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Found 19 results

  1. It’s the suburbs in the 1970s, and two teenage lads, Enn and Vic, go to a teenage party to meet girls. Vic is the charming and handsome boy, who is always successful with the girls, while Enn is tongue-tied and awkward around them. At this party Vic pushes Enn to talk to them, to finally have some success with the opposite sex, but the girls at this party are amazing and so easy to talk to. This short story is a showcase for Neil Gaiman’s storytelling skills and his otherworldly imagination. Enn, who narrates this story, is almost a perfect picture of teenage angst. Vic is that teenage boy who every other boy wants to be friends with, he’s handsome and able to talk to girls. But what is most memorable here are the girls at the party, both beautiful and otherworldly, but it is their otherworldliness is so memorable. They talk like people who do not understand this world, but not in a bad science-fiction way. Their otherworldliness feels so right and within character for them, and yet each girl is different too, none of them having quite the same otherworldliness. It is these girls that make this story memorable and lifts it into a strange and interesting tale. This is only a short story, easily read in one sitting, but it is a fine example of Gaiman’s writing. If you haven’t read any of his writing before, then this is a great introduction. If you know his work well, then it is a great way to spend some time in his world. Gaiman’s strength has always been that he has a wonderful imagination and combines it with great storytelling skills. Here is an easily readable story of his. Find it here on Amazon
  2. Want to know what I've been up to recently? My first offering with Dreamspinner Press under my new publishing pen name J. Alan Veerkamp is now available! Welcome to my sci-fi holiday short story, Salvaging Claus Day, part of the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Stocking Stuffer Holiday Anthology! Blurb: For three years, Filo has reveled in silence and solitude as the sole occupant of a space station, where he maintains the communication satellite. Everything changes with the appearance of Luz Espina’s lifepod. Filo shares many interests with the flirtatious Luz, though Filo’s isolation has strained his communication skills. Still, Luz pushes all his buttons… and reminds him of the last man he was attracted to—an attraction that ended in disaster because the man was straight. When Luz learns Filo has never celebrated a holiday, he vows to cobble together a Claus Day celebration for them to share. But is it merely a friendly gesture… or something more? This story is sold exclusively on my J. Alan Veerkamp author page via Dreamspinner Press. Click this link and get your copy at Dreamspinner Press here!
  3. Jonathan Roven is Lost is a story I am proud of. It concerns a subject that I have rarely seen written about, namely how a gay couple manages when one of them develops Alzheimer’s Disease. I’m also proud of the journey this story has taken. Originally, it was just 900 words long, with a different ending. It was written as a flash fiction story (stories under 1,000-words long) to a prompt of Losing Your Lover. So often do I find a left-field response to subjects. It was first published on the Gay Flash Fiction website. Unfortunately, it has been deleted from that site since then, but other stories of mine are still available there. The original version can be found here. As always, I had that rush of excitement whenever I have something published, the excitement of knowing I am communicating with people I’ll never meet. Then something strange happened. The site’s editor emailed me because he had received a complaint. An American lawyer, called Jonathan Roven, had demanded that my story be taken down or changed. It seemed the real-life Jonathan Roven didn’t like having a fictional character named after him or sharing his name, or he didn’t like my character called Jonathan Roven, or all three. The editor wasn’t happy; he argued that there are probably lots of real-life Mr Darcys out there, and they aren’t writing to Jane Austen’s estate, demanding her character’s name is changed. I did a Google search on fictional characters with real people’s names, and I also looked up Jonathan Roven. The first page of links was all to the same American lawyer, except for a link to my story, which was surprising and interesting. My other Google search returned some interesting results. I’ve included the links below. Under American law, it seems, calling a fictional character by the same name as a real person alone is not