Short Story
The Traveler
I spin around, desperately searching the packed sea of faces for any sympathetic expressions. “That’s what she said.” I insist, disliking how my voice rose higher and higher in pitch, as if whining at a room of figurehead royals and politicians was going to win me any favors.
By Phoenixica24about a month ago in Fiction
A Prompt To Complete a Previous Unfinished Storyline
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What If? Writing Exercise for Fiction Writers prompts The Exercise — Pull out one of your stories that doesn't feel finished. Have your main character do the following exercises - as if he had his own notebook. For example, maybe you write with a number 2 pencil, but your character prefers to use a Rapidograph pen. Go with the pen. Remember, your character is doing this exercise - not you, the author! So, as your main character: * make a diary entry for the time of the story * make a diary entry for the time preceding the story * write a letter to someone not in the story about what is happening in the story * write a letter to someone in the story Or you might explore places in the story that you haven't either dramatized or summarized. Examples: * Have your characters avoided a confrontation? (This is a natural reaction - we are all nonconfrontational and, therefore, we often allow our characters to avoid the very scenes and confrontations that we would avoid.) Does your story have missing scenes? * What events happened before the beginning of the story? Before page one? Try writing scenes of those events that most affected the beginning of the story. Maybe you started the story later than you should have. * Write past the ending. Maybe your story isn't really finished. Perhaps you are avoiding the confrontation scene because you aren't really sure what your characters would say to each other. The Objective - To explore aspects of a story that may seem, at first, to be on the periphery, but at a closer look can deepen or open it up. Nothing is ever lost by more fully knowing the individual world of each story. And it's better to let your characters speak for themselves.
By Denise E Lindquistabout a month ago in Fiction
Legend of the Santybaras
Long ago, in the land of Llawenglen, a grand fir tree grew in the spot where four mountains meet, whose roots were intertwined with a strand of ancient holiday magic. Every year, when the clock struck midnight on the first of December, the magic awoke. A magnificent choir sprung forth from the tree and spread Christmas cheer throughout the land. The santybaras sang as they inaugurated the holiday season by dressing their beloved tree with the shiniest of baubles, sparkliest of garlands, and twinkliest of string lights. They wore hand-knitted sweaters and red hats with white trim and always had hot cocoa ready for serving.
By Mollie Narutovicsabout a month ago in Fiction
Falling Awake
The city breathes differently after midnight. Not quieter, just more honest. Car horns stop pretending to be impatient and become lonely. Laughter spills out of bars like secrets that were never meant to survive daylight. The air feels thick, as if every memory ever made here is still hanging between the buildings.
By Salman Writesabout a month ago in Fiction
The Island That Refused to Stay
Lately, she has been trying to look at her life the way a stranger might. Not kindly, not cruelly. Just honestly. As if objectivity could soften the sharp edges of memory. As if stepping outside herself might make the weight easier to carry.
By Salman Writesabout a month ago in Fiction
Certain Instructions Apply...
Please read carefully… Congratulations on your purchase of the device from one of our many fine dealers! We do not yet offer the product in the regular chain stores, so your purchase must have taken place through the many new and wonderful franchises now growing and thriving across the nation, soon around the world. We thank you for your interest.
By Kendall Defoe about a month ago in Fiction
Structured
"So why do we need a structure? Why can't we just do what we want?" "Everything must have a structure, a start, then content and finally an ending. Look at what you just said, which started with the word 'So', then you asked two questions, which were the content, before ending on the word 'want'.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred about a month ago in Fiction
