Christmas, Gray Skys And Crock Pot Cooking

Posted on December 25, 2012 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Woman As Art

Woman As Art

As of this morning the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has 24, 667 visits for December 2012 and there are still six more days before January.

How’s everyone doing on this Christmas Day?

The Old Soldier is relaxing in his favorite position: on the sofa on his back with two pillows under his weary head as he writes this in his notebook.  I have two new books from the public library: War on the Water, The Union & Confederate Navies, 1861-1865 by James M. McPherson and Dial M For Murdoch, News Corporation And The Corruption Of Britain by Tom Watson & Martin Hickman.

And you thought the Old Soldier was only interested in flash fiction and naked women.

Christmas Songwriters' Club - Sat 22 December ...

Christmas Songwriters’ Club – Sat 22 December 2012 -0168 (Photo credit: The Queen’s Hall)

I finished off a six-pack of beer this morning.  I was going to save money for karaoke at Del’s this Friday night; but there probably won’t be much of a crowd because of the holidays.  So, I’ll just wait for the first Friday in January and use the money to hang out and enjoy myself.

The Old Soldier loves his beer.

It’s an overcast day in Pittsburgh.  The high will only be in the 40s.  I have several turkey necks in the crock pot and I don’t think I’ll even go outside today.

Have a merry Christmas.  Be sure to check the front page for the latest updates.

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Writing Flash Fiction: More On Compressionism

Posted on March 23, 2012 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette

What is Compressionism?  It is the use of words to paint a picture that tells a story.  The Old Soldier came up with the term “Compressionism” to suggest how tight a flash fiction story must be if it is to be a good flash fiction story.

A good flash fiction story is really two short stories in one.  One story takes place on the page.  The other story takes place in the imagination of the reader.  So, in reality the words are suggestive.  And painting a picture is the best way to get the reader to use his or her imagination to fill in the blanks.

This is why in Compressionism there is so much action; because actions speak louder than words.  And don’t forget that dialogue is action, too.

Short Story Writing Workshop

Short Story Writing Workshop (Photo credit: MadLabUK)

It is this reliance on action that makes Compressionism so exciting for the reader.  The reader not only sees what is going on but the reader participates in what is going on.  The reader is part of the creative process because in Compressionism, much of the story is in the subtext, much of the story is implied.  This means the reader must participate in the creation of the story for the story to be complete.  Compressionism allows the reader to do just that.

Is Compressionism the only way to write a flash fiction story?  No it’s not.  It’s just one of the best ways to write a flash fiction story.

At its best, Compressionism is cinema on the page. 

*****

It’s Friday, karaoke day at Del’s Bar and Italian Restaurant.  It’s around 11:00 am and the Old Soldier has finished doing his breathing and stretching exercises.  I still have to shave my face and head and do laundry, but the day has started with a bang.  The Old Soldier loves being the editor/publisher of the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette.

*****

It’s going to be another hot, sunny, summer-like day in Pittsburgh.  I’ve been eating lima beans and ham hocks that I cooked in my crock pot several days ago.  I’m looking forward to my first bowl today.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.  Submit.

*****

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Public Television, Hot Dogs And Blackeye Peas

Posted on January 23, 2012 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
A cooked hot dog garnished with mustard.

Image via Wikipedia

It’s around noon, on an overcast day in Pittsburgh that might get up to 52 degrees and may even have some sunshine.  The Old Soldier has public television on the TV.  It’s a show about the All-American hot dog.  There seems to be all kinds of hot dogs, covered with onions, relish, mustard, sauerkraut, chili, cheese…

The Old Soldier is eating a small bowl of the blackeye peas and ham hocks that he cooked in the crock pot.  The peas did not turn out as good as I hoped.  I put too much water in the crock pot.  So, I poured some of the liquid out and let the peas sit overnight, but they still are not as tasty as they can be and it’s all my fault.

Oh, well, you win some and you lose some.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

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Winter Writing: Keeping The Flow Going

Posted on January 3, 2012 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Even Goodness - Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer

Image by erjkprunczyk via Flickr

Today the high will be 30 degrees in Pittsburgh.  There is snow on the ground.  Winter has arrived.

But don’t you worry.  The Old Soldier is ready for a winter campaign of commentaries about life and the world we live in, articles on blogging and writing, flash fiction short stories and more studies of the nude female form.

*****

Hello hello hello, my brother and sister bloggers, readers, writers and Flash Fiction Fanatics.  The Old Soldier is jotting this down in his notebook and sipping on a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer while he is stretched out on the sofa with two fat pillows under his weary head.

It’s around noon and bright sunlight pours through my windows, my humble apartment warm and cozy.

After I post this I will sally forth into the cold in search of two small Cornish hens for my crock pot.  The holidays are over and it is time to get back into a productive routine.

I have a magazine of serious writing and brazen sexuality to publish.

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Crock Pot Cooking: Roast, Red Potatoes And Green Peppers

Posted on December 22, 2011 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
A Sunday roast consisting of roast beef, roast...

Image via Wikipedia

A writer’s got to eat.  And the Old Soldier will be eating well as soon as he puts on his crock pot.  I got a thick roast.  I got a package of small read potatoes.  A got several green peppers.

After proper cleaning, everything will go into the crock pot.  Now I have read some manuals on crock pot cooking that say the vegetables should go on the bottom and the meat should go on top.  That way the juices of the meat will drip over the vegetables making them more tasty; but I never do that.  It doesn’t seem right to have a heavy piece of meat on my little, fragile vegetables.

When I have a good size of meat I never add water.  The meat will make its own broth.  So, after I put up this post I’m going to put on my crock pot.  I don’t know what seasoning I’m going to use; but I’ve got salt and pepper, garlic powder and chopped onions and basil leaves.

The roast and vegetables are really for the weekend.  Today it’s rice/and or Ramen Noodles.

Eat fresh!

*****

Once the crock pot is on, the Old Soldier is going to make that trip to the public library to return the three volumes of Anais Nin and to pick up something else.  It’s an overcast day, the high around 43.  So, everybody be cool and I’ll see you on the flip side.

Peace out!

*****

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