Comments for A Story and a Picture

Comment on No Cars No Girl by Christopher Hermelin

Christopher Hermelin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:46:52 +0000

That’s a tall order, but it would be great. I have lots of ideas for small stories that take place in that universe.

Comment on No Cars No Girl by Chelsea

Chelsea — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:54:21 +0000

Nice! I love how you’re really able to evoke such strong feelings. I can really sense the desolation he feels in the second half of the story.

Comment on No Cars No Girl by Meagan

Meagan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:56:37 +0000

I love this one! Let’a make it into a movie!!!!

Comment on Duckling by Christopher Hermelin

Christopher Hermelin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:22:37 +0000

It seems like a lot of girls have read this story and liked what I said. I’m glad – writing from the perspective of a girl is a challenge and I think I’m going to do it more often this year.

Comment on With Skyward Arms by Max Elman

Max Elman — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:08:41 +0000

And strangely geographically accurate for someone who’s never been there.

Comment on With Skyward Arms by Kristan

Kristan — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:24:45 +0000

Great story!!

Comment on Worry by Maria Lescano

Maria Lescano — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:58:12 +0000

I really enjoy your site!

Comment on Duckling by Mad_lib

Mad_lib — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:53:43 +0000

I always always always want to know what happens next.

Comment on Duckling by marge

marge — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:45:48 +0000

Whoa. Can we talk about how this is a really great moment that encapsulates that complex mess of being a girl who just wants to be whatever and left alone/wanting to be pretty/vulnerable on display. And explores that rather that getting all preachy. Also, science. !!!!!!!! I have never stopped being a five year old kid when it comes to how enthralled I get by science stuffs. !!!!!!

Comment on In The Car by Mad_lib

Mad_lib — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:40:02 +0000

…Success-I want to know more about these characters and what happens to them!

Comment on In The Car by Kristan

Kristan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:50:22 +0000

This story is great – it really resonated with me.

Comment on Good Dog by Evil Molemen

Evil Molemen — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:37:48 +0000

Excellent. Our wrath has been staved off… for now…

Comment on Good Dog by Mad_Lib

Mad_Lib — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:15:04 +0000

All I can say is, I hope the dog doesn’t get hungry and eat him. This is a little Descartesian…

Comment on This Proves The Rule by Ricardo Ali Fernandez

Ricardo Ali Fernandez — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:42:21 +0000

We’re passing time until the next dividend check.

Comment on Lift and Air Pressure by Ricardo Ali Fernandez

Ricardo Ali Fernandez — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:24:55 +0000

Humanistic and Funny.

Comment on Morning Breaks by Ricardo Ali Fernandez

Ricardo Ali Fernandez — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:12:15 +0000

Enjoyed

Comment on The Cards You’re Dealt by Ricardo Ali Fernandez

Ricardo Ali Fernandez — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:31:21 +0000

I love the writing. When we were small in Alaska, during the long dark winters, we played five-card draw a lot. Those card games taught me patterns, probabilities, and who knows what. Your writing does help me feel I belong to the human race.

Comment on Don’t Shoot The Messenger by Ricardo Ali Fernandez

Ricardo Ali Fernandez — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:04:35 +0000

You already know your parents are very nice and easy to visit with. I met them. Your writing leaves me to be myself. I love bridges. In the story “La Taza Azul” the event of “Volcano” becomes crucial in how I respond to future events as a result of my mental C-word Bridge. Keep writing. Your writing gives me insight. Maybe that is arrogant but that is how I feel.

Comment on Olives by Ricardo Ali Fernandez

Ricardo Ali Fernandez — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:36:41 +0000

Your olive article gave me a good push. I’ve always loved olives. I never understood why until I read your article. In my younger years it was the green olives in the jar. Now I prefer the chopped black olives at the salad bar.

Comment on Orange Beacon by Y.

Y. — Tue, 10 May 2011 01:06:58 +0000

This one has just enough weird in it. And just enough sex. Could use more fish. Just one more fish, maybe.

Comment on Olives by marge

marge — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:10:00 +0000

I hope someday I see someone trekking with a backpack full of olive jars.

Comment on This Proves The Rule by marge

marge — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:00:48 +0000

I like this one. Which may be an asinine declaration but you know. It’s possible that I’m evil.

