I just attended a cultural summit at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine. Inspiring, delightful, thought-provoking, exhausting. I couldn’t be more grateful to have been included, particularly because I have never felt so validated as a writer as I felt while rubbing elbows with all those creative Mainers. A number of the attendees asked me if I ever link the stories I’m writing for Daily Shorty and I had to say no, although I have often considered doing that. Well, there’s no time like the present, they say, and They are mighty wise people or we wouldn’t keep quoting They. Thank you, They, for your insight. Today I begin a week of stories inspired by Haystack. I got the idea for today’s shorty while in the room pictured here, listening to presentations. The idea is better than the execution, but that’s what revision is for. Okay, Haystack—what’s next?
Working Title: Playing Life
1st Sentence: Missy slapped her fork to the table and snapped, “Login”—their shorthand for “We need to continue this conversation as an argument in Second Life.”
Favorite Sentence: Ellen, his alter-ego, could absorb accusations and insults and then deal with them with a cool head, whereas if he had to think about such things, hear such words, all that language would collide and his unchecked fury would melt the bits and pieces together, leaving him confused, steaming, mute.
Word Length: 768
Photo of the main lecture room at Haystack, 9/2012.
Daily Shorty 
Welcome back to Lewiston from Haystack! Sounds like an amazing place and retreat/gathering!
Thanks Patty! It was amazing. I have to figure out how to make it back someday.