Short Stories

 This is a collection of short stories that I have written. The story of my short stories is the story of my writing journey. As such, I have included a paragraph about each and how I came to write the story. I hope you enjoy them.

Overseas (2005) 

When I first set out to write a novel, I decided to start by practicing with short stories. I wanted to use each story as away to work-on and improve my writing. Each story would cover something thing that I knew would need to be able to write when I did my novel. The goal of my first short story was to just finish it.  Nothing more than to get it written down. It might not seam like much of a goal but to someone that had doubts that he could even write a novel, it was an import step. That said, it is not a very good story. I knew it wasn't good when I finished it. However, I think it showed some promise. Although none of my friends said it was a good story, they did comment on some sections of the story. I took encouragement from this and it helped me to keep going. The story itself is almost auto-biographical (not the alien part). I am an IT person who has always day-dreamed a lot.

 Proof (2006) 

My next "assignment" was to write a story where the characters were larger than life. I wanted the characters to be completely and instantly relatable to the reader. And that is what I managed to do with this story. The first two characters in the story (Bob and Margaret) were so popular with my friends that one even suggested I write another story just about them. (More on them later.) I will say that some of the less "science" type people missed the Twilight Zone ending. Even so, this is one of my favorite short stories I have written.

 Outside (2006)

After coming off the feedback high I got from Proof, I continued by writing drills. My next goal was to write a story from a perspective that was not my own. I also noticed that my writing was a bit verbose so I also set a goal to write a true short story. To meet the first goal, I decided to write the story from the eyes for a child. Based on the feedback, I would say this was a good story too.

Four Minutes (2007)

 At this point, I am feeling pretty confident in my writing. I like what I am writing and I am getting some good reviews. However, I knew that before I can write a novel, I will need to be able to write a love scene and a death scene. Sot, that was the goal for this story. Now in the world of novels (and movies), there are different ways to write a love scene. They run the gambit from a romance novel to the love scene in the movie "To Catch a Thief." (If you are not familiar with it, the lovers kiss and fall onto the bed. The camera then pans away and out the balcony to where fireworks go off.). I can tell you that my "love" scenes, tend more to the "To Catch a Thief." It is what I am comfortable with and fits my writing style. I think it come out pretty good. Now this is the story I wrote that isn't science fiction.

The Christmas Prayer (2016)

I had been mulling the idea for this story around for a couple of years. I finally took the time to write while on a cruise. I am happy how it turned out and my mom said it made her cry (happy tears). That is the highest praise in the land. If you are not a Christian (or at least religious), then you will probably think is a bit cliche, but then that would be your problem.