  Short Stories
This week: Inspiration, Please! Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week.
Keep reading for your chance to claim an exclusive trinket! |
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"Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read,
you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that." ~ Stephen King
I'm always on the lookout for a great read. Knowing this, my friends approach me with recommendations all the time.
"Have you read that book about the girl who was raised in the Idaho mountains and didn't have a birth certificate until she was ten?" a friend asked me last week. "Your childhood was so bizarre, I couldn't stop thinking about you as I read it. There were seven kids in the family, and none of them went to school. They were survivalists, and they buried guns in their backyard. Their father made them practice what to do if the feds stormed the house...."
I was intrigued. The story sounded disturbingly familiar, so I bought the book.
"Life, my dear Watson, is infinitely stranger than fiction; stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We could not conceive the things that are merely commonplace to existence. If we could hover over this great city, remove the roofs, and peep in at the things going on, it would make all fiction, with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions flat, stale and unprofitable." ~ Arthur Conan Doyle
As I read Tara Westover's story an unsettling sense of Déjà vu enveloped me. When the unexpected fountain of memory burst forth, I was reminded once again that oftentimes all one need do is peep into her own past for inspiration.
I was born and raised in Alaska on 20 acres in the middle of nowhere. Our dirt driveway would get so muddy and rutted during breakup (what Alaskans call spring) that it was impassable to cars and trucks, so my mom would drive us to the bus stop (three miles away) in a 6-wheel ATV.
Our school was 45 miles away from where we lived and during the winter solstice we only got six hours of daylight, so it would be dark when we left for school in the morning and dark again by mid-afternoon when we rode the bus home. But school only lasted until I was thirteen, at which point our parents decided to "homeschool" my brothers and me. That eventually petered out, too. We missed our friends, but we didn't have a telephone in our house so we'd communicate with them via CB radio.
Dad was a Teamster who worked on Alaska's North Slope, and I remember our parents, my three brothers and me picketing various political causes multiple times throughout my childhood. I was old enough to read the signs, but I had no idea what they meant. When the state starting issuing dividends to all its residents, my dad refused to accept the money even though our family would have received approximately $6,000.00 annually, which back in 1982 was a lot of money for people like us. "I don't want anything from the government," my dad said. "I'm beholden to no one."
Dad worked nine weeks on and two weeks off, so Mom was left to fend for herself and care for four children most of the time. Our nearest neighbors were miles away, and with no telephone, we were truly isolated. Times were tough, but somehow Mom made ends meet thanks to Dad's ability to put food on our table--the only meat we ate was harvested by Dad (moose, bear, salmon, caribou, seafood). Nothing was wasted. When I was seven Dad handing me a fork with a round nugget of fried meat on it. "Try that," he said. I chewed, scrunching up my nose at the texture. "It's rubbery and gross," I said. He waited until the chunk slipped down my gullet to tell me it was moose tongue. I never fell for that trick again.
I remember Milkman Instant Lowfat Dry Milk being bluish in color and tasting watery but somewhat milk-like. It was the best-tasting powdered milk Mom could find since we couldn't afford actual milk, but when it came to cereal it was better than water. Grits molded into patties and fried in margarine graced our dinner plates. My innocent mind chocked it up to Mom trying something new and different; I had no idea we were poor.
"How often do you brush your teeth," the dentist asked my youngest brother during one of our very few visits to a doctor. My brother was ten at the time and replied, "On Sundays, if we go to church."
I prefer the majority of my childhood memories stay buried: Dad deliberately shooting my oldest brother in the butt with an air rifle, leaving a bruise the size of a sandwich plate; my parents telling me I was not allowed to get a social security number (I was fifteen and wanted a job) because it was the mark of the beast; attending Christian summer camp at the age of twelve and watching movies about people being beheaded for not denouncing Christ; Dad trapping my brother's cat inside a cage and shooting it for pouncing on the birdcage from which Mom's new parakeet taunted it; being told it was the end times and the rapture would happen "any day now" every time my parents watched something bad on the news; throwing away our "secular" music because the pastor said if you played it backwards (backmasking) you could hear the voice of Satan. By the time I was ten I knew about the Illuminati, Posse Comitatus, MK-ULTRA, Area 51, The New World Order, Operation Paperclip, and The Trilateral Commission. There was never any talk about the future in our house--no discussions about college or what we wanted to do when we grew up because there was no future. Christ was coming back and there would be no need for plans or college.