libel. Jonathan Roven would have had to prove that the fictional character was based on him, with more similarities than just names, and that the fictional character had harmed his character and/or reputation. In my story, the fictional character is a 60-year-old gay man with Alzheimer’s Disease; I don’t even name his profession. Also, in America, winning a libel case where you say a fictional character libelled you seems to be very difficult. Now, I’m a nurse and not a lawyer, and this is just what I learnt from an online search. When I first created the character, he was to have been called Jonathan Raven, but I made a typo and called him Jonathan Roven, which I liked the sound of, so it stayed. I’m British, and the Gay Flash Fiction website isn’t run for profit; it’s much more a labour of love. Neither of us could afford to fight a court case, so we quickly agreed to change the title character’s name. Therefore, we changed it to Jonathan Raven is Lost, well in the version on the Gay Flash Fiction website anyway. But it left a sour taste in my mouth and created an unpleasant memory. What had so upset the man that he wanted my story changed or removed? Was it because the character who shared his name was gay and/or had Alzheimer’s Disease (and I’m not sure which one it would be), or was it because he’d lost the top billing of having all his results on the first page of a Google search? I’ve since posted the original version of the story, under its original title, on my old blog and on the GA website, where it can still be read, and I’ve heard nothing from the real Jonathan Roven. In these locations, I have no intention of changing the title or the story or the character’s name. When I was selecting stories for my published collection Case Studies in Modern Life, I naturally chose Jonathan Roven is Lost. It is such a good example of my writing, but it is also about a subject I feel strongly about. Many of the patients I nurse in my job have Alzheimer’s Disease, and I have seen what it does to lives and relationships. Like many of the stories in this collection, I workshopped it at my Writer’s Group. I received amazing feedback, and people advised me to open the story up because there was more to tell. I returned to it and started to re-shape it. The rewrites took the story from 800 to 11,000-words long, and as I rewrote it, so much more of the story came out. I introduced new characters; the narrator’s best friend, their neighbour, Jonathan’s sister, and his social worker, plus a nurse called Lilly. So much of the plot expanded, and I found there was so much more to tell. Other writers talk about stories and characters taking on “a life of their own”. I’ve never really experienced that. I’m a great planner of stories, and I always know where my stories are going. As I re-wrote this story, I found myself thinking about it more and more, planning it out in my mind. I found there was so much more to write, so much more of these characters’ stories to tell. I am also proud that I was able to write a story about Alzheimer’s Disease from an original perspective and also realistically look at how to manage if your partner does develop it. This story isn’t a road map for how to manage life with a partner with Alzheimer’s Disease, but it does provide advice from my experience. I also have Steve, one of the other members of my writer’s group, Newham Writers Workshop, to thank for his suggestion about a change to the story’s ending. His suggestion created a much more poignant ending to the story, highlighting the emotional cost Jonathan Roven’s Alzheimer’s Disease has taken on his partner. This story was originally written as a flash fiction story about losing a lover but in an unusual way. Since then, it has grown into much more. It is now about two men’s tragic journey and is very typical of the subjects I write about. The inspiration for this story occurred back in the late 1990s. I was working in my first District Nursing job and looking after an elderly couple. She had severe dementia, and he was her main carer, but he was also her second husband. Due to her dementia, she had forgotten his name and called him by the name of her first husband. The pain on his face every time she did this was heart breaking. I have never forgotten his expression, though he carried on caring for her. Happy reading. Drew When Fiction & Reality Collide Could I Be Liable for Libel in Fiction? “Libel in general is when somebody claims that a statement of fact made about him or her harmed his or his character” Law & Order' Faces Libel Suit A Writer's Guide to Defamation and Invasion of Privacy Defamation in Fiction—What’s in a Name?
