Writing

Writing Forum

I've been writing stories for 5 years and now I have had 3 of my works published in magazines and another anonymous writing in Chicken Book for the Teenage Soul II. At the moment an editor is going over one of my books and hopefully it will be published soon (cross my fingers and knock on wood) until then I keep going with the creativity God has given me. Who else likes to write???

I love to write, I always have since I first learned how. Unfortunately writing takes time and I have only had a chance to write a few small things in recent years. I would love to be able to take like six months off sometime and try and write a book.

I find it really relaxing, it helps me organise my thoughts by pouring them out onto paper (well onto a computer screen now-a-days).

Can you post the thinsg you have had published? I love to read anything from anyone. Good luck, I hope your book gets published, that would be amazing!

I love to write too and extend congratulations to sportsinger for getting published multiple times !

Wasn't it a thrill to get that first check in the mail for something YOU created ?

Please, how about a sample -- just a small one -- please ?

I am a writer but...I am more of a poet. I have one story that I have done that I like and that is called "A New Evil" it is posted on Fanfiction.net.

I've been writing stories since around the fourth grade. Let's just say I've evolved since then. I'm currently writing a short story (although it's becoming too long now to be considered a short story) that doesn't really have a title yet. It's a little hard to classify. I write more screenplays than anything else, and one has pretty much completely consumed me for a long time. It's in revision. I don't know what I'll do with it when I'm done, I just know that I have to write it out of my system.

I do a bit of conjuring, but not much proper writing. I've never taken any classes, but I was always encouraged as a youngster to write by all my teachers. They seemed to like my stories, and always gave me great marks for anything I handed in (whenever I got around to it...).

I guess I've always had a passion for the creative side of writing, but not much patience for the trials in putting together a tightly-packed piece of fiction. I've only recently decided to make an effort to write a few proper short stories, but since I've no formal training, I'm not even sure how well I'm doing... Oh well, the process is rather enjoyable so far...

I love to write, always have. Alas, it is my one true goal in life to be a published author, to write a best-seller. But the problem, as Schmiggens noted, is time. I too, wish that I could take some time off to pursue this dream.

I enjoy writing. I currently have a have baked story in my head, and I've written down a couple of scenes. but school takes up too much time.

I have six nonfiction books published (statistics tomes that wouldn't remotely interest anyone not involved in the industry that they address) but my real love is fiction. I wrote my first book when I was 5. That one is long gone, but I still have all the ones that followed. I waver between surreal/fantasy and action/drama, usually with elements of both.

Although I have no problem with my nonfiction books and worked for a newspaper for years, I have an issue letting other people read my fiction. I write for my own entertainment and am considering self-publishing just get a couple of copies of my fiction books to put on the shelf next to my more serious professional work. I tried to explain this on a forum at one of the internet self-publishing vendors and got some screwball harranguing me as if I was making it up in some attention-getting ploy. (As if no one in the history of the world wrote fiction for any reason other than to be a Famous Best Selling Author.)

I write on evenings and weekends, but only sporadically since the data work I do for my nonfiction books I also do on the side.

Here goes..I hope someone will like this short story.. I will write it in installments, and continue on later....

She shone the flashlight into the wooden crate. She couldn't see anything. She slowly inched her hand into the box.
Something closed on her hand. Something hot, wet, and very sharp.
She tried to get her hand out. The something held firmly.

Poodle And The Invisible Girl

by Becker....

Alexandra was running scared. Only she couldn't run. Alexandra was strapped to the operating room table.

"I hope this surgery is necessary. Doctor Baron said there is something inside of me that shouldn't be there."

A needle pricked her arm.

"Begin counting back from 99." Alexandra saw blurred green clad people at her sides.

She heard Doctor Baron saying.."Nothing to fear, Alexandra. Everything will be all right."

Alex started counting "99-98--97" and drifted off.

A summer storm raged outside United Hospital. Loud thunder. Erratic lightning. Noah's Ark kind of rain. Doctor Baron held a scalpel over Alex. His hand lowered. Lights dimmed and went out. the hospital was dark. backup generators failed. All activity ceased.



