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Just in time for Valentine's Day,
the Guardian in London has
reviewed and raved about
The Secret Language of Sleep.
And, for the rest of the week,
you can buy it for $5!

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REJECTED
SUBMISSIONS FOR
SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE'S
"DAILY TRAUMARAMA."

BY DEDE PRENO

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I couldn't believe it! There I was getting ready for lunch when I noticed that my crush was standing right in front of me. He was so gorgeous; I nearly fainted. We kibitzed about the game on Friday as he handed me a large piece of pumpkin pie that I devoured instantly. OOPS!! As soon as we got to the checkout lady I had eaten all my food and his! YIKES! Then I dove across him and started chewing on his left hand! OUCH! He pushed me to the floor, but it was too late. I had swallowed his adorable pinkie finger. Thanks for nothing, Prader-Willi syndrome! I was SOOOOO embarrassed.

—Jessica, 15, North Dallas


The hottie I had been crushing on walked into the Halloween dance looking SOOOOO amazing. His Superman costume fit him so well he could have been the real Superman. I finally decided to listen to the demonic voices in my head and go up and talk to him. SWEAT SWEAT, STINKY SWEAT! I was SOOOO nervous when I got up to him all I could do was scream, "Die, impure one, die!!!" When the security staff finally ripped the Swiss Army knife from my hand, my hottie-boy crush lay lifeless on the linoleum. GRODY!! I looked around and saw that all the upperclassmen were snickering. It was the worst ever! And I totally got entrails on my Marilyn Manson costume. Bummer.

—Phoebe, 17, Salt Lake City


I've been going to Camp Kokawalla for the past three years, and this past summer was my last chance to see to the cutest counselor that ever wore a whistle! On the last night, during the season-end Ghoulish Games/Creepy Cabin contest, I was walking through the counselor's haunted quarters hoping I could find counselor Dreamy McHotterson, pretend to get scared, and faint into his arms. Talk about a Nightmario Scenario! I turned a corner and the Scream guy jumped out and caught me unawares. I screamed, tripped over a glowing skull, and bumped my head. Wait. What am I doing? What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, I really like newborn puppies! Especially the chocolaty ones! I have one named Licorice.

—Jesse, 17, Chippewa Falls


Volleyball was starting and I had to get my physical. I was sitting there waiting in my hospital gown when the door opened. Instead of some crusty old doctor, the most gorgeous guy I've ever seen walked into the room. He looked more like a TV doctor than a real doctor! He started to check my vitals, and I felt my stomach start to flutter. He poked and prodded, and my stomach started turning flips. Doc Hottie started feeling my tummy. He pushed on my bellybutton and whammo-bammo! I bump-set-pooped all over the examining table! I was so embarrassed I just sprinted out of the room! Talk about a Spalding tattoo ... with diarrhea!

—Tara, 16, San Diego

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OTHER McSWEENEY'S FEATURES:

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Rejected Submissions for Seventeen Magazine's "Daily Traumarama" By Dede Preno
A Web Log or "Blog" Started in an Attempt for Me, Gary Kimball, to Get Closer to My 15-Year-Old Son, Marcus, Who's Living With His Mom and Her New Husband, Rick By Mike Sacks and Ted Travelstead
Unveiled in Yemen: The Bravest 13-Year-Old Girl in the World
Poems That Were Considered and Rejected Before 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Was Established as "the Official American Christmas Poem" By Frank Gannon
Recently Retired Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Warns His New Puppy Against "Irrational Exuberance" By Michael Ward

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BITCHSLAP: A COLUMN ABOUT WOMEN AND FIGHTING

DISPATCHES FROM A GUY TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY
TO SELL A SONG IN NASHVILLE


GLOBAL WAR ON BEDBUGS: LETTERS FROM BEDBUG CITY

THE CONFLICTED EXISTENCE OF A FEMALE PORN WRITER

OH MY GAWD: A COLUMN ABOUT A TEENAGER NAVIGATING RELIGION

DISPATCHES FROM MANILA

DISPATCHES FROM AN INDIAN CASINO

THE CONVERGENCES CONTEST

CHRIS WHITE ANSWERS PROFOUND
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS


REPORTS FROM THE PINBALL SCENE

LETTERS FROM THE HELLBOX

NOTES FROM AN AMATEUR SPECTATOR
AT AMATEUR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTS


B.R. COHEN'S DAYS AT THE MUSEUM

CONVERSATIONS AT A WARTIME CAFÉ

GRANT MUNROE'S CORPORATE FOLKTALES

SARAH WALKER SHOWS YOU HOW

DISPATCHES FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER
WHO IS TRYING TO GROW A MUSTACHE


DISPATCHES FROM A HANGDOG BANKRUPT

DISPATCHES FROM THE CAPITAL

DISPATCHES FROM INDIA

THE WINNER'S CIRCLE WITH ERIC FEEZELL

SEAN MICHAELS LISTENS TO MUSIC IN MONTREAL

SHORT IMAGINED MONOLOGUES

STAINED TEETH: A COLUMN ABOUT WINE

YOUR MONEY, YOUR JOB ... YOUR LIFE, WITH ALISON ROSEN

KEVIN DOLGIN TELLS YOU ABOUT PLACES YOU SHOULD GO IN EUROPE

LETTERS FROM AN EARTH BALL
TO, OR CONCERNING, SEAN HANNITY


E-MAILS SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FLAG-FOOTBALL TEAM


TRAVELING EUROPE IN STYLE WITH AUCKLAND DINGIROO,
DARK-AGE TOURIST AND CRITIC OF FOOD AND DRINK


JOHN MOE'S POP-SONG CORRESPONDENCES

INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE INTERESTING OR UNUSUAL JOBS

FLIP: A COLUMN ABOUT SKATEBOARDING

OPEN LETTERS TO PEOPLE OR ENTITIES WHO ARE UNLIKELY TO RESPOND

BEN GREENMAN'S FAKE CELBRITY MUSICALS

DISPATCHES FROM A PUBLIC LIBRARIAN

EXCERPTS FROM THE PANORAMA

SOLUTIONS TO BENJAMIN TAUSIG'S
THREE-DEMENSIONAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO PANORAMA


ABOUT A VERY BAD WIZARD

ABOUT THE WILD THINGS

ABOUT THE CONVALESCENT

ABOUT FEVER CHART

ABOUT GOD SAYS NO

ABOUT ZEITOUN

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