  4. Betty Forbes has a handsome and well-dressed new husband, Graham. The problem is that Graham would rather watch Footballers with Their Shirts Off, on late-night television, than go to bed with his new wife. Graham does not want anyone finding out that he “isn’t the marrying kind,” especially his wife or his mother. This all generates a plot of sex, lies and blackmail in West Yorkshire. This short story is Alan Bennett’s take on a sex comedy; unfortunately, it is low on sex and the comedy often misses the mark. Bennett has always been best when he is writing about people he knows, people he has grown up with and/or lived around. Here he is writing about the new middle class, the people whose parents prospered under Thatcher and have now moved into the middle class, living in their new out-of-town housing developments (just don’t call them estates), and he just doesn’t know these people well enough to get under their skin and make his characters live. The characters here feel flat and the plot does not have the real feeling I am used to with Bennett’s writing. The characters feel as if they are there to serve the plot, rather than the plot coming out of their actions, and the plot just took one too many unrealistic turns. This story just failed to score a bullseye, though it doesn’t fully miss its target. Anything by Alan Bennett is worth reading, he isn’t the waste of time and effect I can feel trying to read lesser writers, but sadly this isn’t one of his top-level stories. It is a fun read but doesn’t provide the insight and depth that stories like The Uncommon Reader and The Lady in the Van did. Find it here on Amazon
  5. On a July evening, in 1991, three people are each caught in a moment of indecision, not knowing what the next right thing to do is. Helen has cooked a special, surprise meal for her husband, but he still hasn’t returned home. Paul has parked his car at the side of the road, but he doesn’t know where to drive to next. Craig is working late, but his mind isn’t on work. Moving Pictures is my newly published short story. It tells its story from the point-of-view of three different people, all caught in one moment in time, all trying to make the right decision. It is available on Smashwords, as an eBook only, but is free to download, or you can pay whatever you want to. Happy reading Drew
  6. Satire is a difficult form to get right. If it is too humorous then it might not be biting enough; if the satire hits home then it can be dry and even dull, and then it can be humourless and miss its target. These two short stories take a satirical aim at religious persecution and antisemitism in particular. Holocaust Tips for Kids is a young teenage American boy’s view of the Nazi Holocaust. It reads like that teenage boy’s scrapbook, facts and reportage sit all beside the boy’s own writing on how he would survive a modern holocaust. This takes broad swipes at Hollywood action-adventure films, using their logic to fight a holocaust. Smite the Heathens, Charlie Brown is written in the form of the classic American Charlie Brown story, using almost all the many characters from that world. Here there is a war, in the Charlie Brown world, between the believers in Schulz, the creature of them all, and the Giant Pumpkin God. The characters quickly fall into the different factions, seeing the others as heathens and therefore justifying their own actions. Shalom Auslander has captured both these separate worlds extremely well. In the first story, he captures both the voice and logic of a teenage boy. In the second story, he unnervingly captures the tone and sound of the Charlie Brown stories. Unfortunately, Auslander’s satire is nothing new and fires at targets that other writers hit bull’s-eyes on long before him. The skill of his writing impressed me, tonally these two stories are so different and yet each of them perfectly captures the voice they are written in. But the satire here is nothing new, we have heard it all before by other writers. I wish Auslander had taken aim at different, new targets here or had found something new to say. Find it here on Amazon
  7. Josh O’Connor, Paul Mescal Teaming for Romance ‘The History of Sound’ The film — announced by production company End Cue — is described as a “universal love story” to be directed by Oliver Hermanus, winner of the Queer Palm in 2011. The story follows two young men, Lionel (Mescal) and David (O’Connor), who, during the WWI period, set out to record the lives, voices and music of their countrymen. In this snatched, short-lived moment in their young lives, and while discovering the epic sweep of the USA, both men are deeply changed. Read about the film production here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/josh-oconnor-paul-mescal-lgbt-romance-history-of-sound-1235039263/ I was seventeen when I met David, back in 1916. Now I don’t very much care to count my age. It’s April 1972 here in Cambridge. White puffballs that must be some sort of seedpod have been floating by the window above my writing desk for days, collecting on the sidewalk like first snow. Read the rest of the short story here: https://www.thecommononline.org/the-history-of-sound/ BEN SHATTUCK - his writing and painting: https://www.benshattuck.com/
