CHALLENGE THE SECOND FROM THE GIANT SQUID, EDITOR-IN-ABSENTIA OF HIS POOR MOJO’S ALMANAC(K) AND RELATED LITERARY CONCERNS

My Dearest and Devoted Scribblerians and Writorios,

I text in haste, and I fear without sufficient care for, I am exhausted: Today, I am to be transfered from the relative comforts of my tiled tank here in the Directorate’s tower to either the primary or sous-kitchen, so that I might be butchered and yet live again, first as sashimi, then as handrolls, then as calimari, then as taco salad, then as “seafood medley,” and finally as some abomination which Boggins reports Gustav has called “meatloaf surprise.”

Thus, . . . → Read More: Training Exercise #28: The Squid’s Second Exercise

CHALLENGE THE FIRST FROM THE GIANT SQUID, EDITOR-IN-ABSENTIA OF HIS POOR MOJO’S ALMANAC(K) AND RELATED LITERARY CONCERNS

My Dearest Typistas and Quilleros,

I fear matters have, for me, become substantially more grim since our exhortation earlier this week. Specifically, despite Lida’s insistence that we shall soon sort out my implicit confinement here within the strange towers of the Fiction-Writing Directorate, I seem to have, in the meantime, dug my own grave–or, essentially no different, garnished my own serving platter.

Yesterday I enjoyed a mid-afternoon interview with Ethelie and Gustav, the latter clutching yet a new and even more be-paperéd clip board, quill in hand. . . . → Read More: Training Exercise #27: The Squid’s First Challenge

Pay clear Attention, quislings! Today we have the Honour of a Guest Lecture. An Adept of a Strange (and Possibly Oriental) Path of Awesomeness, Catherine has some Excellent Advice which you should Heed.

Umm, hello everyone.

It’s a dreadful honour to be here, and a little intimidating, too. It’s been some time since I was, ah, disciplined by the VerbHounds, but certain parts of my anatomy remember the encounter very well.

I wanted to tell you about a phenomenon I see regularly. It doesn’t fill me with the same rage that Ethelie would undoubtedly feel, but it does make me sad and angry. It’s . . . → Read More: The Medium is Not the Message

People been asking me what kind of biscuits did Ma make.  HA HA!  All kinds! No one makes them like Ma did, but if you’re a lazy old writer and want to cook instead of write, well, who am I to tell you that’s a dumb idea, and you’ll never make them as good as Ma.

Here ya go, from Ma’s old recipe books, straight from her hand.

Ma Boggins’s Coffee and Cranberry Biscuits

Two glasses of fancy flour
Four little spoons of baking dust
Three little spoons of sugar dust
Half a little spoon of . . . → Read More: Ma Boggins’s Special Biscuits

O Brave Agents! Today we continue our Journey to the Center of our Selves. Today we investigate our Fears.

I trust that you Catalogued your Excuses yesterday, for I know you are Diligent Agents, and Faithfully perform the exercies.

Take your Note-Book, and write out One-Hundred Fears about Writing.

Yes, my little Apple Blossoms, 100.

You will find the first few Easy. You will find the next few Repetitive. Never mind; Keep your Pen moving. Write them down, no matter how Foolish or Ridiculous or Unfounded they may Seem.

For your Deepest Fears are secretive little Beasts; they are not the ones that Present themselves when . . . → Read More: Training Exercise #15: 100 Fears