To be cont.........

Susie Decker's eyes widened.

"Whew! What a way to end the show today. I won't be able to sleep tonight."

She clicked off the mahogany veneered RCA Television. She leaned back in bed. Susie's eyes moved down her body. She thought...

"Gosh. Looks like I am not in shape. My skin is pale too. I'll be ten years old tomorrow. I think I will wash my hair....Three weeks is long enough."

Susie rolled off her four poster maple bed. She went into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror.

"I look short for my age. I wish I was prettier. I hate thinking about going back to school after the summer vacation. I never get grades over a C. No one even notices I'm there. Like I am invisible."



to be cont........

The bathroom was small, but had the necessary sink, shower and toilet. All stark white porcelain. Susie looked at the ugly green walls.

"Blechh ! I don't have one good friend at that rotten school. I'm going back to bed."

Susie climbed onto her messy, lumpy bed. She felt the rumpled. overused pillow under her head.

"Gadzooks! This pillow feels terrible."

She threw her pillow to the floor.

Susie grabbed her bag of chips and shoved a handful into her mouth.

"My birthday is tomorrow. I wonder if anybody else remembers. Dad took a job with our San Diego Zoo. He's going around the world looking for rare specimens. Mom hasn't even said a word. The only thing I'm sure of is my name is Susie Decker. I don't think anybody knows I exist. I must be invisible!"

Downstairs, Susie's mother, Jenny, stood in front of the green GE Electric range.

Jenny, slowly stirred eggs in her Teflon coated pan. The egg's yellow "eyes" were swimming for their lives in gobs of melting butter. The kitchen LCD clock displayed 2 PM. Jenny Decker still had on her faded blue housecoat. She.......

to be cont..........

stared vacantly at the kitchen walls that once boasted bright aqua enamel. Now she saw steam streaked drabness.

Jenny's face portrayed a "What's the Use" expression of disinterested depression. She no longer looked youthful and vibrant. Her husband, Edward, had been away for six months this time. Jenny didn't care enough to stay neat and clean--or eat--or rise early. She did not care about the simmering eggs.

The door bell sounded. Jenny snapped out of her lethargy long enough to reach the front door.

"Who's there?"

"U P S" maam. I have a package for Susie Decker. It needs to be signed."

Jenny opened the door and eyed the brown uniform. She took the computerized "Thingamajig" and signed for it. Jenny took the package and looked down at a wood crate that had holes in each side.

"Susie, I have a package for you and something inside is moving."

Susie's ears pricked up. She gulped down the chips and hurried down the stairs. Jenny yelled again.

"Susie, come down....."

"Mother, I am standing in front of you. Can't you see me?"

"No, where are you?"


to be continued..............

"Gratzky.. I really must be invisible."

Susie took the crate from her mother. She climbed back to her bed. She looked at the tag on the 16 x 16 inch wooden box.

"For my poopsy oopsy dear Susie Q. Your tenth birthday is here. I love you very much. This is a gift that will change your life. I found it in Nepal."

Susie flipped her red hair back and opened the crate door flap. She looked inside. She did not see anything. Susie got her Rayovac flashlight from under the TV. The light did not help. Nothing was visible inside the wooden box.

"Dad wouldn't give me an empty crate for my birthday...Oh well dare not, get not."

Susie carefully reached into the crate.

Something grabbed her hand. Something hot, wet, and sharp. She tried to pull her hand back. Something held on. She slowly inched out. She was pulling something that resisted. Finally her hand came free of the crate. Susie stared. She saw nothing at first. She narrowed her eyes to slits. And saw a small dog. The dog was almost invisible. Its curly coat was white. The dog was almost translucent.. It peered back at Susie returning stare for stare. The dog's eyes were white. It stood only ten inches


to be cont,,,,,,,

high. The ears were long, flat and wide. The ears lay close to its head. Its almond shaped eyes were alive and alert. The dog stood on small oval webbed paws. The tiny dog looked like an ordinary poodle except for its unusual eyes.

Susie brightened considerably when she saw the dog.

"Are you a Poodle?"

The dog nodded.

"Do you piddle in the house?"

