Category: Short Story

Short Story, Story-Starter Sunday, Writing, Writing Ideas

Story-Starter Sunday

Laura

Sadly, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted here. Hopefully I’m back in full swing. I’ve been catching up with my other blogs and twitter. Now it’s time to catch up with this one. I try to think of interesting story-starters for those who desire a little inspiration. The idea is to use the line as the first sentence in your story or poem, but it’s really up to you to do whatever you really want with it. Here is your story-starter for this Sunday:

She looked out the window, saw the rain, and thought, “Thank god for cuddle weather.” 

Hope you have fun. Happy Writing!

ink pen and parchment on wood

Short Story, Story-Starter Sunday, Writing, Writing Ideas

Story-Starter not on Sunday

Laura

Sorry for the delay for Story-Starter Sunday, folks. I’ve been sick and trying to catch up after spending two full days in bed. Without further delay, here is a another addition to Story-Starter … Sunday.

He looked at his camera to see the picture he had just taken moments ago but was shocked to see his own face in the picture smiling with his friends. 

Hope you enjoy this installment!

Happy writing!ink pen and parchment on wood

Short Story, Story-Starter Sunday, Writing, Writing Ideas

Story-Starter Sunday

Laura
© marigold_88 - Fotolia.com
© marigold_88 – Fotolia.com

I don’t know about where you live, but it’s snowing here. A lot. It’s absolutely beautiful (and slightly annoying as I really want to see some green instead of white). The snow is the inspiration for today’s Story-Starter Sunday. Again,  we are stuck inside with the weather, so it makes it a great day for writing. Here’s your Story Starter.

The snow gently hit her face leaving tiny ice crystals that looked like tear drops on her cheeks. 

Have fun with this one.

Happy Writing!

Short Story, Writing
Laura

This piece is my first draft of this piece. The idea comes from the book Now Write! Fiction Writing Exercises From Today’s Best Writers and Teachers. This exercise is by Jim Heynen. In it, you must write a long paragraph and “introduce the character in the first sentence, and then describe the setting. Return to the character only at the end of the paragraph” (177). I really like to use this book for story ideas or practicing. I’ve used it in my classroom to give students ideas for short stories or creative ways to practice some part of writing. Hope you enjoy it.

 

As she looked around the office, Miranda knew that she was in big trouble this time, and she wasn’t going to be able to avoid it any longer. The cream-colored sheers prevented the sharp sunlight from engulfing the spacious office, causing the light to cast the room in a soft glow. Academic books lined the entirety of the wall behind the mahogany desk. Several filing cabinets rested in the corner closest to the entrance of the office. On the wall opposite the books sat the dreaded couch with a chair facing it. Miranda took a deep breath, stilled her nerves, and headed for the couch.

Modern living room and balcony

Short Story, Writing

The Letter

Laura

I wrote this very short story a few years ago while I was the sponsor of a writing club at school. We would come up with story starters or topics to write about. The topic on this particular day: Sneaking around behind someone’s back. I really wanted to try something a little different. I admit my mind typically goes to cheating or theft, but I decided to try two sets of sneaking around in my fictional story. As always, if you enjoy my work and want to use it, please make sure you give credit. 

ink pen and parchment on wood

The Letter

The door silently closed behind me as I let myself into the house. The alarm didn’t go off, so I knew that Nick was home. I plopped my bags on the floor and went to search for him. It had been four long days since I’d seen him, and I was actually home a day early.

As I passed by the television, a flash of white caught my eye. There, taped to the screen, was an envelope with my name on it. Footsteps sounded upstairs as I plucked the envelope off the television and opened it.

The breath was sucked out of me and the words swam across the page. He was leaving me. And he was taking the coward’s way out. My eyes narrowed as I realized what the frantic rushing around upstairs was all about. He was obviously trying to get everything packed before I got home.

My body trembled. It tends to do that when I’m really upset about something. I can’t seem to hide any of my emotions. My teeth started to chatter as I contemplated my actions and how to deal with the coward upstairs.

The couch looked inviting, so I plopped down, suddenly exhausted. Three years. Three long years of putting up with him. We had lived together for a year and a half. All the laughs we had together. All the tears we’d shared. Other thoughts flashed through my mind. The forgotten birthdays and anniversaries. The dinners he hadn’t made it home in time to eat while they were warm. The late nights working. Me. Cleaning whiskers off the bathroom every day for the last year and a half.

I sat there quietly remembering, my eyes dry. I slowly put the letter back into the envelope. I got up off the couch. My bag seemed light for the first time that day. I placed the letter back on the television and silently walked out of the house. He was right. The coward’s way was the best way.