  8. It's one of those things. I really can't explain it, but I do dream about a particular department store quite frequently. When I was six years old, my 1st grade teacher took our entire class on a holiday fieldtrip. We toured the big downtown stores, and were told to keep a tight grasp on each other's hands as we went along. At one, after huddling our cold noses against the plate glass to see the display windows, we went into the warmth. Massive chrome escalators – taller than me! – carried us up into the clouds, while our teacher pointed down to the floor. There, arrows were built right into the terrazzo to guide our way up to the next level, and Christmas was all around as we followed that magic path to ascended ever higher into the massive store – we were there to visit Toyland on the 8th floor, and Santaland on the 9th. That Christmas wonder seeped into my bones that day. It was in the smells, the music, the decorations, and most especially, it was keenly written on the happy faces of shopper and Famous-Barr staff alike. It's been brewing in my heart and soul for many years now, but I want to write a series of stories in praise of Christmas in that place, and over a number of years. I plan on writing 6 short stories, and 2 novellas, each covering a different Christmas season for years ranging from 1880 to 2006, and naturally, all centered on the downtown store of Famous-Barr. The first two installments are ready for this holiday season, and I thought I would offer a preview. So, without further ado, here is an excerpt from Katie's Sketchbook, Christmas at Famous-Barr 1976. Please let me know your thoughts. Katie's Sketchbook Preview: Part 2 – A Cast of Visitors Scene Two: "How do you do?" It was the end of their long day in the park; Katie ran into the house and left the door open. While Sloan was coming in, he heard her father's voice: "No running in the house" and "Get washed and changed – we're going out for dinner." As Sloan closed the door, Richardson appeared at the wide opening leading into the living room. Sloan went right up and started kissing. Richardson did not resist, but Sloan paused, as Richardson also did not engage. The younger man opened his eyes. Richardson's peepers were shining emeralds, but a bemused smirk played about the right corner of his mouth. "And what did I do to deserve that?" the older man inquired. "Nothing – like usual. We haven't seen each other since before Thanksgiving…and – and maybe I missed you." "Maybe, huh?" Sloan's response was to draw Richardson back into a bear hug. Movement from within the living room caught his eye just as Richardson sheepishly informed him "We have a guest." A six-foot-two-inch-tall woman advanced with an extended smile and hand. "How do you do? I'm Julia Child." The young man from Ohio weakly attempted to shake her hand while still latched onto Richardson. Mouth partially agape – until he swallowed the lump in his throat – Sloan finally managed to stand at Richardson's side and respond. "You most certainly are – " She interrupted with a friendly head-toss. "Now, don’t pay any attention to me whatsoever, boys. It seems you were in the middle of a most charming welcome home." Now, both 'boys' blushed. Sloan glanced to his side, thinking how Richardson had failed to mention exactly which celebrity he was shepherding around town. Katie came bounding in. "Hi! You're The French Chef, aren’t you?" "Yes, I suppose I am. You've seen me on TV, have you?" "Oh, yes! My dad said you were coming to town, and he watches you all the time – he's a good cook too, you know." Ms. Child raised her attention from the girl onto Richardson. "I'm sure he is. We've spent a good portion of our time together discussing food." Katie's enthusiasm began animating her whole body with heel-to-toe rocking. "You should have my dad make his famous Mississippi Mud Pie for you. Do you like chocolate?" "I do, and that very sounds nice." Richardson grew rigid next to Sloan's side, and interjected. "Katie, I could never presume to cook for Julia Child." The French Chef, unflapped, but bending down to Katie's level, told the girl, "Thank you for the reference, young lady. I may have to insist that he make it…" Her eyes drifted up to Richardson "Because I always follow local culinary recommendations." Richardson turned all-shades, and Sloan just wanted to laugh. Instead he said, "Well, I too can vouch for Richardson's amazing skills in the kitchen." Julia smiled. "And can you cook as well?" "Nope. But I am an expert eater." Ms. Child laughed, and placed her hand warmly on his forearm. "Dear boy, you sound precisely like my husband. Paul praises my cooking skills, and can even enjoy my failures." Sloan's face took on some color. "I didn't mean to suggest…Richardson…never 'fails' at food, at least not for me." The smile on Julia's face made Sloan believe he had just touched the woman in some way, but he was not sure how. (to be continued in October...)
  9. I am pleased to announce my short story Speechless has been published on Nick Campanella's website. A semi-autobiographical story about a library that brings together two boys, reveals some secrets, and leaves them speechless. You can check out my story and read it here. Nick was enthusiastic about posting this short story, because as he said to me: "You have something really great here. Stories like these should be more mainstream, and I'm really glad I can help make that possible. Every child, gay or straight, remembers how they realized their sexuality, and yet, we (I) never read stories about it." I have to thank Nick for helping me to tidy up and edit the story. I think it's great to be able to bring a gay story to, if you like, a mainstream site. Only I don't see it quite like that anymore - gay and straight - the terms exist, but 'the times they are a changing!' Let me know what you think. It's a short story and quick to read, your comments and reviews would be most welcome, either here or on the story itself. Here is the space fo anyone to discuss and or ask questions. I promise to come back to you with a reply. Thank you.
