36 Comments
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NJ Fiction's avatar

This is actually disgustingly good. I’m inspired

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thank you so much NJ! I absolutely LOVE your work so this means so much

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Stephanie Sweeney's avatar

Wow, Will. So much in here that stays with you, but "how a great sinkhole blooms out from his bones when we're not looking" was just devastating.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks for the kind words, Stephanie! Haha oh boy, I went down a late-night rabbit-hole of sinkholes and I guess it weaseled its way in there

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Stephanie Sweeney's avatar

Those late night sinkholes are insidious!

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Will Boucher's avatar

They really know how to pull you in

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Michael Edward's avatar

A beautiful piece, Will.

You said so much in such a short piece. Bravo :)

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks so much Michael!

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Susan-Jane Harrison's avatar

This is so lovely Will. Your range of style is quite impressive, in terms of the pieces you write.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thank you so much!

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AB's avatar

This is it, this is the good stuff right here

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks, AB!

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mimpi's avatar

Ooft, this was worded so well

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks!

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iL.'s avatar

“We'll play in the yard and watch movies, the three of us buttertongued and Howdy Doody!—smiling as the sulfurous plume wafting in from the sinkhole stunts our love yous into slag psalms.”

The way your words build is amazing. Great writing, also buttertongued is my new favourite word 😂

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks so much!

Haha! Yeah, this story is basically a vehicle to unleash "buttertongued" into the world. I came across it in Henry Miller's "Tropic of Cancer" and had to use it.

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iL.'s avatar

I love that haha, also a big fan of Henry Miller, his book the colossus of maroussi is one of my favourites

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Will Boucher's avatar

Haven’t read that one yet! Have to add it to the list

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

Chewing dust. Dragged across saw grass. Slumped inside the crushing lack of response. You just unlock all these images in my head whenever I finish one of your epic fever dreams! Love it so much, Will!!

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks so much E.L. Wow…love the image of dragged across saw grass. Your comments always get the juices flowing

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

Aww!! Well, likewise of course!

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Anna Schott's avatar

Spoooky. Apparently you can write about any damn thing and it's great!

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks, Anna!

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

I’ve been trying to think how to tell you how much I loved this…but I’ve been shorn of words. Pure feeling.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thank you so much, Liz. It was a bit different for me and I’m so touched it resonated with you

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Ken Flyingheart's avatar

Coming in quietly to scorch us with that mind-blowing fiction! You're the real deal, Will. In awe of what you're capable of, hardly able to wait for what comes next! Top drawer, every time. A master!

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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks so much, Ken! Right back at ya--always get a tinge of excitement when I see something of yours in the inbox!

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Ken Flyingheart's avatar

Thank you, Will. Honoured to be on your radar at all. The next 4-5 will be light fare: I’m slogging through Lovecraft. Then I’m gonna floor it!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

I can't handle how good this is.

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Will Boucher's avatar

awww thanks Sean!!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

I'm trying to figure out how to tell you that you're a genius without coming off like a weirdo. You blow me away.

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Will Boucher's avatar

Damn, Sean, that means a lot to me. I'm a huge fan of your work and it always inspires me so for you to be a regular reader is a huge deal to me

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A.P. Murphy's avatar

My mind is still sorting through the wreckage but I think I'm good. No, I *know* I'm good.

That was a blast in every sense of the word, Will. Thanks

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Will Boucher's avatar

Haha, glad to hear you found some things in the wreckage!

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Jun 4, 2024
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Will Boucher's avatar

Thanks, Maia!!

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Jun 4, 2024Edited
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Will Boucher's avatar

I don't think it is really "about" anything in particular. For me, it captures something about a long-past relationship and the imagery and voices come from that period.

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