This story is sharp AF, lyrical as rap, and more politically insightful than punditry. The group voice is masterfully done. The whole thing is funny, complicit, afraid, and tender. Esmerelda and Temi shine. Beautiful, brutal, deeply British. I heart this one back, heavy. Audio was soooooo dope. perfect extra layer that matched the form to the content.
This was fucking amazing. I'm glad it made it out of the short story workshop and into the wild. Everything I could possibly say about the piece was said better by ARC. So I'll just say, what he said.
Same to you brother, doing alright. Gonna see how big a mess I can make out of an idealized community emergency fund! Sadly between editing contracts and my brain being a slurry that's gone through a Vitamix industrial strength blender, and apparently a tornado almost landed on my head the other day, I've had little time for applied personal creative pursuits, aside from one piece of flash in the form of an email that paradoxically I think is now my most read Substack piece?! (truly strange.) And I saw you've been making a knife!
Ah as always ARC acts as the dowsing rod for quality - this is such a delight - so relatable, so very English (rather than British IMO), a grand Greek Epic resplendent with a full chorus... listen to the Audio - this is some of the best I've heard - the time taken, the tone, the production laid to perfection. So very happy to hear this on a Friday. Loved it.
There's something wonderful in the way this work of fiction wears the veneer of a personal essay-- perhaps the perfect approach for the time in which we live.
Walked in the door with no expectations, now I can't find my head. I'm writing this with body memory. Who knew amazement had such a sharp edge? Handle.
ARC's feedback is sharp AF, to borrow a phrase from someone insightful and with an ear down with the real, where the music is.
brilliant writing! loved every minute of it :)) and will listen to the audio when I get the chance - read it in the library procrastinating studying, so not really the time or place! I look forward to getting round to it though!
Wow, superbly written! I really enjoyed this! Actually reminded me of something that happened to me last weekend. Maybe I'll turn it into a short story as well.
this was so excellent & the voiceover heightened the experience. not to takeaway from the cultural specificity but this piece would be timely for Americans too. Shauna/Siobhan reminded me of our “Karen”
on the contrary, the “karen” comparison doesn’t take away anything as much as reveals how unvarying certain behaviours are. thanks for reading and listening, alexis
oh man oh man this was wonderful, the voice acting and ambience as a whole reminded me so much of disco elysium which if you're unfamiliar with is very high praise. the subject matter is as potent today as it was when you wrote it, perhaps even moreso. may j.k rowling and her ilk find whats coming for them
i'm having a "baader meinhof" moment because the blacksmith i forged my knife with this week told me about "disco elysium" and it sounded great. i forgot to make a note of it so thank you for the reminder, for listening and for the kind words as of late, brother. i join you in your curse of rowling.
This story is sharp AF, lyrical as rap, and more politically insightful than punditry. The group voice is masterfully done. The whole thing is funny, complicit, afraid, and tender. Esmerelda and Temi shine. Beautiful, brutal, deeply British. I heart this one back, heavy. Audio was soooooo dope. perfect extra layer that matched the form to the content.
🫡 highly appreciate your input. thanks for immersing yourself in it, brother
This was fucking amazing. I'm glad it made it out of the short story workshop and into the wild. Everything I could possibly say about the piece was said better by ARC. So I'll just say, what he said.
🙏🏾🙏🏾 thank you brother and hope you’re keeping well
Same to you brother, doing alright. Gonna see how big a mess I can make out of an idealized community emergency fund! Sadly between editing contracts and my brain being a slurry that's gone through a Vitamix industrial strength blender, and apparently a tornado almost landed on my head the other day, I've had little time for applied personal creative pursuits, aside from one piece of flash in the form of an email that paradoxically I think is now my most read Substack piece?! (truly strange.) And I saw you've been making a knife!
absolutely brilliant and so achingly human.
these are the moments i keep in my heart when the world becomes especially trying.
Ah as always ARC acts as the dowsing rod for quality - this is such a delight - so relatable, so very English (rather than British IMO), a grand Greek Epic resplendent with a full chorus... listen to the Audio - this is some of the best I've heard - the time taken, the tone, the production laid to perfection. So very happy to hear this on a Friday. Loved it.
There's something wonderful in the way this work of fiction wears the veneer of a personal essay-- perhaps the perfect approach for the time in which we live.
Walked in the door with no expectations, now I can't find my head. I'm writing this with body memory. Who knew amazement had such a sharp edge? Handle.
ARC's feedback is sharp AF, to borrow a phrase from someone insightful and with an ear down with the real, where the music is.
Ahh thank you, Peter. So glad it resonated so completely.
brilliant writing! loved every minute of it :)) and will listen to the audio when I get the chance - read it in the library procrastinating studying, so not really the time or place! I look forward to getting round to it though!
in your own time, liam. thanks for reading!
Your audio production here made me gasp with awe. Beautiful work. x
you wonder, thank you very much
Wow, superbly written! I really enjoyed this! Actually reminded me of something that happened to me last weekend. Maybe I'll turn it into a short story as well.
I will listen to the audio later today! I'm sure it's great!
don't forget, it's the best part!
I just listened to the audio! Brilliant effect!! Very cool edit!
this was so excellent & the voiceover heightened the experience. not to takeaway from the cultural specificity but this piece would be timely for Americans too. Shauna/Siobhan reminded me of our “Karen”
on the contrary, the “karen” comparison doesn’t take away anything as much as reveals how unvarying certain behaviours are. thanks for reading and listening, alexis
oh man oh man this was wonderful, the voice acting and ambience as a whole reminded me so much of disco elysium which if you're unfamiliar with is very high praise. the subject matter is as potent today as it was when you wrote it, perhaps even moreso. may j.k rowling and her ilk find whats coming for them
i'm having a "baader meinhof" moment because the blacksmith i forged my knife with this week told me about "disco elysium" and it sounded great. i forgot to make a note of it so thank you for the reminder, for listening and for the kind words as of late, brother. i join you in your curse of rowling.
This is so ill 😮💨🙏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
thank you, broski 🙏🏾
Nah thank you fam, you giving us that good literature with the dope reading. You captured a moment. Pure poetics. Nice job.
very funny how things change and remain the same all at once. thank you for reading.