  10. Hello all, There are two short stories I finished writing and I'm hoping to have someone read through one or both, and offer comments on what I can do to maybe improve my story. I'm also not the greatest at grammar, and it would be great to have someone help me edit my piece/s as well. Story 1: The Night After (1400 words) A story about a man who has a one night stand with a man he didn't know. Lesson: You never know who you're taking to bed with you. Themes: Shame, Race, Alcohol. Snippet: "You hailed us a cab. You fondled me in the back seat and I couldn’t help but notice the driver glancing at us through the rearview mirror. I was self conscious. You nibbling on my neck gave me chills. I giggled, avoiding the driver’s eyes. You took us to your place, paid the cab driver, and took us inside your home: a two story tan-colored home on the corner of 18th and Spruce. You took us to through the back door and I asked why not the front? You didn’t answer." Note: Includes graphic sexual content Story 2: The Conversation (2000 words) Two friends get together for a college reunion, recalling their old college days. But when an earth shattering secret is revealed, their friendships will be tested in a way neither saw coming. Snippet: “Uh, I don’t think you met Jamal yet. Jamal’s cool though, he was president of the Black Student Union, if you remember him. But man, guess who I got to come through? Our old boy, Xavier!” Jordan felt his mouth go dry. He forced a cough and tried concentrating back to the road. “Xavier huh?” “Yeah, ain’t that crazy? We used to do some mad partying at Campbell U together. Remember Cory, Xavier, you and I used to hit up the bars and clubs? Xavier always found a dude to hook up with. Tim was telling me Xavier’s still the player, picking up dudes left and right. It’s gonna be good to see him again...He said he’ll be there.” Damien rested his head on his hand, relaxing and reminiscing of the old days. Jordan, however, felt a panic well up in him. Note: Includes a description of sexual assault. Hope to hear from one or some of you soon, - Bryant
  11. I recently posted the first two parts of a new three-part story, Dead Body Inside, to GA and haven’t gotten the interest that I had hoped for. One reason I expect is that I’m up against some pretty heavy competitors with large followings, which is my reason for promoting the story here. Another reason might be the story title, which I have to admit in hindsight isn’t too attractive for the light, humorous short story that I tried to produce. Can’t do anything about that now, though. Lesson learned. The story cover illustration should put the title in its proper perspective. The other reason is that I might have fallen into the dilemma of being associated with writing sexually explicit stories as my other three stories have been. This story is not like that, being light and humorous and only a mere reference to sex. It was written to attempt to disassociate me from exclusively writing in that genre. So if you are looking for a fun, light short story to read, consider Dead Body Inside. And be sure to leave a comment when you are finished. Thanks.
  12. O. Henry Short Story Prompt 5 – The Purple Dress Suit Is it mid-October already?! Time to start thinking about a holiday writing project. This O. Henry piece is perfect. It’s warm, humanitarian and set for Thanksgiving (however, feel free to change the holiday to Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, New Years, or anything that’s coming up). With this prompt I’m trying a different approach to emphasize Short Story structure. I’m leaving it more barebones so you have room to fully explore/develop the characters and scenes. This means giving away the twist for just this one time. I have also ‘gayed up the joint’ for the holidays, but you are more than welcome to return Matty and Grayson to the female gender (in which case their names are Maida and Grace). Note: See my opening remarks on the purpose and intent of this prompt series here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- O. Henry Short Story Prompt 5 – The Purple Dress Suit I. Setup O. Henry begins with a few sentences on the color purple. You may do the same, or launch your story in a way to bring attention to another aspect of the tale. Whichever way you wish to provide the setup in the reader’s mind, don’t write it straightaway. Maybe sketch out a couple ideas, but only write the opening to the story once you’ve completed the other parts. The start of a Short Story is critical, and sometimes the last word affects the first one the viewer will read The setting: the Bee-Hive is one of New York’s most influential fashion websites. They can make or break a trend. Working there means stress and low wages, but once a year, the boss throws one of the most anticipated Thanksgiving fetes in town. The day before the holiday, a hotel ballroom is rented, and Bee-Hive staff, contributors, suppliers and clients are thrown a fashion-centric party. Yearly bonuses are also handed out on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week by Mr. Ramsey, the second in command. II. Development What is the spirit of this time of year? You decide what conversations and scenes develop the three principal characters. – Mr. Ramsey; sexy man in charge. Everyone knows the 28-year-old will eventually take over for Mrs. Bachman, the site’s owner. Lots of the Bee-Hive ladies have tentatively turned their sights on him only to learn two ‘negatives.’ For one, he’s a “health crank” who eats nothing that tastes good and has ideas about cold showers and walks in the rain (without coat and umbrella) being good for the constitution. The second item of interest to disappoint the girls is that he’s playing for the other team. – Matty: young Midwestern transplant who’s passionate about fashion’s potential to make a person’s mark. He responds well to couture and has a wardrobe to show it. Ergo, most of his meager salary goes to him looking noticeable and tasteful. Several months ago, Mr. Ramsey presented a slideshow on the “color forecast” for fall and winter. He projected two colors would dominate and catch everybody’s eye later this year: Zanzibar red and murex purple. For eight long months, Matty’s been scrimping and secretly planning a stunning purple dress suit for the Thanksgiving party. He intends to break the Ramsey ice once and for all. No mere off-the-shelf piece, he’s contracted one of the website’s best-known clothes maker. He just needs the final flush of his yearly bonus to payoff the tailor; naturally, his credit cards are maxed out. – Grayson: another Midwesterner and Bee-Hive fashionista, he takes life a bit more casually. For example, on a whim, he moved into Matty’s building in Soho. Now they live one floor apart in roommate situations, and have talked about getting a place of their own together at some point in the future. For now, it’s all they can afford. Secretly, Grayson noted Mr. Ramsey’s color forecast and has a department-store suit in red for the big party already hanging in his closet. His cards are maxed out as well, and he lives more hand-to-mouth than his buddy. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the friends are chatting at work and discover each other’s ‘secret.’ They agree to let the best color suit win the day tomorrow, and possibly Mr. Ramsey’s sexy heart. III. Climax/Twist Ten o’clock Tuesday evening finds Matty lounging in his room going over the in-progress pix of his new suit. All he’ll need to do is pop down to the shop tomorrow and pay off the last bit due. It will be close with his other monthly expenses, but he can swing it because his bonus is safely deposited in his checking account. There’s a sudden clamor at the front door. It’s Grayson in tears. He sets down his numerous shopping bags. It turns out Grayson’s roomies have put a padlock on his bedroom door, insisting he pays up the two months back rent that’s due. He can’t get in, and informs Matty that his bonus money is already spent on Christmas gifts for himself. He does not know what to do. Matty goes through some internal debate and decides there’s only one thing to be done. He writes Grayson a check for the amount due on Matty’s purple suit. Grayson jumps for joy, and makes a hasty exit with the ill-considered words: “See you at the party tomorrow!” Matty is sad. He spends most of the night sitting by his window, doubting himself, life, love – everything. He won’t be able to go tomorrow, and would not be seen dead at this fashion event in ‘old’ clothes. Wednesday, Matty is alone and the gray skies make him stay in and clean the apartment. He tries not to think about the party now in full swing as late afternoon slips into evening. It seems to him that the good guys never do win. Later, he gets a call. Reluctantly answering, it’s the tailor. Matty has to explain what’s happened and apologize that he can’t pay the man. The tailor says Matty is a good person and to come on by to pick up his suit; the man knows he’ll be paid eventually. Overjoyed, Matty dashes off, ignoring the rain starting to fall and the fact that the party is winding down and will soon be over. It’s getting really late, so he dresses in the tailor’s changing room, and since the hotel is only one long Manhattan block away, starts to run. Now it’s really pouring, but Matty has never been happier and glowing in health. Rounding the last corner, he literally runs into another nut out in the rain with no protection. Matty finds himself in the arms of Mr. Ramsey. Speechless, Matty sees the man smile, but not at his suit, at the vigor and joy in Matty’s heart. Ramsey says he’s glad he’s not alone in preferring to walk in the rain. He missed Matty at the party, and wonders if they shouldn’t grab a cup of coffee instead. IV. Denouement (optional) O. Henry does not provide a glimpse of the future, but as there are many relationships at play (Ramsey’s future with the Bee-Hive; Matty and Ramsey’s future; the future of the friendship between Matty and Grayson) you can consider writing one for your version of the story. _