Some memories are more disturbing than others: Dad shot Sasquatch (a gorgeous Great Pyrenees), Pepsi and Ginger (toy poodles), Shanté (Bichon Frise), Fritz and Natasha (German Shepherds), and countless other dogs right outside the front door of our house for minor infractions (chasing porcupines, acquiring skin rashes, growling at us, barking too much). It was such a regular occurrence that when I was eight I asked, "Dad, would you shoot us if we tried to run away?" He thought that was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. He laughed until tears streamed down his face, and over the next four decades he retold that story hundreds of times until a series of strokes took away his ability to speak.
Having been raised this way I didn't realize my upbringing was anything but normal. It was the only thing I knew until, at the age of seventeen, I ran away and never went back ... but that's another story.
Maybe one of these days I'll write my own memoir--for myself if no one else; an act of empowering catharsis that's long overdue.
Are you searching for inspiration? Are you struggling to find something ... anything of interest to write about? Grab a notebook and pen and start writing down everything you remember about your childhood. The longer you ruminate the more you will remember. You'll be amazed by what comes to the surface. Incorporate it into your work in progress, or start something altogether new.
Everyone has a story to tell.
Thank you for reading.
P.S. Every registered author who shares their ideas and/or creative endeavors relating to or inspired by this week's topic will receive an exclusive trinket. I will retire this month's limited-edition trinket at 11:59 p.m. WDC time on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, when my next short stories newsletter goes live.
P.P.S. If you'd like to read "that book about the girl raised in the Idaho mountains," you can purchase it below.
| ASIN: B075F68BFV |
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. I occasionally feature static items by members who are no longer with us; some have passed away while others simply aren't active members. Their absence doesn't render their work any less relevant, and if it fits the week's topic I will include it.
Thank you, and have a great week!
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#724946 by Not Available. |
| | Phil's Tale (18+)
A story of tragedy, madness, and death. Be careful how you treat your books.
#1992652 by Cinn  |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1909662 by Not Available. |
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The following is in response to "The Body Farm" :
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Christopher Roy Denton  writes: What a fascinating topic. I shall have to check out those books with the hook. Thank you for sharing this knowledge.
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Azrael Tseng  writes: I have yet to use a nurse, doctor, pathologist, or forensic anthropologist as my main protagonist, since I do not work in those fields and know very little about their work. The only protagonist I have created that required some demonstration of professional expertise was a police detective. While I am unlikely to watch hours of documentary on police work as preparation for my writing, I will certainly do enough research to ensure whatever technical aspects I include in my work are as accurate as possible.
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Princess Megan Snow Rose  writes: I worked in Nursing for years and had people die on me and I had to call the family at midnight. I was crying but the woman's niece thanked me and us for taking care of her aunt. I don't watch crime shows but I like Code Black and liked ER. Murder causing death bothers me and I like happy endings. I leave shows about murder alone. Crime that causes death is sad. What a sick world we live in. I enjoyed your newsletter. You had a lot of interesting things you wrote about.
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Warped Sanity writes: In a city outside of Austin, Texas, where I live, there is a body farm. Theirs is for Forensic students. When I signed up to have my body donated to them after I pass, they required me to send pictures of all tattoos, as well as pictures of myself from various ages. They do this to study age degeneration through different stages of decay. For example, they can identify an adult corpse as a child that went missing at age ten. It is all very interesting! Thanks for the book suggestion. It seems to be an important one to have for any murder mystery or horror writer. That one is going in my wish list, for sure.
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JayNaNoOhNo  writes: I have several docs in the family and they cringe at medical dramas and books. I'll have to recommend Beckett to them. Great article!
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Angus  writes: Hi, Shannon!
