Random thought: As my loving wife often reminds me, marriage isn’t a word—it’s a sentence.

Two quick callbacks to last week. First, I warned you that my prompt would probably require a quick Internet search. Remember Kakistocracy? This week, I’m doubling down on the S.A.T. words (if that’s even a thing anymore). Have fun with it.

I also asked you to answer a simple survey about this blog. You did, and I really appreciate it. I’ll give you the results after the Story of the Week. The prompt was generously supplied by I.M. Closebye .

Now here’s the story.

          The Right to Remain Taciturn

Malloy was a detective who used his superior vocabulary to outfox his prey in the interrogation room. Most criminals were no match.

“I know you purloined the pièce de résistance,” Malloy said.

“An undiminished prevarication!” Sims said. “I deny ever habituating the museum.”

Malloy smirked. “Your repudiation defies veridicality.”

Malloy’s less-educated partner entered. “We see right through your lies. You’re diafalous.”

“I think you meant ‘diaphanous,’” Sims said.

“Diaphanous?” Malloy repeated. “Like the sheet that covered the painting stolen from the museum?”

“Precisely. It was diaphanous,” Sims laughed. “Your partner’s moronic.”

“He just got you to confess, didn’t he?”

“Uh…possibly.”

Prompt: Logophile

Novel News & Notes:

In terms of progress on Questionable Characters, the slicing, dicing, and consolidating continues. I’ve left twenty pages on the cutting room floor thus far. If I could do another seventy, that would be great.

Re: the survey…I was thrilled so many of you took the time to let me know what you want and how often you want it. Aside from answering those two questions, I also received several nice comments and observations. I won’t take up your time by repeating them here, but they’re all available on the survey if you still have the link. If not, just let me know and I’ll send you a screen grab of what people wrote.

As you can see from the pie chart, most people are fine with my weekly schedule. Those that aren’t, prefer an email every two weeks. It would definitely give me more time for other projects if I were to send these around less often, but knowing people seem to enjoy my little stories motivates me to keep writing them. Until I hear otherwise, or am no longer up to the challenge, weekly they shall be.

As far as content goes, the numbers are even more lopsided and speak for themselves.

The people have spoken. I’ll leave the format alone.

Having said that, I’ll also leave you alone now.

Thanks again so much for your replies—and for being along for the ride.

Scotty out