As I sniffle, sneeze and snuffle while unlocking the venue for our weekly nanofiction orgy, I find myself feeling mildly guilty for posting this six hours later than I usually do. I know readers on my home coast (where it is barely 6am) aren’t bothered by such tardiness, but mutineers here…well, sorrrrry.

While I normally choose a theme on my own, this week I had some help from co-blogger/fellow Colonial Sajit and a few of the readers who commented on one of his posts, which expressed how describing any brown art with desi spices was gag-worthy.

I must say, whatever resistance I had to the “write something like you’re a clueless reviewer, thus abusing ‘spices’ in every possible way” concept melted thanks to that Badmash of ours, who can get me to agree to anything, especially when he brings up one of the curries I love most (though my mother makes it with potato and not fish, natch) AND the ingredient they always discovered me sneaking nibbles of in the pantry:

Sajit, I agree. Anna, how ‘bout it - 55s as angry as meen curry and as sharp as imli! :)

Mmmm, imli/puli. Know what else put me in a good mood? You might not, since a good number of you don’t read comments, which is sad when our readers go above and beyond rapid-fire ranting and write something priceless. Bongsie? Here’s lookin’ at YOU, kid:

I have perfected the art of knowing the Sepiauthor by reading the first line and no more. I’m flawless with Abhi, Manish and Anna but I need more work when it comes to Sajit, Vinod and Ennis. This was a CLASSIC Abhism:
“Since I am both an outdoor enthusiast and a lover of outdoor “gear,” I subscribe to the Adventure 16 newsletter.” (quotes mine)
This sums up his role as the MAN of the house and also demonstrates somewhat eccentric reading material - a must for any blogger. Great topics for Abhi to post about: WAR, POLITICS, WAR POLITICS, FIGHTING, MACHINES, SPACE, CAPITAL LETTERS, ROCKS and RAW MEAT.
Manish is more esoteric and loads up the sarcasm.[linky]
He normally references some funky desi artisan which splits the audience in half. Some say “Hmm, interesting, didn’t know about that guy” the other half say “Damn Manish, I heard about that dude like YEARS AGO and now everyone knows about him thanks to the Vij Magnet.” And the other Mutineditors have to admit, Manish’s titles are the best. But before I sound too gay…
Anna is harder to put a finger on (cor blimey guvnor!) If the line contains ‘Mutineers’, it’s almost a guarannatee it’s AnAnna post. If the opening para is a dense block of text - the poster’s name begins with ‘a’. Anna’s kind of a bit like Manish in some ways, but just as you’re reading it you think “Whoa, this is too gay for Manish, he’s more…mannish. Ah, it must be Anna”. So there you have it, a gay Manish = Anna.
I hope this service has been helpful for you. I know I’ve enjoyed myself.[linky]

Best. Comment. EVER. :D Surely you agree. So this is what I decree for today’s theme: write like you are someone else. The only two requests are that they be someone we’re all aware of (i.e. Miss Limn, Abhi, Razib, Rushdie) OR that you make like Sajit’s commenters and pretend you are a hack describing something brown. Got that?

This can actually be an excellent way to free yourself of inhibition; I remember doing this in my AP English class and EVERYONE ended up enjoying it far more than they thought they would. It’s liberating to type with another’s fingers. ;) Make like Michiko herself and do so below, or leave a link to where we can find similar, Danke.

:+:

Title Backstory:

Really, if I have to tell you who/what that is from, I will keeeel you. I will say that it is the third song I ever danced to with a boy. Sigh.

Okay, ILoveYouBuhBye!

:+:

All this thinking (and the diphenhydramine) have me wondering about questions I rarely ponder. Am I assuming too much by not explaining what nanofiction is on a weekly basis? Do the themes work? Is there a way to make this even FUNNER, to quote my alter ego Elle Woods? Even if you don’t 55 in the comments, feel free to respond to any of that pseudo-angst.