Exercise 18: A curious message

[Creole Ned]

Exercise 18: A curious message

Low-tech version: A person receives a curious or strange letter.
High-tech version: A person receives a curious or strange e-mail.

Deadline: Monday, May 18th.

Entries:

Junk Mail (http://creolened.com/fiction/short_message.pdf) (Russell)

[Creole Ned]

Woo, at long last an entry:

Russell is in first with Junk Mail (http://creolened.com/fiction/short_message.pdf).

[russellmz]

i wrote this up quickly in a day or two. story definitely needs an extra incident. or at least the main character should do something about the last incident.

[Creole Ned]

Wait, your supposed to let us critique it first!

I should have my entry in by week's end and will look at yours before then.

[Paladin]

I know this will surprise everyone (myself included), but I should have something to turn in for this one before the weekend is over.

[Creole Ned]

I'll offer up a critique on russell's entry today or tomorrow and try to get the last couple of exercises in as well. Most of my writing time is going into my novel at the moment but I'd like to keep the exercises going -- as long as people participate!

[Paladin]

I know this will surprise no one. I'm late! I am finally writing, though. Stupid fun holidays.

[Creole Ned]

Since I still haven't managed to write something for this, I'll break my usual method of not commenting on other submissions until mine is done.

Russell:

This was a fun little piece. I enjoyed the light tone that works in spite of the dark subject matter. The "creepy instructions" was the same angle I was thinking about pursuing because it lends itself so well to this particular exercise.

The thing I probably liked most in the story is how the protagonist quickly shifts from "doing the right thing" to just wanting nothing more than to wash his hands of the damn letters -- even knowing full well the horrible consequences of his unwillingness to go along. The story winds down rather than up and it's a nice switch.

My one complaint is that it winds down maybe a bit too quickly. The ending felt a bit abrupt.

[Kinglupid]

My one complaint is that it winds down maybe a bit too quickly. The ending felt a bit abrupt.

I would have to agree with this. A fun read, but I would maybe like to see some consequence of him washing his hands of this whole thing, to paraphrase Ned.