Everyone, maybe we should just stick with email requests for the stories we've written, rather than requesting in this topic.

Additionally, in my case, be sure to put "hatrack" in your email subject so it will always bypass my spam filter. In fact, that's a good idea for all email communications between all of us here on Hatrack -- it makes it really easy to see where an email is coming from if we don't recognize an address.

And yes, as HSO says, please make requests for reads by emailing the submitter directly through their email link.

Strangely, biscuits are the equivalent of American cookies, but they can also be a type of cracker. And a common thing to do here is butter your crackers (biscuits) when having cheese and crackers. I suspect the ad is referring to that much, but as for its true meaning: no idea.

To answer your question, mikemunsill, at the end of the month, once everyone has submitted, I'm planning on starting a thread on Open Discussions for everyone to talk about what we've accomplished and for non-participating readers to let us know what they thought. We can chat for a while, then hit the pubs (or ice cream parlors here in Utah where we get fat instead of drunk) to celebrate.

I've done my best to be a proper missionary: I've converted many a soul to the wonders of Ranch on pizza... I fear this will be a life-long mission.

This sure is fun and really quite challenging.

And to HSO:

Dakota: Unfortunately, childbearing can and often does change a woman's metabolism and body such as you described. Coupled with the fact that women do store fat more easily than men (for the reason of having children) as you suggested [genetics], it's often unavoidable to put on extra weight. You're body is readying itself for a fourth, I suspect. But rest assured in the knowledge that you've had 3 miracles...

Well, depending on one's perspective, miracles may be the wrong word.

http://www.brandrepublic.com/digitalbulletin/news_story.cfm?articleID=212234&Origin=DB28052004

That's when Texas corporate executives butter their buttocks with a particular type of salad dressing, mistakenly thinking that it will make them more palatable to each other as they proceed on their interminable rounds of butt-kissing. At their self-congratulatory rodeos (Vietnam vets insert the appropriate pithy phrase here) they can even end up in a daisy-chain with their heads all inserted and all loudly proclaiming that they can see light at the end of the tunnel.

Unfortunately, that behavior has also spread to the rest of corporate America.

Actually, I would have had six or seven little miracles by now. Unfortunately, my body not only doesn't know how to lose weight, it also doesn't know how to have a healthy pregnancy. I was in bed for a month with # 3. A number four could mean the end of me. Literally.

Ah, well. I can enjoy the three I have with greater energy.

Sure, it's not being published, but it's worthwhile, in my opinion. You'll be able to link your family and friends to your story -- those that have internet access, that is; most probably do these days. [How much has changed in ten years? Makes me think back to when I first read Ender's Game in '90 and I thought: Wow, what a novel concept OSC has come up with... little did I know then that it was already happening. Now look at us? We're nearly there, if not already.]

Basically, there's no reason why we can't compile our stories into some sort of website if everyone agrees. 'Course that could be the hard part... but let's cross that bridge when we get to it.

[Earth to Kathleen! Earth to Kathleen! Houston calling!]

That said, I have a largely unused website parked at www.munsil.net that I'll offer up, complete with a forum. We can either modify the index page completely, or put a link to the anthology on that page, as people want, OR if nobody wants to do that, I'll pay for a year for a hosted site, if other folks will compensate me with website maintenance, continued good humor, advice and or salacious stories...

Anyway, I'd have to check with OSC about you all using the Hatrack name--it's the name of his publishing company, and I don't think he'd appreciate you doing any publishing in its name without his permission.

figured that would get her attention

quote:

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The story is set in Bridgetown, which is reached by taking the 3rd way off a major bridge located near a mid-sized human town, somewhere in the countryside. That is, in a world sideways to ours. The occupants of Bridgetown are just your ordinary fantastical creatures, trolls, wereanimals, vampires, etc. who are mostly active at night, and sleep during the day. Although, they have their own who prefer daylight, their daywalkers are strictly in the minority. Also, the inhabitants of Bridgetown are not averse to plying their wares and services, and slaking their appetites, on each other, as the occasion suits their individual temperaments.

The Gruff family includes Billie, a late teenage adrenaline-addicted female who makes money as a gravedigger, her older brother Willy, by occupation a 'perverse' strangler, and their oldest brother William, a bartender and poisoner. None of which makes them fantastical creatures, except that their family also runs to weregoats. It's a family trait.

The bridge is very important, because it is the only 'official' path from their world to ours, and they cannot exist without the trade (mostly in services and exotics) with humans, and of course, the occasional snack or two of human flesh that some of the more 'savage' were indulge in. There are other paths, but they are smuggler's routes and are dangerous, difficult, and what is worse, expensive routes to and from the human world.

