The King's Paws (with one holding a bottle of Peri Peri sauce.)

[Rostum]

Which(for the most part) also comes under fiction.

Zombies are more about social permission than horror from my perspective.

[Nighteyes]

The question about whether zombies are fantasy or fiction is making me hear Queen lyrics.  Is this the real life or is it just fantasy? Though I guess it would be Is this made up life or is it just fantasy? 

[The Gem Cutter]

I have heard and believe the theory that zombies represent a worldwide cultural memory of starvation. Advanced starvation turns a human into a zombie: shambling gate, poor balance, very limited eyesight, subdued reflexes, reduced mental faculties, slurred speech, the list goes on. Oh, and they will eat you.

[J.R. Darewood]

They are technically nonfiction, if you're reading Wade Davis

[ScarletBea]

The (very cold for now) 5 C this morning was worth for the crisp cloudless blue sky with the almost full moon still clearly visible at 7.30am.

It was so beautiful I had to take a photo, although of course that doesn't make any justice to the true image I still have in my mind

[The Gem Cutter]

Being the maker of a thing introduces biases that can get in the way. So if any of you happen to have read any of the poems I've posted in the Only Mostly Dead thread, perhaps you might recommend one or two that you think would be suitable for a poetry reading thing I signed up for. I'm out of my comfort zone (partly because I so often urge others to get outside of theirs and one can only bear one's own hypocrisy so far haha) and haven't a clue what this will be like to read my stuff aloud in front of strangers.

[Rostum]

I think your poetry is very good and at the end of the day it is only your thoughts on it that count. Are you comfortable reading your poetry aloud are you comfortable reading it to an audience? if not this may not be for you.

Can you read it aloud to you wife?
Can you read it aloud to your wife while naked?
Probably best stop there...

if you can then reading to strangers shouldn't be so much of a challenge. An audience is by it's nature sympathetic. Nobody pays (in money or time) to see something they don't expect to like

[Eli_Freysson]

Gem, just read your personal favourites. You'll be most at ease with those.

In Icelandic news, I just got back from my favourite watering hole; Akureyri Backpackers. I like going there early in the evening, for the cheapest happy hour, to work out story ideas while downing two or three beers. It's also the place to occasionally get into a conversation with interesting people, and this time it happened again.

I got to know a young New Yorker couple, and a trio of middle-aged Canadians of Icelandic descent (Western Icelanders). One of the Canadians was here to gain a deeper understanding of her origins, and WHY her ancestor had decided to emigrate (hint: volcanic devastation).

We discussed various subjects, shared some cultural insights (I informed them that there is in fact no separate American/Canadian accent), and they bought me an extra beer. I then served as their tour guide for a little bit, and directed them to a still-open but good restaurant. They offered to buy me a meal, but I'd already eaten and settle for a milkshake.

The trend continues: Every single American I've ever met in the flesh had been very affable.

Now, if I could just learn to get along this well with some actual locals, I'd be set...

[ScarletBea]

Now, if I could just learn to get along this well with some actual locals, I'd be set...

I believe, from a bit of experience too, that this is because when people go to a different country they're WAY more willing to talk with strangers. Locals usually go out with their friends and they form a closed group, not looking outside.

Also because at the backpackers place you go to there aren't many locals?

[The Gem Cutter]

So I was going to quit my job - too many hours and too much stress. My president and I had discussed moving me up to her job so she could shift to other things, but the job needs more than I bring to the table (or want to). So during the talk where I expressed that, I broached the topic of my desire to move on. In the end, I am promoted to Director of Business Development. My bonuses, if things go well, could effectively double my salary. Kind of a weird turn of events...

[ScarletBea]

Congrats!

...but sorry to say this: if your current job has too many hours and too much stress, won't a higher one be even worse?

[Eli_Freysson]

That IS a weird turn of events.

Over here I'm looking at this winter's first snowfall. It never starts off impressive; we're getting tiny flakes drifting down, but we're in for a sharp cold spell as the weekend draws near.

[ScarletBea]

^ no snow, but I already had to scrape ice off my windscreen this morning

[The Gem Cutter]

Congrats!

...but sorry to say this: if your current job has too many hours and too much stress, won't a higher one be even worse?

Indeed that is a concern. But I think the hours and stress will be more manageable as I won't be spending all my time writing proposals; I'll be chatting with clients, developing quotes, and other, more social things that do not wear on me so hard. And I do not "need" my salary. My current salary is over my needs by about $25K, so if I am moderately successful, I could basically get to a point where I am way over my needs and could pay down my mortgage and have some terrific vacations overseas and in a few years, I won't have to work at all.

[JMack]

@The Gem Cutter,

Though I agree with others that if you choose your favorites you’ll be fine, I offer up some suggestions (one to begin, then I’ll add others as I can today):

http://fantasy-faction.com/forum/writers-corner/only-mostly-dead-poets-society/msg183306/#msg183306