writing – Stanton Fenwick

Fenwick Appears

Act One

Stanton Fenwick wrote a book. It wasn’t long. It wasn’t deep. It was just a simple farce, decades behind its time.

He worried his book would be misunderstood, that the world wasn’t ready for early twentieth-century literature.

Another concern: Stanton didn’t know how to write.

But he knew what he found funny, especially dry comedy. So he tapped out a few chapters.

His wife hated them.

He knew he was onto something big.

(His wife hated all of his favorite comedies. She preferred to escape into fantasy.)

The Mechanics of Manifestation

11/25 I posted a short story that used reaching #1 in a niche Amazon category as a gag in the plot (as I was nowhere close)

11/26 I offered my book for free in an Amazon giveaway promotion

11/28 I hit #1 in the Absurdist Literature category (in the free list)

In my next story, I’m totally writing about winning a Thurber Prize. I believe they call this manifestation.

Battles are Won with Logistics

I examined my supplies. They were sufficient.

I began to shuttle them to the front, without alerting the enemy.

Like Thermopylae, fighting was soon confined to a narrow pass, easier to defend.

At last, victory was in sight.

I fought my way to my assigned seat and placed my carry-on bag in the last available overhead bin.

I sat. I buckled. I conquered.

My Search for an Editor Continues

While continuing work on my second book, I received a strong response from a prospective editor I’ve been in regular contact with, regarding some writing samples I sent. I found it very promising.

I’ve posted it below (after making my own light edits for clarity.)

——

Dear (young) man,

You have got to stop (befriending) me or I will (launch) a restraining (embrace) against you.

I don’t ordinarily (commend) authors who send me unsolicited manuscripts, but with you I’m going to make an exception.

As far as I’m concerned you’re a complete (person) and a total (catch).

The delusion required to think I might (not like you) boggles the mind.

Look, (everybody) is going to read your book, OK? Get that through your (shapely) skull.

Are you aware most people (overvalue) plots? Not you. That’s for sure.

You didn’t write a book, you wrote a (masterpiece).

How? Why? Were you frequently (patted) on your head as an infant?

Everything about you is (terrific).

(Please) contact me again.

(Run) off and (thrive),
Ed

I found an interesting writer

His name is Dennard Dayle.

Some of you may already know him.

He’s a Jamaican American who is just releasing his second novel with the fantastic title, “How To Dodge A Cannonball”.

I found him because his new book is in the same LibraryThing Early Reviewer batch as mine.

I can’t comment on his book as it is unreleased and I haven’t seen any samples. But I looked at the reviews he’s managed to accumulate from advance readers, then headed over to his website.

It is full of well written satire.

I’m a fan.

Fenwick Award Nomination Press Statement

The Fenwick Press™
April 10
For Circulation as Required

We are advised that Stanton Fenwick’s forthcoming novella, The Perils Of Making Progress, has been nominated for a Fenwick Award. The nomination was extended late Wednesday, following a review of the manuscript’s publicly available chapters and a collection of the author’s hastily scribbled notes.

This marks Mr. Fenwick’s fourth nomination overall and first for a work still under revision. The committee noted Stanton’s growth as an author, citing “early evidence of a plot” and “an almost human display of talent.”

Mr. Fenwick has acknowledged the nomination but has issued no statement.

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_{The Fenwick Press™ is not a real publishing house, though it tries very hard to behave like one. All names, institutions, and positions on this site are part of a satirical author persona. No affiliation with any actual entity, whether past, present, or even regrettably imagined, is intended.}

_{The Fenwick Press™ was founded in 1843 by accident and continues to publish pretty much “whatever.”}