  13. Hi All, Note: Just to review the purpose and goal of these prompts, let’s remember a Short Story is not just a story that’s short. As developed by American writers for over 200 years now, it has specific parts, and the form allows for nearly unlimited creativity. These prompts are here to help you build confidence in crafting your own Short Stories. The sections yours should include are: - Setup - Development - Climax/Twist - Denouement (which is the aftermath, and which is optional). For further details, see my opening remarks on the series here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- O. Henry Short Story Prompt 4 – Witches’ Loaves Martha Meacham is a practical and pragmatic businesswoman. At age 40, her corner bakery and donut shop is the kind of urban gathering spot where everybody knows your name. She has money in the bank, but sometimes thinks it’s too late to have the love of her life walk beneath the tinkling bell attached to her shop’s door. One day she begins to pay more attention to a particularly offbeat client of hers. Immediately after the morning rush on Tuesdays and Thursdays, an unassuming man in his fifties, with wire-rim glasses, steps up to the counter to buy a pair of day-old dinner rolls, which are priced to move at two-for-one. His routine never varies: never a donut; never a slice of cheesecake; never a croissant. He’s neat as a pin in his attire, but Martha notes his business-casual clothes are a bit worn around the edges, like he hasn’t replaced them in quite a while. His manner is always polite, and the shop owner detects a German accent. Thinking about him at odd moments during the day raises pity in her breast. She begins to suppose the odd staining of sepia and black on his fingertips means he’s an artist. That thought makes her even sadder. She imagines him toiling the day away in some dingy attic loft, painting his heart out, to only sit down later to a meal of tap water and two stale dinner rolls. To confirm her suspicion, she brings down a small painting from her apartment upstairs. It’s a Venetian scene she’d picked it up at an auction because she liked the colors, but otherwise she knows nothing about Art. True to her suspicion, the next time he’s in, the German takes note of the painting and starts his first conversation with her. He says she has a fine picture there, and it sends her pulse racing. “Do you think so?” she asks. “Indeed, although the perspective is a little off.” Now a few more changes occur at the corner bakery. On certain days of the week, flowers appear on the counter by the day-old section. And though her regulars rib her about it, she takes to wearing a particular silk blouse a friend gave her long ago. She feels the blue and white polka dots cheer up the place. The German and she engage in friendly smiles and chitchat about the weather each time he comes in, but Martha does not know how to take their ‘relationship’ to the next level. One day while he’s there, a great parade of sirens sounds from down the street. Patrons rush to the front windows to watch the firetrucks go by, and Martha takes a notion into her head. Quick as can be, she rushes the customer’s stale dinner rolls over to the pastry cream gun – the kind used to inject donuts with the light and buttery filling. By the time the commotion dies down, she hands the man his rolls already bagged up. That day at lunch, she dreamily pictures her artist at work. Pictures how he’d stop for a bite, and encounter a surprise. He’d taste the sweetness and know it was from Martha…maybe he’d know more too. Her reverie is broken abruptly by the angry sound of her shop bell. When she goes to the front, the German’s pulling his hair out in frustration and fuming in his native language. The only word she can make out clearly is Hexenbrot, because he repeats it so many times. Fortunately, the man’s accompanied by a younger coworker who can translate. The Prompt: write your own Short Story based on this scenario, and what has happened to upset the dinner-roll client. If you want to know what O. Henry's twist is, PM me and I will tell you. Otherwise, try to devise your own. _