At the start of the story, Willie has been approached by a stranger while sitting in the Gruff family bar, indulging in a mid-morning quaff of brew before hitting the sack. The stranger has heard that the Bridge is temporarily closed and the Gruffs had something to do with it, and wanted to know the whole story. Willy has yet once again been sucked into trying to clear up one of Billie's messes, and eventual William is drawn into the fray to defend the family name. No one EVER wants William involved, as his solutions tend to be somewhat drastic, and in any case, he's the bartender at the most popular bar in town, not to mention a poisoner. Wisest to stay on his good side.

---

Now, once I figure out how to get all that worked in, the story will read better.

One thing that stuck in my craw was that they keep trade routes open with the humans but still snack on them occasionally. So why don't the humans all cut off trade with these horrid creatures who are using them for their steaks and chops and ground...well, ground human, I suppose? Doesn't seem all that smart, let alone good business, to me. Maybe if there were a few unscrupulous humans who managed the trade with this world and maybe even provided the odd tasty morsel for the beasts? I just don't think I buy that these things leave their world for trade--hunting, sure, at night, under cover.

Geez, I'm rambling. But I guess the picture I'm getting from your outline is that these critters head on out to the human world on market day to sell their wares. And it doesn't seem to put any kind of damper on that activity when they creatures once in a while bung off with a tender juicy child or two once in a while.

quote:

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HSO, what's with the billboards in London that say, "Butter my bottom and call me a bisuit?" I love the phrase and have no idea what it means.

---

I was just reading back through the thread and came upon this. I didn't think much of it at the time but my interpretation would be that it is an exclaimation of disbelief like:

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle.
Hog tie me to the correction line.
Well I'll be gosh darned.

Something like that anyways.
-----
Mikemunsil,

Would it only be the were-animals who participate in commerce between the two worlds as they can pass for human? This could also be great hunting stratgy, however, I'm not sure how much of that will play into your story.

quote:

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One thing that stuck in my craw was that they keep trade routes open with the humans but still snack on them occasionally. So why don't the humans all cut off trade with these horrid creatures who are using them for their steaks and chops and ground...well, ground human, I suppose? Doesn't seem all that smart, let alone good business, to me. Maybe if there were a few unscrupulous humans who managed the trade with this world and maybe even provided the odd tasty morsel for the beasts? I just don't think I buy that these things leave their world for trade--hunting, sure, at night, under cover.

---

I figured that mostly human appearing Bridgetowners used the trading route (main bridge) to trade and sell their skills. But, as among us, there are also predators, and they sneak across when they can, to prey upon the humans. This gives rise to the human tales of werewolves, etc. The Bridgetowners know about the 3rd way onto and off the bridge, but keep it secret, as that way they can collect all the tolls. The only humans that cross are those who wander over by accident, which is a one-way trip. The troll is there to enforce the bridge policies, and act as backup to the dreaded 'accountants' (a distinct and unsavory subspecies) as they collect the tolls.

Robyn_Hood

quote:

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Would it only be the were-animals who participate in commerce between the two worlds as they can pass for human? This could also be great hunting stratgy, however, I'm not sure how much of that will play into your story.

---

No, I figure that the humans that wandered over and stayed, also trade. And I thought that some obviously non-humans would also cross, but not at the main bridge, which is patrolled and taxed. I hadn’t intended for the predation to play a part in this story, but it will in future stories set in this mini-verse.

All

You are hereby invited to ‘play’ in Bridgetown, if you so desire.

And huge!

How hard is it shaping up to be to keep this under 3000 words?

Anybody who has suffered through reading some of my 'writing' knows that too many words is the LAST thing I need to worry about. Unless it's a prologue, of course.

AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS STORY IS AVAILABLE

Revisions should probably be completed as close to the deadline as possible. If it takes a couple of days longer it won't be the end of the world, as long as we have a version to begin discussion.

If someone is planning on trying to publish their story, or expanding their work into a longer, possibly novel-length work, should that one offer their tale for inclusion into the anthology?

I know at least one person indicated their story was the beginning of their WIP, and I have some ideas for expanding mine.

Susan

Yes, I think all revisions should be finished by the 31st, because some of us (me for one) might be more interested in moving on to another challenge rather than spending another MINUTE revising this one. But we'll have to make it clearer in future challenge rules that stories and revisions will be due by the deadline.

(My sister gave me a great idea for a new challenge--I'll reveal it in later discussions.) Or would that make me an unreliable narrator?

(I wish I could make the letters bigger)

ONE MORE DAY!!!!