ApocaLit Fridays: Issue #5

Hello Horde

Welcome to ApocaLit Fridays; Apocalypse-writing's weekly roundup filled with news, information, features and updates on things ..... well, apocalyptic and literature in nature (hence the clever name ).

This week our theme is Weapon of Choice.

When we speak of weapons, we don't necessarily mean guns and knives and cricket bats (oh my!). While those are useful when fending off undead or alien hordes or protecting your family from harm, words can be effective weapons too! "The Pen is mightier than The Sword" anyone?

There are many examples throughout history where words have waged as lethal a war as any  weapon of mass destruction. And be it physical or verbal, bullying and abuse are rampant in modern day society.

So whether it's a personal armory or literary libation; for protection or to send out a message; whatever your weapon of choice, make sure you use it wisely.

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Group Updates

This weeks prompt is Sunrise, Sunset. The deadline is Saturday 15 June 23:59 EDT.

We present our No Turning Back! contest winners

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Affiliate Updates

Horror-Writers-Unite June Prompts; Week 3

TheDarkArtsAsylum are still Looking for a Co-Founder!

Poetry-To-The-Masses Weekly Feature 118

LiterallyUnknown New Member Feature

InspireTheUninspired ITU Feature 18

PoetryVSTheWorld have begun the big reveal for The PoetryVS Awards!

Love-Literature now have a weekly prompt as well as a montly prompt. They announced the Lose Control Contest Winners and have a new feature; The Monthly Roundup!

Live-Love-Write Synergy: Week Two has begun.

Writers--club showcased their Member of the Month - DarkLeliel

TheWritersWareHouse posted The Monday News: Edition 5 and New Prompt

Story-Corner asks if you want to support a writer with your Kindle?

PoeticNation announced the Romantacize Daily Life contest winners and released the details for their new contest; Poetry From Music

Unseen-Writers Theme of the week is Aging

We-The-Writers posted their latest prompt Gateway

SixWordStories have Weekly Spontaneity 61 and their latest Versicolor Project prompt

Prompt-Bunnies have posted their latest prompt; Will You Marry Me?

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ApocaLit Features

Member suggested features of survival-themed literature.

Weapon of ChoiceMy mother tells me daily
the greatest weapon of mass [creation]
is for [us] the youth, to have an education,
to push our intelligence to its limit and back,
improving our character with traits we lack.
Since we've become a generation consumed by greed,
proving our selfishness has taken lead.
Long forgotten are those in need,
long forgotten are our selfless deeds.
We taint this world
with thoughts and dreams,
that only consist of I's and me's,
never once glancing back
towards they [or we].
I believe in the minority
who continue to fight
and fuel the change,
that will one day
unite the world again.
Join me [us] in our quest,
where selfishness is put to rest.
Manifest your hopes, your dreams,
spread them to the future's seeds,
sow them, and watch them grow
within the children, then wait.
Wait for the day when our weapons of mass [creation]
have become the world's last [salvation]. - by MidnightSun16

Weapon of ChoiceIf just for a day,
which would you wield?
The sword to scar and slay,
or the burden of the shield?
Would you choose to strike down
those who caused you harm?
Or would you shake away a frown,
and give shelter to the marred?
The thorn of the rose
or the beauty of its bud?
To kill, burn, and boast,
or protect the ones you love?
Now here is the final offer;
so pick the weapon of your choice,
and prepare to fight the other
with the power of your voice. - by AnUnluckyArtist

'Weapon of Choice'In a dream of a thought I faced a decision,
A choice of three different arms to sire.
For which to savor unity or division;
A stream of peace or hell through fire.
These tools did each plead a case
So it may find my favor and a place
At my side so in great and earnest haste,
May serve my will and every desire.
The first element of the triad to sell itself was the blade.
It spoke as an ocean calm and told of great tales;
Of maidens fair, with strawberry hair, and courage like dragon's scales.
This blade told me a great secret, or so it said,
"I will teach you soulful calm and you name will never fade."
When I asked of peace it rushed me in salesman manner to the door.
"Peace is a dream, sir", it spoke, "Fantasy and nothing more."
Next was the gun, who didn't "waste time boring me with chatter"-
He whisked me to the battle field to show me "what really mattered".
"Feel the moment" he said, "Rest, sleep, and recant when you're dead!"
The feeling of being alive was, to him, far more valuab - by BlueEyedBunny

