58 Comments

Will, after reading this I was trying to think of the best word to describe my feeling when I read something by you - especially this one. Troubling? No, that's not it. Dark? No, way too vague and overused...I settled on a fairly simple word. Uneasy. That's what I felt, in spades, and that takes some doing with me. High, high praise on this story. Great job. - Jim

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Thank you very much, Jim! I felt quite uneasy myself as I wrote this using the first person--it's funny how these things work out

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Jesus. You're a cruel and loving writer. I get it all from your stories. It's brave writing, is what it is.

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Thanks so much, Sean! Means a lot coming from you my friend!

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Oh my god, Will! You had me freaking out and heartbroken all in one go. You are climbing lofty heights, my friend. Remember us drones fondly once you've inevitably arrived, won't you?

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Thanks for the kind words, Ken! Haha "freaking out and heartbroken" is what I was going for, I'm so glad it came through. As far as I'm concerned, I'm the drone around these parts!

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Such simple elements, such a powerhouse punch effect. Magic.

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Thank you for checking it out and for subscribing :)

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Very happy to do so, came here on my friend Bradley Vee's recommendation and very impressed indeed with this piece. I'll be looking into your other work in the next few days, I hope.

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I love Bradley's work! I'm going to dive into yours as well!

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I also love the B-man's stuff, at present getting a sneak peek into forthcoming publications.

Hope you enjoy my pieces, Will.

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Fuuuuuuuuug. It’s like watching a crash in slow motion and you can’t turn away. The best part is that, while I painfully anticipated Beck going up in flames, I didn’t expect the epilogue, which was 10x worse. Brilliant, Will!!

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Thanks!!! I had written the first part a while back but it didn’t sit right with me. Then the epilogue came and I think it ties it all together in a sick way

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Sick for sure! In the best way!!

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Feeling all kinds of unsettled after reading this one. Incredible writing. “…all light comes from her” - twice in there! - got me.

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Unsettled is valid for this one. Thanks for checking it out!

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Incredible writer Will. I'm not big on fiction - but you certainly draw a crowd and have me mesmerized with your skills.

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Thank you so much Deborah! That means a lot

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You are so talented!!!

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Thanks! I’m quite new to fiction but it’s been a blast so far trying to find my footing

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I love your use of the first person in this, it makes everything feel so close and fast. your writing is so physical.

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Thanks EJ! My main writing inspiration it “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John, I’m glad that shines through in this work 💪

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💀

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This was incredible, Will. This is my favourite thing you’ve done so far, absolutely amazing work.

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Thank you so much, Bob!!! Always appreciate you

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Agreed.

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You know I get this clockwork orange protagonist vibe from this. Such a crazed madness. This is brilliant Will. I did get the impression at the beginning that it was going to be the birth of a young minds thrill. But holy dung, well done.

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Oh wow I never thought of the clockwork orange vibe but I totally see that

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You definitely have a style of writing that is unique! I like how you add sounds so smoothly in. Are you sure you aren't a madman, if only a little? Just kidding, maybe… 😜

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I’m a musician so I suppose that is equivalent to a madman lol

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Cool so is another author I like here @Jon T , is that inherent linked to darn good writing I wonder? What kind of music do you compose? I know of a Swedish musician whose quite the eccentric.

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I play jazz guitar and I compose experimental classical music. I definitely find myself hung up with the sounds and flow and cadence of the prose

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Cool! Your writing does flow nicely. Great work. Keep it up, I think you write really well.

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Great work! That was really well done. Heart breaking.

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Thanks, Clifford!

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"Lodestar" reminds me of a story Joe Hill might write. It's set in a Never-Never Land that's a grim reality and the fantasy is only in the game that ends in Hell coming to get Becky. Very powerful, shocking, and tragic. Of course he never answers Becky's messages. True horror, beautifully and wrenchingly done.

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I’ll have to check it out!

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Oof/ugh/wow.

This was great, even though I didn’t like that I liked it.

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Haha thanks E.T.!

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This was real in that way a hard memory has of scooping your insides out and leaving you with nothing but quiet. No words. I loved it painfully.

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Wow….thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Liz

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"Dad caught us once, coming out the woods with his lighter." Uh-oh. I knew, it's going to be rough.

Vivid, unapologetic prose, Will.

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Thanks Alexander!

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Jayyyyysus. amazing!

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Thanks Anna!!!!! :)

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