“Is it a boy or a girl?” I asked, trying to get a look at the sonogram.
—
My husband frowned at the screen and asked the nurse, “What is that?”
Bite-Sized Horror #28: Gestation
Author: Joshua G. J. Insole
A three-time winner of the Reedsy contest, Joshua G. J. Insole is a British writer who lives in the Austrian Alps. Author of several other shortlisted stories, he published his first book in 2020. Joshua’s favoured genres are horror and science fiction.
Bite-Sized Horror #27: Doorbell
Through the camera I could see the man who had followed me home.
—
“Excuse me,” said my downstairs neighbour as she left the building.
‘The Things That Do Not Float’: My entry for this week’s Reedsy contest — it’s not horror!
Hey all! How’s everyone doing? This week’s Reedsy theme was based loosely on their recommended 100 books to read in your lifetime.
I chose prompt #1 — “Write a story about a teenager visiting the place they grew up.” Surprisingly, I didn’t write a horror story. This wasn’t intentional, the story simply went in a non-horrific direction rather naturally. The title of my short story for this week is The Things That Do Not Float, and you can read it here.
“Shaun jumped from the cliff’s edge. With each passing second, he felt the temperature drop and the pressure rise. The sensation of the movement was faint; if he closed his eyes, it felt as if he weren’t moving at all.” Continue Reading
I rather enjoyed writing this slightly unusual (for me, at least) short story — I hope it is as fun to read!
P.S. Bite-Sized Horror is back tomorrow!
Bite-Sized Horror #26: Jump
After over twenty years of jumping out of aeroplanes, I’m doing my last skydive ever today.
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My parachute won’t open.
Bite-Sized Horror #25: Breath
Struggling in the cold, black water, I swam for the surface.
—
My fingers brushed the bottom of the lake.
Bite-Sized Horror #24: Hormones
As a teenager, I’ve always dreamt of having a girl knocking on my bedroom window.
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I wish the thing with the sewn-up eyes and the long teeth would go away, though.
Bite-Sized Horror #23: Craftsmanship
The builder my wife had hired was fantastic.
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So, I knew I’d never escape.
Bite-Sized Horror #22: Nape
I felt her warm breath against the back of my neck.
—
The grizzly had found me.
Bite-Sized Horror #21: Alter
He had done it; he’d gone back in time and changed history for the better.
—
Then he felt himself beginning to fade.
‘Printed Words’: My short story for this week’s Reedsy contest!
Hey there! How’s it going? I participated in the Reedsy contest again — I’m trying to not miss a single one! This week’s contest had a slightly sad theme — remembering the beloved Toni Morrison.
I chose prompt #2 — “write a story about someone trying to escape their situation.” I decided to take the story in a slightly comical and absurd direction, in the hopes of making some people grin in spite of the sad news that seems to constantly barrage us. The title of my short story is Printed Words, and you can read it here.
“The worst moment came when I needed to use the bathroom.” Continue Reading
I hope you like it! I had fun writing it! (I always have fun with my finished pieces — those which aren’t fun don’t get completed!)
P.S. As is the standard, there’ll be no Bite-Sized Horror today — back tomorrow!
joshuainsole.com 