[ PI ] `` The alphabet game story . ''

A clever tale, to be sure. But really, is it necessary to be so meta all the time? Can ’ t one simply write a story as a story? Does it really need the reader to be involved with the writer so intimately? Even as I type this response I ’ m certain it does not. For what are we if not hungry for the loss of self that takes place in a well-crafted vignette? Given this knowledge, I would endeavor to break the mold of meta, and instead rely on layered characters and smoothly developing plot lines that call to the heart. Heart is, of course, subjective. In all my readings, it has meant something different to each author and each character. Just as I can separate my love of story from my love of family by the simple rhythms of mine, others should be able to plumb the depths of an author ’ s heart and understand the beat. Knowledge of heart, and self, and reader, and author; these are the hallmarks of story. 
 
 Leave out for a moment, if you can, the concept that the reader must not only lose himself in the story, but be part of the story. Many fine examples of works that draw the audience lack the violation of the ‘ fourth wall ’ of a book, as it were. Nevertheless, I do admire a bit of snark in a yarn and the above delivers quite nicely. On the other hand, the steep descent into debauchery is distasteful to my sensibilities. Perchance this author feels his audience will be able to relate to his indulgence in libation, but I have my doubts. Quite the opposite if I were to hazard a guess. Rather, I suspect that they, like me, will be disturbed by this turn toward escapism through drink, even as the author bars the door to the escape of the reader from the involvement one can not avoid in the text above. 
 
 So then, can we say what have we learned from this comment? Truly, I don ’ t know that it has a lesson. Unless you consider that while railing against the meta, I have been slavishly using it all the while. Viler and more cruel tricks have likely been perpetrated against the OP, but I ’ m not aware of them. Whether or not he can withstand the onslaught of foolishness I ’ ve unleashed is beyond my ken, but I suspect him to the better of us two, and he will indeed write again another day. Xanthic seems apt to describe me, as I have ruthlessly attacked the poster above with exceeding cowardice, and I hope he will excuse me for it. Zestfully I close this diatribe, never to revisit the alphabet challenge again. 

