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Archive for February, 2005:

Twisted Prompts for Sicko Writers

Published by Michael Arnzen in Instigation on February 22nd, 2005

+ Describe an invented mental illness in scientific language, as though an entry in the DSM-IV. For structure, visit allpsych.com
+ Lovingly describe an over-the-top imaginary weapon, as though writing the sales pitch that appears in a mail order catalog. For inspiration, try crkt.com
+ Write an encyclopedia entry about an infamous (but fictional) massacre. For a model, pick your favorite at the wikipedia list of massacres

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Instigation is a WEEKLY department in Hellnotes newsletter.
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Congratulations to subscriber Terrie Leigh Relf, whose instigation-inspired story, “At the Ophthalmologist’s Office,” was recently published in FlashShot. If you publish or post something instigated by this department, let me know and I’ll mention it here!

Cobbler

Published by Michael Arnzen in Gorelets: Unpleasant Poems on February 22nd, 2005

hammer stuck
in your skull
like a fork resting
inside the crust
of a half-eaten pie

the claw catches light,
as polished chrome clean
as your smile
and I regret both
the choice of my grip
and the bite not taken

Play Dead Cover

Published by Michael Arnzen in Arnzen News on February 10th, 2005

This is the mock-up for the cover for my next novel, Play Dead, coming out in August 2005 from Raw Dog Screaming Press (in hardcover and novelty “sculpture”-bound editions). It’s still being developed, but I love the design…which looks just like it was taken out of the story.

Play Dead’s publisher is celebrating the book by sponsoring the “Play Dead Charity Poker Showdown” at World Horror Convention this coming April. 20 celebrity authors will battle each other at Texas Hold ‘Em for the charity of their choice. Read ‘em and weep!

It’s really early in production, and you can’t order the book yet. But the novel got this great endorsement from Lance Olsen (author of Girl, Imagined by Chance):

“PLAY DEAD reads like white lightning. The wonderfully grungy characters and staccato-fast chapters grab you by the face, haul you in, and won’t let go, while the richly metaphoric style begs for savoring on every page. Arnzen wears a wry gaming grin even as he reminds us the universe is little more than a horrorshow comprised of pure plain chance. This terrific (in all senses of the word) novel hits the ground running and just won’t stop.”

Stay tuned for more news as it arrives!