The tiny dog shook its head vehemently.

"Are you hungry?"

Loud barking. Vigorous nodding..Excited nodding and tail wagging.

"I wonder what you eat?"

The miniature Poodle jumped to the floor.

It raised a small paw and beckoned.

"You want me to follow you?"

It nodded.

"What should I call you? How about Poodle?"

Poodle's head moved up and down.

"OK Poodle. Lets go."

Poodle trotted quickly across the burning sidewalk. Susie tried to keep up. Finally they reached the neighborhood Food Market. The sign in front displayed "Mama's Deluxe Food......

to be cont......

Emporium." Its wood front was weathered. It had once been Forest Green. Now there was only Grey streaked with green.

Poodle entered. Susie was close behind. Poodle leaped into a cart that sported a baby seat. He signaled Susie to push. She maneuvered carefully through too narrow aisles. Poodle selected all the food. He made sure the food was healthy. No trans fatty acids. No other potentially harmful ingredients.

Finally the cart was full. Susie wheeled it to a checkout lane.

"Poodle, I only have five dollars. How am I supposed to pay for this?

Poodle waved her on.

When they reached the cashier, the food showed six inches over the cart's top. The cashier, a large woman, had "Margie" pinned to her beige frock. Margie eyed the over stuffed cart. Margie breathed a sigh of despair. The scanning took five minutes. Margie pushed the "total" key. Only $2.29 came up. Margie repeated her motions. $2.29 again and again. Margie was tired. She had already been on her feet for eight hours.

"That will be $2.29 please "

Susie almost dropped. But she handed over her five dollars. She took change. Susie could not move. Poodle gently nipped her hand and signaled to leave. Susie snapped



to be continued..........

out of her trance and pushed the cart. The cart should have been too heavy for Susie to push. But it moved as though it weighed but five pounds. She pushed the cart all the way to her house. They emptied the cart and Susie returned it to "Mama's."

When Susie returned they each picked the food they thought they would like to eat.

They ate noisily. They ate like 'starving artists". They could not eat any more. They were stuffed.

They both curled up on Susie's bed and napped.

When she woke, two hours later, Susie poked Poodle. Poodle opened his eyes and lifted his head.

"Poodle, how did you do that price thing back at the market?"

Poodle looked at Susie and winked . Susie did not understand, but she moved on. "Poodle, Have you ever been in San Diego before?" Poodle shook his tiny head, "I bet you would like our zoo. It has tigers and lions and real big elephants..And a live Panda. Maybe we'll go there some day."

Poodle nodded.

"And the San Diego Gaslight area has all kinds of good places to eat and lots of history type buildings."


to be cont...................

Poodle jumped from the bed onto the bare oak floor. He looked at Susie and motioned to her to follow him. He led her outside into the Sun's glare and 80 degree heat. Poodle began to run, then stopped. He waved Susie to follow once again. Susie ran and ran and ran after the dog. She kept wiping off the sweat that poured down her face. It ran into her eyes. Her legs were tired. They felt like lead weights.

Susie stopped. She was out of breath. Out of energy.

"Poodle, I can't move!"

Poodle looked at her and shook his head. Suddenly, Susie had the strange feeling that a tractor was in back of her. The tractor began pushing her toward her home. Then Susie was in front of her house. She looked at the familiar white siding with its green shutters. Her mother was leaning against the open door- way. Still house-coated. Still looking like Susie's unmade bed.

"Hi Mom."

No response.

"Mom, don't you see me?"

Silence.

Susie's shoulders slumped. Her mother still did not see her.

Poodle and Susie climbed the stairs. They were careful to step on the rubber mats that had been glued down. Susie



to be cont.............

collapsed on her bed and entered Dreamland. Poodle followed and slept too. His nose rested comfortably on Susie's leg.

Susie's sleep ended when bright sun crashed through her bedroom window. Her eyelids were no match for the sun's penetrating glow. She edged off her bed and groped her way to the bath room. Her legs ached. She was sore all over. She reached the bathroom. pulled back the pink shower curtain, and adjusted the water temperature. Susie stepped in.

