New short fiction: "Stand Up"

[shunn]

A brand-new short story of mine, "Stand Up," is available now at the group blog This May Get Awkward:

"Stand Up"

The good folks at TMGA (in the person of the estimable JD Adamski, an MVP of the Tuesday Funk reading series I co-produce) asked me a while back to contribute a story, and I'm glad I finally had a chance to oblige them. I hope you like it. It's short.

"Yeah—mothers," said the comedian, running a hand through his sparse hair. "Don't you just hate 'em?"

Uncertain charges of laughter detonated here and there around the club. It was all in the delivery, and in the modest credit he'd accrued up to now with the audience.  [read more]

Dedicated to the career path I did not follow?

Comments

[markbourne.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice. Well done. And y'know, I couldn't help but hear it in Marc Maron's voice. Congrats.

There could be a new subgenre brewing: comedipunk. Sheckypunk. Laffpunk. (Whatever.) I have a story out now, my science-fictioniest story ever, called "The Final Standup of Manuel Forté," about a standup comic in the future. Know any editors interested in a hot theme antho? :)

[shunn.livejournal.com]

Is that story forthcoming anywhere? Also, we should totally bug John Klima about doing that anthology...

(Did you see on Twitter where I mentioned trying channel Maron's voice in that story?)

[markbourne.livejournal.com]

That story is on a choice editor's desk, albeit a choice editor who's so submission-backlogged that I don't expect a reply before next spring, alas.

I missed that particular tweet, but your recent LJ post outing yourself as a fellow fan of Maron's "WTF" podcast probably imprinted his voice in my head while reading "Stand Up."

As one who digs both standup comics and SF ("Manuel Forté" is dedicated to Patton Oswalt) I've for years wanted to write a true-blue SF story about a comic. But with comedy being an outgrowth of, and dependent upon, social milieu, shared cultural points and experiences, etc., the plot and approach eluded me for years. Then it hit me: my comic didn't have to be particular _good_ at his career choice. It all fell into place after that.

[shunn.livejournal.com]

Good luck with it, and I can't wait to read it! In fact, if you happened to accidentally email it to me...

I've listened to so much "WTF" now that I think it would be impossible for me to write a stand-up that didn't sound like Marc Maron.

[markbourne.livejournal.com]

Incoming.