- by CatalystSpark

An Oath to My Father
An Oath to My Father:
The chill of winter is nothing, when compared to the cold inside my heart.
A fire, once stoked by the warmth of family, has quietly died, five falls past.
I dream of my father, who watches from beyond the realms - and my ancestors
Who fought against an endless army of giants, to win the lands we have today.
Just as a devout man honours his God through worship, I honour them through my axe!
Each stroke of the whetstone, each screech of the metal, brings me closer to them -
Even as I draw closer to my doom. Oh how I can feel him, for the anger in my blood
Boils evermore as I sense him approaching my camp. He is hungry, he is eager;
Slacks of drool hang from his twin mouths, as a jarring roar shakes the mountain!
Though I shiver at the sight, it is not from fear - I shiver in anticipation
Of the battle that is to come. My steel may rend his flesh and break his bones;
Or perhaps I shall be sent to glory - but it is useless to think about such things,
E - by WordOfChen

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What To Watch

Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim

"Considering our theme of the week, did you really expect anything else?!? It has Christopher Walken tap dancing and flying! Moar Cowbell!"

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What To Read

With A Kitchen Knife As My Audience: Poems by Johnathan Hawke.

"With A Kitchen Knife As My Audience is Johnathan Hawke's debut poetry collection. In it, he describes what occurs in the human mind when love is involved, from the loss of that special someone to the love of the memories that hold us together."

That's right, Apocalypse-writing's very own Bytebullet has an e-book for sale on Amazon!

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What To Web

StarTalk Radio - with Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Zombie Apocalypse: Part 1 - with Max Brooks & Dr. Ian Lipkin.
Zombie Apocalypse: Part 2 - with Max Brooks & Dr. Ian Lipkin.

"There’s no escaping the Zombie Apocalypse when Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Max Brooks, the world’s leading “authority” on these nonexistent killers. The author of World War Z discusses fast and slow zombies and the latest in “zombie science” — mathematical models of how a zombie virus would spread and a Harvard doctor’s book about zombie brain patterns. You’ll find out why a cemetery is the safest place to be in a zombie apocalypse, and what’s inside Eugene Mirman’s “evil beef jerky.” But it’s not all fun and games: Dr. Ian Lipkin, Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia, is on hand to warn us about the really scary stuff: viruses like HIV, SARS, Ebola, Cholera, Influenza and a million others yet to be discovered."

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Resources

'IrrevocableFate's Love dA Lit - latest issue
#theWrittenRevolution's Literature News updates
Breaking in to Lit!
Expose-Lit: Your Literature Lifeline
Tips For Young Writers
How to get more views on your Literature
'PinkyMcCoversong's Writing Resources for Noobs (and not-so-noobs)
How to promote other peoples work
Forum on How Publishing Works
=julietcaesar's List of Useful Writing Blogs
Our own feature on Critiques and Constructive Comments

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We hope you enjoyed this weeks edition of ApocaLit Fridays. Make sure to join us again next Friday. Our theme will be "The Last Of Us".

If you have any suggestions or if there are any specific topics, hints, and tips that you would like to see included in future editions, then please send the group a note titled "ApocaLit Fridays - General Info" with your suggestion and I will get to researching. If you already have any helpful links or info, then include those as well (it will certainly make my job easier ).

Also, if you've recently come across a piece of apocalypse-themed literature that you would like to see featured (and that is not your own or from one of our members), then send us a note titled "ApocaLit Fridays - Feature", include a link to the original deviation and a brief blurb about why you would like it featured and we'll make sure to add it in. *Note: Your name will be included with the deviation as "suggested by".

The deadline for these is no later than Thursday 12:00 noon.

Until next week, Dear Horde. Stay frosty.