Comment on This Proves The Rule by Max Elman

Max Elman — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:06:36 +0000

Thanks for the edits!

Comment on This Proves The Rule by Lori

Lori — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:52:17 +0000

When you talk about traveling Americans, do you mean they are reacting to unfriendliness??? That is a little unclear.

Comment on What We Forgot by Keely

Keely — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:03:30 +0000

Then what happened!?

Comment on Gestalt McKenzie Doesn’t Believe in Kansas by Lori

Lori — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:02:18 +0000

Is Gestalt similar or an anomaly? I want to know more about him. Does our perception of him change with his proximity? Do you wish you went to music camp?

Comment on The One That’s a Cautionary Episode by Mad_Lib

Mad_Lib — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:13:04 +0000

Well…it pains me to tell you, but Lucy and Ricky DID move. You really should do more thorough research. I agree with Keely. Are you okay?

Comment on The One That’s a Cautionary Episode by Keely

Keely — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:57:42 +0000

Oh my goodness Chris.. Are you okay? LoL. Good writing but how depressing!

Comment on Baseball and Shattered Glass by Tom McIntyre

Tom McIntyre — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:48:34 +0000

I like to think the character “Tom” was inspired by me, Tom. I think it’s safe to say I am officially a muse.

Comment on Baseball and Shattered Glass by jess

jess — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:07:55 +0000

this is beautiful!!

Comment on Hello You Gentle Creatures by Keely

Keely — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:32:18 +0000

Good story

Comment on Hello You Gentle Creatures by marge

marge — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:12:27 +0000

the sunlight in the photo

the not knowing what to do in the story

is beautiful.

Comment on Excerpts from the Ritualistically Burned Yearbooks (2001-2005) and Shared Notebooks (2001-2005) of Elsa Rather and Daniel Golding, Recovered with Comments by Phillip Masterson by Vanessa Weseman

Vanessa Weseman — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:53:14 +0000

This is fantastic! This one in particular reminds me of some of the 100 word stories with a picture me and Jessa did last year

Comment on The Tunnel by David Espinoza

David Espinoza — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:55:50 +0000

I really enjoyed this short story. I plan to announce this site on a following Youtube video of mine. Keep up the great work.

Comment on Perch by marge

marge — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:28:01 +0000

I might take a lesson from this kid and never wear my own pants outside again.

Comment on Regulate Your Breathing by Max Elman

Max Elman — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:18:17 +0000

For sure. We did one over here: http://astoryandapicture.com/2010/10/shark-tippin... You'd even get your own author page: http://astoryandapicture.com/author/zack/ It'd have to 1000 words - let's chat!

Comment on Regulate Your Breathing by McD

McD — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:15:38 +0000

You guys ever consider doing a guest spot? Maybe a poem and a drawing?

Comment on Regulate Your Breathing by marge

marge — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 09:40:08 +0000

the etymology is such a lovely detail.

Comment on Where You Get It From by heather

heather — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:14:34 +0000

oops… i guess i don't know the politics of this sort of thing. well is it still worth it to just

ohmygoodness!

during early january, my roommate and i shared the fantasy of dragging christmas trees home to fill our living room with a mini forest. i feel unoriginal… but as that seems to be the whole point, i guess i feel okay. (:

Comment on Where You Get It From by Eli

Eli — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:55:36 +0000

This is great, Christopher–quietly tragic.

Comment on In The Hotel Majestic by Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:11:03 +0000

Glad I'm not living in hotels for the time being.

Comment on The Cards You’re Dealt by Devon

Devon — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:05:21 +0000

Oh, Van Duzee.

This was a good one. Morose. But good.

Comment on In The Hotel Majestic by konner

konner — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:34:25 +0000

Incredibly perfect. What a weird chapter in my life… I think I'll just remember it like you've written it instead of how it actually was.

Comment on The Cards You’re Dealt by marge

marge — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:42:15 +0000

I jumped half-way through thinking I was alone in a house with poised furniture, when really I'm in a library full of people.

Comment on The Cards You’re Dealt by Egg

Egg — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:41:32 +0000

This story makes me sad and it also makes me not want to play Go Fish any more.

But I did like it.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by konner

konner — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:25:59 +0000

This reminds me of Walk Two Moons, where the some kids convince some other kids that kissing tastes like chicken, but Sal's mom kissed trees, and she always thought tree kissing tasted like blackberries. Tree Kissing should be the name of a town or a band or something, probably.

