 Short Stories: September 15, 2021 Issue [#10979] |
This week: Creepies Edited by: Leger~  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~
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Creepies!
Since I moved to Florida, I've been introduced to a plethora of bugs and critters up close and personal. I didn't necessarily ask to be introduced, nor did I ask them to make themselves at home in say, for instance, my hair. But it happens. A few/many years ago, I was bit by a spider and suffered some health issues for a while. With the coming of the internet, you can bet I've researched all the creepies that took up residence in or near my home.
Now I live in the land of huge and sometimes prehistoric looking critters. I even joined a Facebook page for identifying things...predominantly snakes. I have to say, holding a snake to take its picture for identification seems a little counterintuitive, but there it is. Honestly, I consider every snake poisonous and aggressive and run the other way. I know, some of you have pet snakes. That's nice. Just don't ask me to help you catch one when he escapes his cage.
I learned a lot about anoles, geckos and lizards. I know way more than I need to know about invasive toads and Cuban frogs and I'm not sure the recommended way to euthanize them by rubbing their belly with allergy medicine and freezing them is something I'm interested in doing. But if you love your native froggies, I can steer you to the page.
My three-year-old granddaughter has no fear of bugs and caught a rhinoceros beetle. She showed great interest in keeping it so my daughter created a home for "Cherry Cakes". Cherry Cakes didn't last all that long, not necessarily from captivity, but more from my granddaughter giving it some fun by holding the tank and jumping on her bed.
In all, it was a passive way of research and learning and a great way to get to know wildlife. Encouraging a child's interests is always a good thing. But I can assure you, some of these things are destined to show up in one of my short stories.
This month's question: How did something odd end up in your story? Send in your answer below!  Editors love feedback!
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Excerpt: “You’re a witch. Deal with it.”
“But it’s inhumane!”
Excerpt: The King's heart was not weighed in hardened anger toward the one that took his dear Queen's life. Instead, he was burdened with guilt that his child would grow up motherless, and he did all he could to fill the emptiness he was sure his daughter would feel.
Excerpt: Being a toad of course was different. Toads were used to each other and always found themselves quite handsome. They thought themselves as perfectly plump, with delicately smooth slimy skin, adorable squishiness, and majestic croaks.
But it wasn’t very long until they started believing what everyone said about them. The toads started thinking about whether their sliminess actually was delicate and whether their croaks really were majestic.
Excerpt: Inchworm’s favourite thing to do was play hide-and-go-seek. None of the birds ever found him.
Excerpt: The man stood atop the steel structure, his sword in his hand. The rain pattered off his dirty brown coat and splashed around him. He could hear them coming. Could hear the beating of leathery wings over the ruined buildings.
Excerpt: On Thursday, Jared found a bump on the inside of his left arm just above the elbow. His fingers detected it during an exhausting board meeting. It didn’t hurt, but it was annoying. He couldn’t keep from touching it or twisting his arm around to look at it. His concentration was off and he wasn’t productive at work.
Excerpt: The first rule of climbing was never climb alone, yet, here she was.
Genre Prompt for September 2021: Animal
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Subject for the week: Type: Flash Fiction
Subject: Romantic conversation of a couple with a certain matter.
Mood: happy. Word limit:200(maximum).
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This month's question: How did something odd end up in your story? Send in your answer below! Editors love feedback!
Last month's "Short Stories Newsletter (August 18, 2021)" question: Do you read blogs and what do you take away from them?
TheBusmanPoet  : No I don't read blogs.
Dee  : I read blogs when I have time. Sometimes I get story ideas, good advice and tips from them, depending on what type of blog it is. Most of the time, I read them out of curiosity. I get to know the author without even having a conversation.
Lilith 🎄 Christmas Cheer  : There are a few blogs that I read routinely. Some for the pure entertainment of it, others for instructional purposes, and a host of reasons really. What I take away from them depends on what brought me there in the first place.
John & James Wegner  : Sometimes. We usually read them for writing tips or lessons about life. Sometimes we just read them for fun too.
Ned : I don't even read mine.
Kåre เลียม Enga  : I write a lot of blogs, read a lot of blogs, bounce off of a lot of blogs. I constantly get ideas. There are many types of blogs. But whether they are essays, poetry, stories, diaries or journals they all provide a window into people's thoughts and lives. Because I write in different blogs I post my daily entries in "Blogville " [XGC]. Others can as well. It has the highest rating allowed to allow freedom of expression but some entries could be E rated.
"Death of Jeannie New Moon" from August, 2006 has over 3,000 views. I highly recommend it.
"Doing and don'ting. A scene in 2nd person." from October, 2006 has 486 views.
Recent blogs don't get many views and fewer comments.
"I get to rant!" from July, 2020 stirred up a lot of mud. Only 17 views though. I don't recommend it if you are easily offended.
"Quentin has a royal hissy fit... " from July, 2020. Quite bawdy. It's in the voice of one of my characters. Only 22 views.
Recently:
"Have the shackles been removed? Am I anchored?" a soft lament from 3 days ago with only 6 views.
"Hybristophilia: attraction towards criminals. " this one from last week has a whopping 18 views!
Now I dare one of you to go read one and double-dare you to leave a comment!
elephantsealer : Blogs are interesting to read as well as fun... I feel a little bit happy after reading blogs...
Regis E. G.  : Medium was something I'd gotten in to for awhile.
I love it but its not an everyday thing for me, maybe writing blogs could be an everyday thing for me though.
Elfin Dragon-finally published : I must admit, I'm not really a blog person. Although, my editor has told me having one would be a good idea. I've not yet been convinced. (shrug)
Elisa: Snowman Stik  : First off, I'm stealing the phrase idea sperm. Second, if anything in my stories is inspired by a blog, it will usually be something random like a memorable image or unexpected word use that provides a fresh perspective (such as idea sperm). Those types of memorable tidbits are most likely going to manifest in my stories' dialogue. Given how blogs are partly intended to reflect the author's (seemingly) authentic voice, this makes sense.
Thanks to everyone responding to my newsletter questions! I appreciate you!
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