Eek and Marvin

My friend, Brian Kistler, (a talented animator and illustrator check out his artwork here) and I decided we wanted to write a graphic novel. He had the idea of a child discovering a monster in a well. So I wrote a 20-page short story/script that we would base it on. What I wrote was a bit long for a graphic novel and in my efforts to edit it down, I've actually ended up expanding it into something much larger.

Anyway, after the jump is the original story. Hope you enjoy.

First Sentences that Suck

Recently, I've been struggling to put down a first sentence. And I realized that this had something to do with the fact that none of them were any good. I'd write something like, "Morning light broke through the blinds and bathed the floor in stripes." And then I'd say to myself, "Well what the fuck am I even talking about?"

It bothered me to the point that I grabbed my Hemingway section from my library and looked at the first sentence of each book. My findings lead me to an exercise and a method for writing good first sentences that story can grow from organically and help alleviate "writer's block."

The New Record Chapter 2 Part 1

Bill and Modern Psychiatric Parenting. The story continues.

The New Record: Chapter 1 Part 3

The conclusion of the first chapter of The New Record!

McRib

"Nature's first green is gold," read the general manager, Cameron Sondren, of the Ventura Avenue McDonald's on Wednesday morning. The early morning staff all had their heads bowed, hats removed. Sondren recited all of Frost's poem to the small, somber collection of employees, family, and close friends. 

"We knew it would happen. And we knew when, but," Susan Derigrass, a close friend said, pausing for a moment to collect herself. "It just never seems real until it happens." She excused herself.

As of midnight the night before, the orders from corporate were clear: McRib season was over.

Sondren finished the poem and a moment of silence befell the room. "We mourn our loss, but only because what we'd had was so great," Sondren reminded the staff and others gathered for the memorial. "We must carry on. Steve, take down the posters. Anna, fire up the friers."

As Steve took down the window-sized posters, a hush fell over the crowd gathered outside the restaurant. Some wept openly. Others laid bouquets of flowers on the sidewalk.   "I told myself, I'd get one tomorrow," said one witness. "I'd had one maybe a week ago and it was good. Nothing amazing, but it was there and ready so why not?" 

It seems as though there is an understanding between the employees and management at Ventura. "This isn't Cameron's fault. It's no one's fault. It's just a thing that had to happen," said Anna as the friers began to boil. Then she shot a glance towards her co-workers. "I don't really get what the big deal is. It's just a sandwich. It will be back next year."

Outside, the reaction wasn't as calm. "What do we do now?" Our anonymous witness cried out towards the sky. "What are you trying to tell us? What have we done wrong?"

Though the flags fly at full mast, in the hearts and minds of many a great piece of the year has escaped them. A moment in time never to be recaptured for another 10 months. Nothing gold can stay. 

The New Record Ch. 1 Part 2

Ongoing series of Bill and Gazoo and Howard and so on and so forth!

Writing Warmup 2/25/13

Writing Warm-up from 2/25/13 after the jump.