Mat Twassel: Blog

Looking through my list of stories posted to SOL yesterday, I noticed I hadn't posted any with a title beginning with the letter Q, X, or Z. I'm usually up for a little challenge. The titles (let's say working titles) came easily. Quim. X-Rated, and Zipper. This morning I did Zipper along with two illustrations. I'm scheduling it for March 28th, so you'll have to be patient. (Not that I expect any of you are holding your breath.)

But thanks to you readers, those who make comments and those who just read. I do enjoy getting comments, but naturally I'm a bit disappointed when the comments are unfavorable. I do understand that many of my stories are not traditional. Some edge toward the experimental, perhaps falling off the edge for some. One such story may be The House on the Corner, which I posted yesterday. Several readers expressed displeasure at the ending. I do wish I could please all the readers, but I recognize that I can't. I write mostly to please myself. (Sometimes I do write stories with the idea of pleasing certain other people, and I've posted a few of those here too.)

One reader commented that he thought I might be more interested in quantity than quality. I've been posting two stories a day for the past few months, but keep two things in mind. First of all, most of the stories are quite short-fewer than 1000 words. I feel there are plenty of long stories here to satisfy those who prefer long stories. And I like doing flashes. Second of all, these stories were not all written in the last few months. I've been writing stories steadily for more than twenty years; it's only in the last few months that I've been posting them here. The important thing is this: I care about writing a good story. I always do my best.

It has been three months since I resumed posting stories here after a hiatus of thirteen years. A lot of catching up to do. In these three months I have posted 183 stories. It's been fun. I hope you've been entertained. I plan to continue.

Yesterday I posted two identical stories, except that one was illustrated, the other not.

The illustrated version had many more downloads. 4551 to 1243.

The illustrated version had a higher SOL adjusted score: 6.82 to 6.01 based on 61 votes as opposed to 11 votes.

Approximately 75% of the votes for the illustrated version were 8 or higher.

About 40% of the votes for the story without illustrations were 8 or higher.

So it seems readers are more inclined to download an illustrated story, and of those who vote, the illustrations increased the appeal of the story.

But of those who responded to me directly (four people), two preferred the illustrated story and two preferred the story without pictures.

Yesterday I posted two stories about two. "Two Dog Dawn" and "Two Girls Texting." Today I posted the same story twice ("Pour le Piano") except that one version was illustrated. Don't worry: I'm not hopeless stuck on two. In two days I've got a story scheduled called "11 Seconds." On the 16th there's one called "3 Dreams." You'll have to wait until March 18th when "two" returns (twice) with a story called "Body Doubles."

Okay, before I start the laundry, here's the question: for those of you who read or looked at or thought about "Pour le Piano," both the illustrated and non-illustrated versions, which do you prefer? And why?

Grape Cake

The other day I added a story to the SOL posting queue (Donut Run) and marked, perhaps improperly, "food" as a story code. I hope no reader is badly misled. If there is sex with food, it happens shortly after the story ends. (How important are story codes in your decision to read a story? For that matter, what are the main reasons you choose or reject a story?)

In order to make up for any potential reader dismay, I am providing one of my favorite recipes, my grandmother's grape cake.

1. Cream two sticks of no salt butter with 1 cup sugar. I guess it doesn't have to be no salt butter. Two sticks is one-half pound. It works best if the butter is very soft before you start.

2. Beat in three large eggs.

3. Mix in one teaspoon vanilla extract.

4. Mix in two cups of sifted flour and ¼ teaspoon baking powder.

5. Spread batter over the entire bottom of a spring pan (ten inch or twelve inch). The pan should be thoroughly greased with butter first.

6. Press seedless grapes, red or green or both, into the batter. Cover the entire cake. If you don't have grapes, other fruit will work. Apples cut in smallish slices, for instance.

7. Bake in pre-heated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 40 minutes, or until top is golden brown.

8. Cool and then refrigerate. I like it best if it's been in the refrigerator overnight. It should keep for several days.

I've made a smaller cake using a seven inch spring pan (seven and a half or eight inch should work) by halving the recipe (using two eggs, but all the vanilla extract and baking powder).