Chapter 1
The manner of your death never seems important until the moment it arrives.
At that moment, that razor's edge between now and eternity, every detail becomes precious, finite, intricate and unforgettable.
This morning the sun sits wet and slack in the early sky like an orange squeezed and juiced. The heavy slap of the sails and the ghost whispers through the shrouds herald a storm that will blow itself out and leave the ground littered with scraps of life: leaves, paper cups, deflated jellyfish, used condoms, a baby's shoe never worn.
Each piece a whole and perfect silent story.
It is a strange place to die; birth is a forgotten ride at an amusement park.
...my feet walking forward seemingly of their own volition into the golden surf, laughing, my mind referencing rumor of how my favorite lyricist from Pink Floyd screamed,"Don't drink me...I'm a glass of orange juice!" at anyone who approached him when he "lost it"; the theme song of Mash lamely playing on the broken record player of my brain.
The pills I took left me and the calm assurance with which I steeled myself, as I slipped beneath the waves, the last breathe of air I would ever take slipping up and away from my lips in a spiral of bubbles resembling the galaxy I told myself I was about to leave.
My choice I told myself,seconds before I was swallowed by a whale,introduced to a whole new culture,and taken to the center of the world in the mouth of a very large mammal to partake in an adventure which I'm sure even the most open minds will find hard to believe.
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1. Read what has been written.
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3. Submit your contribution to writethenovel@yahoo.com Paste the line in the story preceding your contribution in the subject line of your email. (So we know where your contribution is supposed to go in the story.)
4. Include your name and a bio and/or pic if you wish. You may also write anonymously.
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In order to use as many contributions as we possibly can, our editors may elect to use part of your submission and/or edit it to fit the previous content. If this is not acceptable to you please let us know when you submit. Please be advised that this may result in a rejection of your submission.
It has the potential for disaster or sublimity.
What you write will affect both the readers and the writers of this story.
Choose your words wisely.
How To Write the Novel
The Guidelines
You may only submit one contribution to each story. It may be a single line, a paragraph,or several pages. Our panel of professional writers, readers, and editors will select submissions based on quality of the writing and effectiveness at continuing the story.
1.Originality, strong voice, and talent are important. However it is the story that is most important...mechanics come next. If you have something to tell we want to hear it.
2. Please use good grammar, your best spelling, and proper format including indentation, quotation marks around dialogue, and other accepted devices one would expect in a novel. Information on formatting and basic writing advice can be found here.
3. No fancy fonts please. Submit something legible.
4.Submissions become the property of The Great American Novel blog and cannot be shared or copied without permission.
5. No pornography, excessive disturbing violence, or personal agendas. If you have a cause take it elsewhere. Sex, blood, and fear are a natural part of life and if used correctly can drive a story in the right direction. Any submissions that carry the story forward in the character it was created will be considered. Comedy is also acceptable but only so far as it is in keeping with the story.
6. Amateurs and professionals may contribute to this story. We do not discriminate against age, sex, creed, ethnicity or any other facet of existence. We only ask that you take this seriously
The Instructions
1. Read what has been written.
2.Write as much or as little as you like but you can only contribute 1 time.
3. Submit your contribution to writethenovel@yahoo.com Paste the line in the story preceding your contribution in the subject line of your email. (So we know where your contribution is supposed to go in the story.)
4. Include your name and a bio and/or pic if you wish. You may also write anonymously.
5. Our editors will approve your submission if possible and add it to the story.
In order to use as many contributions as we possibly can, our editors may elect to use part of your submission and/or edit it to fit the previous content. If this is not acceptable to you please let us know when you submit. Please be advised that this may result in a rejection of your submission.