@ScottRudolph1970
September 19, 2026. Cattywampus Chapter 3 is now posted. I am going to pause Harmonica's Basin as I finish Cattywampus (for real this time.)
@ScottRudolph1970 You can do it! ;)
Sept 18. Chapter 2 is up for your reading pleasure.
Sept 17: Cattywampus - First Update in a while. I get it if you chose to wait until more is posted.
August 27th. I've added a shorter chapter called 'Juke Joint Rita'
August 25, 2026. New Chapter 'The Snare' is up. Let me know what you think.
August 23: New scene added. I dropped it at the beginning of Harmonica's Basin. Please feel free to share your thoughts?
@ScottRudolph1970 Yay - I'm glad you're back. <3
August 20, 2026. Hey all! Sometimes my inner Taffy-Jean gets the best of me and I make bad decisions that don't do anything 'cept kick me when I'm already down. But then all of you came in like the cavalry and helped me see where I might have went off the rails into a creek of my own making. Thank you for your support. I've reposted the opening of Harmonica's Basin. (Now book one of Cattywampus) I'll be posting the others. Bear with me while I give em a little spit and polish. Thank you all. - Scott
@ScottRudolph1970 All I can think of when I hear Spit and Polish is my mom doing that to my face before dropping me off at school... ew. Haha. Note to self- look in mirror before getting into the car before school...
@juliamariesparrow thank you. Ive shared the first couple chapters
@ScottRudolph1970 Glad it's coming back!
Hey friend, I don't know how to contact you outside of here or our writing sprints...I just wanted to say I, for one, love your story. PLEASE don't let somebody destroy your willingness to write. I got a harsh review on a story of mine, and I gave up writing for 14 years... Just because someone doesn't "get" your story, and just because it needs some work, doesn't mean you should give up.
When I told you your writing made me cry, I was so excited to read the new 30's chapters, I wasn't blowing smoke. When I said I cannot WAIT until you publish this and hold signings, I want to fly out and be like Elf, yelling, "I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!" I wasn't lying. I feel like you are doing something SO unique and beautiful, that person might not be ready for it.
Watching your writing evolve has been such a gift. You make me feel braver by just witnessing your struggles and BRAVERY in putting your RAW work out there. I really hope to see you on another sprint, my friend. I really haven't felt a kinship with another writer since high school.
We put so much of ourselves in our writing, so when it gets ripped apart, the wounds are real. It sounds like you didn't find the right match for your story.
I have that sisterly, "I wanna go beat them up" feeling right now. Don't you dare let one naysayer squash your story, buddy. It's meant for bigger and better things.
Sometimes, we can use that "it's a good idea, but you'll never pull it off" as fuel to prove them wrong.
When you come back to writing, you've got an ally waiting to read. <3
@AirCope Thank you, I really appreciate that.
@AubreyJoHardin Thank you for this, it means a lot to me.
I couldn’t have said it better. You have support and friends, Scott. Please continue.
August 17, 2026: Dear readers. I apologize. However I have removed both Cattywampus and Harmonica's Basin for now. I had opportunity to attend a webinar this week where the presenter spoke on the topic of Race in literature, and while it was never my intention to write anything that might stray into racism, the presenter left little room for doubt in my mind that I had. So... I am taking a break for now. I'll decide at some point if either story can be salvaged and start again perhaps. I appreciate all the folks who've taken time to read and share their thoughts. Happy Reading Y'all!
Thanks Emily I appreciate it.
@ScottRudolph1970 I respect your heart and reasons for pulling https://writingtheother.com might help ;) -- they have a podcast, too https://writingtheother.com/tag/podcast/. You got this!
@ScottRudolph1970 Also having a pre-recorded webinar with no chance to ask questions, especially in your case, was a poor decision on their part. And especially on such a heavy topic. I think the biggest question right now for you is this: Was I being intentionally disrespectful or racially insensitive? The fact that you went straight for scorched earth says "No". So reevaluate. If you need help, we got a whole group behind you ready to help
August 15, 2026 - Chapter 2 might be one of the better chapters I've written. I didn't change it much from the original, but I think what I did change might have a good impact on the story. Happy for your feedback. Night all.