Storyfeather

To save her friends and herself from being eaten, a ghost crab enters a juggling contest with a devious and possibly unbeatable opponent.

Genre: Fable

Excerpt: Four unlikely friends were frolicking in the ocean one day. They were the Ghost Crab, the Blue Marlin, the Jellyfish, and the Nautilus. The crab and the marlin splashed about on the surface, and dove back down, while the jelly and the mollusk bobbed gently under the surface.

Overhead, there passed the shadow of the Seagull, who watched the friends with great interest, a great interest born of a keen hunger. Here she saw a variety of sweet and juicy treats for her to feast on.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Not a prompt, but a challenge to write a story that's between 2500 to 3500 words. Aim for as short as possible without going below (or too much below). I chose a genre, fable. And at some point, I had the words "crab" and "juggling" written down. So…what was the crab juggling?

Faster FictioneerEver wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you've got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(If you want to learn even more, I've got info about my online course on that page too.)

I've Got Issues For YouThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Juggling Ghost Crab" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by JONATHAN SHAW* "Afternoon Chat" "Midnight Creeping" "Cold Sanctuary" "Spinning Tavern" "Thoughts" "Encounter of Misdeeds" "Lingering Evil" "Showdown of Misdeeds" "Checking Inventory"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Jonathan Shaw licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket Vocal effects made in Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk and at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Standing on sand facing forward is a ghost crab with the left claw held up. Above the crab from left to right are a pine cone, a wedge of watermelon, and a saucer and cup of tea with tea spilling out over one edge. A bright and speckled circle of energy arcs over the objects and below the crab. Water of "Storyfeather" at bottom right. Border at top and bottom to make the image square displays a starfish pattern in colors that match the drawing.

When a young man sees his reflection in a pool as he has never seen it before, he is both mesmerized and suspicious.

Genre: Mythology

Excerpt: One day, he had an enticing thought. Then he chastised himself and told himself it was a silly and foolish thought. He shook his head as if shaking off the thought, but it was a sticky thought. It would not be forgotten.

And so, he leaned down closer to his reflection, closer and closer, until his lips touched the surface of the water, and the lips of his reflection.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?The prompt was a screen capture I took of someone looking down a deep well. It was meant to be a reference image, but I ended up using it as a prompt as well. And the first thought that came to mind was reflections and mermaids. Like what if someone looked down into the waters of a lake and thought they were seeing their own reflection, but just under the surface, there really is another person... Inspired by the story of Echo and Narcissus.

Faster FictioneerEver wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you've got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER(If you want to learn even more, there's info about my online course on that page too.)

I've Got Issues For YouThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "They Linger in the Deep" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Sirens" "Secret water" "Experiment 6" "Runes" "In the shadow" "Between two worlds"

Music by ROZKOL "Ambiet I-IV" "Fever Dream"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market Music by ROZKOL is licensed under CC BY 3.0 Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket Vocal effects made in Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by ROZKOL at bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. View from below the surface of a pool looking up at a young man in a short sleeve tunic seen from waist up at a diagonal. He is gazing down. His face is reflected on the stone surface visible along the left and bottom edges. Stray water weeds cling to the rocky walls of the pool.

Longtime lovers the ogre and the elf each recall the first few days of their honeymoon a bit differently.

Genre: Fairy Tale

Excerpt: The ogre snapped her fingers and furrowed her warty brow. "What was the name of the place where we stayed…was it…the Twilight Twinklings Inn?"

"No darling, that was for our first anniversary, when we went up north to see the lights."

The ogre brought her fist down on the table, making the forks jump. "Might of the Mermaid! That's the place."

The elf nodded, then chuckled as a memory arose. "First mishap, our missing luggage…"

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Write about a couple who have a very different perspective on a shared memory.Source: A Writer's Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

I've Got Issues For YouThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Ogre and the Elf Go to Honeymoon City" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Locations_Medieval Tavern Song" "Locations_Happy Village (loop)" "Humorous_Exploration (loop)" "Exploration_Forest Of Magic" "Exploration_Cave (loop)" "Battle_1_normal (loop)"

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Joy" "Desert dance" "A band in the inn" "Sand of time (bonus track)" "Donjon monster" "The bard"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Albert Fernandez and Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket Vocal effects made in Audacity

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. An elf man at left and an ogre woman at right sit across from each other at a small round table, barely perched on their seats, their bodies facing forward, gazing at each other. Both have long pointed ears. The ogre has two sharp teeth curving up at the corners of the mouth, and two short horns extending from the front crown of the head. The elf rests his left elbow on the table and the right hand on the left wrist. A stein sits on the table before the elf. The ogre rests her right elbow on the table, holding up a stein, left hand propped on her lap. A plate with food and a fork and knife lie on the table. Above their heads and between them hangs a chandelier with lit candles casting down a soft light.

An urban legend about a haunting phenomenon occurring in a little beach town becomes a news story when escalating incidents lead to the beaching of what appears to be a telepathic whale.

Genre: Science Mystery

Excerpt:

"You're looking for a story."

"Yes."

"My story."

"That's right. What's your story? Where did you come from? How did you get inside that whale?"

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?You're barefoot in the sand on a beach, and the waves runs over your toes. Describe what you're feeling. Source: Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

I've Got Issues For YouThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

Here's the other episode on whales that I mention in the outro: The Watchers of the Whale

CREDITSStory: "The Incident at Soruquenty Beach" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "Monochromatic stain" "Prisma" "Secret agent" "Whispers" "Cold case" "Mindhunter" "Profiler" "As it happenned" "Unclassified"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market Vocal effects made in Audacity

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A woman seen from shoulders up, looking down with eyes closed. Her index fingers are pressed to her temples. Above her forehead is the depiction of a sperm whale in left profile. Concentric circles of bright spiky energy emanate from the middle of the whale's body. The woman's left wrist bears a hospital band with unintelligible characters written on it.

