— If you are doing one thing, you are not doing another.

Randell Jones is the editor and publisher of the Personal Story Publishing Project and “6-minute Stories” podcast. (2017-2026)

 –  We thought we were big dogs!

No lives were shattered because I got these vices out of the way early in life.

Joe Brown is a retired building contractor. He lives on a small family farm in the Bethania area of Winston Salem NC. He now has time to do all those projects that a busy work schedule didn't allow. He enjoys his grandchildren and great grandchildren and as time allows likes to reflect on his life and write stories about his adventures. Several of those stories have been shared through The Personal Publishing Project. His prayer is that his family can appreciate the history he has lived.

 – “Why am I still here? Why can't I die?”  

Then, a single, wispy white cloud appeared and wafted its way past me in an otherwise cloudless blue sky.  

– “Let’s face it. We’re lost.”

Our speech is breathy, our lips are parched, and our tongues are like sandpaper.   

Suzanne Cottrell, a Buckeye by birth, lives with her husband in rural Granville County, North Carolina, where she’s a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network and the Taste Life Twice Writers. She’s the author of a hybrid book, Nature Calls Outside My Window, A Collection of Poems and Stories, and three poetry chapbooks (Kelsay Books). A retired teacher, outdoor enthusiast, and nature lover, she enjoys monthly misadventures with her best friend Deborah Forbes, her co-author of “Preserving Freedom.” Besides writing, Suzanne enjoys reading, researching, knitting, and Pilates. www.suzanneswords.com.

Deborah Forbes, a retired educator, lives in eastern North Carolina with her husband and their Greater Swiss Mountain puppy. She enjoys fitness, gardening, needlework, reading, and video calls with her granddaughters. This is her first published piece, marking an exciting new chapter in her life. After retiring, Suzanne and Deborah rekindled their friendship, beginning monthly adventures. Suzanne’s encouragement and guidance have been instrumental in Deborah’s journey as a writer, offering patience, knowledge, and unwavering support. Though still learning, Deborah hopes this piece will be the foundation for more stories to come.

I felt awkward about the subterfuge and reminded Bob that I was a proofreader, not a writer.

Arlene Mandell lives in Linville, NC, and is a longstanding artist at the Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk, NC. Abandoning big-city roots to relocate high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains with Captain Dan, triggered a compelling desire to write. Her memoirs are published in Gateways Creative Arts Journal; County Lines Literary Journal; and Personal Story Publishing Project anthologies. Her podcasted memoirs can be heard at randelljones.com/6minutestories. Arlene thanks writing friends Diana, Karen, Cindy, and Carol for unwavering support—and special friend, nonagenarian Emily Rosen for her eye-opening perspective on life!

Arlene Mandell

Despite long, grueling hours when “in production,” and the relentless pressure of deadlines, I relished my proofreading job on a travel magazine in Miami. A highlight for me was listening to the colorful tales of island life our writer brought back to the office.

One morning, on short notice, I was commandeered to pinch-hit for our writer, who was scheduled to depart on a time-sensitive island assignment. I agreed to go out of fear of losing the job, which I could not afford to do. However, I went with mixed feelings: apprehension, knowing that I’d be well outside of my comfort zone; but also curiosity, as it might be an instrument of opportunity.

It all began in Bonaire.
 —Arlene Mandell

“Before Liberty”—again!

Even through the misty lenses of history, they were not giants—neither are we.

Randell Jones is an award-winning writer about the pioneer and Revolutionary War eras and North Carolina history. During 25 years, he has written 150+ history-based guest columns for the Winston-Salem Journal. His newest release is the expanded 2nd edition of the 2005 biography and travel guide, In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone (2024) and the related video, Boone’s America: Boone Trace, 1775. In 2017, he created the Personal Story Publishing Project and in 2019, the companion podcast, “6-minute Stories” to encourage other writers. He lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Visit RandellJones.com and BecomingAmerica250.com.

 – “I’m Gus. Climb in; I’ll give you a ride.”

The gravitational force pushed the seat straps into my shoulders and my stomach leaped.
I couldn’t breathe.

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S. G. (Sandy) Benson lives in Warne, North Carolina, where she is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network-West. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, and she received awards from the Nebraska Press Women. She published her first book in 2021, My Mother’s Keeper: One Family’s Journey Through Dementia. Her second book, Dear Folks: Letters Home from World War II, 1943-1946 was released in 2024. She is working on a collection of autobiographic short stories, Girls Can’t Do That. Details at https://www.sandygbenson.com/

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 – I was unwilling to pour out good beer.

I received their conversation and stories and momentary camaraderie as an exchange for the communal feast.

Jeanne VanBuren, from Winston Salem, N.C., is a contributor once again to the Personal Story Publishing Project. She is working on a collection of her life adventures that come from being a widowed mom of five sons and growing up in a huge family of 12 siblings. She has been documenting life's travels and changes over 25 years, annually enjoyed in Christmas newsletters, with promises of creating the award-winning novel or screenplay. She is fine tuning the art of storytelling through writing with guidance from projects such as these. Personal stories express to her that we are all uniquely the same, just living out experiences in different ways.

The broken remains of a swinging bridge across the Gauley, I supposed, had once been someone’s way out.

Mark Marshall moved to Nashville in 1977 from his home state of West Virginia. He worked for 40 years as a career coach where he heard and shared stories with thousands of people from every walk of life. His writing draws on how growing up in a small lumber and mining town shaped his own life. Mark is member of the writing group, The River Writers. His stories have been featured by The Tennessean, Personal Story Publishing Project, Art Walk Richwood, WV Writers Association, Old Mountain Press Anthology.

 – He wasn’t cheap; he just liked free things.

He charged into snake-infested palmetto bushes with gusto, flinging balls out to the fairway like a crazed Walmart shopper on Black Friday.