Just Believe: A 100 Word Story

Photo by Lisa Ruokis
CC license

Just Believe

A 100 word story by Scott Hughey

Belief is reality, or so the Extreminators teach.  I can’t take the risk.  In five minutes, every Extreme member will believe humanity never existed.  My job is to stop them.

No, I’m not joking.  They’ve already used group belief to wipe Monthia off the map.  Never heard of it?  They claim that proves their point.  I don’t know, a continent or something.  Check their website.

I have one team believing humans exist.  Another thinks the Extremes are nuts.  A third believes in objective truth.  Let’s hope its enough.  Me?  No, I don’t think it’ll work.  

It’s time.  Let’s see if

Guest Post by C.C. Dowling: Everyone's a Critic

C.C. Dowling delighted me when she agreed to do another guest post for me. She's a fantastic writer, and she uses the word "amazeballs" a lot. Oh, and I'm probably outing her by saying this, but I've finally managed to turn her into a Doctor Who fan too. Thanks C.C. Sorry, I lost your paypal account. Again.

Everyone’s A Critic
by C.C. Dowling

@CCDowling

Ever realize how finding the right critique partner (A.K.A. CP) is kinda like dating?

No? Well, if you’re a writer, you should try it. Finding a CP, that is. I’ll leave the dating advice to another blog.

Finding a CP that is congruent with your style, personality, and craft level is crucial to being a successful writer. I don’t care who you are. Every single one of us has craft issues that we can’t see in our own writing. Why? Because we’re too close to it.

Sorta like how your partner can’t see that the last argument they had with you was completely their fault.

But I digress.

When you’re in a relationship like a writer is with their work, it’s difficult to take a step back and see it for what it really is. Whatever that “really is” may be. That’s where CPs come in. But where to find one?

When you’re dating, there are a TON of sites available to you, depending on what type of relationship you’re looking for. But where to find a CP is less clear.

Side note: Someone really should develop a website called CPMatch.Com. And hey, if this exists, or anything like it, please leave the website in the comments!

I can tell you what worked for me. That might work for you, and it might not. And, it might lead to an even better idea you come up with. If that happens, again, there’s a comment section for a reason. You can thank me there.

If you read the last guest post I wrote, you probably know what I’m going to say. If you haven’t read it, then you can find it here: Three Lessons To Keep Your Readers Up At Night.

Yeah, you guessed it. Twitter. I found almost all of my CPs through Twitter. The writing community on there is amazeballs. Aside from straight up hashtags like #critiquepartner, there are tons of contests. And when you enter them, and you stalk lurk keep up with the threads, you’ll see that people are offering to read your first 250 or your query, if you read theirs.

Heck, you can even offer it first. It’s your writing career. Grab it where it counts.

By doing it this way, you’ll get to:

A.) See what else is out there.  

B.) Test out someone’s material and critiquing style before making a major commitment.            

C.) Meet other writers.

This is the picture Jerry uses for
The Ubergroup. Don't worry. I
don't know what it is either.

The meeting other writers is important. In doing so, I met fellow author Jerry Quinn (@bewarethejabb) who runs a fantastic group on Scribophile (http://www.scribophile.com/) called Ubergroup, where I met the fabulous, and awesomesauce talent of Scott Hughey.

Side note: Scott, payments can be made via PayPal.

It’s also fair that I point out I met my very first CP, and just an all-around great writer, @ABSevan, through a Writer’s Digest first ten pages bootcamp. WD offers all kinds of online resources and classes where you can meet other writers in your genre, and at your level. Check them out (@WritersDigest  www.writersdigest.com.)

Okay, I think I’m done plugging everyone.

Bottom line is, as writers, we need someone who will tell it like it is, matches our talent, and provides useful feedback. Personally, I like my CPs to be straight up honest. Scratch through my crap with a red sharpie, and pat me on the back when I deserve it.

Everyone’s CP needs are different. Just like in a relationship, you want someone who pushes you to grow, meets you where you need them to, compliments your strengths and weaknesses, and wants to see you succeed.

How do you CP? Leave a comment to let us know.

---

C.C. Dowling lives in America’s finest city, San Diego, with her toddler (who plays in the yard with Faeries), her husband (the financial shaman), her Aussie (with mesmerizing blue eyes), and a pet dragon (who is the real reason the neighbor’s dog barks incessantly at night). 

When she’s not working in the field of neuroscience, she’s writing fantastical short stories and novels about blood-drinkers, shape-shifters, soul reapers, and demons hell-bent on redemption. You can find her on Twitter at @CCDowling.

1st Quarter 2014 Writers of the Future Initial Results

http://www.writersofthefuture.com/1st-quarter-2014-writers-of-the-future-initial-results/

Here's the list of Finalists, Semi-Finalists and Honorable Mentions for the 1st Quarter WOTF contest. Quick math with tell you that there were 116 honorable mentions (minus any that requested their name not be listed, or who didn't respond.)

Anybody who can't stand math can skip the next two paragraphs, but you'll still have to count to two.

