On Real America: America's Most Violent, Patriotic Fireworks Ever
i think maybe the one sensible law arizona has (and we probably only have just this one; the rest of our laws are racist nonsense thanks to our lovely unelected governor...) is that fireworks are illegal. cities can put on fireworks shows with special permits, but individuals cannot buy or sell fireworks, not even sparklers.
not that everyone doesn't just go to mexico or new mexico and bring a bunch in illegally...
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On Tales from Brooklyn: Short Stories About Love (Actually Sex): Part 6
i'm so excited that i was half-asleep on the sofa-bed while T.J. was finishing/editing this in the kitchen!
I saw writing happen! by a real-live Awl contributor!
whoa.
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On Tales from Brooklyn: Short Stories About Love (Actually Sex): Part 3
wait, are we in an apartment or a bar? or an apartment with a bar? or is this a NY thing, where there can be apartments over bars? or maybe narrator is just so confused his brain is swirling the locations around?
that i even asked that last question is a sign that you pulled this off, though.
also, you have good similes & metaphors. even the bankruptcy law metaphor, for which i not only forgive but in fact applaud your law-school references. ♥
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On Tales from Brooklyn: Short Stories About Love (Actually, Sex): Part 1
in re: pedantic asshattery, and other forms of internet commenting asshattery (including, of course, my own ranting against asshats): http://www.theawl.com/2010/04/it-isnt-easy-being-mean
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On Tales from Brooklyn: Short Stories About Love (Actually, Sex): Part 1
(somewhat)full disclosure: i may or may not be related to t.j.; i'm an english almost-professor (i read fiction; can't write it).
to commenters:
1) you never know when the psuedonymic authors you're picking apart are actually non-native speakers of english.
2) i've seen native speakers of english who have less proofreading.
3) case in point: dan brown. can't write. bestseller. wtf.
to t.j.:
1) paco is being a pedantic ass. ignore pedantic asshattery.
2) keep the figurative language. the simile, the metaphor, the last sentence about the pear. awesome & dreamlike.
3) don't struggle to make things have plot. plot is overrated. dreams don't have plots. neither, i think, does brooklyn.
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On Tales from Brooklyn: Short Stories About Love (Actually Sex): Part 8
aaa! it keeps getting more complicated! thank god you have embedded links for the names. what you really need is one of those "family tree" diagrams like in the back of a well-annotated edition of a novel.
yes, we need a sort of norton critical edition of your stories. with maps! we need maps. when are we in new york? when are we in california? i guess it does adequately impress on the reader the actual sense of confusion and relationship chaos inherent in the narrative itself.
in summary: you're wonderful, i'm confused, keep writing, i want to see where this goes.
(also good luck on the bar, you obvious law student you)