by Hypoxia
Stories expand to fill all available space. I meant this piece to be four or five vignette episodes held together with a framing device, the campfire-story circle, with each episode about 3/4 of a LIT page. But it grew into this mini-anthology. If reader response is good, I'll try more mini-anthologies in the A TASTE OF INCEST cycle and probably other areas too.
Each 'tale' here is what I call an episode. I'm trying more and more to write standalone episodes and stories rather than long-drawn-out series. It's a matter of termination. An episode ends but a multi-chapter series may just chug along novelistically with no end in sight. I'm still trying to finish two series (THE BOOK OF RUTH and BLACK & WHITE) so I can move on.
Stories expand. My original Hallowe'en Contest idea was three vignettes: PUMPKIN, SPIRITS, and TAMALES (traditional for Guatemalan Day of the Dead). Those grew into two multi-episode entries (PUMPKIN/CANDY and SPIRITS) and the seed for a new series (VAMOS!). Ay yi yi. I wrote and edited all these SPIRITS episodes in about two days. What to write now?
I had the feeling this was a tell all type when they were at the campfire. Then it turned into a fuck fest before some of them even told how they got together. Didn't like that and quit rreading after it.
I've been reading stories here for years as an unregistered guest. But I gotta say, this story is one of the best, probably an all time favorite. So much so that I registered to favorite it, and thank you. Keep writing these Tastes. They're phenomenal
Nice use of the frame, it felt pretty organic and natural. I definitely give it 5 stars.