Bill W

This story follows a columnist in a twice a week newspaper, Chase Hex, and his psychologist, Marcus Dean. We also meet Mr. Dean's secretary, Deborah, and Chase's lover, James Judy, but the overriding theme of this short story is difficult to identify or appreciate.

This story was both sad and hard to follow. If you were trying to connect the dots, you failed, at least in my humble opinion.

Phineas' father died when he was quite young, when he served as U.S. Army Parachutist. Phineas was given his father's silver wings and always wore them, and everyone always told Phineas how much he was like his father as he was growing up. Phineas, however, took a slightly different direction and became a smokejumper. That's a fireman who wears special fireproof gear and parachutes down to fight forest fires. This is a thrilling and action packed story, with a touch of magic involved, that tells about Phineas' most recent parachute jump to fight a raging forest fire. If you like action stories filled with tension, and have a magical creature also involved, then be sure to read this captivating short story.

I loved this story. It was touching at how both Phineas and the unicorn were willing to sacrifice themselves for the other. Very touching.

This has always confused me. If the French and King Louis XVI gifted a ship to Captain John Paul Jones to use against the British, named it Bonhomme Richard to honor his friend Benjamin Franklin, where did the name Richard come from?

Bonhomie refers to a disposition of geniality, openhearted friendliness, and easygoing warmth. In storytelling, Ut us tge secret ingredient that transforms a collection of fictional characters into a compelling, deeply relatable community that audiences want to spend time with. While conflict and high stakes drive a plot forward, bonhomie provides the emotional glue that makes those struggles matter. Here is why bonhomie is vital to successful storytelling, broken down by how it impacts your narrative: Creating Earned Liability: Audiences do not just want to watch characters achieve goals; they want to enjoy their company. Bonhomie injects natural charm into a cast. Softens rough edges: Even gruff, cynical, or deeply flawed characters become endearing when they display moments of genuine, warm camaraderie. Fosters audience investment: When characters genuinely like each other, the audience likes them too. It creates a welcoming atmosphere that invites the reader or viewer in. Heightening Emotional Stakes: Conflict only carries weight if there is something valuable to lose. Bonhomie establishes the "peace" that characters are fighting to protect. Amplifies tragedy: A betrayal or a character's death hurts significantly more if the audience has watched the cast share laughs, meals, and easy warmth. Balances the dark times: In gritty or tragic stories, brief flashes of bonhomie offer the audience a necessary breather, preventing "misery fatigue. Driving Realistic Dialogue and Chemistry: Dynamic dialogue relies on subtext and comfort. Bonhomie allows characters to interact with an established shorthand. Enables playful banter: True bonhomie allows characters to tease, rib, and joke with one another without it feeling malicious. Showcases history: It signals to the audience that these people have a shared past and a mutual comfort level, making the world feel lived-in and authentic. Building the "Found Family" Archetype: One of the most beloved tropes in fiction—the found family—relies entirely on bonhomie. Bridges differences: It allows vastly different characters (e.g., a ragtag spaceship crew or an eccentric fantasy adventuring party) to unite constructively. Generates a sense of belonging: It taps into a universal human desire for community, making the audience feel like they are part of the inner circle.

Bonhomie comes from the French word bonhomme, meaning "good or cheerful man" or "good-natured fellow", and "simple friendliness". It was formed by combining bon means "good" (from Latin bonus), and homme means "man" (from Latin homo), and adding the French suffix -ie to form an abstract noun describing the quality or state of being that way. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the noun bonhomie in English is from 1777. It appears in a written letter by the English author and politician Horace Walpole.

Matthew and Kevin had been together for ten years, and they were extremely happy together. But then, Matthew did something that caused them to break up. Can this situation be mended? Can Kevin forgive him for the mistake. Read the compelling and interesting short story to find out.

I was worried that Kevin couldn't forgive Matthew, but I'm glad he did. I hope they live a long and happy life together. Beautifully done, Luc!

Mitch and Aiden had been friends for years, but suddenly their friendship ended. Aiden wouldn't explain why he didn't want to be friends with Mitch any longer and it left Mitch to wonder what he'd done wrong. This was an interesting story about what happened during the summer before their final year of high school, and throughout the school year as well. I would have given it a five-star rating, but it seemed a bit dragged out, but I still suggest you read it, because it was very compelling and you'll begin to feel badly for both boys.

