May is here! And I don’t know what you’re writing these days, but I’m taking a giant stab at Story-A-Day May. I’ve managed it before, but I’m not sure this time how chemo treatments are going to get in the way. To be accurate, how the side-effects are going to get in the way.
But don’t we always have things to get in the way?
I like to post my stories in their rough, rough form over at my other blog The Fairy Tale Asylum. If you’re participating, let me know.
I came across a site I quite like, and the fellow over there is having a flash fiction writing challenge–a fairy tale upgrade in less than 1,000 words. The site is terribleminds.
The fairy tale upgrade is this.
The Mermaid
There are other fish in the sea and June Mintz is a fish that keeps getting reeled in. She tells herself to swim on by, to ignore the bait, but there is a weakness in heart that makes her bite.
Trent O’Connor lives to sail the sea of love and he is not a man who throws fish back. He has a smile that charms, but that is not what catches June the first time. He looks at her and says things like, “Tell me about that.” He says, “That must have been hard for you.” He says, “You’re a strong person to have gone through all your problems and survived.”
June believes the things he says means he cares. She thinks he is interested in where she has been and where she is going. She hopes that she is going into his arms and into his heart. But these are not the places he wants her to go.
Trent sees the harm he causes no more than a fisherman sees the blood on a hook. He notices, but he forgets. He says he remembers the important things.
This summer is long and hot. No breeze stirs the water. June stands on the pier and looks at the shadows of fish darting under the surface. Trent is talking to another girl back on the grass. The girl is pretty and young, shining in the heat.
The water shows the empty blue sky. June sips her wine and tries to remember why she accepted this party invitation. What fish has ever caught a fisherman?
She wonders how the ocean would feel on her skin. The girl’s laughter drifts over the grass and out over the water. The hot air is hard to breathe. June thinks about how there are so many fishermen in the world with nets and hooks. Every breath gets harder standing on the pier.
Trent is watching the shimmer of the girl’s hair, when the hostess taps him on the shoulder. “Have you seen June?” she asks.
“June? Oh. She’s on the pier.”
“No. Her glass is on the pier. And her purse. But I can’t find her anywhere.”
Trent, the girl, and the hostess walk onto the pier. They stare at the water. Something splashes off in the distance. “Look,” says the girl. “Did you see that fish?”
“I didn’t think there were any fish that size this close to shore,” the hostess said.
“Maybe it’s a mermaid,” Trent said. “I’d sell my soul to catch one of those.”
I think the loveliest time of the year is the pub date, I do. Don’t you? Course you do!
Wait. What?
(A gold star to whomever gets the reference in my blog post title.)
I’m taking part in Story-a-Day May. Are you? I’ll post the stories over at The Fairy Tale Asylum. At the end of the month I may be locked up with rest of the inmates…
Do you participate in writing challenges?
*
For artists–or rather for parents of artists–remember Youth Tube at Plum Tree Books. We are always looking for submissions of children’s art.
BBC Channel 4 seems to take issue with sharing videos—-silly folks—-but whatev because you should see this clip on dealing with rejection. The bit about “sucking out your eyes” was particularly funny to me.
I’m getting ready to send more stories out into the world of literary journals. Either a story will be rejected (likely!) Or I’ll get more letters for my Halloween costume.
Yes, I’m already thinking Halloween. I’m going to clip rejection letters to my clothes. That’s right. I’m going to be Rejection for Halloween!
Keep your sense of humor, people. Life is absurd.
I may be jumping up and down in a panic.
There is going to be a contest over at Story-a-Day. An author is going to judge stories written for the challenge—-one story per writer.
So, you know I’m staring at what I’ve written wondering which story to choose. It isn’t life or death or anything…but still…
If you happen to have read any of them, your opinion would be appreciated.
Do you enter contests? Why or why not? What has been your experience?
*
I wish I could say every story I’ve written is a winner! Alas. But at the very least, even though I’ve been awake since 3:45 am and spent most of my day in a roller rink or disappointing my in-laws, I have written story 28! Wahoo. And the end of May draws ever closer…
