ABC's Got Talent!

The dancefloor is clear, the music's playing loud. I take a sip of my third appletini and begin a strange jarring of my elbows, coupled with a bobbing of the knees. Self conscious because people are watching, I edge to the floor...

http://www.abctales.com/story/itsstevedave/room-shaun

I was kind of proud of this short'un when I wrote it, more for the sentiment than the writing.

After salman's thread earlier - I'm feeling a little wary! ;)

Well Stan in the old days when I use to post poetry this was my personal favourite....

http://abctales.com/story/lavadis/love-time-riots

And thanks Sid and Steve for your very kind comments!!

No problem Laurie, easily deserved! Now we just need some others to come out of the woodwork with their favourites...

Where's yours Stan?

Yes Stan!!

This is quite simply the best poem ever written:

http://www.abctales.com/story/fatboy74/mr-midas-0

If you can get past the "sanguine rays" (oh dear) and "melancholy chains" (oh deary me)it gets better, then a bit worse and then better before a dip - then a bit worser - but finishes quite well. It is definitely not worth a cherry, but it took me ages and I want other people to suffer as I did. Ignore the read count, people have clicked on it and said "I'm not fu*king reading that it's massive."

Well you can see what I thin - just wonderful Fatboy

Lavadis, even though you are a Leeds fan, I've always liked you. :-)

Whoo! I like this game. :3

http://abctales.com/story/jessicaa/not-another-book

Not my favourite, but would love some attention toward this short.

Oh go on then. Not my best but I enjoyed writing it.

http://www.abctales.com/story/alex-tomlin/status

http://www.abctales.com/story/alibob/theres-something-about-carly
Not my best or my favourite story, but it means a lot to me, because it was the first story I ever completed.

http://www.abctales.com/story/shep5377/blind-mans-stare

This was my favourite non-cherried piece. I was sat across from a blind man and heard him say 'I'll see you when I get home' and it got me thinking.

Great idea Stan, I've found some great stories is missed!

My favourite is the opening bit of 'In The Day', which I took down once I started touting it around. I may re-post it.

I think I remember reading that Stan. Was in when they were in the diner? That was very good if so.

That's the one, Shep. Glad you liked it. I'll re-post.

Here it is...

http://www.abctales.com/story/stan/day-prologue

Not sure if I'd say this is my best (I wouldn't really say I have one, yet), but I'd love an extra comment or two since I put a good bit of work into it.

http://abctales.com/story/steve-elliott04/benefactor

I'm sorry I can't do the link thing so maybe somebody will add it for me.

This one isn't mine but I'd like some attention for it.
All I can think about is the machine: Blighter's Rock.

Ta.

That's a great piece, Sooz - I remember it well. Richard may well have a piece of his own that he'd prefer to put up, but I'll post the link anyway (I'm sure he won't mind) as it's well worth reading again...

http://abctales.com/story/blighters-rock/all-i-can-think-about-machine

If you want to post a link, just go to the piece in question, then highlight the full title on the URL strip at the top of your page (you can do that by simply clicking the mouse once in the strip). Once you've done that, press CTRL and C at the same time to 'copy'... then go to where you want to paste it and press CTRL and V at the same time. The link will then be pasted in.

Try it with one of yours :)

Thank you Stan.I'll give it a go.

This is probably not my best but it is a favourite because it's true.

http://www.abctales.com/story/jolono/last-minute-present

I posted just after I found the site last year.

Glad you linked that one, Jolono. It's a great piece!

Can't believe I've just done what Stan said and it's worked. Yippee!

http://www.abctales.com/story/denzella/last-call-novice-bitch

I like this one. Unfortunately, I seem to be in the minority but thems the breaks!

this goes back to 2004, but I liked writing it.

http://abctales.com/node/523391

Hello Stan and fatboy,

Thank you for your lovely comments.

Thank you also for the cherries, cherry pickers!

What a nice surprise to wake up to.

Moya

This was one I wrote because there was nothing else I could do for him.

http://www.abctales.com/story/beeme/take-it-all-him

Mine is, predictably and for reasons that should be obvious, this one:

http://abctales.com/story/archie-macjoyce/end-my-youth

Always liked that one, Mac.