Yes, this story needs a lot more. I want to know what actually happened between Mitch and Aiden after the hike. Obviously, I enjoyed this story.

Oops, I forgot about the proofreading step! Mea culpa.

Anagnorisis is the critical moment in a story when a character moves from ignorance to knowledge, realizing a deep truth about their identity, actions, or situation. This "recognition" scene acts as a major turning point, reshaping the plot and delivering a powerful emotional impact. Why Anagnorisis Matters: Drives the Plot: It forces a sudden shift or reversal in the story's direction. Deepens Character Growth: Characters must face the consequences of their past blind spots or mistakes. Creates Catharsis: It builds a strong emotional release or shock for both the character and the audience. Unifies Themes: It ties big ideas like fate, guilt, and truth directly to the personal journey of the hero. Famous Examples: | Classic Tragedy: In Oedipus Rex, the king realizes he is the killer he has been hunting and has married his own mother. Modern Drama: In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker discovers that Darth Vader is his father. Psychological Reveal: In The Sixth Sense, a doctor realizes he has been dead the entire time.

Anagnorisis comes from the Ancient Greek word amagnōrisis, which means "recognition" or "discovery". It combines the Greek prefix meaning "again" or "back" and the word gnōrizein a verb meaning "to make known," "to gain knowledge of," or "to recognize" (derived from gnōstos, meaning "known"). The term was popularized by Aristotle in his work Poetics (4th century BCE). He used it to describe the pivotal point in a tragedy where a character moves from ignorance to knowledge. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the noun anagnorisis in English is from 1783, found in the writings of the Scottish literary critic and minister Hugh Blair and used in the discussions analyzing classical dramatic structure and Aristotle's critical definitions in Poetics.

Chris, you submit the stories to your own site, but don't publish them in any way. Just get a copy of the link for the story or stories and send it to Valkyrie (it wwould also be smart to tell her which theme it is for) and she'll take care of including your story or stories in the anthology under the correct theme. Mea culpa, I forgot a step. Please see Lee Wilson's post below for complete process.

I've written one story for each theme and sent the stories to my editor. I should be posting them soon!

Disclaimer: this story describes some deaths, although nothing graphic, and also ventures into the paranormal. David and Kenneth are a gay couple and have been together for five years. They've decided to take a trip to New Orleans to celebrate their anniversary, but unfortunately they learn a hurricane is heading in their direction. Concerned, they decide to stop at the next town and take shelter, but the next town was very small. After inquiring, they learn the next closest city or town is four hours away, so they decided to stay where they were. Will the hurricane hit there, and if it does, how will it affect them. If you want to find out, then read this unusual short story.

An interesting story, although it was a stretch of the imagination. I'm glad it ended on a positive note. One of my questions is how the hotel collapsed. I could see it getting damage, but it sounded like a sturdy old time structure, according to your descriptions of it. The Restaurant was more plausible, but it seems that one or more weight-bearing walls would have had to collapsed first. I just hope their car didn't get damaged, because if the hotel collapsed then their luggage would have been trapped inside, so they'd have to drive back home, since they had no change of clothes.

Chris had met a guy online and talked to him about starting a GSA. At the last minute he couldn't go, so he talked his brother Nathan into doing it for him. Nathan had never seen David before, but Chris had sent David a photo of Nathan, so he would find Nathan at the airport. On the way home the car suddenly stopped in an area where there was no reception for their phones, so how will this work out. If you want to see how Nathan and David make out, then read this charming short story.

It was a sweet and very enjoyable story. It worked on well that Chris couldn't go to the airport to pick David up, and hopefully this will turn out well for David and Nathan. The only thing that confused me was having a road that was just used by people going to or coming from the airport.

Darren's parents are going to a wedding, but Darren's staying home. He and his boyfriend, Simon, have plans for while Darren's parents are gone, but it doesn't work out quite as they planned. If you want to find out, read this enchanting and comical short story to find out.

I think Shakespeare had a title for this - The Comedy of Errors. What can go wrong will go wrong, and it definitely did, both for Simon and Darren and the bride and groom. I'm not sure the next day will turn out much better, at least for Simon and Darren.

Uluru or Ayres Rock:

It usually does take much to beguile a moose and a squirrel, but Boris and Natasha were dealing Bullwinkle the Moose and Rocky J. Squirrel - the flying squirrel!