Footnotes (or Things That Would Be Clearer In The Text If I Were A Better Poet)

1. When I say I want the world to unbuild the closet, I am not, repeat not, suggesting outing closeted QUILTBAG people against their wishes. Stop assuming everyone is straight until proven queer: yes. Break the stigma attached to openly discussing sexuality (as opposed to trying to decode it from behaviour and/or past relationships, which can only lead to ridiculous sitcom misunderstandings): yes (as long as we all respect that people owe themselves safety and comfort more than they owe anyone else total honesty). Out your acquaintances to people they may have closeted themselves away from for very good reasons: no, no and thrice no, why would you even consider that.

2. The last thing I want to do is criticise or diminish people who have come out of the closet. My belief that we shouldn't have to come out only increases my respect for anyone who has. Given the choice between cowering in the foxhole and sallying forth, I'll cower every time: for evidence, see the above weaselly clever-clever non-disclosure of my queerness. I admire anyone who looked ahead to the inevitable shitshow of stupid questions and platitudes that would surround their coming out and said "Fuck it, I'm outta here anyway".

3. I reserve the right to add more footnotes as my sense of panic deepens.

This Is Not Me Coming Out

"A thing doesn't have to be real to be frightening."

This is a new tale of Carnacki, the ghost finder. Written by M. J. Starling, featuring characters, settings and concepts from public domain works by William  Hope Hodgson and H. P. Lovecraft.

The stage play premiered at the Wandsworth Fringe 2013, and this radio adaptation - produced by Helen Johnson for Blackshaw Theatre Company - aired on Wandsworth Radio in March 2015.

If you'd like to put on your own production of Audience with the Ghost Finder, you can get the script at www.mjstarling.com and contact mj@mjstarling.com about performance rights.

Audience with the Ghost Finder - Part 2

Audience with the Ghost Finder - Part 1

The Schenectady Six-Pack applies the golden rule of writing (show, don’t tell) to the question writers dread (where do you get your ideas?).

This is episode 15, with Richard Cabut (and a cameo by Phil Boothman from episode 7). Writing prompts for this episode come from @toasted_cheese, @HollyCortelyou, @KLMwriter and @RachaelCMarek on Twitter.

Keep up with Richard on Twitter @richardcabut.

Affinity - an anthology (67 Press): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013D46FS0/

Zer0 Books (soon to publish Modernity Killed Every Night): http://www.zero-books.net/

The Superhero Initative: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-superhero-initiative

Blackshaw’s Scare Slam: http://blackshawonline.com/blog/blackshaw-scare-slam-get-involved/

The Schenectady Six-Pack by M. J. Starling is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://twitter.com/MJStarling

Original egg box photo by MarkusHagenlocher at the German language Wikipedia

Schenectady Six-Pack 015: Richard Cabut

The Schenectady Six-Pack applies the golden rule of writing (show, don’t tell) to the question writers dread (where do you get your ideas?).

This is episode 16, with Karen Bartholomew. Writing prompts for this episode come from @silvanhistorian and @Duncan_Gates on Twitter.

Keep up with Karen on Twitter @motormouseuk and on Facebook at facebook.com/motormouseproductions.
Keep an eye on camdenfringe.com for details about the upcoming performance of GOD’S WAITING ROOM.

The Schenectady Six-Pack by M. J. Starling is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://twitter.com/MJStarling

Original egg box photo by MarkusHagenlocher at the German language Wikipedia

Schenectady Six-Pack 016: Karen Bartholomew

Creator and host of the Merely Roleplayers podcast. Gave William Hope Hodgson's ghost-finder, Carnacki, his stage debut.

MerelyMatt