I wish I knew how many people entered the contest, but those numbers aren't reported. However, I've read that somewhere between 5% to 15% of the entries receive HMs depending on (wait for it) how many good stories they receive.

Using the 116 HMs and the 5% number, that works out to 2320 entries. The number of HMs is probably higher, which would bring the number of entries higher. The percentage is probably higher too, which lowers the actual number of entries. Nevertheless, I'm confident in saying that thousands of people entered the contest, so being one of 115 HMs isn't too shabby. It's a start, at least. I'm aiming higher though.

Anyway, those of you who are DYING to see my name on the list (like I was) will find it 56 names down on the HM list.

Those who can't be bothered to look it up can see copied and pasted here:
Scott Hughey of North Carolina

I aim to please. Well, I aim to please myself, if nothing else.

The happiness of receiving the HM has faded, and I've gone back to concentrating on improving my craft. In fact, just this week I finished my entry for the 2nd quarter. It's vastly improved over the previous entry. Of course, writers are the worst judges of their own work, so what do I know?

Okay. Back to the novel. And maybe another short story or three.

24: Day 9- Live Another Day 11:00 - Noon - 1:00 pm

We interrupt your normally scheduled writing blog to bring you- my impressions of 24: Live Another Day. This is the first and second hour.

Warning: I'll do my best to keep them limited, but there will be spoilers. Update: By the 19:54 mark, I pretty much gave up on not including spoilers.

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0:27- I'm having a hard time breathing. Jack Bauer isn't on the screen, but 24 is!!! I'm dancing on the inside. I'd dance on the outside too, but the restraining order is pretty specific.

1:01- It's Sarah Walker from Chuck! Ok, I found out just yesterday that Yvonne Strahovski played a CIA agent in this season. Good thing too, or the surprise would have been too much. As it is, I'm doing my best to refrain from Chuck references. Maybe they should call this episode Sarah vs the Raging Force of Nature that is Jack Bauer.

3:44- JACK! Guess who's back? Back again? Jack is back. Tell a friend.


6:32- The following takes place between 11:05 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. Are they going to say "Events occur in real time" too? I love it when they say that.

6:37- Yes! He said it! Also, at this point I realize that my use of the streaming video clock for my time is not going to be accurate once we get past the first commercial. I shouldn't have to do math while watching 24. In fact, I'm not. After all, it's not 6:37 in 24 time is it? It'd be 11:06 and 37 seconds. So there. I'm using my video player's clock.

7:10- James Heller is president? Great call, but that spells trouble for Jack. I'd diverge into a writing post at this point, but then I'd have to stop watching.

8:28- Don't worry Mr. President. I couldn't remember your name either until I looked it up online.

Commercial Break 

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14:59- Heh. He looks like Milo

16:30- Sarah is... I mean Kate is being set up as a sympathetic and smart hero. So obviously, that means I'm suspecting her of being a double agent. Thanks Nina. You ruined it for everyone.

17:25- Sorry Kate. It's "by whom," not "by who." What are you trying to pull here?

19:54- Oh man. Jack's not going to take that well. Unless.... I assumed he was trying to stop an assassination attempt, but maybe he's there to rescue Chloe?

Commercial Break 

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23:01- Of course there's an alternative.

23:51- "As long as she lives, she'll never hear the name 'Jack Bauer.'" Pfft.

26:56- I knew I would like Kate. She's a younger, cuter, female Jack. Sort of.

28:33- This guy is either incompetent, or he's helping Jack.

Commercial Break 

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29:10- I said that Kate was like a young Jack. If I really believed that, I'd have seen this coming. Of course she wouldn't go quietly.

31:10- I love it when Jack is in control. And Jack is always in control.

35:50- How is it that we got this far into the episode before a single explosion? It's like they're not even trying anymore. Bam!

35:55- Wow. How did he know? Hmm. Actually, at first I was super impressed, but now that I've typed it- how did he know where to have the accomplice fire the explosion? I guess that's where he was planning to escape anyway. It's mighty convenient. I'll let it slide once, because as I said, Jack's always in control. But you only get one of those.

Commercial Break 

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41:00- Letting Chloe try to get somewhere on her own is going to up the drama, but it feels reckless.

43:10- I love the way the hours end. Always have. Always will. Even if it stretches my suspension of disbelief that you can have a super dramatic moment at the end of every hour.

End Hour 1 - Commercial Break 

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44:13- Chloe is wandering the streets of London. If Chloe were still working for the government, she could track herself using surveillance video and traffic cams. Doesn't London have traffic cams? She really should have stayed with Jack.

47:59- "He broke you out? That's impossible."
"Not for him."

48:50ish- Okay. Now I don't have as much problem with Jack letting her roam the streets looking for a safe place. I guess he really doesn't have any friends.

49:45- I love it. Back in time 19:54... I was right on both counts. Either they're transparent, or I've watched way too much 24 in my life. Or maybe, that's not an "or" statement.

51:54- You can tell these are bad guys because they're listening to rap music.

Commercial Break 

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59:58- Jack says this is bigger than Heller. And of course it is. Can't wait to see how big the stakes get.

