Welcome to Cop-A-Squat’s First Writing Contest!

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There is a need for stories with strong morals; morality has been on life support for years.

Our goal is to give the reading public a fresh dose of stories devoid of the normal fare of drugs, sex, and violence. There are other ways to tell stories. And we know there are those who share our sentiments. Storytellers come forward – write a story that will sweep the world.

1st place winner: $100.00 Amazon Gift Card

2nd place winner: $50.00 Amazon Gift Card

3rd place winner $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

Contest: Begins February 4, 2013. Ends: February 22, 2013.

Winners will be announced on February 25, 2013, by posting their stories and a link to their website.

Please Post All Story Entries Under This Post Comment Section or E-mail: paulworthingtonjr@gmail.com

Cop-A-Squat’s

First Writing Contest!

 

 Rules:

 1.   We encourage you to copyright your story. It only takes about an hour and costs $35.00 to copyright several stories.

 2.   Your story must be 300 words or less, minus the title of course. Anything more will be disqualified and deleted.

 3.   Feel free to comment on others’ stories. Give constructive criticism. We are here to encourage each other.

 4.   No sex scenes, nor rude, crude sexual jokes.

 5.   Keep cursing to a minimum. Make it as PG-13 as you can.

 6.   And of course…

Have fun and DO YOUR BEST!

 

 By the way, this post is 234 words!

Dean Koontz (Oddly Famous)

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Dean Koontz

(Picture Source Unknown)

Imagine you’re a watching the grand finale at a fireworks show. Your face is aglow with excitement, you know you’re about to be thrilled. The wick is lit, you hold your breath…and – and –and – nothing happens. It’s a dud. You slump away in disappointment.

That’s exactly how I felt after reading Dean Koontz’s book, The Husband. The cover caught my attention. The  excerpt on the back jacket floored me. However, despite its gripping beginning, it quickly fell apart with an unbelievable plot twist. In other words, it turned out to be just another dud.

So I tried another one, thinking, ‘you can’t judge an author by just one book.’ Sadly, after trying to read Odd Thomas, which is really a rip-off of the movie The Sixth Sense, I just gave up. And I’m not the only one – more and more readers are beginning to see that Dean Koontz is just another hack writer.

What is amazing, and odd, is that Mr. Koontz is famous. I suppose he feels many will buy his books, simply because he wrote them. And many do.

Mr. Koontz’s books are flat and dull, and are always the same monotony, just under a different title.

Our books, Life: As Fragile As Dust, Swan Song, and the Poies Series are full of stories that are of the true human experience. We don’t try to write books as a means of escape, but books that will inspire you to take a new look at yourself and others. It is our hope to start a spark that will grow into a flame, a flame that will become a roaring fire, a fire that will restore the moral fiber to a world that has fallen victim to the debased dribble of many books today.

Thankfully, we are not alone. Many authors are writing novels full of moral fiber; we are just trying to do our part to better society, one book at a time. We invite you to take a look.

In the meantime, do yourself a favor: read healthy.

 

 

STEPHEN KING: The Master Time-Waster


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VS. 

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Stephen King

 (Photo Source Unknown)

Stephen King is not a good author. Stephen King is a terrible author. Stephen King is long-winded, repetitive, and most of all, selfish.

When you read a book, you want to enjoy it. Savor it. Learn something new, appreciate life more.

And you know what’s so special about books? They can make you appreciate life more, without taking your life away.

When confronted with a 500, 700, and with Under the Dome, a 1088 page novel, how can you learn to experience life when you spend all of it reading someone else’s novel?

Hey. Maybe I want to spend all my time reading, you say.

What if the novel sucks?

If you read one Stephen King book, you’ve read them all. A crime, some paranormal horror story, sex, murder, drama…then a weak twist at the end that’s supposed to make you feel like you’ve read a good story.

However, I do believe Mr. King can be a talented writer. Among the trash he has offered through the years, only one pearl stands: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, a story that has not only entertained, but has revealed great insights about life and humanity. Oh, but after the popular, empty pages that carry such names as The Long Walk, The Stand, and Christine, King became an puppet for modern audiences worthless appetites for commercialized “literature.”

But King is not the only one. It’s a trend – a virus – quickly spreading throughout authors today who pump out large amounts of garbage, not taking in account the lives of 90% of their readers: hard-workers who are trying to live their own lives, who wish to enjoy good literature…not lazy words on a page. Too many pages.

People don’t have time or the desire to inflate your already overinflated ego, Mr. King.

Life: As Fragile As Dust is a much better novel than Stephen King will ever write. Tight, powerful prose that gets straight to the point, and leaves an impact more than the bubblegum fiction of most of today’s authors. Do yourself an extreme favor, and read Life: As Fragile As Dust.

YOUR LIFE

Gordon Parks

(Photo credit-Ella’s Voice)

Gordon Parks, the famous Life Magazine photographer, composer, and film maker once said, “I think people can do a whole awful lot more if they just try.”

Powerful words from a powerful man.

When I read his quote, I asked myself, what about your life, Paul? What are doing to really make a difference?  Sure, I’m busy, just like everyone else. But how long was I going let my life go on without fulfilling what I truly wanted to do?

For too long I allowed my goals to be pinned up, pushed back, and put on the back burner. NO MORE!

According to Parks, the reason why people don’t do more is because “they just don’t have the confidence that they can write a novel, or they can write poetry, or they can take pictures, or paint, or whatever, and so they don’t do it.”

Wow! After reading that, I began my lifelong dream to publish my novel, LIFE: AS FRAGILE AS DUST, which I did this year. Bitten hard by the bug of effort, I invented a new board game. This year, I trademarked numerous phrases and started an office supplies and T-shirt business and we produced a short film.

