Ah Sharon. This was so much fun to read. I knew from the beginning line that it could go one of two ways, but you just blasted a third into the mix. I was as horrified as 'the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen' when his tentacles were revealed, and then you rocked me with the mating call. Wow. I would love to know your process in writing these short, little flashes of fiction. :) I know I write quite a bit more than I "need" for the short and then condense it, reducing the "fluff" to leave just the bones. Thank you for enlivening my morning.
I nearly always start with a photograph as inspiration, Annie. Then I follow Hemingway's advice to just write "one true sentence." I come back later and see if my subconscious has found one more line. I usually don't know where it is going -- as is obvious with this one.... urp. There is no long version of this story. These 50 words are enough.
Nah. no disclaimer required. We already figured this out. There are dark things behind the curtain that make us laugh just as well as gasp. If you let them loose all at once, they'll eat your pencil.
Few words = big emotion. That's the formula for poetry, but you nailed it in "Love Rise." Way to go Sharron! Scary stories scare me, so I'll be careful reading your work in the future. However, I do admire your talent.
Thank you so much, Helen. I write very few bizarre or scary things. I don't know where they come from, but am always glad to get them out of my skull. That being said, I do have stories in the SCI-FI folder on my home page, that are not scary. More like sci-fi romances if you can envision it... Why not?
Thank you for letting me borrow Peter's gorgeous photo. I did not intend for the little lake-side romance to turn on me. I jumped, too. I never know where these micro-fictions are going.
Thanks so much, Alex. I try a lot of voice overs and usually delete them. This one came out okay. As for the twist, it was as unexpected to me as it was to you. ha ha ha
Oh noooo! Sorry, Heather! I should issue an introductory warning. I often do voice overs and then just toss them out before posting. I am a little shy. I'm glad you liked this one. It encourages me.
Wow, Sharron! I was honestly thinking love story and thought to myself, "Dude, you blew it. You can't just come up from behind and start rubbing some womans' neck! And then, oh my. This was really a lot of story in very few words. You are so good at that.
These aliens! They could use a little cross-cultural education before they decide to fall in love. If you ask me. Thanks, Jim. I always appreciate your comments!
Oh my God! I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that! That was one heck of a twist, my friend. Loved the story. Your voiceover is perfect, too!
Thanks so much, Mark. I do VOs all the time and just keep erasing them. Every once in a while I capture a tolerable one. I appreciate your encouragement.
Ah Sharon. This was so much fun to read. I knew from the beginning line that it could go one of two ways, but you just blasted a third into the mix. I was as horrified as 'the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen' when his tentacles were revealed, and then you rocked me with the mating call. Wow. I would love to know your process in writing these short, little flashes of fiction. :) I know I write quite a bit more than I "need" for the short and then condense it, reducing the "fluff" to leave just the bones. Thank you for enlivening my morning.
I nearly always start with a photograph as inspiration, Annie. Then I follow Hemingway's advice to just write "one true sentence." I come back later and see if my subconscious has found one more line. I usually don't know where it is going -- as is obvious with this one.... urp. There is no long version of this story. These 50 words are enough.
Oh, so creepy!
I know, right? It feels so good to get some of these things out of my head.
There are some funny dark spots in your brain. )))
True. I am slowly releasing them. Maybe I should give an opening disclaimer...
Nah. no disclaimer required. We already figured this out. There are dark things behind the curtain that make us laugh just as well as gasp. If you let them loose all at once, they'll eat your pencil.
Few words = big emotion. That's the formula for poetry, but you nailed it in "Love Rise." Way to go Sharron! Scary stories scare me, so I'll be careful reading your work in the future. However, I do admire your talent.
Thank you so much, Helen. I write very few bizarre or scary things. I don't know where they come from, but am always glad to get them out of my skull. That being said, I do have stories in the SCI-FI folder on my home page, that are not scary. More like sci-fi romances if you can envision it... Why not?
Whoa! I was NOT expecting that! I enjoyed listening to you read, as well.
No, I was not expecting that either. But I made myself laugh, wondering where it came from. Thanks, Sharon.
Woah! I jumped! And I can see why you were interested in that photo. 😊
Thank you for letting me borrow Peter's gorgeous photo. I did not intend for the little lake-side romance to turn on me. I jumped, too. I never know where these micro-fictions are going.
That’s the BEST! 😊
What? - Mating calls? - 👀! Whoa! Maybe he should make eye contact first. Much fun, Sharron! A pleasure. Great voiceover!!
Ah, thanks, James Ron. Eye-contact first - good idea! Hold back on that tentacles thing to make absolutely sure they will be welcome.
VO! You did it! Fantastic Sharron. And a terrific twist at the end. Love it.
Thanks so much, Alex. I try a lot of voice overs and usually delete them. This one came out okay. As for the twist, it was as unexpected to me as it was to you. ha ha ha
The best kind! :)
In 58 seconds you took me from serenely peaceful to totally freaked out!
What lurks in that sweet mind of yours behind that soft voice?!
I hope you do more voice overs. I really enjoyed hearing your words float off the page.
Oh noooo! Sorry, Heather! I should issue an introductory warning. I often do voice overs and then just toss them out before posting. I am a little shy. I'm glad you liked this one. It encourages me.
I really hope you do more. You have a wonderful voice.
Surprise!
Yes. Surprised ME too. Happy day to you, neighbor.
A spider to the fly to consume the delight of its eyes. Wrapped me up to the end. Left me hanging to read again. Savory deliciousness.
Thanks, Richard. Glad you liked the flavor of this one.
As is so often the case with your stories, Sharron, I read this one twice, to get the full effect.
Thanks, John. This started out as a romance but got derailed...
I thought it was going one way, then I was like, whoa. And I thought of the Creature from the Black Lagoon!
Creature from the Black Lagoon.... 1954. ha ha ha You weren't even born then!
Wow, Sharron! I was honestly thinking love story and thought to myself, "Dude, you blew it. You can't just come up from behind and start rubbing some womans' neck! And then, oh my. This was really a lot of story in very few words. You are so good at that.
These aliens! They could use a little cross-cultural education before they decide to fall in love. If you ask me. Thanks, Jim. I always appreciate your comments!
Oh my God! I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that! That was one heck of a twist, my friend. Loved the story. Your voiceover is perfect, too!
I don't know what happened here. I may have blacked out for a minute... So glad you found it entertaining, Justin.
Well, I didn't see that one coming. Bravo!
No, me neither. Totally unplanned silliness.
You have a wicked sense of humor. 🤣
You should do voice overs more. You have a pleasant voice.
Thanks so much, Mark. I do VOs all the time and just keep erasing them. Every once in a while I capture a tolerable one. I appreciate your encouragement.