Tag Archives: tragedy

BRYAN JOYNER: Foul

Submissions, Touching, ,

Eric approached the plate the exact moment his marriage proposal flashed on the Jumbotron. Swinging early on a changeup, he hit a screamer foul down the third base line, hitting Amy as she beamed at the lights expressing his eternal love, killing her instantly.

The crowd, seeing the Jumbotron, cheered.

Bryan Joyner is a middle-aged banker who read about 50 word stories in Daniel Pink’s book “A Whole New Mind”, and began using the concept to connect with his two college age children. Each of them write stories and send them to each other for feedback.

EMILY RAMSER: Snatched

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

Said I’d grow up, even sell the car. Met with that guy from the bar, the one with the wad of cash. But she thinks I skipped out on her and my baby girl.

He had a passion for whiskey and bloodlust. I’d never leave my girls, but he made me.

Emily Ramser is a high school author living part-time between North Carolina and California. She’s been published in a few small online journals such as Vox Poetica and Spinozablue. Her story Sins of Murder will be published in Wolf Craft Anthology this coming fall as well.

SAM DENNIS: Let Go and Let Down

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

As I hugged her goodbye, I thought back on the great memories we’d shared together as siblings. It was just college, but I felt like she was going to be leaving my family forever. I ruefully let her go and watched the plane fly.

The news said it never landed.

Sam Dennis is a high school student who is involved with many writing courses, along with other extracurricular activities like sports, at his school. He enjoys listening to indie music like Bon Iver and Death Cab for Cutie, and playing guitar with his band. Let your personality prosper.

Sadness, Delicious Sadness

Puns and Wordplay, Touching, , , , , , , ,

Chick flicks, tragedies, heartbreaking anti-romances… She couldn’t get enough. Those faces on the screen, looming large, eyes, noses, mouths puckered in anguish, terrified: “Love me! Love me! I don’t want to be alone!”

Her hard drives were filled to the brim with her obsession. She was downloading torrents of tears.

This story was based on the prompt “torrents” at TypeTrigger.

JOSEPH S. PETE: Front Page Story

Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

The reporter looked away as the private’s family marched out to face the television cameras. A soggy flag drooped at half-mast on their porch. They spoke of a kid who led rubber band fights, flashlight tag, bicycle jousts. His pen paused, hovered. A phrase consumed his mind: pornographer of sorrow.

Joseph S. Pete won a four month’s supply of Pabst Blue Ribbon by placing second in the poetry category of the 2010 PBR Art Contest. John Donne couldn’t say the same.