If I hadn’t done this, I would have continued to put my life on hold. And I would have, as Mr. Parks said, been one of the many people who “leave the planet dissatisfied with themselves.”

For our GOOD FRIDAY, start the dream that burns in your heart today. We need your paintings, your novels, your inventions, your poems, your view of the universe.

Your life matters. I believe it and so must you. And as always, keep your head up.

Grub Street Reads

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, pop-eyed mosquitoes and bow-legged squirrels, step right up. Cop A Squat is proud to announce that one of our three books has won an award. That’s right, and not just any award …

Grub Street Reads has awarded Life: As Fragile As Dust its coveted gold seal.

Grub Street Reads specializes in reviewing independent published novels and endorses those who meet its quality standards based on the fundamental qualities of good storytelling.  Now my book is prominently displayed on Grub Street Reads shelves.

Here’s what the reviewer had to say, “ Life: As Fragile As Dust is a very interesting mixture of short stories. I appreciated the wry humor of ‘Doggone’ and ‘Bud’s Life’ and was touched by ‘Grandma’s Secret’ and especially ‘Melted Dreams’. You have a versatile voice, which I think is captured in these wide-ranging stories.  My favorite was ‘Melted Dreams’ which was able to convey a lifetime of anguish and regret in a very tight and minimalist prose.  ‘On the Dotted Line’ was a great final story – fun and wicked…”

I feel so honored to have found a place in Grub Street Reads library. If you want an honest review of your book then you must click on this link:

Grub Street Reads coveted gold seal is a testament of Life: As Fragile As Dust, ability to thrill.  You will laugh out loud.  Be moved to tears.  And you will begin to ponder your own life’s course.

Are you interested? Please step right up, click on the sidebar, get your book and read a short story collection like no other. Our print version will be available next week; it’ll make a good stocking stuffer… And Happy Friday!

For our GOOD FRIDAY, tell every author you know about this vetting service. And as always, keep your head up.

 

 

Time Travel

In a vast sea of stuff on the web, its really great to find something the whole family can enjoy. My nine year old son loves Angry Birds, so when I found this video I shared it with him and he loved it.

The kid in the clip has done a outstanding job and I hope you and your little ones will find it entertaining.

NEXT

It has been a privilege to work with Random Film Buff on her first film. She runs the best film blog ever. Check her out at RandomFilmBuff.

I tell my children, “Be careful what you eat, it just might be eating you.” When it comes to eating fast food, just about everything they sell eats away at your body.  Fast food causes gout, diabetes, strokes, mood swings, heart disease, tooth decay, and a desire to not exercise. The following short film demonstrates the destructive course of a lifestyle filled with poisonous fast food.

I present to you the best short film on the web.

‘NEXT’

For our GOOD FRIDAY share this helpful post (VEGANS) that leads to a healthier lifestyle and a more meaningful relationship with God.

WHAT’S for DINNER?

I can’t remember how many times my mother had to answer that question. I do remember how hard she worked to bring wholesome meals to our table.

Rarely did she complain and rarely did she have the chance to enjoy a night out on the town.

Here is a Poie from my book, Poies: A New Beginning. It answers that age old question – what’s for dinner? This story is a tribute to all the women who answer this question without fail.

 

If you ask me what’s for dinner tonight

I guarantee you, there’s gonna be a fight

You asked me that last night, and the night before

Ask me again and you’ll be getting off the floor

Two nights ago we had chicken, the night before that, stew.

So don’t ask me what’s for dinner. Let me tell you.

(By AdSence by Unreal)

Tonight we’re going out to dine

So I can relax and have some wine

(Beautiful Nasty)

Later tonight, if you’re nice, I’ll do a little show

As for dinner tomorrow, don’t ask – I’ll let you know.

What’s for dinner on this GOOD FRIDAY? Tell us in the comment section below.

 

HIDING IN THE SHADOWS

Look at the above picture. Do you find it amusing?

What about this one?

And this one?

No? Then you are part of a small minority. There are many who find these pictures hilarious. Why?  The victim is a man.

Why is there so little attention given to this horrible crime compared to the massive attention given when a woman is beaten?

Could it be because a man is perceived to be weak if he becomes a victim of domestic violence? Yes, without a doubt.

Domestic violence against men is under-reported because of the stigma associated with men being abused by their female partners. Most men keep a low profile and do their best to escape the shame.

Consider this story: Susan towered over Dave like a building over a flower. He loved her, she him. They married and before long had a brood of three, a girl and two boys. They were happy.

Without notice their marital bliss came to a screeching halt. Soon Susan began to take out her frustrations on Dave. Daily he endured verbal abuse, before long she began punching him.

Her attacks increased and Dave began making excuses for his many cuts and bruises. One morning after many years of abuse Dave decided to end his suffering.

He waited for Susan to get home. As soon as she entered the house she tore into him with verbal attacks that were quickly escalated into a beating she swore he would not forget. As she slapped him throughout the house, it was into the kitchen that she finally met her match.

From the utensil draw, Dave pulled out a .357 Magnum and fired. The round hit Susan in the chest. She fell and with the last of his strength he dragged her down to the basement and hid her behind the furnace.

The screams of “Daddy!” came from the children upstairs.

Later, Dave stood trial on attempted murder. He lost everything as most victims of abuse often do.

For our GOOD FRIDAY let’s remind friends and family that October is Domestic Violence month for both men and women.

If you know someone who is a victim of domestic violence please share these numbers:

The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men: 877 643-1120 and entering PIN number 0757

For women: The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Related post: DYING TO STAY ALIVE AND THE COLOR OF PURPLE.