If you're looking for some fun Thanksgiving tales filled with quirky people getting into trouble, check out my three "Nameless, Texas" stories set around the holiday. Thank you!
Death at Do-Lolly's Diner
http://amzn.to/1Fr8sgu
2026. Celebrating 45 years as a published author. I am a writer focusing on short fiction--mysteries, speculative, ghosts, weird westerns & fantastica--you name it. Author of the "Nameless, Texas" short fiction series. I am also an award-winning blogger and playwright specializing in comedic craziness for young adults.
Showing posts with label Texas stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas stories. Show all posts
Friday, November 7, 2014
Gobble Up these Thanksgiving Short Stories!
Dear friends,
If you're looking for some fun Thanksgiving tales filled with quirky people getting into trouble, check out my three "Nameless, Texas" stories set around the holiday. Thank you!
Death at Do-Lolly's Diner
http://amzn.to/1Fr8sgu
If you're looking for some fun Thanksgiving tales filled with quirky people getting into trouble, check out my three "Nameless, Texas" stories set around the holiday. Thank you!
Death at Do-Lolly's Diner
http://amzn.to/1Fr8sgu
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Longest short story ever!
Dear friends/fans of mysterious fiction,
Back in 2008, I had a published mystery novel, LONE STAR DEATH, that weighed in around 85,000 words. I wanted to write short stories since I really enjoyed them when I was much younger. I started out with flash fiction and came up with a story of 500 words. Writing a short story is sometimes harder than writing a novel (yeah it is) because you have to encompass the entire story line in such a small space.
At that time, I thought I'd never be able to write a longer short story. I wrote a lot of poetry, and of course, it's much shorter. Over the years, though, I started reading voraciously---collections of mystery and macabre short stories. I read them online, in older library books, new e-book collections/anthologies I purchased through Amazon for my Kindle and haunted used bookstores for sometimes rare volumes. Reading those was a huge education for me, and eventually my brain started seeing how I could write longer stories, too.
Eventually, I wrote several stories in the "Nameless, Texas" short story series. These were longer, but not nearly as long as this new one.
So I did. Yesterday, I finished a new story that is around 8,550 words. I did it in four drafts, adding a bit more each time. And it only took me a month, in addition to all the other writing I'm doing (volunteer work for the local Art Guild, editing friend's work, blogging, e-mails, bits and pieces of my novel in progress, etc.)
I'm really proud of the story. I think (and friends agree) that it's the best thing I've written--so far. "The Passing of Big Mama Mayhall" is a macabre, strange story that could mostly be categorized as Southern Gothic. And maybe a bit "Hitchcockian." I love it when people tell me my stories are Hitchcockian! :-D
So, writing the story was the FIRST step. Now I have to decide what to do with it. I tried not to worry about this while writing the story---that's something I frequently get all jacked up about. Sometimes I write to themes or specific Calls for Submissions, sometimes a line will come to me. This time, the first line came to me as a bit of dialogue.
"Elsie, honey. I'm so sorry . . . Big Mama has done gone and passed." From there, the characters started speaking, and the story emerged.
Happy trails from Texas!
bobbi c.
Back in 2008, I had a published mystery novel, LONE STAR DEATH, that weighed in around 85,000 words. I wanted to write short stories since I really enjoyed them when I was much younger. I started out with flash fiction and came up with a story of 500 words. Writing a short story is sometimes harder than writing a novel (yeah it is) because you have to encompass the entire story line in such a small space.
At that time, I thought I'd never be able to write a longer short story. I wrote a lot of poetry, and of course, it's much shorter. Over the years, though, I started reading voraciously---collections of mystery and macabre short stories. I read them online, in older library books, new e-book collections/anthologies I purchased through Amazon for my Kindle and haunted used bookstores for sometimes rare volumes. Reading those was a huge education for me, and eventually my brain started seeing how I could write longer stories, too.
Eventually, I wrote several stories in the "Nameless, Texas" short story series. These were longer, but not nearly as long as this new one.
So I did. Yesterday, I finished a new story that is around 8,550 words. I did it in four drafts, adding a bit more each time. And it only took me a month, in addition to all the other writing I'm doing (volunteer work for the local Art Guild, editing friend's work, blogging, e-mails, bits and pieces of my novel in progress, etc.)
I'm really proud of the story. I think (and friends agree) that it's the best thing I've written--so far. "The Passing of Big Mama Mayhall" is a macabre, strange story that could mostly be categorized as Southern Gothic. And maybe a bit "Hitchcockian."
So, writing the story was the FIRST step. Now I have to decide what to do with it. I tried not to worry about this while writing the story---that's something I frequently get all jacked up about. Sometimes I write to themes or specific Calls for Submissions, sometimes a line will come to me. This time, the first line came to me as a bit of dialogue.
"Elsie, honey. I'm so sorry . . . Big Mama has done gone and passed." From there, the characters started speaking, and the story emerged.
Happy trails from Texas!
bobbi c.
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