"Gadzooks!" "This water feels sooooooo good!"

Susie enjoyed washing away the sweated dirt. She stepped out .She towel dried. When she looked in her mirror she was amazed. She saw a Susie that showed a slight tint of pinkish coloring. She wrapped hrself in the damp towel and hurried to tell Poodle. But Poodle had turned pinkish also.

Poodle and Susie repeated the running-sleeping-and healthful eating routine each day. And each day, Susie's and Poodle's color deepened.

Susie and Poodle were asleep. The sound of breaking glass interrupted Poodle's dream..He moved down to the kitchen. Someone was coming through the half-open door. He was masked. He was big. His black jumpsuit coved him head to toe...The intruder lit his flashlight......



to be cont......

The burglar looked up. Right in front of him towered a huge tiger. A Saber Toothed Tiger. The pre-historic beast hovered three feet over the burglar's head. Its jaws were wide open . Saliva oozed from its mouth. Large, sharp, yellowed teeth. The crook's head became filled by the Tiger's booming voice He thought;

"Holy socks, the beast talks!"

"TURN AROUND. LEAVE HERE. TOMORROW MORNING GET THIS DOOR FIXED. TELL ALL YOUR CROOK BUDDIES TO NEVER COME NEAR THIS HOUSE. TURN YOURSELF IN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. CONFESS ALL YOUR CRIMES. REQUEST JAIL TIME. DO NOT DISOBEY ME. IF YOU DISOBEY ME YOU WILL BE MY DINNER!

The crook's faced paled. He slumped to the floor. He had fainted. Poodle pushed the huge man outside and closed the kitchen door. Poodle returned to bed. Poodle smiled. He was proud of his excellent work.

Each day, Susie and Poodle ran, rested and ate healthy food. Mother Jenny began to actually see Susie.

During their daily routine, Poodle kept repeating;

"Susie, you will remember everything you have ever read or heard. Both in school or anywhere else. you will always remember all that you hear, smell, feel,or sense."

One morning Susie looked at Poodle.



to be cont...........

"You're deep red now..My color has deepened too. Gadzooks!"

Summer vacation ended. Susie was twenty pounds lighter. She was one inch taller. She walked on tapered, muscular legs. Susie moved with the grace of a ballet dancer. It was time to go back to school. Poodle jumped into her backpack.

"Susie, let's go to school."

Susie and Poodle reached her school. They faced the modern tan brick building with its aluminum cased windows. All one floor. Susie breathed out a sigh of resignation.

"I guess this is it. We might as well go in."

They entered her homeroom. Susie said: "Poodle, I'm nervous in here. Ms. Falwell never calls on me. I don't think she knows I'm in her class."

She moved gracefully to her desk-seat in the center of the room. Blackboards covered three walls. Class work examples were tacked on the remaining wall. The color scheme was neutral gray. An American flag stood in the corner.

"What am I going to do, Poodle?"

"Just cool it, Susie. I will take care of you."

The teacher was standing in front of the class. Ms. Falwell backed up to her large oak desk. She wore a simple navy cotton dress that complimented her tall slim body. It



to be cont........

ended just below her knees. Her green eyes looked out beneath long curved lashes. She looked at the returning children..for some time...She smoothed her black shining hair with one hand. She wore her hair pulled straight back. Held in place by a navy plastic bar-rette. She looked a well groomed mid thirties.

"Welcome back, class. Let's begin. What did you study during the summer vacation? Something worthwhile, I hope."

Hand went up. Including Susie's. But Ms.Falwell skipped past Susie as though she was not there. Ms. Falwell was on automatic pilot. Her thoughts were on the man she met in Canada during her vacation. She hoped he liked her. She knew she liked him. The roses that graced her desk eased her doubts.

"OUCH!"


Ms. Falwell felt a sharp pain in her ankle.

Her eyes moved down .

It looks like a Wildcat gnawing on my leg. Am I going crazy? Then she heard what sounded like a cat's voice entering her mind.

MS FALWELL YOU WILL CALL ON SUSIE DECKER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN TURN WITH THE OTHER STUDENTS!

Who is Susie Decker, she wondered?

