheers.”
#38 Marsha Adams. In Black and White
“I think you must be the Marsha who Smillew recommended to me last week or so. Hello there. I’m doing a series in line with the 100 Stories By 100 Writers series. Basically, I read every story each day, write a response and publish them in blocks of ten.
I had to admit, yesterday, that I didn’t read much erotica, even though I’m happy to include some in my stories. As I read your story it sounded like the voice of a British person, perhaps even English. I might be mistaken by that but I did go and look at your home page to see if I could find out. I read some more of your stories and I’m convinced I’m right.
Anyway, for what it’s worth (I’m not remotely qualified to have a valid opinion frankly), I very much like the way you write and I stayed invested to the end. I noted that you don’t consider yourself to be an out-and-out writer of erotica per se, and I can clearly see that from your other stories. I will definitely read more of your work. Nice to meet you (sort of). Cheers.”
#39 - Emily Wilcox. The “All-or-Nothing” Way to Intentional Attention
I’m not very good with articles like this. It’s not your fault Emily, it’s mine. The first half was about stuff I know nothing of. I’m not on Instagram or Twitter. I haven’t posted on Facebook since, well, I can’t remember. I have never looked at TikTok. All of that stuff is, essentially just shit.
The bit about reading books, and watching movies over and over, I already do. I love cooking and, absolutely, do everything I can to perfect recipes. My chicken gravy is the best thing in the world, end of.
Where I got lost in the article and, perhaps, where I become the inattentive person you’re aiming at, is when it all becomes “You need to do this”, “You need to do that”, or “Take time to do the other”. It’s the kind of life hack/self-improvement stuff that just makes me glaze over.
By the time I’ve finished writing this response, it’s all gone in one ear and out the other. By the time I’ve done my work day, sorted out all my five kids’ problems, made sure my disabled mother-in-law’s needs are being catered for, spent some time with my wife and cooked dinner for everyone, I’m left wondering whether I need a shit, shave or haircut.
Can I come and live in your world?
#40 - Holly J See 🐩🐕 [she/her]. My Chances of Surviving the End of the World As We Know It
“I have tried to start this response several times since, about, 22:00 (UK time) last night. I gave up at 23:30 and went to bed. It is now 05:40 and I’m up to prepare for work (it usually takes me a couple of hours to inject enough coffee to get motivated).
The reason it has been so hard, to get started with this, is that I don’t find anything about this article endearing.
I appreciate that ostensibly, this kind of article is supposed to be funny, but for me, it just isn’t. I also appreciate that this is derived from something on MuddyUm, which is, again, ostensibly supposed to be funny, but, once again, for me isn’t. When I think of MuddyUm, I imagine an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite amount of excrement, and an infinite amount of time to throw it at a massive foghorn.
I was lost the moment I had to read a word in the second sentence which doesn’t exist in the English language, not even in that pretend American one”