Loved the Newsletter: The Body Farm, and I totally agree with you about TV shows (and some books) not doing their homework when it comes to getting the facts straight. That one about doing CPR correctly (without keeping their arms locked) really hits home for me. I've seen that way too many times on TV, and I personally don't think they should even be showing that. If a person who is not properly trained to do CPR and they try it after watching the wrong demonstration on TV, then they're not doing the victim any help at all!
On the flip side, I've read a few Robin Cook books (no, not Robin Cookbooks!  ), and with his experience of being an American physician, his medical thrillers are pretty detailed when it comes to medical procedures, and he obviously knows what he's talking/writing about.
Kee pup the great work with NewsLetters!
~Angus~
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queenkissy writes: We know all about the body farms in the house. My daughter has been interested in forensic science for awhile and is about to begin this course:
http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/Resources/ScienceResources/ScienceShared/Shared...
This is pretty cool too:
https://murderatoldfields.com/site/about_online
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willwilcox writes: Wow Shannon, this was right up my alley. Dead things abound with this newsletter and I was enthralled. I wrote a story about a nursing home, where oldsters go to die. Perhaps you could use it "The Home"
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Mara ♣ McBain  writes: Yours are the exact reasons I pull my hair out every time I write ANYTHING medical. It can be so intense, dramatic or heartrending, but it is SO easy to get it wrong! My WIP has a broken ankle. Not brain surgery, but I still worry if I have the facts right. LOL
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Quick-Quill  writes: I've not written a medical based book. But I was fascinated when I heard about the book Body Farm. I've seen a number of TV documentaries and episodes who use the knowledge gained from the books and such. When writing crime novels its one of the books to have in in your arsenal for reference.
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BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful  writes: When it comes to scientific, and other such endeavors, TV shows like to amp up the drama, and set it so that only the Hero can do anything. There's plenty of things that make me go "What were they thinking?" Sometimes there's what's called Plot Stupidity, and then there's what's called Stupid Plot.
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Jeannie  writes: It was interesting reading how fast the body decomposes in on itself as bacteria feast first before the flies invade the body and lay their eggs. How it all happens in orderly fashion, how can I not be fascinated!
I love reading your newsletters, Shannon. You come up with the most amazing subjects!
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dragonwoman  writes: I too am fascinated by the body farm concept. I have even gone so far as to consider donating my body to science and preferably some place like the The Body Farm so it can be used to catch killers of all kinds.
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Patrece ~ writes: I had to laugh out loud when I was reading this newsletter. I am like you when it comes to many televised medical shows, and I, too, am a nurse. I think I have actually secured either having the show all to myself when they are on, or others in the house avoiding medical shows if I am around. I spend 70% of the time criticising the ineffective or lawsuit provoking methods used on these shows if it were for real, that is. I drive them crazy too when I get aggravated because it is plain as day the patient was misdiagnosed! Nice to know I am not the only one it irritates.
On that note, this does a great job of stressing the importance of doing your research when writing on a topic you have little to no knowledge about. Great newsletter! Thank you.
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🎼 RRodgersWrites 🎶  writes: Thank you for this edition!
I regret that my busy life kept me from getting to your post soon and missing out on the offer of the trinket.
I hope you received a great response!
All the best,
Ruth
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ruwth  writes: A tiny piece of trivia: Isaac Asimov was a Rex Stout fan and a member of the Wolfe Pack. Hopefully, this information will be enough to earn me the trinket! 
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eyestar~* writes: Wow! I always wondered about forensic shows like NCIS and how they get information and how much mirrored reality. I enjoyed your juicy excerpt and while I have heard of the author, I never read his books. Thanks for link to the website. The documentary is fascinating and how interesting that folks would donate bodies for this. It is rather unique. Wow! You find the most thought provoking topics. I don't write stories but have no problem reading the realistic details. LOL Thanks for sharing this remarkable article.
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ladeecaid writes: I once squished myself into my mattress, flipped open the cover of my new book, and began reading. The setting: Florida. At the beginning of chapter two, the protagonist spoke of the mountainous terrain. Annoyed, I tossed the book and never picked it back up. I'm always afraid I'm going to make the same kind of mistake in my stories. You know, like I'm convinced something is a certain way, but in reality, I'm clueless.