Comment on The Cards You’re Dealt by konner

konner — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:20:11 +0000

Okay, after re-reading it, I find it clever.

Comment on Last Errant by marge

marge — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:05:09 +0000

great.

i love the unicorns v. dragons and the night sky.melting.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:16:36 +0000

Yeah, I enjoyed it.

Comment on Electricity and Assuredness by marge

marge — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:48:37 +0000

this. i still think about this.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by Christopher

Christopher — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:53:43 +0000

The name Mandy came from the fact that I had stumbled on my old friend Amanda's facebook right before I was writing and she hated to be called Mandy – and Spitzer sounded like an old-fashioned school name to me.

I'm so glad that an actual Mandy Spitzer exists. I hope you liked the story.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by Mandy

Mandy — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 21:39:47 +0000

This is tripping me out right now. My name is Mandy Spitzer. Reading a story in which your name is the same as that of the main character's is very odd. How on earth did you come up with the idea to name her Mandy Spitzer? Just curious.

Comment on Falling Snow by Lori

Lori — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:12:26 +0000

I love this picture because I've only been snowed on twice. Once it wasn't even snow…it was something called natives cakked frozen rain (which at the time I thought, "Isn't that snow?"). However, if you are looking for a person to write titles, how about Drifter because eventually the snow will create drifts, and old guys can be drifters…it's a pun—sort of. Plus there's a teleportation thing which might also be a type of drifting. It just works on so many levels. At any rate…I'm also a good namer…just like Meg in Wind in the Door, by M. L'Engle.

Comment on Planet B by Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:07:21 +0000

Laura: thank you. But what did you think of the story?

Max: Please edit it?

Comment on Planet B by konner

konner — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:38:40 +0000

It should be "than" in the second paragraph rather than "then".

Comment on Find, Keep by Mom

Mom — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 07:51:30 +0000

I'm struck by how often your stories are about wanting money. This would make a good main character for a longer piece.

Comment on In Denial by Betsy

Betsy — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 07:44:29 +0000

I think it would be really odd to taste what a dog would create–except that Bush's beans dog. He might make pretty good bbq.

I liked this one.

Comment on Shark Tipping by Shark Tipping « The Ampersand Dilemma

Shark Tipping « The Ampersand Dilemma — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:54:36 +0000

[...] a 1,000 word story I wrote for one of my favorite writing projects, A Story and a Picture, click here. I picked a photo by Max, aka @razorfrog on Twitter and tried to pair some words with it. I’m [...]

Comment on No Touching by m

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:50:28 +0000

I have always found strippers/prostitutes/escorts/exotic dancers/"easy girls" and people who have relationships with them fascinating. not the "sad men" who stick money in their g strings or pimps, but people like oliver.

so there. i'm fascinated by this story.

Comment on No Touching by Clay

Clay — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:40:42 +0000

Great story.

Comment on No Touching by Silver

Silver — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:03:28 +0000

This story was thrilling.

Comment on To Be Back by Christopher

Christopher — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:43:43 +0000

That's strange – I tried to make them not sound like Mom and Dad, since everything else was so similar. Dad and I have a very easy time talking, and there is no way I would come home and only talk for a little bit to both of them. I gave them similar traits but different characteristics I guess? I dunno. I hope they aren't offended by this one.

Comment on To Be Back by sph

sph — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 23:44:18 +0000

i think this was different to me because mom and dad sound like mom and dad…

Comment on To Be Back by Angel May

Angel May — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:45:58 +0000

hm. Reading this brought back how I have felt going home…it's like returning back to an old movie set where a lot of the main actors and actresses are either missing or played by a cast that, while oddly familiar, leave you feeling somewhat queer and out of place. And you don't want to take any of it too seriously, it's like a lucid dream, you know it will end soon enough. You will wake up and go back home where people know you- not some you from the past they keep trying to revive if they talk about it enough.

~ in moving metaphor

angel

Comment on To Be Back by Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:07:58 +0000

I'm hoping with everything that you'll be able to come home for Christmas, even though I remember you saying that you probably won't be able to. The only comfort in going home is knowing I have my friends around who can actually relate with how off-putting it can be. Thanks for this.

