Question! Is it altright to post original short stories here?

[icymist]

To get feedback on writing style and whatever else?

[BigMcLargehuge]

1. indeed it is!

if you read the mission statement at the top of the forum, you will see that posting and critiquing short is one of the thing the forum was set up to do. Keep in mind that the format of you post will probably differ from your manuscript as the DU forums don't do indent easily, and don't do double spacing at all.

What sort of stuff were you planning to post? and how many words?

[icymist]

2. Short pieces, around 500 words.

Probably called science fiction, for as my ideas seem to run. Occasionally, I may run a short serious piece by you. Here's a short to a beginning story I wrote a few years back:


The Were - Rat
A short report by Mickey Mall


The Institute of Paranormal Studies
1 Tabloid Way
Checkout, England CUN666

May 20, 2003


Dear Sirs,

I have taken the liberty to prepare a quick report for the institute in reference towards my next-door neighbor, Missy.
I am confidant that this subject will be found to be of good quality for it is my suspicion that my friend was really born into the animal kingdom. Allow me to reiterate the data collected from my inquisition: Upon first impression, her demeanor is remarkably the same as any other young unprogressive moderate woman favoring a flare for the venerating fashions of the late nineteenth century. However, closer inspection reveals something beyond that pseudo Victorian dress for I could spy an essence, which began to develop to my surprise, into the genius of rat. Suspicion first arose after observing her small delicate body frame crowned with the curliest blackberry hair that, when released from the bondage of a barrette, seems to float off by itself just as though charged by some unseen electrical current. Her eyebrows connect together and she can stare with intense penetration that runs shivers up and down my spine. The strongest evidence I can present the Institute thus far regarding this case is in the eccentric behavior I observed within her own apartment. Here I found various rat paraphernalia strewn about, consisting mostly of dolls and pictures of rats. They were all wearing clothes, some in fancy dress. One day Missy invited me to come inside her room where she immediately put two rat puppets on both her hands, made the little marionettes dance to life and then scampered them up my arms to nibble on my ears. She said that this was how rats greet each other. I must request that the institute conduct a full-scale study on this phenomenon for what stood before me that day couldn’t be a mere human being but a rat changeling!


Sincerely,
Mickey Mull

~~~
Would the use of such peices be permitted and commented on?

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. seems like a fine start to me

you've captured the Poe/Lovecraftian flow for writing of the period. One question -

genius

You mean genus, right?

[icymist]

4. This piece was inspired by Poe....

I don't mean to copy Poe! Heavens no! I just admire his style and that is what I emulate here. The story, itself is based upon a person I actually met in the mid nineties. As for Lovecraft, I wasn't even thinking of him when I wrote this.

[BigMcLargehuge]

5. Lovecraft was the foremost Poe imitator

I didn't suggest you copied him, only that you captured the voice appropriate to the time where the piece is set.

I'd like to see more posted if you have it.

[icymist]

7. I was hugging a thesaurus when I wrote this.....

This was about three years ago and I forget my actual thoughts here. Genius is probably a wrong choice of a word in this spot. Thank you for comparing it to Poe/Lovecraft era of writing as that was one of my favorite styles.

[icymist]

6. Some more of the story:

Dear Mr. Mull,

Thank you for contacting the Institute of Paranormal Studies about concerns toward your neighbor, Missy. Your case has been forwarded to the Shape - Shifting division of the Institute, which has studied all sorts of shape-shifting phenomena, such as the transformation of vampires into bats, the shifting of wolves into men, and the changing of genders observed in certain species.

The Institute, in all its’ years of expertise, has never once learned of any situation where a young woman shifts into the shape of a rat, as your letter seems to imply.
To further an investigation into this matter there must be absolute certainty that paranormal activity is indeed ongoing.

To be frank, Mr. Mull, aside from your claim that your neighbor is a rat changeling, we were wondering if you actually seen Missy change her shape into the rodent form you describe. Could there possibly be psychological issues to be dealt with here? Playing with dolls and puppets sounds to be more like an active imagination, not a paranormal shape-shifting transformation.

To enable the Institute to conduct the type of investigation you requested, empirical evidence must first be acquired. Please feel free to be contiguous via the Institute should you discover scientific specifications concerning this matter.

Sincerely,
Miss Molly Merriweather, SSD, IPS