26 Comments
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Lirpa Strike's avatar

I would like to inquire about hiring you to edit a short fiction story I'm writing. I'll email you as soon as I have a finished draft (it's about half done). I've never written fiction (with the exception of my teenage fiction I recently posted) so I kind of have no idea what I'm doing and would love some professional expertise.

I hope things get better for you and your family soon. What a nightmare.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

What an absolute nightmare and so terribly stressful and destabilising for you all. Our homes are supposed to be our safe spaces where we can retreat from the world. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

I’ll make a donation one way or another today.

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Thank you, I'm going to get the autopsy out, with a terrifically vitriolic and depressing update, including thanks and gratitude, and uhh, yeah, we have 8-10 more inches of wet snow coming down.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

Holy shit. Please, look after yourself (because guidance like that is really helpful, right?).

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

You know, I need to figure out who the structural engineer was on a post because either the floor is swelling or the structure is starting to buckle. But you know, I REALLY APPRECIATE KIND WORDS! And I mean that genuinely, not facetiously.

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Zivah Avraham's avatar

I had a look back - Zachary Clark @zacharyaclark

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Ah, much obliged, thank you.

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Nick Winney's avatar

i wish i could do a lot more than I did to help you guys out in this time of great need. Like magic wand powerful all the shit has turned to moonbeams and marshmallows. Im trying to mentally manifest some miraculous solutions. hope situation resolves without the threatened disaster!

And the autopsy is fantastic. no matter its not my piece of fiction on the slab, seeing the two skills at work... writer and editor... absolutely the best thing!

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George Kalantzis's avatar

Shared with the chat and my subscribers

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M.P. Fitzgerald's avatar

Just e-mailed you for paid editing. I hope things get better.

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Haven’t gotten to checking that email yet, working in order, may take a break for lunch and to assess damage! And it could be worse, I could be on fire.

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Dodo B Bird's avatar

Wow....I guess that implies 6 previous GoFundMe campaigns. I set up one called MY PUPPY WANTS A CHEESEBURGER and never got the newspaper to tell stories...including multiple burglaries in Sept and October including stealing my car keys....literally forcing me to sell car after it sat for a month in back yard with the windows rolled down....unable to be started...Dealership wanted about $1000 for a key that burglars had key too...one guy involved now in state prison but no money or stolen stuff was returned....

I hope your previous GoFundMe campaigns helped....it is like that old if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around......? And if you have a GoFundMe and nobody is there to hear it .....?

I recently received my 1st $5 contribution followed by a $10 contribution....I'm thrilled. After (reasonable deductibions $13 plus)

Thanks to those 2 people who I am pretty sure read my writing on substack and wanted to be supportive.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-puppy-wants-a-cheeseburger

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

GoFundMe for best friend with Cancer (25k)

GoFundMe for friend needing place to recover from shoulder replacement surgery (15k)

GoFundMe for Friend needing emergency rehousing due to unlawful eviction (15k)

GoFundMe for My best friend's mother's support fund after my best friend hanged herself. (30k)

and 2 more I'm not willing to disclose. I don't know what the fuck the point of your comment was, but you should clarify it because your tone got me fucked up.

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Dodo B Bird's avatar

I have to reread my response. I think GoFundMe is great when it works. What's that old saying….if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound? And I was comparing my GoFundMe to a tree in the forest…if I have a GoFundMe campaign and no one sees it does it make a sound?

I'm on Art Site and an artist there just raised almost $2000 in less than 24 hours….in Los Angeles…working 3 part time as needed jobs and living in car with clothes and photography equipment in storage near the fires….That is great!!! He was able to be “heard" by artists around the world who responded.

High praise for you for success at helping people in need. Clearly you were able to get the story out. Cancer. Medical Housing post suicide…..you were a big help to them Clearly and that's great.

I was never online (was around before cellphones and personal computers) and am kind of surprised how much good places like GoFundMe and Kickstarter do raising money for good causes and to help people….

I don't think you understood my analogy….I'm not always clear….

Another good one….not sure how much they raised….child getting attacked by pit bulls running loose….man sees…..intervenes…..rescued child……probably saved a life…then he gets attacked and serious injured….spends time in hospital before going home to recover…I think that was last summer 2023 in this town…..I hope they did well…

Just FYI….I've gone homeless while working and your friend was lucky you helped. The news said this town or county is 64th in the entire country in % evictions in the entire country. People go homeless for ridiculously small amounts of money…..

Also I'm had suicide close …..missing person…..search…..wait …..found ……etc. …..not pleasant…..Sorry for your loss……

https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-puppy-wants-a-cheeseburger

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QuYahni B Joseph's avatar

It’s not a lot, but I just bought you an expensive coffee. I’m new to you, but fell in love instantly, and still would have done whatever I could had I not. I am not on any other platforms, but will try to share here.

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

You know, really, thank you from the bottom of my slowly decaying waterlogged heart. I'm on too many platforms, it's why I'm only now getting back to Substack.

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ARC's avatar

Substack Official Editor

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Thank you. Ever need second eyes on something that just isn't hitting right you got mine if you want 'em (as long as it's not a 300 page manuscript, alright?).

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ARC's avatar

All good brother. I'm just hoping for a good resolution to your housing crisis.

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Kevin Stanford's avatar

Check your coffee mug. I’m new here, and it’s not much, but you’re already worth more to me than (just) “thoughts and prayers”.

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Fuck, thank you. Jesus Christ.

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Clancy Steadwell's avatar

good luck emil. put something in the coffee mug since you've basically given me free feedback before. you're right about the shamefulness and puritanicalness of the USA, it's godawful.

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

I felt sick just writing this post, and the one for FB, and soliciting my personal support network, but thank you Clancy. You just earned more free advice for being a class act of a human being. I've been doing triage and trying to figure out temp lodging, moving, fiancee is looking at apartments in range for the family unit.

Puritans were such shitbirds the UK threw them a going away party. My god.

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Clancy Steadwell's avatar

the logistics alone would do me in, forget the money. remembering to be grateful for all i have tonight. hope you're good

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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Nah, I’m super fucked up and my brain is mush from begging all day because we live in an end stage Capitalist Rot hellscape, but I’m one click closer to us being able to pay our bills, get a new place (god I hope, that alone is a pain)

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Jan 9
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Emil Ottoman's avatar

Thank you, YES, I agree we do. But we have something more powerful than that, we have words. Thank you for the kind ones, I'm going to go back to trying to stop the hemmhorage (literal? Oh, yeah, the kitchen ceiling) (Metaphhorical? Wow, I should probably eat. Wait, that's got nothing to do with bleeding.)

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