Not So Ordinary

This is another story prompted by this month's Conquer the Craft in 29 Days challenge. 
Today we were to start thinking about characters. Specifically, we were to take an ordinary Joe - or Jane -  and make them an unlikely hero/heroine. Just a regular person who happens to find themself in extraordinary circumstances. We could use a WIP, so I did another Portal story, and looked at Danny.
Just a boy and his dog. Here's a link to the others in this seies. This one is about 750 words. 

Continue reading "Not So Ordinary" »


Ave atque vale

This is for the final prompt on the site Flash Fiction Friday. From the site:

Through many countries and over many seas
I have come, Brother, to these melancholy rites,
to show this final honour to the dead,
and speak (to what purpose?) to your silent ashes,
since now fate takes you, even you, from me.
Oh, Brother, ripped away from me so cruelly,
now at least take these last offerings, blessed
by the tradition of our parents, gifts to the dead.
Accept, by custom, what a brother’s tears drown,
and, for eternity, Brother, ‘Hail and Farewell’. 

 The challenge asked for a story with a goodbye, in a crime fiction genre, 1300 words or less. I did another 'chunk' from an idea for a novel about a portal to another world. I've been using some flash fiction's to explore this story idea - they are great for that. Mine is just under 1200 words.

Continue reading "Ave atque vale" »


Finding Danny

This week's challenge from Flash Fiction Friday was to write about a Doppelganger.

 We all like to think we are unique, but how many times has someone said to you “You remind me of…” or “You look just like…”? With more and more humans on the planet, it does become increasingly probable that out there is someone who is nothing short of your exact duplicate (even if you aren’t an identical twin). In fiction and folklore, this notion takes on many forms, such as stories of mistaken identity, evil twins, clones, body doubles, shapeshifting aliens or demons, surgically altered spies, and paranormal doppelgangers.

Let’s come up with our own take on the concept, shall we?

Prompt: Write a story in which your protagonist encounters some sort of double or doppelganger.
Genre: Any
Word limit: 1,200 words
Deadline: Wednesday, March 20 at 9:00 p.m. ET

 

I did another Portal story, just to play with this concept more. It went over the limit,  at 1340 words, but I
was having too much fun.

Continue reading "Finding Danny" »


The Good Guy

This week's prompt from Flash Fiction Friday was based on a business card someone had found. Challenge says - 

Former Flash Fiction Friday moderator, Darren G. Miller, posted the photo above on his Facebook Boris-good-guy page and tagged a few writerly types, like myself  , commenting that this would make for a great Flash Fiction prompt, and he’s right. This card was found at a local restaurant, probably submitted for a free lunch or dinner just sitting there in a bowl hoping to be drawn for said meal. Or was it there for some other reason? Who is Boris? What kind of good can he do? What does this card mean and what does it mean for the person who found it? You’re that person, so take a moment and devise a story around this found object.

Please note this is a real card, so don’t call Boris. I’d hate to read a story finding out just how “good” Boris is, if you catch my drift.

Prompt: Write a story using the photo of the business card above as your inspiration. What does it mean? Who is Boris? What do you do?
Word Limit: 1000
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense or any turn you make of this potential tale.
Deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. ET

Mine was a little over 900 words.

Continue reading "The Good Guy" »