Wednesday, April 18, 2018

WRITING--AND READING-- "SHORT" CAN SPARK YOUR IMAGINATION--by Cheryl Pierson

Hi everyone! It’s near the end of winter, thank goodness, and spring is right around the corner. I have never been a “winter” person, and it seems like the older I get the less I like to see the approach of those cold, dreary winter months. We had our yearly ice storm—we get a lot of that here in Oklahoma—but it’s over!

Growing up, I don’t remember having “cabin fever”—I was always able to entertain myself with indoor activities—coloring, paper dolls, board games, reading, and yes, even writing. This winter I was asked to participate in a little fun exercise that was very different, and not my “norm” for my writing self.

The story was to be a western historical very short piece. Two sentences were given: The shot rang out. I heard her scream at the same time the bottle crashed to the floor.

These sentences had to be used in this exact form—without any modification. The only “change” that was useable was the fact that they could come anywhere in the story, as long as they came together as shown here. And the story must be 500 words long—no longer. Mine came in at 497—and let me tell you, that was not easy for me!

It’s been a long time since I was this excited over something different like this—just something fun to try. There are 51 other participants as well, using these same two sentences. I’m so curious to see where this leads! The book will be sold for Kindle, but none of us are anticipating getting rich from it—whatever royalties it garners will go into a scholarship fund for a young writer. For me, the rewards were huge.

Also, keep your eyes peeled, as there'll be one of these coming out each quarter. I just got my copy today, and plan to settle in this evening and see what everyone else wrote with their 500 words. My imagination took off, and I know my co-authors' did, too.

I had such fun with this! Here it is—see what you think!

Two men, waiting for something. One of them is in for a huge surprise. What about the other one? Will he make it out alive?

I CAN WAIT by CHERYL PIERSON

FROM: THE SHOT RANG OUT!


“Let’s see…‘The shot rang out. I heard her scream at the same time the bottle crashed to the floor.’ That’s your story, right, fast gun?” Marshal Ferris smirked as he moved closer to the chair where his prisoner, Johnny Kilgore, was tied.

“Yeah,” Johnny muttered through split lips, blood streaming from the busted nose Ferris had given him. “It’s my story because that’s how it happened, pendejo.”

Ferris shot him a wary glance, unsure if he’d been insulted.

Johnny looked toward the narrow, barred window just in time to see a small hand disappear. Seeing things? Hoping for a miracle… He shook his head to clear it in the stifling air.

Ferris leaned down close, blocking Johnny’s view of the window. “You killed that woman, and you’re gonna admit it, you son of a bitch. We got all night. I can wait.” Ferris cracked his knuckles. Another vicious uppercut rocked Johnny’s head back. “You’re gonna write your confession.”

Who was the kid outside the window? Damn…why even think of that? I’ll be dead before midnight. There’s no help coming. No miracle for me…not this time… Wrong place, wrong time, just once too often…

He’d killed—but he’d never murdered a woman—especially not this one. Maria Lopez had been little more than a girl herself—and her scream from her upstairs room had been one of pure terror. By the time Johnny’d gotten to her, she was already dead. She wasn’t going to tell who did it, but Johnny had a fair idea from the dogged way Ferris kept after him about a confession.

Ferris crossed his arms. “It’s gonna be a long night. I got a powerful hunger. You just sit tight—I’ll be back after dinner. Just in time for you to confess…before you try to escape, and get killed doing it. Think about that while I’m gone,” he chortled as he walked away toward the outer office, banging the door shut like a death knell.

Johnny slipped his hands through the loose knots of the rope Ferris had tied him with. He untied his ankles, then stood and stumbled to the window. He told himself he didn’t believe in miracles anymore, but a pistol had been placed on the sill inside the bars—if that wasn’t a miracle, he didn’t know what was. He broke it open to be sure it was loaded. Six bullets.

“Señor.” The husky whisper with a hint of tears came from the outside wall. “Marshal Ferris killed my sister. I beg you…”

“Lo siento, m’ijo,” Johnny answered quietly. “I’ll do what I can. Thank you for this.”