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Lisa Noe  writes: Hey I really was interested in the story of the book you read about how long it takes for a body to decompose, I found it to be very interesting. I went to nursing school but I was never taught about decomposition of the human body, but of course *I was unable to continue my education as a nurse after wrecking my car and about killing myself. the newsletter was so interesting, thanks for sharing.
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Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥ  writes: I love this newsletter, Shannon! It's true. Some television shows are poorly written when it comes to technical issues that would make an expert's eyes bleed. I have seen this happen many times watching shows where actors are playing lawyers and making buffoons of themselves in front of a camera. The obvious solution is research. It is hard work, but it's also an important part of writing well.
Whenever I incorporate a medical procedure into a book or story I'm working on, I ask a doctor friend if it is true to form, and where to go find more answers and research it further.
Thanks for sharing the above-mentioned books. I enjoy writing mysteries, and that means there may be a corpse involved.
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sindbad  writes: Hi
Shannon
You indeed do a lot of research and that passion and confidence is reflected in your newsletter. I think you choose plethora of topics and people generally have interest and passion for limited subject. A subject I show interest and if it comes in your newsletter I enjoy it, as it enriches my curiosity and knowledge. However the source that runs all this from our birth to our decay I wanted to share some insight..
There is One Thing -
It existed before the earth and skies came into being,
and IT will exist long after they all have disappeared.
The heavens and earth could appear a thousand times and be destroyed ten thousand times, but this One Thing would not change at all.
This One Thing is incomprehensibly huge. The entire universe is just a spray of water in comparison to this ocean.
This One Thing is incomparably brighter than a trillion billion suns and moons, and it constantly lights up everything. This absolute Great Light is beyond light and dark, and yet it lights everything that exists.
This One Thing is beyond description, beyond discrimination, and it is absolute. But even the term "absolute" is entirely inadequate to describe it. To call it "One Thing" is to lie, because "One Thing" is only a name and a terribly inadequate name. All Buddhas of the universe could spend eternity describing it, but such an effort would be insignificant. If you were to become enlightened, then you yourself would know;
but you would never be able to explain it to anyone.
This One Thing is called "Buddha" by those who have become enlightened. It is beyond the agony of life and death, and those who know it become free-flowing for the rest of eternity. But those who have not become enlightened to this One Thing continue to struggle and suffer in the sea of life and death, in the everlasting cycle of the four forms of birth and the six realms of sentient existence.
Even the tiniest form of life includes this One Thing. Both an enlightened Buddha and an unenlightened ant possess it. The only difference between them is that one knows it and the other doesn't.
It is so brilliant and astounding that even the Buddha and Bodhidharma cannot look at it when they raise their eyes. They can open their mouths, but cannot describe it. They and all our other Zen patriarchs become merely blind and mute in the face of it.
All one can do is to become enlightened to it, and then become totally free-flowing in it.
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Jeff  writes: Including true-to-life detail, for me, requires walking a very fine line. While I dislike writers who don't do a basic level of research to make their subject matter realistic, I also understand why some creative license is taken with actual events. Legal mysteries and thrillers, for example, require a certain pacing and sense of tension that just isn't present in an actual courtroom. Anyone who's served jury duty can attest to how dull, predictable, repetitive, etc. the actual process of trying a case in court can be. It's easy to see why a writer might say, "I'll have the defense introduce a surprise witness and catch everyone off-guard!" even when the rules of evidence dictate that the court and opposing counsel be notified of everyone you're planning on calling. Similarly, it's hard to showcase your attorney character's brilliance during cross-examination if they stuck to the "only ask yes or no questions" guideline that governs most questioning under oath.
That said, I hate it when authors take so much creative license that the audience either doesn't believe what's in the story or, worse, starts to believe/expect from real life what they see in fiction (which is a real world thing called the "CSI effect" where jurors expect grand revelations and and disappointed - and therefore slightly biased - against the evidence when they realize how plain and simply it actually is). So, yeah... fine line. 
~ ~
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Short Stories: July 11, 2018 Issue [#8995]
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