Video

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Ignorant People

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Yesterday another YouTube video became sort of viral in publishing circles and I'm sure you've probably already seen it but I present it here just in case:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv4Hpz-GI3g

I even posted it on Facebook with the caption "Spoiled Brat!" I was (in case it wasn't obvious) being facetious. After all, the kid is just a kid, not even five years old, and on Christmas morning, what kind of presents does a kid that age want to open? Toys, of course!

It would be different if the kid were, say, ten years old and flipping out that he got a book instead of a toy. But no, this particular child is three, so it's expected, right?

Of course, the kinds of people who regularly comment at YouTube apparently didn't understand this little fact, based on this note by one of the kid's parents regarding the video:

I have deleted a lot of very undeserved negative comments that have been posted....I understand now that without a good understanding of the back history one could make a poor assumption of him....but now i hope you know that he was ONLY THREE YEARS OLD PEOPLE and that he only thought your supposed to get toys for christmas....partly because of how commercialized this holiday has become.....we have since taught him differently..............but just for kicks were gonna wrap books again for him and see what happens....

Personally, if I were a parent I don't think I'd post a video of my child on YouTube in the first place, but this was the choice these parents made. And sure, in some ways, the video's cute, but is it deserving of such snarkiness from those degenerates trolling YouTube? No, of course not. And this is yet another reason why I hate ignorant people.

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Nanu Nanu

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Just got home from the Morgantown, West Virginia area where I spoke to small group of writers last night. The drive there was hellish -- the weather was fine starting out but then, after an hour or so, it started to snow and things just went downhill from there. We were making somewhat good time until we got about 10 minutes away from our destination and then got stuck for about 40 minutes in a long pileup on the interstate because of an accident. But today on the way back? The weather was perfect and we had no problems whatsoever. Anyway, it was a good time, so thanks to Morgantown Poets for inviting me, especially those who braved the cold and ice to attend. I have a story featured today at Nanoism, which I believe is one of the best markets for Twitter-fiction. Here's how the story came about: when putting together the design for the anthology's cover, my editor asked me if I could try to write a story that had the words hint and fiction closer together. They weren't happy with the wording of the story already written, thinking those two words were too far apart. So I did, but the words were way too close together, and the designers went with a different wording, and there's today's special behind-the-scenes look at the making of the anthology. I did include the story, which I titled "Definition," in Eight Hints, which, until now, contained two unpublished hint fiction pieces. I actually have several left over and will be taking the rest with me to AWP, but since I love and appreciate all of you who read my blog, if you'd like a copy of your own, send me an e-mail at robert (at) robertswartwood (dot) com with your name and address by midnight Sunday EST and I'll drop one in the mail and you should (in theory) receive it in time for Christmas (it, like the anthology, makes a great stocking stuffer).

And speaking of Christmas, if you like SpongeBob SquarePants and Legos (because who doesn't?), then you'll love this:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLuK-QEOmcg

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More Hint Stuff

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A reminder that I'll be speaking tonight at the Monongalia Arts Center at 7 pm. So, you know, if you're in the Morgantown, West Virginia area, why not stop by and say hi. It's sure to be an interesting experience seeing that I'm still fighting a bad cold. Along with the usual DayQuil and NyQuil, I took this tonight:

As you can imagine, it didn't taste very good, but hopefully it'll do the trick.

Lyle Rosdahl of the San Antonio Current has this to say about the anthology:

I’m a bibliophile and a lover of language. That’s why I claim that books make the best presents for the holidays. And in the spirit of the Flash Fiction section, I’m recommending Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer, edited by Robert Swartwood. Not only is the name of the form brilliant, the stories are too. Here’s an example by Joe R. Lansdale, taken from the first story in the book. It’s called “The Return”: “They buried him deep. Again.” The obvious point is that it hints, like the most brilliant stories, at something outside of it — a cultural reference or the lumbering body below the surface of the page, the words, the meaning. These are the perfect stories to thumb through on a sunny winter morning. Happy holiday reading.

And the Booking Mama also recommends the anthology as an excellent holiday gift:

Coming from someone who can't stop talking or typing, I'm in awe that authors can successfully convey story ideas in so few words. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and the depth of so many of the stories. Some actually made me reflect on the characters, some hit me like a punch to the gut, and others left me wanting more. I honestly didn't expect these few words to have such a powerful effect on me.

Have you seen the trailer for the documentary Bad Writing? Well then, here, you have no more excuse:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raWLS2_PEfI