Comment on Work is Work is by Max

Max — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:20:59 +0000

It's in San Francisco, I can tell you that much.

Comment on Work is Work is by m

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:15:47 +0000

excellent. i want to find that bridge to see what happens.

Comment on Work is Work is by Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:49:56 +0000

One of my favorite stories and pictures on your site. Really, really good stuff. Props to both Chris and Max.

Comment on Confirmation Time by Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:30:32 +0000

Tragic and wonderful. Paris is the city of broken hearts, despite what the locks on the bridge might tell you.

Comment on Everything In Its Place, For Now by Lori

Lori — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:11:14 +0000

…I had to google "trebuchet"…

I love the acronyms.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by sjaff

sjaff — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:48:35 +0000

love it.

the whole thing

Comment on As Sweet As by Max

Max — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:37:10 +0000

Or Vampire Ernest Hemingway? Let's do that.

Comment on As Sweet As by Marge

Marge — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:41:43 +0000

this one is marvelous.

Comment on As Sweet As by lmwh

lmwh — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:32:40 +0000

I'm thinking you are reacting to the wild popularity of vampire fiction…and Ernest Hemingway.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by Marge

Marge — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:35:35 +0000

it's best that he's in eighth grade. that's the time of life when boys and girls are different species.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by sph

sph — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:14:56 +0000

i like this one a lot

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by Christopher

Christopher — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:49:48 +0000

I need to reread that one. All I remember is the tuba scene.

Comment on The World Doesn’t Give You Anything by lmwh

lmwh — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:39:05 +0000

Feeling a little like you could use some luck (or cash)?

Keep writing. I like it.

Comment on A Girl Like Mandy Spitzer by lmwh

lmwh — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:33:08 +0000

Your voice here reminds me of the narrator in You Don't Know Me. That narrator finds out his crush has feet of clay. I just want you to know you have an audience.

Comment on How I Got Here by lmwh

lmwh — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:26:57 +0000

So this one reminds me of picnics. I just want you to know I'm reading.

Comment on How I Got Here by Max

Max — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:12:18 +0000

Pretty sure that would be the among the worst places in the world to be stuck without water. If it wasn't for that rest area about 100 yards away. You know.

Comment on Why the President has Pancakes by Max

Max — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:32:49 +0000

Actually an old polaroid 4×5 camera.

Comment on File Waltz by Samantha

Samantha — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:16:50 +0000

I'd be curious to see if she'd use her powers for good or for personal gain, or just be entirely destroyed by them.

Comment on Why the President has Pancakes by Samantha

Samantha — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:09:40 +0000

The final connection to the bench at the end moved me.

Comment on Why the President has Pancakes by Marge

Marge — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:02:57 +0000

inspiring.

Comment on Why the President has Pancakes by A-trak

A-trak — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:22 +0000

also, was that pic taken with a diana?

Comment on Why the President has Pancakes by A-trak

A-trak — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:02 +0000

i love everything about this. quite literally.

Comment on File Waltz by Lori

Lori — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:46:44 +0000

This sounds a little like it could head in the direction of being a curse…

Comment on Good Luck Cats by Lori

Lori — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:40:11 +0000

This one creeped me out. What happens at ten?

Comment on Harbingers by Lori

Lori — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:33:26 +0000

Maybe they are agents of change? Why was there any dirt left??

Comment on Everything In Its Place, For Now by Someone's dad

Someone's dad — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:55:26 +0000

Good one.

Comment on Everything In Its Place, For Now by Marge

Marge — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:12:51 +0000

i can never think of rose petals or fun house mirrors or pine cones or haitian crime lords the same way.

I still think Special Agent and Chief Scientist Robert Lewis's wife is amazing.

Comment on Everything In Its Place, For Now by Amy

Amy — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:26:00 +0000

i say this about most of them, but i do believe that one was my favorite thus far. has anyone ever told you that you're a genius? well i'm telling you now. you're a damn genius.

Comment on Everything In Its Place, For Now by McD

McD — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:26:15 +0000

It would be interesting if Max wrote something and Topher went out to hunt down a photo, too. Unless that's what is going on here. Hrm.

Comment on Everything In Its Place, For Now by konner

konner — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:38:04 +0000

It would be interesting if you ever did aSaaP backwards. Topher writes something, Max goes out to hunt down a photo. Eh?