Illustration by Adam.
Today I posted my 200th post on the Unstruck blog. It’s not quite the 200 x 500=100,000 words that that should be, as there are five odd posts without any text at all (and the 500 is a limit, many are dead on, but some are under).
Anyway, for those who don’t know, unstruck is my newer (almost a year old) collaborative and restrictive project. It’s kept me writing all year, and with less self indulgent moping than usual, which is pretty cool. (Don’t worry mope fans, there is a bit of it).
Basically, each day, somebody asks a question, I answer in 500 words, and someone illustrates it in half an hour.
It’s simple, and it’s a way to get me writing, and other people arting, and hopefully even more people thinking.
I love it. Most of the time. It makes me feel like I’m part of a collective. It gives me an opportunity to feel like I had a part in something beautiful.
And occasionally, it means that I write things I like. More often than I’d like to think.
To celebrate, I posted on twitter a selection of my favourites. There’s no system here, just a random pick of things I remembered being good. I re-read them as I did it, and I surprise myself.
I’m reposting those tweets here (including some typoes), for the sake of posterity. It’s not really a best bits. Just a ‘bits that move me or something’.
Enjoy.
Dip into the past here.
First. How deep is your love? http://bit.ly/bkgyv8 This one hurt a lot, but kinda helped too.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
How does it feel when things change and shift in life? http://bit.ly/gZi0Ra A whole lot like being alive. This rant available live on demand—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
But is it art? http://bit.ly/94mDm8 AK cheated on the illustration here, whilst we were on a train. #FACT She suits those glasses. #DUALFACT—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
'Love is as strong as dead.' [Song of Solomon 8:6] Discuss. http://bit.ly/d6bZeZ Beautiful image. The conclusion just moved me hard too.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
Where is my libido? [snip] http://bit.ly/aAaOtH Picture of me wanking in a bath (sfw, probably). I made myself laugh out loud with this one.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
Why do people say things like 25 mins to 9 instead of just giving the time? http://bit.ly/cYrKa9 As close to being Jack Bauer as I'll get.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
What's under the blanket? http://bit.ly/hxyKSU Definitely one of my favourite illustrations.And under the text is something beautiful, maybe—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
If the world was ending tomorrow and you were asked to make a speech, what would you say? http://bit.ly/hXoLuk I surprised myself with this.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
Bean or the Sprout? http://bit.ly/hvizP6 When I do an unstruck at two in the morning, after a shit party, this happens.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011
Future? http://bit.ly/g1d9lt I love how I write when I'm hungry.—
Alabaster Crippens (@AlabasterC) January 12, 2011


