>>> Item number 18680 from WRITERS LOG9310B --- (184 records) ---- <<< Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1993 13:00:18 JST Reply-To: WRITERS Sender: WRITERS From: Mike Barker Subject: FAQ: Somewhere Near The Dudley Do Write Inn (rev. 6) Somewhere Near The Dudley Do Write Inn, On a Dark and Stormy Night Oct. 9, 1993 (rev. 6) Well, I hadn't planned on this, but let me dust a little, shake the cobwebs off, and we'll give this oldy another spin... You look a little lost, so let me introduce you to the place. It can be a little confusing at first. What is this? Well, let me invite you into the WRITERS Saloon, part-time grill, and (sometimes) front for liberations (all kinds welcome). Some people think of this as the bar for after the workshop, which isn't a bad way to describe it. I notice you're looking at that bar. Let me tell you, it's pretty special. Starts at WRITERS@NDSUVM1.BITNET, also called writers@vm1.nodak.edu, but the bar (whether you're looking for drinking, ballet, or judgement) stretches around the world with plenty of odd kinks and twists. The place is open for business any time. Serves stories, poetry, essays, and those big bowls of chatter for your pleasure. If you don't see what you like, feel free to whip some up and set it out on the bar for everybody to enjoy. Don't let the comments about seasoning get to you, everyone seems to have their own notions about the best way to get the taste right. Try some of the bubbly humor or those dark poetics and relax with the folks. Darn! Oh, not you. Someone stuck some of their gum up under the edge of the bar here. Just a minute, I got to get that out before it gets hard. That stuff seems to turn up everywhere. Where were we? Oh, if you like gambling, try the Dare. Best game in town, I think. Simple, too, like drinking a shotglass of beer every minute. Just write a new story every week and send them all out to the magazines. Ken and some of the others can tell you all about it. Right now, there's a daily special quote, and some of the folks toss in a game of words now and then. Some of the exercises are good ways to stretch your writing, too. Aside from that, there's a fair amount of friendly talk, sometimes making it hard for your order to get through. But be patient, we will get around to you in time. If you get in a hurry, help us out. Let's see. There's lots of dark corners, and always an empty seat for another lurker. So if that's what you want to do, set down, take a sip from the pop bubbling around or fill your plate at the smorgasbord of literate delights and relax for a while, watch the show. If you get to feeling rowdy, go ahead and take a swing. Fair warning, plenty of these folks carry loaded words, so you may find yourself looking at a dictionary. Some of the folks also like to dance, though, and you may get invited onto the floor. Can't tell until you try, and even then you may not be sure. Oh, if you get into a real knock-down drag-'em-out fight, please take it outside. If you've got some real fancy wordwork, we might all watch for a while, but don't just keep on wasting everyone's time. Take it out in the alleys, and let us know how it comes out. Whoops! Turn your head a little, that's it, there you are. Got to watch out for that mirror, it's a specialty of the place. Liable to show you almost anything. Fellow that made it, let me think, oh, yeah, Marlin, British fellow, I think, he said it's just like those ones they had way back in Greece and Rome, maybe before that, but he added in a lot of fancy new stuff. Sometimes you can see forever in it, sometimes just the back of your head... Takes some getting used to, but then you start to like seeing yourself in new ways. If you get curious about something, ask around, and someone will usually help you out. Friendly bunch, even if they don't have a lot of spare time. They're all writers, you know, just like you, so don't yell at them about not doing something until you've tried doing it yourself. I mean, look at who has to sweep up - and I'm not getting paid for it, either. Who am I? I run the popcorn, peanuts, and candy concession out at the east end of the bar. Got a special on bubble gum this week, if you want some. I'll help pop your bubble, too. Just call me tink. Ok, I'm going to put away the broom, and leave you alone here for a while. Whenever you're ready, step up to the bar or kick off your shoes and jump on the dance floor and show the folks your stuff. They'll be looking for it. Just remember the key - write and write and write and... You know, I think that storm's clearing up. Maybe you can find what you're looking for, or we can see you, dancing by the light of the moon at the Saloon... Won't you come out tonight? ----------------------------------------------------