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That truly is THE most encouraging thing to say to a writer emerging from his cautiousness about saying that's what he wants to be

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Ooooooh ... dark.... 👍

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Sometimes it is fun to peer into the darkness!

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Magnificent, chilling.

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My word, that's a fabulously encouraging note to wake to. A thousand thanks

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My pleasure. I enjoyed this a lot.

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Unexpected. In a good way! 🙏

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Perfect ... what I was trying for

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Jul 9, 2023Liked by Feasts and Fables

Really love this one Barry 😀

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Really appreciate that, Andy. The word constraint is a great push to sharpen the editing. Learning as I go.

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What Owen Swain said... Great stuff.

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That means a lot, Matt. Thank you ... nice to see you over here.

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Jul 22, 2023Liked by Feasts and Fables

I loved this! So evocative in so few words and an excellent ending.

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Thank you. So sorry I missed this comment at the time.

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Perhaps personal diaries should remain just that? This is the perfect story Barrie, everything necessary is there! Bravo..🙌🏽

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That's genuinely THE most encouraging of things to say ... a lovely boost as I ponder the prompts on my list and wonder what might emerge next. Fictional diaries are the perfect entrée for a mystery to unfold, dark secrets, trails of breadcrumbs ... so many ways to take a story. Thank you for the positivity, Susie

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The 100 word limit is great! I'm a big believer in the idea that constraints drive creativity. I look forward to more of these!

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Paradoxically, I find that the restraint is a freedom. Thanks for the encouragement.

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Smooth read that draws you in before the surprise, love it!

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Very kind, thank you

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Oooof. This is good. So good I put my hand up to cover my mouth on reading that last sentence. Like I’ve just been told a shocking secret which I must not speak of. Love this.

I decided a long time ago that I’d like to write a book but didn’t have the skills or stylistic presence to write an entire novel (or the patience) and found that this format exactly suits that. None of mine are this good yet though. What a joy.

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My goodness - thank you for sharing that ... I’m such a beginner, to hear that reaction is SO encouraging. I do like the freedom that the 100-word restriction offers. I sometimes see it as a training ground for longer pieces, a warm up ... also a chance to test ideas and characters. I must have a peek at yours. B

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I’ve kept them to myself so far but I think you’ve just given me the nudge I needed to start sharing. Thank you.

I think that’s great as long as the test bed is for yourself and not to gauge popularity. So many amazing films were ruined by test audience reactions and subsequent tweaks because they just weren’t quite the right audience. Didn’t mean there wasn’t an audience that would have loved that movie, just that the right eyes weren’t on it. It’s nice to breathe life into something for yourself though and see if it’s something you feel love and enthusiasm for.

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Sounds selfish, but always for me ... sometimes the characters shout up and demand a little more but I’ve not been brave enough to expand any of the stories yet. Maybe this is the push I need too. Thank you. I’ll keep an eye out for yours.

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That’s not selfish, that’s creative development. We are all Polaroids that need a bit of shaking. Though there’s much debate over whether you should indeed “shake it like a Polaroid picture” and I’m an Instax user. So perhaps not the best analogy.

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I just subscribed so I don’t miss any more of yours. Interested in what pushed her over the edge to do it. There are so many possible motives!

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Aw, thanks so much for peeking in.

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That was good. The ending is perfectly dark.

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Aw, thank you so much

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