1:00:38- Come on Chloe. Do you really believe that?

1:01:42 Chloe: "I think you should talk to someone in the government." Yeah. I do too. But then, Jack is almost always right. The saying, "You don't know Jack" literally means, "You don't know how to get everything right 99.9% of the time."

1:02:22- Okay. Prediction. Yates is going to target the hacker organization with the military drones. You heard it here first. Well, unless I'm right and you watched the episode already.

Commercial Break 

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1:04:35- I've always liked Heller's character. It feels like he's mistaken here. I hope I'm mistaken too. I'm not though, so good job on the creators of 24 for building the drama.

1:08:53- Wow. This was a quick segment.

Commercial Break 

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1:11:31- Great scene. This is the best scene without Jack so far. (Every scene with Jack is the best scene.) You could cut the tension with a harsh comment.

1:12:37- OF COURSE she can cut off the feed to the camera in the rear. It's like you haven't known her for 6 other seasons now. Oh wait, I get it. It's exposition. Okay, carry on.

1:13:35- Hang in there man. *snicker*

1:14:57- Jack, making a deal: "Not for his life. For your's." This is going to be one of those classic Bauer moments.

1:17:50- Great. Now he's going to be wounded for the rest of the day. Come on! How do you wound a force of nature?

Commercial Break 

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1:19:45- Doh! Older Jack -  1. Younger & Cuter Female Jack - 0

1:20:12- That was weird. Of course, in London, the traffic and steering wheels are on the wrong side. But telling Chloe to "move over" while running towards what felt like the passenger side disoriented me.

1:20:17- Sorry Mr. CIA guy who just yelled, "We got a man down!" Kate is CLEARLY a woman. Don't they give vision tests to field agents?

1:20:42- Oh good. It just grazed him. He won't be wounded for the rest of the day.

---

Overall impression: I love that 24 is back.
Snarky comment: Sure. Blame the black guy.

Writing and the Gym

WARNING: The following post contains generalizations. It is also comprised of an observation that is so obvious, I'm convinced the comparison has been made several times before. If you wade through the stuff about exercise, you'll eventually get to the observation about writing. It's there. You just have to humor me for a bit longer than usual. Viewer discretion is advised.

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I've been going to the gym, and believe me, the facilities have everything. You can take any number of classes, work with a personal trainer, lift free weights, swim laps in the pool, workout on the various machines, and so on.

The complex is massive, and it doesn't matter what time I go there. There's always multiple people there working out. It would be inspiring, if I didn't prefer working out alone. But, I digress.

Here's a typical workout for me. I'll warm up for 5-8 minutes on an elliptical machine, gradually increasing the resistance. For the last 3 minutes or so, I do intervals of high intensity and low intensity (HIIT for those of you in the know.)

From here, I move to weights. I'll create a circuit of different muscle groups and do as much weight as I can on them up to 12 reps. As soon as I finish one of these, I move immediately to the next. It keeps the heart rate up. Also, each station uses different muscle groups so I can continue to work hard. I'll complete this circuit of each station 3-5 times (depending on how many stations I've set up.)

After all this, I change and go to the pool for laps. According to an authority as knowledgeable as Google, swimming is an almost perfect exercise. It uses muscle fibers from the entire body, using continual resistance.  In fact, on days that I can't do the entire workout I've detailed here, I'll just swim.

The point of my workout is to get the maximum benefit from my time.  Not everybody feels this way. Here come the generalizations.

Every visit to the gym, I see people come in and do nothing. Well, that's not fair. They lounge. They talk and
socialize. This is common behavior in most gyms actually, though I've never understood it. I didn't even notice it at this gym, until I went to the pool.

The area boasts a 3 lane lap pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, and a steam room. They're all used for socializing more than exercising.

At least one of them used it as an opportunity to pick up women. Women love this. Ladies, am I right? That's why the young woman in question left the area so quickly. She was playing hard to get.

It's possible that some of the people in there have completed workouts. Some of them look quite fit. Others... don't. But they play in the pool, soak in the jacuzzi, and hang out in the sauna. In fact, I've never seen the sauna with less than four people in it.

I've seen them do this for over an hour. They do nothing but relax from before I start my workouts until sometime after I'm done. These people are paying top dollar (I'm not, thanks to my nephew who got me a great deal on the membership) to come to a gym and hang out.

What's the point? Does it make them feel like they're getting fit, to simply be around the equipment?

Here's the comparison. Lot's of writers do the same thing. Heck, I've done the same thing.

I've spent plenty of time thinking about writing, talking about it, reading about it, and daydreaming about what life as a full time writer would be.

Writing is like exercise though. It is, in fact, a craft exercise. The more you do, the better you get at it.

Spending time at the gym relaxing is fine. After a workout, I've gone to the steam room and jacuzzi. The sauna is too crowded. But, and this is key, I've done this after the real work is completed. Otherwise, I wouldn't get the exercise needed to become fit.

Spending time socializing with writers, thinking & talking about the writing, and so on is fine. Doing it, and thinking that you're exercising your writing muscles is no better than spending hours at the gym doing nothing.