You know, it's funny. We went to war never looking to come back, but it's the real world I couldn't survive.

Tracy ,'The Message'


The Great Write Way, Chapter Two: Twice upon a time...  

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


Lee - Jul 16, 2005 8:21:48 am PDT #3161 of 10001
The feeling you get when your brain finally lets your heart get in its pants.

For the driving drabble.

Everything is finally loaded into the car. The cats are in back, with a towel over one cage for our sanity. All of the goodbyes have been said, or at least all of the ones that still matter. It’s time to drive. Take the 101 to the 5, heading north. Stop once for a bathroom break and stretch, but grab lunch from a drive-through so you can keep driving. Hours later, finally head west towards Paso Robles. From there, keep driving north, and try to remember there is no more “the”. It’s just 101 that takes you the rest of the way home.


deborah grabien - Jul 16, 2005 8:55:35 am PDT #3162 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

Oh, Perkins, DAYUM, that rocks.

All about the California highways. And we've done so many road trips south and then home to San Fran that it's now automatic: we get south of Santa Nella and suddenly we're on "the Five".


SailAweigh - Jul 16, 2005 9:17:37 am PDT #3163 of 10001
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb

Heh. One of my favorite bumper stickers when I lived in California said, "There is no life east of I-5." I kinda miss seeing that around.


Beverly - Jul 16, 2005 9:27:44 pm PDT #3164 of 10001
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.

Sail! You actually saw the Green Flash? I thought it was just a myth. Nice drabble, btw, with chasing the wavery shadow.

Elegant and economic, as always, dcp.

I love Cindy's bio of Allyson. Mention the nephew and it'll be perfect.


Amy - Jul 17, 2005 6:20:55 am PDT #3165 of 10001
Because books.

Way belated Yays! to Allyson. And very approving applause of Cindy's bio of same.


Allyson - Jul 17, 2005 7:55:02 am PDT #3166 of 10001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

After crying twice (and I blame hormones, *shaky fist*), I have something.

When Allyson Beatrice isn't watching television, she's writing about it on the internet.

Raised on a steady programming diet of the Sunday Creature Double Feature, Good Times reruns, and ABC Afterschool specials, Ms. Beatrice's schoolgirl crush on scripted programming developed into an unhealthy love affair with the cult show Buffy the Vampire Slayer in her mid-twenties.

She sought out conversation with other television junkies on message boards, and found a sense of family amongst the strangers logging into sites to pray allegience to the little blonde girl with the big stake.

Her five year adventure in fandom included inviting a Jamaican diplomat's daughter to sleep on her floor for three months, being a bridesmaid at a lesbian wedding, finding friendship with an acclaimed television producer, and organizing a failed campaign to save a television show about cowboys in space from being canceled.

Allyson Beatrice lives in Los Angeles with her paranoid cat, Ruby.


Topic!Cindy - Jul 17, 2005 8:04:30 am PDT #3167 of 10001
What is even happening?

Allyson, that's fantastic!

Creature Double Feature *might* have been on Saturdays. My expert is in the shower. I will double-check with him when he gets out, just to be sure.


deborah grabien - Jul 17, 2005 8:05:59 am PDT #3168 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

Allyson, right on target. A couple of suggestions, for readability:

Ms. Beatrice's schoolgirl crush on scripted programming developed into an unhealthy love affair with the cult show Buffy the Vampire Slayer in her mid-twenties.

A slight switch in the ordering, ma'am, please; as it stands, it's Buffy who's in her mid-twenties, not you. Try:

Ms. Beatrice's schoolgirl crush on scripted programming developed, in her mid-twenties, into an unhealthy love affair with the cult show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

And in a similar vein:

and organizing a failed campaign to save a television show about cowboys in space from being canceled.

I'd tighten it this way:

and organizing a failed campaign to prevent the cancellation of a television show about cowboys in space.

Otherwise? Perfecto, from where I'm sitting. You have excellent instincts.


Allyson - Jul 17, 2005 8:10:01 am PDT #3169 of 10001
Wait, is this real-world child support, where the money goes to buy food for the kids, or MRA fantasyland child support where the women just buy Ferraris and cocaine? -Jessica

Oooh, thanks for the editing, Deb. It's amazing how one can screw things like that up when one is writing with her eyes closed.


deborah grabien - Jul 17, 2005 8:12:36 am PDT #3170 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.

It's amazing how one can screw things like that up when one is writing with her eyes closed.

BWAH! Seriously, your instinct for this stuff is right on the money; you'll notice the edits are purely cosmetic, and don't touch the heart of what you're saying.

Eyes closed, or not...