tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post6711726991933421489..comments2023-09-22T07:03:03.280-04:00Comments on The Clarity of Night: Guest Writer - Stephen ParrishJason Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14851992219298316168noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-50993780074496665892011-07-26T06:59:14.461-04:002011-07-26T06:59:14.461-04:00Hi Stephen,
Nice to 'meet' you. Loved the...Hi Stephen,<br /><br />Nice to 'meet' you. Loved the smooth ebb and flow of the story, and your meticulously chosen words.<br />I did wonder where the cop guarding the scene was (maybe he popped out for a coffee 'n' a doughnut), but this didn't detract from the haunting images that will linger.<br /><br />Well done with the novel.<br /><br />Regards,<br />ColAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17913040012695421077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-23612631831923398822011-07-25T08:20:57.575-04:002011-07-25T08:20:57.575-04:00Is it just me or does this piece remind anyone els...Is it just me or does this piece remind anyone else a little of Stephen King's "1408"? I get a super-creepy-lurking-evil vibe.<br /><br />Great last paragraph, by the way.Loren Eatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12488412683340389286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-44586660976279961462011-07-24T21:21:36.230-04:002011-07-24T21:21:36.230-04:00Unbelievable writing in 250 words. The power of t...Unbelievable writing in 250 words. The power of this story is making the reader think they've felt it too, and some of us have, indeed. <br /><br />I agree about the sense of community at Clarity of Night. It is my first time here, and already I feel as if I know so many people through their writing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-36554540588683467612011-07-24T11:37:56.345-04:002011-07-24T11:37:56.345-04:00I find something so horrifying about this story, a...I find something so horrifying about this story, and yet it happens every day. The conductor of the Nova Scotia Symphony killed himself in such way not 100 meters from where I was living. Had a left my home for an errand just 25 minutes later. I might have seen it.<br /><br />Raw emotion in just 250 words. We live in such a sad world.Richard Levangiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16596356126446766607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-940470021076629772011-07-24T11:12:58.920-04:002011-07-24T11:12:58.920-04:00Very surreal ... especially on the way down. Not e...Very surreal ... especially on the way down. Not easy to do with such few words.jrthumbprintshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14552633595464969740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-70547538864592719562011-07-24T10:38:51.231-04:002011-07-24T10:38:51.231-04:00What a way to go! Back to the womb where all thing...What a way to go! Back to the womb where all things start and end. Lovely! Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-49865124371605963252011-07-23T13:42:34.839-04:002011-07-23T13:42:34.839-04:00What a great way to end such a tragic piece! Your...What a great way to end such a tragic piece! Your character's emotions rippled from the page, pulling me into her world and forcing me to watch the horrific scene unfold. Wonderful job.<br /><br />Thank you for your inspirational words, and for sharing your gift.Michele Zugnonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12394802719932859470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-18026759639634096402011-07-23T11:15:48.364-04:002011-07-23T11:15:48.364-04:00Being one who frequents spaces occupied by the rec...Being one who frequents spaces occupied by the recently deceased, involuntary chills enveloped me as I read, remembering my own experience and hoping the character wasn't possessed to join the man who jumped. You captured the emotion well, it's not easy being among the ghosts of the recently departed. Harder still to write about it.Michael Morsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07451637745981389920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-12301599487690985882011-07-23T09:08:59.737-04:002011-07-23T09:08:59.737-04:00Thanks everybody. And thanks Jason for another gr...Thanks everybody. And thanks Jason for another great contest. You have some wonderful entries to choose from.Stephen Parrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16883165490847664389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-72724601312057493872011-07-23T07:23:21.357-04:002011-07-23T07:23:21.357-04:00I too am drawn in by the cadmium vortex...visually...I too am drawn in by the cadmium vortex...visually appalled by the dog paddling leap, heart broken at the long distant road from wonder to apathy and the allure of the drop to the nothing...god...you write so good Steve.Catherine Viberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01354073276671196477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-29018340661951045302011-07-23T01:14:41.142-04:002011-07-23T01:14:41.142-04:00I love when characters take those steps we all won...I love when characters take those steps we all wonder about--go to tje floor, slip under the police tape, actually see what he saw--but are all somehow unable to do. And what she sees and feels. I like this a lot. It's reeking of raw truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-31341893031181367012011-07-22T23:44:17.278-04:002011-07-22T23:44:17.278-04:00"A cadmium vortex" is so very descriptiv..."A cadmium vortex" is so very descriptive, as I found with the whole story. Amazing imagery.Michelle H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10117937124348728578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-11583187383199063872011-07-22T19:33:24.247-04:002011-07-22T19:33:24.247-04:00I feel an inexorable draw when I read this piece. ...I feel an inexorable draw when I read this piece. Something about the motion of it, and the immense weight of the past pushing her to the ledge. I think I'd jump too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-31964181550732966542011-07-22T19:32:38.618-04:002011-07-22T19:32:38.618-04:00Hi Stephen
