Greetings,
everyone, and welcome to another Pantry of Prose. Before we start Telling Tales,
did you catch the latest Moonlight Musings? If not, take a look at Rosemary’s
thoughts on writers’ use of names and pseudonyms. For those of us who enjoy
plotting ahead, Susan’s next Midweek Motif is Literacy (I’m sure I just heard some muses squeal their
delight).
And now, today’s feature:
“I
wish to help them [students in a Gothic fiction class] fall in love with the
course, but they are not interested in ‘old stuff’,” she said.
“Why
not explore the genre using new stuff”,” I said.
“Because
Gothic fiction without castles, centuries-long histories, and intricate fashion
isn’t real Goth—” she began.
I
interrupted to say, “That
is nonsense.” No, she didn’t hit me. But…
…we
had a deliciously loud discussion that lasted hours. She offered examples to
justify her beliefs: The Castle of Otranto, Dracula,
Wuthering Heights); and I brought up The Thirteenth Tale, “The
Yellow Wall-Paper”, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (which
portrays exactly zero castles), to point out that Gothic fiction is more about
dilapidation, suspense, fear, death, and romanticism than about actual castles
or how characters dress.
And
that, my dear Storytellers and Poets, was what inspired today’s prompt. Yep,
for the 7th Telling Tales with Magaly Guerrero: a Pantry of Prose, I invite you to write a short Gothic story (in 313 words or fewer).
Feel free to set your tale wherever you please and have your characters wear
whatever they like (or not *cough*).
As a secondary option, you can take one of your old poems, which fits this week’s theme, and turn it into a new
story (of 313 words or fewer).
Want
some inspiration? Behind the new boats in the photo below, rests La Merced, a “dilapidated
ship carcass covered in trees”. You can find out more about her (including closer photos)
in Atlas Obscura.
 |
the carcass of La Merced, by Magaly Guerrero
|
This
prompt will remain open until Tuesday night. Only 1 entry per participant,
please. Visit other storytellers. Let’s go Gothic for a spell.
a wee
note in red (for visitors and Pantry of Prose
veterans alike): although
poetry is beyond delectable (and we adore its yum), the Pantry of Prose is for prose. So, as always, links to poems
will be deleted.
Add
the direct link to your contribution to Mr. Linky. Have fun!
Ha, i have a real-life ghost story to tell. Hope it fits the theme. True story. I could write a book about it. Consider this the synopsis, lol.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE a ghost story, real ones are my favorites. I should've probably made this month's them "Gothic Stories" instead of "Gothic Fiction". Silly me.
DeleteI hope everyone's weekend is (or was) all right. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling the effects of the latest Texas shooting. I hope you, too, can find some relief (and strength to go forward) in writing.
ReplyDeleteI almost deleted this comment, thinking, How ethnocentric of me. People out of the US might not... and I stopped there. Mostly because I know that this terrible things affect everyone in some way, regardless of location.
I only found out about the shooting this morning. Yesterday I was out all day with my god-daughter at Pagan Pride Philadelphia. Good gods... I went from being a happy sort of worn out to just worn out.
DeleteNot even a month after the other horror...
DeleteYes, the Texas shooting has an impact on the entire planet. So sad. And depressing because the news of these events is now always prefaced with: "another". 😔
DeleteThat "another" breaks my heart.
DeleteHello all.. this is really cool... I think if you want the gothic theme works very well to combine with the unreliable narrator I have at real toads.
ReplyDeleteConfession time: I chose the poem to turn into a story right after I saw your unreliable narrator prompt. I love your prompt (unreliability in poetry is brilliant). I love it so much, that I will totally write for it when I post my next poem!
DeleteI loved to write it too... there is something so very interesting to take the position of the liar or the braggart... don't think i can ever go full American Psycho.
DeleteI suspect I'll play with it tomorrow. I might only post it on Instagram, but I shall tag you. It's just so enticing.
DeleteLove love the prompt Magaly! As always it is pushing me off my cliff of safety into the wonderful waters of new things. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGetting pushed off a cliff of safety sounds a lot like flying, so... yay!
DeleteThis is excellent, Magaly. I found a poem that fit and a story leapt out. NOW I only need wait until Monday evening to get to a computer--when I return home from Ontario, Canada. My nephew's wedding is today. He's marrying the woman of his dreams and is deliriously happy. Happy days to all
ReplyDeleteI am away from home, too! Near Canada, but on the other side. Enjoy the wedding and happiness to your nephew and his bride. Read you on Monday!
DeleteSorry. I only put it up now, Tuesday. It's a bit grim.
DeleteI’m so happy you made it, Susan. I absolutely love the story. I can still see the exposed hearts in my head.
DeleteWhoops! My first Linky isn't working. I put up one that works correctly. Can you erase the first? Thanks.
DeleteDone! 🖤❤️
DeleteA great prompt, Magaly. We all felt that shooting- there no words for it. We continue to pray for an end to this madness. My first ever Gothic- anything and I loved every moment. Say hello to my Count Vasti when you visit my post. He’s very particular about good manners. 😉
ReplyDeleteMay the prayers and action bring change. We need this so much.
DeleteOff to say hello to your Count. I shall remember my manners.
Oh shoot! I completely messed up my dates, i.e. thinking the first Sunday of September is next week. I'm completely swamped right now, no wonder the confusion. But, I'll be a happy reader (as I enjoy Gothic stories) this time.
ReplyDeleteThe first Sunday of the month got here a bit too fast, didn't it?
DeleteI love Gothic Fiction. And have read a bunch. (I think I might need to start reading it again) I started writing a "traditional" sort of story but then decided to pull it forward in time. I hope it worked.
ReplyDeleteI think it worked perfectly. Your story made me think of Gothic Jazz.
DeleteHappy Sunday, I decided to try one of Magaly prose prompts again. Hopefully, you will enjoy my tale, which is also based on a true story.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your story? Well, let me tell you... At the moment, I'm in a house surrounded by woods. There is a porch on the back that gets very dark. I love it there at night because you can see bats and other night creatures. I usually walk down the wooden steps to see on huge rock a few yards away. I'm not don't that tonight, lol!
DeleteI do love a good scary tale. Thanks so much for giving the prompt another go!
Just couldn't find enough time or inspiration for this one, after VERY busy weekend, but will enjoy reading everyone else's.
ReplyDeleteDon’t feel too bad. I almost didn’t write for my own prompt. Next time, right. One of your ghost-inhabit poems would probably make an awesome Gothic tale. 😇
DeleteMagaly - I loved this prompt the story-telling id superb. Loved all the entries. You must do one for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you do. And you bet we'll have something that entices mysterious tales for Halloween!
Delete