Category: Short Story

‘Living and Dying in 42 Beachley Street’: An apocalyptic story written during lockdown

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We’re halfway through July. How the hell are we halfway through July!? The year is just flying past, isn’t it? I guess that can be mostly (but not completely) attributed to the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown.

Appropriately, this next one was written in the middle of lockdown, for the contest Close to Home. I chose the prompt, “Write a story about two neighbours talking from their yards, windows, balconies, etc.” The title of my story is Living and Dying in 42 Beachley Street, and you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile.

I held my breath as the silhouette of the little old lady turned around at the sound of my veranda door opening, then sighed internally when she waved cheerfully in my direction.

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I really like this one, and it’s actually the kinda vibe I’m going for in my current WIP (stay tuned…). I hope you guys liked it! Until next time — be careful of your zombie neighbours.

‘A Little Bit Off’: My sci-fi comedy was shortlisted!

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Hey everyone! How we all doing? Good? Grand! I’ve been shortlisted for the Reedsy contest again! Always lovely. This was for the contest Superpower! I chose the prompt, “Write about a person who collects superhero comics.” The comedic, alien sci-fi slant came very quickly — and the mental image I found to be quite endearing! The title of my story is A Little Bit Off, and you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile.

We all knew there was something a little bit off about Hugh.

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I’ve now lost count how many times I’ve been shortlisted for the Reedsy contest, which to date I’ve won twice… Still hoping for that third win, at some point. 😉 If you’re interested in reading the others, check out my Short Stories section! The ones that have asterisks have either won or been shortlisted. Well, until next time, have a great day, and look after each other. 🙂

A Curveball Double Feature: Two Children’s Stories!

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So, these next two really break the mould for me — they’re both children’s stories. (I know, right?!) They were each written for different prompts, but they both have similar themes and protagonists, so I thought I’d bundle ’em together in this double feature!

Part One

The first one was written for the contest Fuzzy Friends (Or Foes?) — I chose the prompt, “Write a story featuring an animal who subverts expectations.” The title is Deep Space Canine (yes, that is a pun on Deep Space Nine…) and you can read it here on WordPress, or over on my Reedsy profile.

“Grrround Control, mission has successfully been completed, repeat, mission has been successfully completed, Grrround Control.”

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Part Two

All right! The next one was written for the contest Kidding Around — I chose the prompt, “Write a story about someone who discovers a mysterious object in their home.” The title is Winston and the Legend of Va-Khum, and you can read it here on WordPress, or over on my Reedsy profile!

Listen closely, Little One, and I shall tell you a tale of a day long since passed.

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Well, I hope you liked these! I actually had a lot of fun writing ’em — even if they are completely different to my usual fare. This doesn’t mean I’m leaving my horror roots, I just like to branch out and explore a bit, y’know?

Read my philosophical short story: ‘snoitseuQ and srewsnA’

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Hey, everyone. How are we all doing? Another one from the Reedsy backlog! This one was written for the contest End of Story. I chose the prompt, “Write a story that ends with a character asking a question.” I went a bit weird, a bit philosophical, a bit sci-fi, with this one. I hope you enjoy it, I had fun writing it! The title of the story is snoitseuQ and srewsnA, and you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!

“Because we’re here.”

The words, which had not been casually proffered, hovered in the space between them for a moment; from the mind of one and into the ears and heart and soul of the other.

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Well, until next time — stay safe, and look after each other!

‘Buy Another Birthday’: A short sci-fi story about love, death, and science

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Hi everyone! We’re on a roll with getting through this backlog, aren’t we? This next piece I’m really rather fond of, and I’ve got a niggling idea to explore it further in a longer piece… We’ll see! This was written for the contest Just the Beginning. I chose the prompt, “Write a story that starts with someone returning from a trip.” The title of my story is Buy Another Birthday, and you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!

Alan found himself standing at the gate of a little cottage, completely oblivious to the fact that he’d been killed in a hit-and-run accident seven months prior.

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Well, until the next of the Reedsy backlog, have a good one!

My comedic zombie story, ‘Sequel to the Apocalypse’, was shortlisted for the Reedsy contest!

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Whew, look at me go! Getting through these at breakneck pace! Pretty soon I’ll have all caught up. This next one is a comedy story about zombies, set in a fantasy world. I just let loose and had fun with it! This was written for the contest Write It Down, and was shortlisted — which is always a lovely confidence boost! I chose the prompt, “Write a story about an author who was just published a book.” The title of my short story is Sequel to the Apocalypse, and you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!

Baldahr Seltro didn’t mean to cause The Great Undead Uprising of the third century (third century post-Reckoning, that was) but cause it he did.

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I really quite liked this one. I hope you guys enjoyed it too!

Read my short YA horror story, ‘The Hands That Rattle the Cage’!

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Hey there, everyone! Back again! Sorry for the radio silence, but I moved to a new apartment and was without proper internet for roughly a month. I kept writing though — I’m always writing! So, on with catching up on the Reedsy backlog!

This one was written for the contest You’ve Got a Friend in Me. I chose the prompt, “Write a story about two people who meet and become instant friends.” The title of my story is The Hands That Rattle the Cage, and you can read it either here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!

“Hey!”

The shout startled her from her reverie. Jackie opened her eyes and squinted up at the sun. It was about midday, by her estimates.

“Hey, you!”

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Well, that’s about it for today! I’ll be catching up on all the others over the coming days! In the meantime, stay safe, everyone!

‘Blind Visitors’: Next one on the Reedsy list!

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Hey, all! I hope you’re all well during these trying times. I know I write a lot of horror, but at heart I think I’m a big softie. So, from the bottom of my heart, look after yourselves, look after each other, and always be kind.

Okay, that’s enough hippie philosophising, Josh… Time for the story! This one is called Blind Visitors, and I really like it! It was written for the contest Earth to Writers. I chose the prompt, “Write a story that begins and ends with someone looking up at the stars.” You can read Blind Visitors here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!

It’s looking up at the stars. Or is it looking down at them?

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Well, until next time, guys!

‘No Bubbles’: The next short (of breath) story of the Reedsy backlog!

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Whoa, we’re getting there, aren’t we? This next one was written for the contest The Game is Afoot. I chose the prompt, “Write a story about someone who keeps coming across the same stranger.” The title of my story is No Bubbles (which I really like). As always, you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile!

I should have seen what was wrong with the scene sooner than I did.

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Well, that’s that, for now! I hope you liked this one, I had a blast writing it! Stay tuned for more of the Reedsy backlog.

Next part of the Reedsy backlog: ‘Ten Fingers, Two Hands’!

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Continuing the wave of uploads, working my way through the Reedsy backlog! As there’s one contest a week, I’ve got quite a few kicking around. This story was written for the Dear Diary contest. I chose the prompt, “In the form of diary/ journal entries, write about someone who’s up late at night because they’re having trouble sleeping.” The title of my short story is Ten Fingers, Two Hands, and you can read it here on WordPress or over on my Reedsy profile! (As always!)

Wednesday 13th April, 2:33 a.m. — Dear Diary, I have lied to you.

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Well, that’s that for now! I hope you like the story — I’ve had this idea kicking around in my mind for some time now, and it was nice to get it out of the system, so to speak!