It's a very haunting tale, the sev...Hi Stephen<br /><br />It's a very haunting tale, the seventh floor with the pool inviting guest to take the dive, literally and figuratively. Most excellent.<br /><br />Dottie :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08688849410604429533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-39983550790907202922011-07-22T19:31:00.860-04:002011-07-22T19:31:00.860-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08688849410604429533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-34429729353858934242011-07-22T14:14:42.407-04:002011-07-22T14:14:42.407-04:00This one breaks the heart slowly, matter-of-factly...This one breaks the heart slowly, matter-of-factly, and completely. It is as if it says, of her jump, "of course," but also implores us to go back, to the dandelions and lightning bugs, and listen.<br /><br />Perfect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-12949764701635546442011-07-22T14:09:49.218-04:002011-07-22T14:09:49.218-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-49584362395562823552011-07-22T12:54:01.576-04:002011-07-22T12:54:01.576-04:00Maybe we're related. I come from a long line o...Maybe we're related. I come from a long line of trailer trash, too. <br />:-)<br /><br />Very haunting, very complete and satisfying. Witnessing death is life altering and it does create that curiosity about why. So many unanswered questions, but she found the answer.<br /><br />I've only been able to read a few entries here and there. It's the main reason I'm not entering the contest myself this year. If I don't have time to read, comment and vote, I don't think it's fair to enter. It is about the community and how much we support each other.Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-6881675066261738322011-07-22T12:19:47.746-04:002011-07-22T12:19:47.746-04:00Margaret: thanks for your support.
Aniket: I'...Margaret: thanks for your support.<br /><br />Aniket: I'm glad I met you too.<br /><br />Charles: too big to embrace, but big enough to find the right crit partners and friends.Stephen Parrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16883165490847664389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-90601467377423420162011-07-22T11:48:10.736-04:002011-07-22T11:48:10.736-04:00The community is definitely a plus online. the onl...The community is definitely a plus online. the only problem is that it's really 'too' big to embrace entirely. I guess that is both good and bad.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-22282271471713864152011-07-22T07:08:10.903-04:002011-07-22T07:08:10.903-04:00Yes, this is my favorite one of the one's I...Yes, this is my favorite one of the one's I've read so far of the contest. (Sorry, Sarah. You'll always top my charts, though. Always.) How glad am I, that you guys are guest authors. Gives us mortals a fighting chance. :)<br /><br />I agree with Jason about the anchor part too. Though I met you quite late as compared to the other folks, I'm glad that I did. <br /><br />This was brilliant.Aniket Thakkarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18311954967682696734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-49275243887961815472011-07-22T06:05:15.708-04:002011-07-22T06:05:15.708-04:00"No one heard her. Not the crucible, nor the ..."No one heard her. Not the crucible, nor the dandelions she'd picked as a little girl, nor the lightning bugs she'd captured in jars."<br /><br />These last lines got to me, made me feel that nobody ever listened to or understood Stephanie. She must have been a very lonely person all her life. <br /><br />I've just ordered your book on Amazon. Looking forward to it!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286909482780350161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-35031214285150921692011-07-22T04:32:50.852-04:002011-07-22T04:32:50.852-04:00Thanks everybody! Precie: I rehabilitated.Thanks everybody! Precie: I rehabilitated.Stephen Parrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16883165490847664389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-69894758069926998012011-07-22T03:55:31.421-04:002011-07-22T03:55:31.421-04:00i agree with Stephen about these contests, as i ha...i agree with Stephen about these contests, as i have learned a lot, too, from them: useful words and expressions, and some, very important techniques to polish my writing, but much more to that: listening and giving.<br />his entry pulled me in, too: the description of the pool from above made the reader feel what Stephanie was experiencing, the irresistable pull, and oh, what a great ending!SzélsőFahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600289147447182465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15498010.post-76769806467941024492011-07-22T03:19:31.388-04:002011-07-22T03:19:31.388-04:00Such Innovative use of elements...cobalt,cadmium.....Such Innovative use of elements...cobalt,cadmium...and superb wordplay...I loved it! :)Erratic Thoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14852558150033296079noreply@blogger.com