Categotry Archives: Fiction
55 – Desire
I want to want. The poetry of my soul cries for desire. Any desire will do, so long as I can put my whole heart behind it, fighting the good fight, making a difference to someone anyone. It’s the power of the moment that I crave. It’s the strength in wanting to do something grand. It’s the want I want. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 […]
160 – Next Year
She starts High School next year. Every other word out of her mouth is schedules and clubs and what she wants to take. None of it has to do with college or her future. Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included.
Suzie’s House 198: A Couple
Gene stood right outside the door to the classroom, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, waiting for Tracy. She was here in Madison. She was really here, instead of wherever it was her mother lived now. It didn’t look like she planned on going anywhere either. He could hardly believe it.
55 – In Front of the Fireplace
More or less random picture Bitter wind outside. Warm arms and gentle smile waiting on the couch. Wrapped together in a comforter. It doesn’t matter how deep the snow how the wind howls when the electricity will come back. Sated, we take this moment of simplicity as an unintended holiday. Surrounded by steady love and flickering light all it right in the world. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. […]
Suzie’s House 197: Here Comes the New Boss, Same As the Old Boss
“Miss Martin, a word if you please,” Mr. Gordon said at the end of class. Tracy fought the urge to roll her eyes. Teachers hated it when you rolled your eyes, especially at the end of class on the first day of school. It kind of made them hard to deal with all year long. “Yes, sir,” she said instead of all the things she’d like to say. Things like she knew this was going to happen as soon as […]
55- The Query Received
So hard to say no, knowing how much hope and longing went into it. So hard to deny, but with so many to chose from, and only so much time and energy, someone must be told no. Each no, a little cut on a self image of kindness. Opening the mail becomes and act of bravery. *** I’m not just a writer. I’ve spent some time as an editor, too. I know quite well how it feels to dive into […]
Suzie’s House 196: First Day of School
He should have known something was up by the buzz. Gene was used to people not talking to him, so he shouldered his way down the hall by himself, ignoring everyone like they weren’t even there. Most of the time people got out of the way. He could be Moses, parting the sea of people just by walking, the way they moved. He liked the idea, but it wasn’t real. Especially when he got close to his classroom. More and […]
55 – Query Letter Sent
totally random picture Like a love letter, the request for an editor’s attention must seduce. In barely a page, it must fill the editor with yearning, pique curiosity, sate the need to know, “Is it worth asking for more?” Like a love letter, it hurts when a letter goes unanswered, or worse, scorned. Each one sent is an act of bravery. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction […]
160 – A Musical Mile
On the stage of the high school auditorium, we are nervous. First recital of the year, and we sounded so bad in class. The teacher raises his baton and we begin the march. Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included. Inspired by Kavita.
Suzie’s House 195: Too Young?
“Innocent?!” Gene sat up so fast he almost fell off the bed. “You’re kidding, right?” “No, I’m not.” Tracy gave him one of those looks, like he should know better. “I’m only 13, you know.” “Yeah, but… but…” He wasn’t sure if he should say she didn’t act like it. “You kissed me first!” “That was weeks ago!” He threw his hands in the air. Wasn’t that worse? He hopped off the bed and walked toward the door to the […]
FF55 Dealers
Totally random picture: The neighbors are dealing. One night, coming home from work, my husband banged on the trunk and shined a flashlight in the car of a “customer”. “Do you know you’re parked in the wrong spot?” Furious jumping and furtive stashing proceeded the denial. “It’s a free country, isn’t it? We’ll only be a minute.” And still they don’t think they’ll get caught. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly […]
Suzie’s House 194: Everlong
She started off quiet, but that’s the way the song is supposed to go, so he probably wouldn’t even notice that she was kind of feeling her way into it. Tracy stopped to adjust the guitar. She had an electric at home with a strap and amp and everything. It felt weird to do it with an acoustic, and she had to put one foot on Gene’s bed to hold it at the right height while she was standing, but […]
FF55 In a Time of Need
“I was so sure of you. I know it looked like I was neglecting you, but really, I was showing my faith in you, that you would always be here for me when I needed you. But when I did, you weren’t there. Do you know how I feel?” “Of course I do. Why do you think I left?” *** Inspired by something Mr. Al is writing. The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story […]
From Drew to Suzie
Sometimes the distance between you and I spans more than the miles of telephone wire, or the pauses between breaths when thinking spins too fast, or the shattering of a sentence placed wrong. Sometimes everything stretches out into meaningless fog and crossing the dark bridge to be where you are seems impossible. I am battered now, and wonder, when I finally return, will you still love me? Drew and Suzie are characters from my regular Friday serial Suzie’s House. This […]
For Lack of Funding
He played badly. Every other note sounded wrong. His fingers stumbled. He gave up, walked away. “Stupid piano.” It wasn’t like it mattered as they took the piano away. Monkey Man hosts the 160 Character Challenge. See what you can write in 160 characters or less, spaces included. For more about this, see the bottom of my Welcome page.