I'm rather fond of this one --> http://www.abctales.com/story/andrea/fields-and-what-you-can-grow-them

Reminds me of happy days. It didn't get cherried which is probably A Good Thing. Don't want to encourage experimentation, do we?

http://www.ukauthors.com

This is the first real story I ever wrote. You never forget your first time.

http://www.abctales.com/story/ftse100/gorblimey-trousers

This is from 2 years ago. It's not perfect, but it's probably the best thing I'll ever write:

http://abctales.com/story/wilkybarkid/shepherd-who-played-cello-his-shee...

I've never lived on a farm and my dad didn't play the cello, but I realised after I'd written it that I'd unwittingly created a metaphor for my life, to which other people seem to be able to relate.

Don't know what I'm doing wrong but I've just come back from your site because I couldn't find where to comment here as earlier there was no reply button.

I feel a right twerp!

I noticed that some of the older posts don't have a 'comment' option, Moya. Unless I'm a twerp, too!

Thanks for that Stan, I was just thinking I need to ask for a change of medication as I seem to think I muddled true life with fiction with my comment for your piece.

And no, you definitely are not a twerp!

Moya x

I muddle true life with fiction all the time. I live a fictional life, but try to remain true to myself...

No, you're just Great! I'm the one in a mucking fuddle! Whooops...beg pardon!

This was such a good idea. Makes me realise how much good stuff gets missed on here.

Can I recommend Denzella's The Party for some extra reads and maybe a cherry, please? Really put a smile on my face.
The Party and now I feel really stupid because I tried to do the linky thing, just as Stan said, and it didn't work, so I'll go and try again.

http://abctales.com/story/denzella/party

Oh *That* url strip!

Thanks for that stan, and I really must get around to working my way down these. So far I'm still working up and down my own list of reading for people who have commented on mine .. but I will. And hopefully before my levy for a thirty hour day comes into force.

http://abctales.com/story/linda-wigzell-cress/very-sad-thing

Written when I did feel very sad indeed.

I'm pretty sure that I remember this one first time round. Nice one.

Sooz

Thank you for recommending my piece The Party for extra reads. That was kind and I am very grateful too as it has been cherried.

Another nice surprise to wake up too so thank you for that.

Thanks also to the cherry pickers!

Moya

I don't understand, I put a recommendation up for Linda Wigzell Cress' poem Still a Sad Little Boy which I think is a monumental poem. They were the actual words I used and I feel sure I saw the posting here but now I can't see it.

Bewildered
Moya

It's there, Moya. 3 posts above yours. Great poem, as you say.

I would like to recommend Denzella's piece THOUGHTS. There's nothing like a good rant and a 'good news'
paper is a great thought. All Thoughts well expressed too - Linda

http://abctales.com/story/denzella/thoughts

I feel stupid but I've been up and down three times and I cannot see it. Should I go to Specsavers?

Moya

Maybe it was accidentally deleted, Moya. Her link is there, though. I'm sure your eyes are fine!

Thanks Stan,

I thought I was going mad well, madder than usual I mean!

But I say again Linda Wigzell Cress' poem Still a Sad Little Boy , though it is indeed sad, is still excellent!

MOya

This has been a great forum topic Stan. We've all missed certain peoples works over the past months due to the sheer volume of good work that's on here.It's also a time factor, we all lead busy lives, but it's been great to catch up on some really good stories and poems.

Posting this on Denzella's recommendation. This story is true so means a lot to me:

http://abctales.com/story/linda-wigzell-cress/still-poor-sad-little-boy.

Thanks for your interest Moya and Stan; looks like I've got too many 'sad' poems!

No, Linda, sad though the subjects may be you are a great poet and I for one love your poetry for it's accessibility and for your tight rhymes which I much admire.

Moya

Whoosh, I've read all of these now. I have been absolutely blown away by the skill and sheer standard of the writing ability. There is some amazing writing on this site.

And don't leave yourself out of that, Sooz :)

Linda,

At last I found where my recommendation is. It's on the Inspiration point on this forum. Not on this particular thread.

Wondered where it had gone because I knew I had seen it.

Moya

I've been away for a few years concentrating on full length novels, but a recent half term holiday re-ignited my creative streak and I wrote three short stories and a couple of poems in a few days. 'Leavers Day' is my personal favourite, written from the perspective of a Form Tutor losing their kids after five years. I was there and believe me, it's the worst feeling in the world. It's probably not the greatest thing I'll ever write, but it's by far the most personal.

http://www.abctales.com/story/ton-car/leavers-day