Churn, churn, rumble, surge. Words streamed out and crashed into me, like waves against a rocky shore. But I am not made of stone. Words, unlike water, don’t simply wash away. Everything changes. Even the stone, over time, gets worn down. Churn, churn, rumble, surge. My nerves are frayed. Sleep dances out of reach. At least now I know. The…
“Don’t step on the cracks or you’ll break your mother’s back!” Leather soles slapped against ceramic in quick succession. Giggles echoed around the room, bouncing off tiled room. Stringy, unkempt brown hair slapped against stained cheeks. After touching the windowsill, Alaina spun around. “Your turn!” Charles hopped three times on his left foot, then stumbled. He…
“Here’s the point of entry.” Becky stared at the coil of barbed wire. “Strange. Why wrap it so neatly on the fence post? Why not cut it and keep going?” Steve crossed his arms. “They’re probably local. This fence and land belong old man Monger. Even the folk from the hollers won’t mess with…
This marked my second year of NYC Midnight writing challenges, beginning 2016 with the Short Story Challenge. The field is more than 2100 this time, in 60 heats! Each writer is assigned to a group of 35 writers with specific genre, subject matter and character that must be central to the plot. For round 1, the stories were…
Mac ducked behind a building. She pressed her back to the cool brick and slid down. Her arms crossed over her knees, shoulders slumped. “Didja find ‘im?” Her head snapped up at the sound of a soft voice. The girl approached, her footsteps silent over the dirt. Twelve, maybe thirteen. Sinewy arms hugged her front,…
“Oh, no. No, no.” She moves the dish soap to the right. Hand soap shifts left. Lotion next. Sanitizer last. They’re lined up by height, labels facing out. She makes an adjustment here, a shift there. One at a time. Left to right, tallest to smallest. Again. And again. “This doesn’t go here.” She picks…
Source: Flash! Friday: Vol 3 – 51
Almost one week later, I’m getting in gear. I’ve learned it’s possible to work on more than one project in NaNo (though it would make me a REBEL). While considering this option, I’m still planning to move ahead with Plan A: Starting my next project. Because of my time constraint, I’ve got Days 1 &…
I did it. I signed up. That is, I opened an account. Gotta start somewhere, right? As a NaNoWriMo newbie, I’ve been reading posts and tweets and suggestions and dos & don’ts…and generally delaying any real prep work. I have a major problem, which I blame for my lack of focus…What do work on come November 1?…
For today’s Warmup Wednesday!: Using the photo, craft a 100 word (exactly) story…with an animal as the protagonist. “Hedge!” A single howl shattered the stillness of the fog. “Hog!” A chorus of voices howls replied. “Hedge!” The single howl had grown closer to three who crouched behind several thin tree trunks. “Hog!” The howls were shriller as…
VCE Chemistry teacher in Melbourne, Australia
a 100-word story every day
The Mom Who Runs: 