Raven's View

A Vampire Adjusts

October 03, 2012

This week's prompt for Flash Fiction Friday was to write about a different sort of vampire.

Let’s explore what your perception of a vampire might be. Already having been around for a few centuries, how does he/she cope with today’s world; for instance, cell phones, the Internet, and Cinemax? Does your creation seek out the companionship of humans or scour the local paper for an off-the-wall support group? Is the vamp you imagine afraid of his/her own shadow and/or does the sight of a paper cut send him/her into a dead faint? No pun intended here, I promise.

Prompt: Craft us a tale about a vamp, but forget all the stereotypes. Be scary, be wild, be hilarious, be touching. Paint us a picture of one of them that we’d never expect.

Word Limit: 1,500 words.

I decided to use my Fairy Tale Folk and see what happens. 1246 words.

Continue reading "A Vampire Adjusts" »

Posted at 09:24 PM in Fairy Tale Folk, Short Story, Writing | Permalink | Comments (4)

Sorry, wrong number

September 12, 2012

This week's challenge for Flash Fiction Friday is about a wrong number, an inadvertent eavesdropping on a call, and the consequences.

Let’s say you need some serious R&R and you decide to spend the weekend at an isolated cabin. It belongs to a friend, who will be out of town, and it is well-stocked with food, liquor, first editions, and firewood. The thing that is most enticing is the fact that there is no cell service; therefore, no one will be able to bother you with the day-to-day nonsense you are trying to get away from. There is a working phone in the cabin, but it’s a rotary that your friend keeps around for laughs.

All goes smoothly until you’re carrying in the last of your personal items from your car. The skies open up and set free that rainstorm that’s been brewing during your drive up. You know the one road in, or out, will flood, and mudslides usually clog most of the trails, but what do you care? You’re not planning to do any hiking–only drinking, reading, and tons of sleeping. As you sit to remove your wet shoes before preparing some dinner, the phone rings. You pick it up and hear two people discussing something, but they ignore you when you try to interrupt, or perhaps they really didn‘t hear you. All at once, they hang up and the crossed-up connection is broken. Hmmm…

Prompt: Craft us a tale and share with us exactly what it was that you overheard, and also, while you’re at it, let us know how that weekend turned out for ya! If you can, that is…

Genre: Whatever floats your boat!

Word Limit: You’ve caught me in a generous mood, so let’s cap this one at 1,800 words.

I liked the idea of an isolated place in the woods, and crafting some horror around it. And I knew of just the place - Red's grandmother has a delightful little cottage. Was a quick write, and fun - initially 1483 words. Finished on a twist and a cliff-hanger, so went back and added a couple of times to the ending. Let me know what you think. Note - part of an ongoing Fairy Tale Folk series.

Continue reading "Sorry, wrong number" »

Posted at 08:43 PM in Fairy Tale Folk, Short Story, Writing | Permalink | Comments (11)

Stakeout

August 31, 2012

This week's challenge from Terrible Minds was to write a story incorporating four random words. His challenge:

I dig the random word challenges.

It’s interesting to see what bizarre alchemical narrative computations take the simple lead of these words and change them not only into gold but, rather, a bevy of precious metals.

And so, that’s what’s popping its head up at the hole this week.

I’ve got eight words. I want you to pick four.

These four must be represented in the fiction you write.

The words? Cape, Joke, Senator, Hamburger, Laser, Gloves, Funeral, Motel

(If you care to know where I get my random words: this random word generator!)

You have, as always, one week (Friday, August 31st, by noon EST) to write up to 1000 words.

I decided the cape would fit nicely on one of my regular characters, and before I knew it had my story. I think I was inspired by the episodes of True Blood I've been watching. This did come together pretty fast - a good thing, as I slept in this morning. Got 600 words in, though. If you like this, here's a link to all my stories with these guys.

Continue reading "Stakeout" »

Posted at 11:37 AM in Fairy Tale Folk, Short Story, Writing | Permalink | Comments (4)

Fairy Tale Upgrade

July 13, 2012

This week's challenge from Terrible Minds was to re-write a fairy tale into a modern context.

Today’s challenge shall be a curious one.

Take a fairy tale — any fairy tale at all you want, or a fable, or a Mother Goose story — and rewrite it in a modern context.

Now, “modern” is a little open to interpretation — if you took Little Red Riding Hood and set it in the 1920s, sure. Or The Ant And The Grasshopper and set it on a space station 100 years in the future, that’s fine, too.

Point is: avoid any sense of medieval-ness. Get out of the past. Into this (or the last) century and beyond.

As always: 1000 words. Post on your blog, link back here. Due by next Friday — FRIDAY THE 13TH MOO HOO HA HA. By noon EST.

I picked a classic by the Grimm's, with a perhaps unsettling twist. I give you - Hansel and Gretel.

Continue reading "Fairy Tale Upgrade" »

Posted at 10:53 AM in Fairy Tale Folk, Short Story, Writing | Permalink | Comments (2)