Right. Time to spit on the hands (my own and those of others), roll up the sleeves and slap the dozy Dreadful Thoughts project back into something approaching life. Necromancy, Ho!
After speaking to (hat-trick girl) Sinéad last night, it's become clear that (due to my waffling and love of long posts) the exact workings of the project weren't made…er…clear enough.
So instead of me reeling off further reams of text on its goals and aims I'll recap by making a few points in as punchy and concise a manner as I can (i.e. probably not very punchy and concise at all).
1) Dreadful Thoughts was/is intended to have two (fairly straightforward) components.
The first sets a challenge to this blog's readers, friends, and casual acquaintances (plus anyone else with a thirst for the macabre). That challenge being the creation of a horror short story (interpreting "horror" however you wish) of no more than 500 words (to be submitted to me and published here).
The second requires us to choose, at regular intervals, an interesting horror short story available online that we can all pop off and read/ponder before returning at a set time to chew over and discuss. In other words, it's a short story version of a "book club".
2) The writing side of things isn't something I expect to get up and running quickly. There's an obvious time commitment involved on writers' parts and (probably) an understandable reluctance to be the guinea piglet that goes first (that task may fall to me).
3) The "Story Club", however, is something I'd like to shove onto its feet as soon as possible. It'll work (just to recap again) like this -
a) Once the story is decided upon I'll put up a short post with links to sites where it can be found/read.
b) In that post a time to reconvene will be suggested.
c) At the appointed hour you'll all trudge your weary ways back here where a new post (with the heading "Dreadful Thoughts Story Club") will await you. The comments section of that post will be our meeting place - and all chatter about the chosen story will go there.
Unlike the regular posts on this blog which are, essentially, about me and my tastes, inclinations and opinions - I want Dreadful Thoughts to be collaborative and interactive. This blog provides the space for the "club" to meet, that is all. Its "members" dictate the content and operation.
4) I don't want (and I can't stress this enough) people to feel that the Story Club discussions are supposed to be scholarly, academic or any of that scary jazz. The atmosphere/vibe we want is an amicable, chatty, comfortable, welcoming and fun one. Think "friends in a room with a few bottles of wine" discussing unspeakable horrors. That's the ticket.
I'll finish by returning to where I came in and welcome Sinéad on board. We've decided to become co-conspirators and co-ringleaders on this one and thus the first Sigla/fustar.info crossover is born (with a giant mutant head…arrggh). With the mighty Ms. Gleeson as a partner in horror we'll soon get this terrible thing rockin' and rollin'.
The next Dreadful Thoughts post will be along shortly - setting you your homework (and telling you when to return).
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Spells?
P.S: If it's any incitement to join in, I'll make club badges! Ones that are wicked instead of fluffy.
This is a brilliant idea, I’d love to get involved. Stories and story-club.
I’m going to Newton Faulkner on the 10th though so can’t get involved live on the first one :( but after that I’m in. Kewl.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pmCool-count me in for the book- club bit at least! Hard to be at the computer at 8 though having boys to scare to bed but will leave comments later!
March 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pmJust wondering, any problems putting the 500 words on our own blogs first?
March 5th, 2008 at 4:51 pmJo & Tenacious,
Welcome. Welcome to your doooooomm!
Er, by that I mean (of course) welcome to the club. Late comments are always welcome because each discussion should (hopefully) run for longer than one night.
Good to have ye on board.
Will,
I’m not sure…is the simple answer! Obviously it’s your story and you can do with it what you wish…but I need to have a think about what would be best for the project.
I think I’d be happier with people posting stories on their blogs after they’d appeared here first (and we all had a chance to discuss them). Seems more in keeping with the group/interactive dynamic.
Leave it with me, and many thanks for expressing interest. Hope you contribute many times and oft.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pmOh this is very interesting indeed. I can’t promise a story contribution, though I’d love to, but I would love to join the discussion. Great idea guys!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:01 amThanks, Embarr (and welcome to the club). No need at all to contribute a tale. The main focus is on the reading and chatting - two things that should guarantee enjoyment.
Just don’t read any of these as bedtime stories to the little fella.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:23 pmI’d love to get involved - sounds like a great idea.
How horrific do the horror stories need to be, though? I like to write darkish things, but I’m not sure where the horror line is
March 6th, 2008 at 9:10 pmskillage,
Your club badge is in the post. Wear it with pride…thought it doth come with a terrible curse…
For an idea of what level of horrific-ness I’d originally imagined for the project have a look at the first few paragraphs of my first “Dreadful Thoughts” post:
http://www.fustar.info/2008/02/02/dreadful-thoughts-a-beginning/
Key word = Dread (though the level and the line is entirely up to you). Any specific questions, just email me.
Please do join in the story club/discussion side of things too.
(Argh! There’s that annoying url fragment at the beginning of this comment. No idea how to get rid of the bastarding thing)
March 6th, 2008 at 11:16 pmIn the manner of Mulley’s badges, can we please have ones that say ’spooky’?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:51 amPlease?
Jess and I (well, Jess really) have whipped up a funky design guaranteed to please all the family. Now the only issue is finding someone who will make ‘em without charging me and arm, a leg and a decapitated head.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pmSpoke to a few printers about the badges earlier. Bloody extortionate in most cases…
I might try Mr. Mulley’s supplier.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:35 pmamazon.co.uk
You could always get one of these and make your own!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Badge-It-Maker/dp/B000296JY0
March 7th, 2008 at 3:55 pmEmbarr, I was actually looking at Mr. Super-badge-it-man online earlier.
It looks the business…but I’d feel like a total saddo toiling away in the wee hours on a child’s craft-making object!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:25 pmHey guys,
Great idea. Mind if I join in?
Seoman
March 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pmseoman, The more the merrier. Hop onto our horror train. Next stop? Scaresville.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:01 pmHere’s a laugh for you all: I somehow managed to read this whole post without noticing the emphasis on horror. And for some other reason, read the story alone at midnight last night! Enough of that for now - but can I write horror? Eek. Scared at what I’ve got myself into!
March 9th, 2008 at 7:49 pmJo,
Too late to do anything about it now. Your presence on the blog is the equivalent of a contract signed in your own blood.
Mwwaaa Haaaa Haaaa!
March 9th, 2008 at 10:59 pm