MAXIMILLIAN WHITE: Inferno

Amusing, Submissions, , , , , ,

Even from beyond its flickering glow, we could feel the heat of the raging fire, harsh against our alabaster skin. We were drawn closer, forced forward by the spears that pierced us. Our flesh erupted, becoming golden and charred, just before we were shoved in between chocolate and graham crackers.

Maximillian White has been telling stories since he could speak, and writing – often legibly – for almost as long. Check out more of his work at elitefool.com and ridiculousity.net.

He also wrote Saving Daylight.

LISA MCNAUGHTON: Pushing Forty

Artistic, Puns and Wordplay, Submissions, , , , ,

Her name was Marion: patience of Ms. Nightingale; sternness of a schoolteacher; the humanity of a friend. She delivered our baby at 4:55 AM.

Shift over, she slipped on her leather trousers and jacket, a pair of biker boots, and a bright red helmet. So incongruous: perhaps her own midwife crisis?

Lisa is an English teacher who enjoys writing, sewing and designing jewellery, sometimes all at once!

NEWS: Guest Week and Book Price Reduction

News, , , , , ,

This week is going to look a little different from most weeks at 50WS. Instead of having one story from a guest writer and four from me, you’re going to be seeing five great stories sent in by readers.

The reason for doing a full guest week is that I’m getting married in 12 days, and life is a little… hectic, to say the least. I barely have time to think about writing more stories right now.

I’m not 100% sure what next week will look like yet, but I know that the stories you’ll be seeing this week are really good, even if I didn’t write them. :)

 

On another note, as you’ll see in the announcement area at the top of the page, I’ve dropped the prices on my book to $2.99 for the ebook and $9.99 for the print book from Lulu. Hit up the Store to see how you can grab a (now more affordable) copy for yourself!

MARIAN ROBERTSON: Face at the Window

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

Your face at the window said it all.

We got here as fast as we could. We stopped for lunch; we stopped too long.

I didn’t know depression could hit you so hard. The road was long, I stopped for a break.

Your face at the window said it all.

Marian lives in Scotland and loves it.

Heads or Tails

Odd, , , , ,

“Flip you for it,” he challenged.

“You’re on,” she assented.

“Heads,” he said.

“I’ll go tails.”

He did a twisting somersault-and-a-half, landing on his head.

She scoffed and triple-flipped backwards, coming to rest on her strong, poofy tail.

“You win,” he said. “Nice tail! Grow it yourself?”

“Nope. Plastic surgery.”

Espancais

Odd, , , , , , ,

“My life is so mundane,” she complained.

“You’re right,” he agreed. “Maybe you need to spice things up a bit.”

“Yeah! I’m just missing that little ‘je ne sais caliente’!”

“A little ‘I don’t know hot’?”

“Yeah! Like a European boyfriend!”

“That almost makes sense,” he said. “But not quite.”

Appropriating Art From the Everyday

Amusing, Odd, , , , , , ,

Critics and laymen shared exclamations of delight as they wandered in awe through the halls of Fallo’s gallery.

“The texture!” they said. “The movement! The tone! The pizzazz!”

Everyone wanted to know Fallo’s secret.

He told them, “My tools are my heart and my toothbrush,” and flashed a paint-stained smile.

Facing Off

Amusing, , , , , , , ,

Lily and Lile worked in the same library, and they had very different views on the topic of censorship.

“But don’t you think–” whispered Lily.

“Shh!” said Lile, shushing her.

“Shhhh!!” shushed Liza, one of their coworkers.

“Shhhhhh!!!” shushed Lily enthusiastically.

“SHH SHHHHHHHHH!!!” shushed their manager over the library-wide intercom.

This story was based on a prompt suggested by Nancy Cavanaugh via Facebook.

RYAN HALL: Cubed or Crushed?

Amusing, Odd, Submissions, , , , , , , , , ,

Ten minutes later, Jon was still staring into the open refrigerator.

“I thought you weren’t hungry,” Stephanie said.

“I’m not,” Jon replied, closing the door. “Ever wonder if it gets lonely?”

“The fridge?” she asked.

Jon nodded.

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

The fridge tried not to cry.

Ryan Hall is a computer programming graduate student at the University at Buffalo in NY, hoping to go into game design. He started writing microfiction to deal with stress from programming projects.

The Organization of the Fish Party

Odd, , , , , ,

It was like a real-world logic puzzle.

Bobby Blowfish should sit with Angela Angelfish, but he and Tommy Tuna don’t get along.

The Seahorse family should be near the dessert table, but keep them away from the punch bowl!

And no one wanted another “who let the orcas in” fiasco.

This story is based on a title suggested by @klancashire.