LOOK DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU WILL SEE HER.

to be cont......

The shaken teacher looked in Susie's direction and noticed her for the very first time.

"Class, what is the capitol of Ohio? Susie Decker, will you please answer this?"

Susie proudly stated, "Columbus!"

"Correct Susie," voiced a relieved Ms. Falwell.


"Now, can anyone give me the definition of the word stupid?"

Susie's hand shot up. She was promptly called on again.

"Stupid is when you have something real good and are too dense to know it."

"Sounds good Susie."

The period ended and the still trembling teacher complimented Susie for her prompt and correct answers.

Poodle returned to the backpack. He signaled Susie that he needed to piddle. She led him to the girl's lavatory. Poodle shook his tiny head and went into the boy's room. He struggled to reach the too high urinal. The door opened. In strode Croaker. Croaker was the school bully. Croaker was big. Croaker looked like a human frog. His skin had a greenish hue. His eyes bulged. He looked smooth and shiny. Croaker had on a faded green tee shirt and frayed green rayon trousers. Croaker's mouth gapped open and shut. You could almost hear "ribbet ribbet". He saw the small dog trying to reach the urinal.

He laughed himself breathless. Croaker slumped to the cement floor. He was exhausted. One hand covered his eyes in mock primness.

"Hey, pipsqueak, go to the dog pound and do your thing there!"

to be cont.....

Croaker opened his eyes. Straddling him was a Gorilla. A huge hairy gorilla..It was beating its chest. It was growling, loudly. It smelled terrible. Croaker wet his pants.

LIFT ME CRUMBHEAD OR I WILL MASH YOU INTO THE FLOOR!

Croaker looked around for help. No help was in sight. It was Croaker and the gorilla.

"Guess I better listen to the gorilla."

Poodle returned to his normal dog state. Croaker lifted Poodle to a convenient height. Poodle licked Croaker on his cheek. Croaker thought;

"I better not say anything about this. I will be sent to the Looney bin."

Back in class, Ms Falwell was thinking;

"I never knew that girl existed. She's the best student I ever had in my ten teaching years..I"m going to make Susan my personal assistant."


to be cont......

When Susan got the news she beamed.Her face glowed. She thought;

"I will make Ms Falwell proud of me."

And she did.

It was Friday morning. Ms Falwell told Susan;

"Honey, I don't feel well. Will you lead the class. Here is today's lesson."

Susan's knees knocked. Her legs shook. Nervous reaction set in. The teacher's hand went to Susan's shoulder.

"Don't be nervous, dear. I know you will do fine."

"Uh, er, okay."

Ms Falwell went to the teacher's lounge. She collapsed into the sofa.

Susan thought;

"I'm only ten years old. What am I doing?"

Susan stood at the front of the class room. She tried to look poised and confident.

"Class, Ms Falwell is sick and she asked me to lead our class."

Before she could say any more, someone yelled;

"Hey, little girl. You don't belong there. Get away from here!"

Susan looked in the voice's direction. It had come from the big bully, Croaker.


to be cont........

"Sorry, Croaker, But our teacher said I should do this. I have to."

Croaker and four of his pals rose. They were all bigger than the rest of the class. They all were repeating the class. They all flunked last year.

"Little girl, you better leave..You'll be sorry if you don't leave!"

Susan stood her ground. Croaker threw everything from his desk at Susan. Pencils, crayons, books, even leftover food. His buddies aped Croaker's actions. The air was full of flying objects hurtling directly at Susan. She was too frightened to move.

All the objects came to a halt two feet in front of Susan. They stopped in mid-air and slid to the floor. Susan was unscathed.

Croaker and his friends found themselves inside of a dank dungeon. Large black hungry rats were scurrying around searching for food. Something outside was looking in. It looked exactly like the gorilla that had been in the boy's room.

CROAKER YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.

Croaker mumbled.."Don't I know it."

The gotilla left. Croaker and friends spent the night stepping around the rats.

Edward Decker made camp in one of the caves in a mountain in Nepal. He needed shelter from landslides caused by severe thunderstorms..Nepal was a small country. Landlocked between India and China. Its main claim to fame was Mount Everest. The world's highest mountain.