The small hand appeared again, laying a hatpin on the ledge. His “key” to the cell door. Johnny smiled, even though it hurt.
One last miracle was his tonight, and with a little luck, he’d be halfway to the border by sunrise. After he killed Ferris.

He settled in behind the door. It's gonna be a long night. But I can wait…

PROCEEDS GO TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR A YOUNG WRITER SET UP BY SCOTT HARRIS. You can't find a better reading bargain anywhere for only .99!
BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C2GFV2B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523322349&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Shot+Rang+Out+by+Scott+Harris

22 comments:

  1. An appealing pitch for The Shot Rang Out, Cheryl. Just downloaded a copy. Oh, by the way, did Johnny make it to the border?

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    1. Thanks, Tom! I know you'll love it. I'm so glad we're going to be doing more of these. Lots of fun. Johnny will make it to the border and of course, there's another scrape waiting for him there, I'm sure! LOL

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  2. I'm about half way through the book and loving it. This is something I've always wanted to do, but never gave it a try.

    Personally, I'm glad all the authors in this book took the challenge, it's a great, fun read. What a wonderful idea and I'm glad it will be giving a young writer their chance. WooHoo and here's to writing short. Doris

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    1. Doris, I'm so glad you are enjoying it! I've not gotten to read many of the stories yet, but I'm looking forward to taking a break this evening and reading some of them. I really did enjoy this, and it gave me that "spark" I needed to get moving on some of my longer projects!

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  3. Thanks for posting this Cheryl. Several of the contributors,including you,have been my FB friends and I have been reading their blogs and writings for years. Losing my friend and mentor Dusty Richards and then being offered the opportunity to contribute to this anthology provided the final push I needed to finally write seriously again. I am excited to continue being a part of this and many other new passions and writing friends. Thanks again for all you do.

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    1. Dusty was a tremendous loss for so many, and he will certainly be missed. He was an inspiration in that he just kept going and going and doing more and more! His passing made me realize too, that we are not promised the next breath and so we need to "get on with it" in our writing projects if we intend to get them "out there" for others to enjoy.

      This project really ignited my desire to finish a couple of my longer projects that I'd put aside. I'm anxious to get those completed, and I'm so looking forward to the next anthology that Scott's putting together!

      Thanks for stopping by, Rick. I look forward to reading your story!

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  4. Well.......we tried and will keep on trying. That's what a writer does.

    I'm glad proceeds will go to young writers.

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    1. I am too, Charlie. As everyone knows firsthand, writing "ain't" a cakewalk, and can be so discouraging. I hope this scholarship fund, whatever it ends up being, helps some young writer find his way.

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    1. Thank you, my friend! Haven't got to read your story yet, either, but I'm sure looking forward to it!

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  6. I love your story! Being cooped up all winter has ignited your imagination. Maybe I'll join y'all for the next installment!

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    1. Vonn, I hope you will! I think the next one is full but there are #3 and #4 planned, so contact Scott and tell him you want in! That would be so cool!

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  7. That was a wonderful story, Cheryl. Maybe you can continue Johnny's adventures throughout the rest of the series.

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    1. Mike, that is an excellent idea! I love that. I've already written the one for #2, but with #3 and #4, that is a very good idea! Thanks, and thanks so much for stopping by.

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  8. I enjoyed your story, too, Cheryl, and agree some of the characters created for these brief tales deserve to live longer in other outings! (Mine is also in #2 of Scott's series.) Nik Morton

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    1. Thanks, Nik! And a big thanks to taking on the job of editing these 52 tales, too! I need more hours in the day to be able to just sit down and read. LOL I'm looking forward to reading your story, too. I really do love this idea that Scott came up with, don't you? Great stuff!

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  9. Cheryl,

    That was intense...and great fun to read. I have a copy of The Shot Rang Out. I'm looking forward to reading the stories.

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    1. Thanks, Kaye. I know you will love these stories. Kind of like Lay's potato chips--you can't read just one. LOL

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  10. Great, Cheryl, but I could never do this. I'm just too wordy. My book blurbs can turn out to be short stories sometimes. Will order this book and admire everyone's talent.

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    1. I am wordy, too, Agnes. LOL It's HARD to cut it down!

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