  14. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: See my opening remarks on the purpose and intent of this prompt series here. As always, feel free to alter the characters' genders or ages if you like. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- O. Henry Short Story Prompt 3 – Hour of the Dogman Urban life. A melancholy picture of a certain time of the evening comes into focus. Life in the big city means apartment living for most, and that goes for pampered pooches as well. More often than not, it’s the one not-so-in-love with Fido who has to take him out as soon as he gets home, before any mention of dinner is made. Sam Telfair is one such person. While his spouse's obese, precious little terror inspects every tree base, and snarls at every other dog – and Sam alike – his mind wanders over the scene. First he notes with sadness how he is hardly alone. Several young men walk dogs they obviously have no connection with. Primped dogs with bows, ribbons, and frilly pink leads. Next he wonders how his life got to this point. He never wanted to live in the city in the first place, but his partner snagged him in the Western town where they resided, and ambition to 'make something of your life' was forced down his throat; that and having to move to the city because that's 'where everything happens.' Sam is not so sure. He muses that perhaps he left a good thing behind – Sam has a romantic past too with someone, and regrets. While he's walking, he gets the surprise of his life. As if by some trick of fate, 'he' of all people is there. Jim Berry slaps the Dogman on the back and says, "There you are!" It turns out Jim is in town for the day and was on his way over to Sam's place for a visit. Sam says it's better if they go to a bar. So they sit outside and drink freely. They catch up, talk about their current lives, and of their past too. It's getting late. Jim has a train to catch; Sam regards the canine ball-and-chain he's tethered to – the dog's anxious to get home and be fed – and realizes he has a decision to make. The prompt: write your own version of this story. You decide what Sam does at the end, and why.
  15. So this is a thread for my short story [ errorlog.txt ] So feel free to leave remarks, thoughts, opinions, and discuss possibilities here. You can view my story in the link below: Enjoy your stay!
  16. I'll be out of town for the new year, so I decided to post this little story early. Meet Marty in http://www.gayauthor...ingiseverything There are adults in this story, but no sex, and it dances around some adult topics, namely BDSM (or, as they like to call it around here, bsdm. lol), but it's not one of those "How we Met" stories. No, Marty and his boyfriend have been together for years. Thing is, Marty's no longer happy with the status quo and has developed a plan to change that. But, you know Murphy's Law? Chuck does, but Marty's still in denial. His plans are perfect; you'll see.
  17. Cowboy Summer hello people, so i thought i'd open up a topic for Cowboy Summer, which is currently 4 chapters long and getting longer. i predict about 10 chapters. The story follows Rhydian, doomed to spend the summer alone on a Western Ranch in North California after his sister drops out to go to uni early. Through his friendship with the two young men who run the ranch Sam and Caleb, and his building relationship with 'his' horse Shura, Rhydian grows from a teenager into a balanced young man. Kitt is Beta-ing and doing a fabulous job of it. she's fab. and LW (Leathery Wings) found a picture which looks just like Sam and a horse called Boy Latte. neat huh? Updates are (roughly) bi-weekly.
  18. Hey guys. So I'm a newbie that recently posted my first short story. I was hoping to gather some feedback on how to improve my writing. If you're interested, please check it out at: https://www.gayauthors.org/story/totallyy/shewatches If you have any questions about the short, let me know too. Thanks.
  19. This is the discussion for my new posting Snowfalls, Fires, and Family. Summary: They had been pulled apart, their mother slowly falling into her mind, when he had been six. But now their mother had died just a month before and her will had asked for them to come together at least one last time to get what she has left behind for them. They thought they would walk away with a piece of liquidated estate and money for their own lives. They hadn't expected to find themselves coming back together as siblings. Some quick information on the story: I originally wrote this back in 2017. Before I got with my girlfriend (3 years this December 24th!), I decided that I wanted to do some holiday stories and post on Wattpad. This was one of them. This one kind of went different than what I wanted to go with it originally (lots of fighting and a not so happy ending) but then I was finding myself in a better place mentally and emotionally. As for the story, it is fully complete. Two (2) chapters of Ten (10) have been posted and I'll post the rest of the chapters at least once every couple of days. The next couple of days I'm just going to let it sit for now and let others read. It seems you guys seem to like it so far? I hope at least. I hope to hear your comments, questions and suggestions! It all helps me to grow as a writer and editor! Thank you. Quick edit: in the story there is talk of mental illness and the affects on a family. Nothing graphic but still...it does talk about it. And yes, I had my name changed to S.L. Lewis from Rose Strailo. So kind of ignore the copyright name on past and current story please? Thank you.
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