Edward was busy starting a small fire. He lit a can of Sterno and cupped his hands over the flame.

"Man that feels good."

He put some dehydrated food in water. He warmed his dinner over the heat from his small fire. Edwars mused while he ate the tasteless food;

"I've been away for a long time. I Miss Susie and Jenny. I wonder if Susie got her birthday present yet. It was my best discovery. My little girl deserves to have it. I wonder what my family is doing right now. I must go home soon and see whats cooking."

Edward Decker was average. He was of medium height. He could wear a medium size of almost everything. His eyes were light brown. His sparse hair was also light brown. He had on field clothing and a Safari hat. Edward finished eating and lay down to sleep.

Susie's mother sat at the kitchen table. She looked at the round formica top. It had been white when they bought it. Now it was yellow. She reheated the eggs and brought the pan to the table. She picked at the eggs. She slowly ate right from the pan.

"Where is Edward? When will he come home? He sent the package from India. What is he doing right now? I haven't done anything wrong. I've been been a faithful wife and a good mother."

to be cont..........



."

Her left hand brushed through her lifeless reddish hair. Her scalp itched and she scratched. Jenny rose and went back to her secure bed.

After school and weekends, Poodle found time to put Susan's mother through the same routine that had worked with her daughter. Jenny Decker blossomed into a desirable, well proportioned woman.

Susan was walking down the hall to class. Poodle stopped her. "Susan, I want to visit the zoo. Do you mind?"

Susan hesitated. She had become used to having her dog with her.

"Okay, Poodle. You deserve a vacation. Go ahead."

Poodle wagged his tail and vanished.

After the next two periods, Susan started walking to her next class. She stopped. Startled. Croaker was blocking her path. He was larger, greener, and uglier.

"What do you want, Croaker?"

He did not reply. Just stared at her. He edged closer. He grabbed Susan's arm and pushed her into a corner next to the lockers. Susan looked around for help. No one was in sight.

"What are you going to do , Croaker?"

Croaker grumbled;

"I have hated you from the first day I saw you. You made me look stupid in class, and I am tired of it."

"You made yourself look stupid. You never studied or paid attention in class!"

Croaker whispered;

"Give me a kiss."

Susan paled. He moved closer. His face was inches from Susan's face. He pursed his lips.........

Croaker found himself back in the dank, rat infested , dungeon. Poodle had returned.

"That darn gorilla is here again," thought Croaker. The gorilla voice thundered in Croaker's head.

NO MORE LEEWAY. YOU WILL STAY HERE UNTIL YOU PROMISE TO NEVER BOTHER ANYONE AGAIN...EVER!

Croaker looked down at the large black rats.

"Okay, okay, I promise."

It was time for Susan to graduate.

"Gadzooks. What should I do? Every boy in my class asked me to the prom. I think I will put all the names in a hat and let Poodle pick one."

Poodle put his tiny head into the hat. He lifted his head. Between his jaws was the lucky boy's name.....

Susan and Croaker had a wonderful time.

MRS. Falwell addressed the class. It was graduation day. Tears welled in her eyes. Her head was erect in pride.

"Class, I hope you will leave here with the knowledge that will help you in your future. I will miss you all. Especially Susan Decker. Susan got the highest grade average in our school's history. Susan, Please say a few words to the class."

Susan rose.

"I owe everything to the birthday gift my dad gave me. Poodle...take a bow!!!!!!"

Poodle hopped onto a chair. He looked at the class and barked his joy. A thunderous applause followed.

Edward Decker had come home..It was supposed to be a "Pit Stop". But when he saw Jenny, he stared...and he stared. He looked some more.

Edward stayed home.

Poodle was happy................




The end

Very good, Becker!


Have any more stories you feel like sharing?

That was really great becker....Loved it
Excellent job

Thank you lots...Misty and Way..

Complimentary commentary is the fuel that inspires writing.


http://smilies.sofrayt.com/fsc/bow.gif

Your very welcome beck, just speaking the truth

Bad Becker


You will thank me for not posting it!