Day 6 of StoryADay May.Prompt: Write the Real You(Disclaimer from Susan: Like everything I write, this piece contains me. It also contains not-me. I leave it up to you to decide which bits are which.)I am not a failure.Most people would say that I am a success. But there would be the slightest moment of... Continue Reading →
Butterscotch
Day 4 of StoryADay May The PromptWrite a story in the first personI hate bananas.My roommate quickly peeled hers and shoved a huge bite into her mouth. She looked like she enjoyed it, like it tasted good.The skin was a bright unblemished yellow. It looked friendly, pleasant. So I followed her lead. I peeled the... Continue Reading →
Hunger
Day 3 of StoryADay May.The Prompt:Take the last line from your favorite book or choose one from the list below. Now write a short piece that ends with that line.1. No one has claimed them yet.2. “Let me tell you about it.”3. Everything must go.4. “Make me pretty.”5. And it was still hot.I am hungry.Hungry... Continue Reading →
What Happens in Vegas
Day 2 of StoryADay MayThe PromptWrite a story containing all of these words from a fourth grade spelling list. BlameStateFrameHolidayRelayWaistPailGainRaiseMayorAirplaneRemainI blame Joel. It wasn’t his idea, but this is still his fault. I was joking when I said we should go to Vegas for the weekend. He jumped on the idea. Laughed. Said we should... Continue Reading →
Touch
It's the first day of StoryADay May!!Prompt:Write a story in 30 minutes.Choose a character. Back them into a corner where they must do the thing they would never do.TouchI swore I would never touch her.We all did. That was the first thing we had to pledge. Before Lady Elira would relax the charms that guarded... Continue Reading →
My April Reads, The Weight of Zero, and Waiting for Mania
In April, I finished 9 books:Wolves of the Calla by Stephen KingNew Millenium Writings 2011 by Don Williams ed.The Weight of Zero by Karen FortunatiStructuring Your Novel Workbook by K.M. WeilandThe Moon and More by Sarah DessenSomeone Not Really Her Mother by Harriet Scott ChessmanThe Dream Thieves by Maggie StiefvaterThe Naturals by Jennifer Lynn BarnesPresumed... Continue Reading →
This Side of My Skin
It’s the 15th. That means I should be posting a new short story or bit of fiction.Yeah.I don’t really have one.Here’s the thing. I finished revisions of my novel in the first week of April. It took all of my focus, all of my energy. It is done.For now.Now it’s April. April is Camp NaNoWriMo.... Continue Reading →
March 2016 Reads
This month I finished 9 books:The Best American Short Stories 2015 ed. T.C. BoyleCoffee Will Make You Black by April SinclairThe Best American Short Stories 2014 ed. Jennifer EganPushcart Prize XXXIX ed. Bill HendersonThe Raven Boys by Maggie StiefvaterCheap Diamonds by Norris Church MailerThe O. Henry Prize Stories 2015 ed. Laura FurmanUntil it’s Right by... Continue Reading →
Countdown
I met him ten days ago. He was standing at the bus stop in the rain. I offered to share my umbrella. He looked down at me and smiled. He said he was too tall, that if we tried to share, I would end up soaking wet. He just stood there, let the rain soak... Continue Reading →
The Truth About Cinderella
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a fairy godmother.Not where you thought this story was going to start, was it? Of course not. No one cares about the fairy godmother. Everyone cares about the poor princess and her plight. All they ever want to hear is how the princess... Continue Reading →
Susan Monroe McGrath 