Yay. We made it to Wednesday. Give yourself a pat on the behind. (Don’t worry no one will think a thing of it as long as it is your behind.). Time for a story. This one is a real experiment brought about by Charles Yallowitz discussing the fourth wall on this post on February 19th. I was very intrigued and decided to give it a try. To review and to quote Charles, “One of the most popular tricks to do these days is ‘Break the 4th Wall’. For those that don’t know, this means for a character to interact with the audience. The 4th wall refers to where the audience is sitting since a stage would have a back wall, right wall, left wall, and then nothing in the front.” So here goes.
How does it feel? By John W. Howell
“Hey Harry. Look out there.”
“Where?”
“Out there beyond the computer screen. Out where folks are reading what you say.”
“Huh?”
“All those people on the other side of our computer, drinking coffee and, checking out their reader for something interesting.”
“Oh yeah I see them.”
“Pretty funny huh?”
“Can they see what we say?”
“Oh yeah every word.”
“So if we talk dirty they will see us?”
“I wouldn’t do that Harry. They can see every word.”
“What do they want from us?”
“They want to be entertained. Don’t you folks?”
“I can’t hear them.”
“Doesn’t matter. They will agree I’m sure. Who doesn’t want to be entertained? Right you guys?”
“So what do we do?”
“Well . . . we could rant about something. That’s pretty entertaining.”
“I don’t have anything to rant about.”
“Doesn’t matter. A rant is entertaining and people love it. Watch. How about those stupid people in Washington? Can’t they get anything right? Am I right people? Does anyone have a solution to the problem?”
“I hear crickets Frank. I don’t think this fourth wall break through is working.”
“Sure it is. Look at all the ‘Likes’ we are collecting.”
“Frank.”
“Yes Harry.”
“Give it up. There is no body there.”
“Is Harry right? I could sing a song . . . Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do.”
Fiction Favorites 
I like how the first idea is to rant. Amazing how people are drawn to someone venting frustration or standing on a soap box.
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You now have the title of MUSE. Thanks.
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Going right on the resume. 🙂
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Awesome breakage!!!!
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You can almost hear the sound of the wall hitting the floor. Thank you.
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What’s great about the fourth wall on a stage is you get immediate feedback if you’re falling flat or really smoking. It’s harder with this writing thing, because you never really know how stories hit people (unless they break the fourth wall and tell you.) I thought this one was funny, John.
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Thanks Andra. It was an experiment.
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Well done, John, and I really needed something to make me smile today so here I am at your blog 🙂
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Aw. Thank You.
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This is why I cover the camera lens on my Mac with a post-it note…
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boooohahaha
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You definitely did it! You broke the fourth wall. Now please stop singing.
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I will I promise
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Isn’t it funny what we get entertained by as writers?
Loved the breakage of your wall, by the way. *steps over rubble* Now clean this place up.
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The sweeper is due any minute. Thanks
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