Deadlines and commitments: what to leave in, what to leave out. - Bob Seger

A number of us, myself foremost, find ourselves on Santa's naughty list for this late and incomplete E-dition of Printed Matters. I must admit to getting wrapped up in the festivities of the season, made more urgent for our household by medical crises. Nevertheless, we go to "press" in a better late than never spirit, trusting that our absent analyses will appear in the near future.

Jim Poindexter had 4 stents implanted in his heart the first week of December. We hope to see him back at the table in January. Phil Arnold's article on the first Rock & Roll record appears in the latest issue of Elvis International. Dick Taylor has submitted his non-fiction manuscript to a military publisher and it is said to be working its way up the ranks. Diane Milks, who recently shared her reflections on the fungus among us, has become Regional Trail Coordinator for the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. Robin Prince Monroe has hung out her shingle in cyberspace at http://www.dgtldocs.com/nebula/.

• Stories must have some connection to the Carolinas.
• Manuscripts must be no longer than 3,000 words.
• Include 3 copies of a typed, double-spaced, unpublished fictional story with your name, address, phone number and the title of your story on the title page.
• Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Winners will be notified by phone, non-winners via SASE.
• No phone calls.
• No manuscripts will be returned.
• Judges will make selections based on originality, style and literary quality.

Send entries to: Fiction Contest, Creative Loafing, 617 N Main St, Greenville SC 29601
Deadline: in the Creative Loafing office by 3 p.m., January 25.
Winning stories will be published in the March 2, 2002 issue of Creative Loafing.

Make a resolution to do the write thing this year! And don't forget our next meeting January 3!

It was a treat to take another trip inside Russ Burns' head. They always go to such interesting places. In "Personification" Russ deftly weaves the tale of his symbiotic relationship with Abdul Hawk around short passages of his thoughts on the names we humans give to those special living creatures in our lives.
The essay has a nice sense of whimsy to keep it all balanced. Only two suggestions were made by our group. Someone thought it would be a great story in which to utilize more stuff about the senses. Another member felt there was some digression into a rabbit trail we didn't need. The professor thinks this reference was to the two paragraphs about Rachel Carson... and agrees. Less Rachel, more Abdul.

Pat Stewart explored her options for patriotism in her latest amusing essay, "Keeping My Eye on Hydrants". After ruling out big spending or far flung trips to help stimulate the economy (as President Bush has urged the country to do) she comes up with a brilliant idea. She will keep an eye on the fire hydrant on her block to make sure no terrorists spike the water with lethal poisons. The essay held Pat's trademark flair for letting the reader see the ridiculous in the ordinary. With a few minor points clarified, like referring to materials that were recycled exclusively for WWII (leaving out any that are recycled as a matter of course in our times), omitting the fact that she buys bonds (because it undercuts the notion that the author is unpatriotic) and rearranging the last paragraphs, Pat will have another gem of an essay, bringing a knowing smile to the faces of all that read it.

Meanwhile, John Kingsbury gave us the third chapter in his novel, Dying with Amanda. The latest chapter follows the ordinary but likeable Johnny and his friend, the delightful and energetic Amanda as they go to the movies and take a walk around the school "spider-style" (at widow level) afterwards. Small details about both the characters give the story depth and reality. Knowing that they are seeing "Yellow Submarine" is a great but subtle way to put the story into an exact historical time frame. The way Amanda behaves towards the adults at the movie theatre lets us see her as a genuinely nice person. There was some debate over the length of Amanda's skirt in regards to her ability to climb in it and Johnny's ability to see anything when it gets tugged at by the wind. It was also agreed that there could have been more dialogue between Johnny and Amanda at the movies. Nonetheless we are all eagerly awaiting the next installment in this story, with characters that are so easy to care about.

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. - Apostle Paul

"Last Christmas" usually refers to that one most recent past. For my wife, Carolyn, and her family, "Last Christmas" took on new meaning in mid year when her father was diagnosed with terminal illness. Our hearts, heavy with knowledge of things to come, were buoyed by his presence among the presents. Carolyn's brother made an effort to capture the event on video, to preserve his image and voice and memory for future consolation. But is that really how he will remain with us?

The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians concerning the impression their relationship has had upon him and his fellow workers among them. He testifies that they have no need of tangible record beyond that which they carry within. The journal of their striving together, and sometimes against one another, have created a document visible to all.

We stand at the threshold of a new year: 365 blank pages to be filled with experience. I hope you will resolve to write this year. Let us see your best that we may all try to write better through our exchange. And consider well the writings you will do "on tablets of human hearts". May these, too, be worthy of publication and praise.

Printed Matters is the newsletter of the Greenville Chapter, SCWW, which meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at The Open Book, 110 S Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC.

Thanks to our contributing writers: Phil Arnold and Gabrielle Johansen.

Copyright 2001 by Leland Beaudrot, Editor. Contributing writers retain all rights to their work.