34 Comments
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Caro Henry's avatar

The horror was so realistic, Dan! Loved it!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Caro 🙏

Even made me feel a bit squeamish so I’m glad it worked 😁👍🏼

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Ken Flyingheart's avatar

Oh my. This was perfect, Daniel! Jeez. The skip and swivel was so gorgeously executed!! Write. Longer. More. Often. Man oh man. You've made a dark heart so happy today!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Wow! Thanks very much Ken 🙏

Well, if I made your dark heart happy then that makes me happy 😁

I’m already following your advice. My next story that I’m publishing in a couple of weeks is 7000 words so splitting it into 3 chunks. Longest thing I’ve written in a good while so hope it works 🤞

Really appreciate the feedback 👍🏼

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Jason Duck's avatar

I totally agree. With a longer format the story has time to breath.

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks Jason. The strange thing is this story did start life as 100 words and I expanded it for the competition and it seems to have worked. Same with my next one. Could have been longer than 7000 words but will see how it lands and then might do a sequel

Appreciate the feedback 👍🏼

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Whew, Dan!! Wow! This was damn fantastic.

As Ken says: Write. Longer. More. Often.

Sensational, Dan. Ripping, visceral tale.

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Nathan 🙏

Well, it’s my most viewed story by far, with about 200 more views than anything else, so I’m pleased how folks have taken to it 👍🏼

Might be a bit much to ask them to read a 7k words, 3 parter next but we’ll wait and see I guess 😁

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Nathan Slake's avatar

I’m all in! I hope everyone else is too.

I’m sorry for being so slow to everything at the moment. I’m really struggling to just stay afloat for what feels like this entire year so far! 😆

This was a real joy to read, Dan. It feels like you’re breathing as a writer by expanding to longer form like this. I’m so happy for you that it’s been so well received!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Always glad to hear from you, Nathan. Hope you manage to get a handle on everything 👍🏼

I spoke to Alexander the other day. He’s working on his Carter book just now and then he volunteered to help me with everything that needs done with mine later this year, so that was really nice of him

The two of you were always my anchors in this place so it’s good to catch up with you both

Really enjoy writing longer form, but editing can be pain. We’ll see how it goes next week. Trying to put together a landing page for the new story but having the IT knowledge of a golden retriever isn’t helping 😁

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Yeah he mentioned that to me last night on chat. Fantastic to hear.

We really should try and schedule that long-overdue Zoom meet-up the three of us! And same back to you, you guys were the solid foundation of my early Substack experience!

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J. Antesberger's avatar

Ah yes. A dreadfully wonderful eldritch horror story to keep me successfully up at night. Well done. Well. Done.

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much 🙏

Oh and sorry for keeping you off your sleep! 😳😁

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Alexander Ipfelkofer's avatar

Then his head exploded. — what a story, what an image! Gory horror at its finest. Well done, Dan!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Alexander 🙏

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Nick Buchheit's avatar

Started out so real and visceral, and ended up drenched in blood. Well written and well paced!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Nick 🙏

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Evelyn K. Brunswick's avatar

"And then his head exploded." So perfectly deadpan.

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Evelyn 🙏

That was a line I seriously considered removing right up until I hit publish. Glad I kept it in 😁

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Beautiful horror, Dan!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Sean. I’m so glad you liked it 🙏

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Stephen Duffy's avatar

Really fun story, Dan! Great stuff 👌🏻

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Stephen 🙏

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Jason Duck's avatar

Great piece Dan. Thanks for sharing.

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Jason 🙏

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EJ Trask's avatar

SO GOOD! pitch perfect!

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much EJ. I’m so glad you liked it 🙏

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Jessica Maison's avatar

Oh my! Love it! So gory and perfect⭐️

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much, Jessica 🙏

It’s a wee bit gorier than my usual writing, and I was worried I’d overdone it, so I’m glad to hear that it landed OK 👍🏼😁

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Jessica Maison's avatar

Just the right amount!

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Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Great job here Daniel. Well done. - Jim

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Jim 🙏

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Euw! Ick! Good one.

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Daniel O’Donnell's avatar

Thanks very much Sharron 😁🙏

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