After a conversation (or 3) on phobias
and fears, I thought those 2 could bring interesting stories to life. There are
so many places we could go with this…
We could follow Edgar Wallace’s
thoughts, and explore fear
as “a tyrant and a despot, more terrible
than the rack, more potent than the snake.”
Or, we could dance with William
Wordsworth’s question of fear being nothing of much weight, “Whispering harm where harm is not / And deluding the unwary
/ Till the fatal bolt is shot!”
Or, we could stroll into Frank
Herbert’s Dune, and bring back tales
that chant, “I will face my fear. I will permit it
to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner
eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will
remain.”
For today’s prompt, I invite you to write a new story (of 313 words or fewer),
inspired by phobias and/or fears. You are welcome to use the offered quotes as
inspiration.
As a secondary option,
you can take one of your old poems and turn it into a new short story
(of 313 words or fewer).
Please, make your choice clear
somewhere in your post (phobias and fears or turning a poem into story). In my own contribution, I tend to add the prompt at the
end. Just because it’s always interesting (to me) to see if the story helped me
see the storyteller’s intent. Of course, you can add your note anywhere you
please (I’m just trying to satisfy my own selfish wants 😊).
This prompt will remain open until
Tuesday night. Links to poems will be deleted. Only one
story per participant. Do visit other storytellers. Let’s enjoy birthing and
sharing words…
An Extra Note in Red: As noted above, the Pantry of Prose is for prose (meaning, short stories, slice of life pieces, essays). Links to poetry will be deleted. Not because I don’t love poetry, not because I think poems are less (goodness no!), but to give one day out of each month to prose and storytelling).
An Extra Note in Red: As noted above, the Pantry of Prose is for prose (meaning, short stories, slice of life pieces, essays). Links to poetry will be deleted. Not because I don’t love poetry, not because I think poems are less (goodness no!), but to give one day out of each month to prose and storytelling).
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“Yesterday’s News”, by Shelle Kennedy
the
haunted look in this girl’s eyes (which looks a whole lot like the slightly horrified look I see in the mirror right after listening to today’s news)
felt quite appropriate for this post
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Hi ho, checking in this side of midnight from the west coast. Happy to see some bedtime stories here. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteI, too, got to enjoy some bedtime stories--yours, for instance, had me rolling. What an awesome tale. I'm grinning just thinking about it, and will very likely go back to read it. And now, to enjoy the rest!
DeleteMorning Storytellers!
ReplyDeleteI welcome this break to read prose after a hurried April with poetry. Thanks Maga for this inspiring prompt. I really like the stroll with Frank Herbert's Dune, because there’s no cure for fear than to face it.
I’ll be back to read everyone, but first I must go out. We have such a beautiful weather this morning, better make use of. :)
I completely agree. Being afraid of certain things can't be helped. It would even be dangerous, a healthy those of fear can keep us from breaking our necks.
DeleteEnjoy the good weather, and I shall do the same vicariously through you... It will rain all day in NYC.
Good Sunday morning, everyone! I am enjoying reading the stories!m Thanks, Magaly, for the intriguing prompt.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Mary. I was discussing your story with a friend as I made breakfast this morning. We keep on going back to those 40 seconds...
DeleteI'm grateful for a prompt which allowed me to tell, succinctly, a story which had not found expression in poetry. I am finding that the word limit is actually very helpful to hone the writing.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your story, Rosemary, I was thinking about how it look/sound on stage. A one-woman act, jumping from scene to scene... with the spiders... I just shivered. But felt better, after thinking about the rest.
DeleteHappy Sunday everyone :)
ReplyDeleteHappiest Sunday, to you, Sumana. I hope things are getting better. I'm keeping you and yours in my thoughts...
DeleteI hope everyone had a good time (even if a tad scary) writing their stories for today. My coffee is at the ready, so... to read on! Thank you so much for storytelling. ❤️🖤
ReplyDeleteI have made it here, but will be out and about most of the day visiting my wonderful kiddos. (this is Carrie....I am on my son's computer logged into google and my blog, but every time I comment it thinks I am him. LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL.....I made it work anyway. I am me again. On your blog Magaly I am anonymous.
DeleteYour Blogger account playing peekaboo, lol!
DeleteI really liked your story. The ending was so powerful.
Thank you for a most stimulating prompt, Magaly dearest!❤️ It gave me a chance to expand upon my poem: The Emma Bruegel Project. As the protagonist is already unique and on the edge it was easier to blend in phobias and fears. Happiest Sunday to you!❤️
ReplyDeleteYour protagonist is quite intriguing herself. Her mind must be a very interesting place...
DeleteSo glad you liked the prompt, Sanaa!
Hello everyone- Magaly, this is a wonderful prompt, although I did hate revisiting this true story which most recently happened. It's still giving me bad dreams.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you had to relived the panic in ink, but I am glad you let us read it. I hope the bad dreams are taken away by that the bloom of a lovely desert rose.
DeleteMagaly, your excellent prompt was challenging to me, but I finally found something to write about. You made my mind spin... and that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteHope you and all, are having a good Sunday.
A moving mind is an awesome thing. I'm so happy you shared that story. I think it has been the only story, today, that shows of a phobia created on purpose. It was super interesting to see why it happened.
DeleteGood day, everyone!
ReplyDeleteMagaly, thank you for the prompt.
it's midnight here already and i will be around to read the chilling stuff later. :)
You are most welcome. Sweet dreams... Hopefully none that include strangers acting in bewildering ways in cafes. :-D
DeleteHello Magaly, I decided to write something a bit scary and creepy... purely fictional that evolved from one sentence.
ReplyDelete"A bit creepy"? That was terrifying! And tellingly twisted, if we think about the current state of the world.
DeleteLove the prompt... I wrote my way through some truth.
ReplyDeleteFantastically so...
DeleteIt took me all day to pen my words...sigh! thanks for the prompt, Magaly!
ReplyDeleteDear Vivian, your link here leads back to this PU post, not to your blog.
DeleteI went ahead and replaced the link, Rosemary.
DeleteThank you for writing in, Vivian.
It's going to have to be about spiders!
ReplyDelete🕸️
Delete