The inventor of a working time machine takes her closest friend on what was meant to be a quick trip to the near future.

Genre: Science Fantasy

Excerpt:I didn't panic right away when Violeta said she had succeeded in building a working time machine.

All of her inventions worked. All of them. But all her other inventions were a lot less…ambitious.

I mean, a time machine. That's the ultimate invention, isn't it?

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Drawing challenge: Psychedelic portalDrawing challenge: JukeboxI'm combining them.Source: Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

I've Got Issues For YouThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Jukebox Time Portal" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music:"Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by TAO & SOUND*"80s Synth Ambient 01 C""80s Synth Ambient 02 E""U Never Had To Exist – (B) Melody Loop""Cry No More – Intro""Cry No More – (A) Melody Loop""Cry No More – Outro (long)""Cry No More – (A) Drums & Bass Loop""I Never Gave Up – Intro""U Never Had To Exist – Intro" "U Never Had To Exist""U Never Had To Exist– (A) Drums & Bass Loop""I Never Gave Up – (A) Melody Loop"

Music by Lee Rosevere"4th Ave. Walkup""Try Anything Once""Tech Toys""As I Was Saying""Southside""Max Flashback""Betrayal""I Bet You Wonder Why""Awkward Silences (version b)""Going Home""Glass Android"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Tao & Sound licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Tao & Sound at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.comFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. A woman seen from knees up, stands facing and looking forward, leaning against a multicolored jukebox at right. Her right thumb is hooked in her belt, which is hung with a few tools and devices, and her left elbow rests on the jukebox, arm bent. One brow and the corner of her mouth are raised. In the background are splashes of color that match the jukebox's colors.

A fearful and captive servant, who tends a menagerie of unique and captive creatures, is dazzled by the arrival of a most magnificent creature known as a hippocampus. Genre: Fantasy

Excerpt: At the center of my memory is the image of a horse, a horse the color of orange cream, rearing up, and glancing at me, with an oceanic glint in her eye. She has wings. She has fins. She is fast. I remember. She was fast. Slicing through the water like a ray of sunlight.

So I don't know how it could have happened. But I have to do something.

I must free the hippocampus.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Write a story based on the image you draw of a…sea horse. No source noted. This prompt was marked "idea," so I think it may have been my idea.

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

I've Got Issues For YouThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Hippocampus and the Menagerie" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)* "The ocean takes it all" "Compass" "Experiment 7" "In the shadows" "Winter guild" "Fallen leaves" "Rage" "The plan" "Into wild lands" "Northern dusk" "Ancien stones" "Dark secret" "Wide place"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Within a glass globe, whose edges are partly visible in frame, there floats a creature in left profile with the front half of a rearing horse and the bottom half of a sea dragon. A finlike wing extends from the creature's back. Branching frills and ruffles of fins extend from the bottom half. The body is striped. The ruffled fins bear patches and spots of color. Glowing bubbles rise up around the creature. The globe rests on a base that's decorated with tube-shaped coral and coiled snail shells.

In life and beyond, the elephant king seeks only one aim, to protect his people from despair.

Genre: Fable

Excerpt: As the elephant king lay dying, struck silent by his pain, able only to breathe shattered breaths, his mind thought its last thoughts.

He could forgive the ones who had killed him. But forgiveness would do his people no good.

He could lay a curse upon the ones who had killed him, villains and villagers alike. He was a king. The ghosts of his ancestors would answer his summons and grant him his last wish. But curses were dangerous, not just to those who were cursed, but to those who did the cursing.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?EXERCISE: Grab a book off the shelf—any book! Don't bother searching for anything in particular. Open it at random and begin reading. Write down every idea you get from reading what is on that single page. Now turn to another page and do the same thing. Later, scroll down the aisle, pick another book whose title arouses your curiosity; once again open the book at random, and record any ideas that come to mind.

Source: The Daily Writer: 366 meditations to cultivate a productive and meaningful writing life. Fred White. Writer's Digest Books. 2008.

The book I grabbed was a writing a book. 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them (And How to Build Them). Ronald B. Tobias. Writer's Digest Books. 1993. I randomly turned to page 65 in the chapter about quest plots. So at first, the story was a quest about the elephant king seeking to recover his stolen tusks.

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "The Obsidian Tusks" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)* "Song Mistery" "Song Visiting Her Forest" "Song Painful Memories (Loop)" "Atmosphere Persecution Danger (Loop)" "Exploration Mystery (loop)" "Cue Nature" "Exploration Cave (loop)" "Exploration Forest of Magic" "Location Medieval Tavern Song" "Exploration Mystical Place (loop 2)" "Holy Hymn (loop)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Albert Fernandez licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, an adult elephant stands facing forward, the left flank visible. Long shiny black tusks extend down around the trunk. The elephant looks down at the body of a baby elephant lying horizontally in front. The baby's skin appears patched with dirt and the remnant of a broken white tusk. The hazy outlines and silhouettes of trees and a leafy canopy appear behind and around the elephants. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along flank.

A nervous young job-seeker's interview is constantly interrupted by what seem to be personal phone calls to the interviewer, but from different callers.

Genre: Fairy Tale

Excerpt: I was nervous. Okay…yes, obviously. Obviously I was nervous. This one, I really, really wanted. Based on the description. Field investigation and research. Constant travel, mostly domestic, but some international travel might be required. Opportunities to advance, to earn further education, to earn money. But best of all, I would not be able to talk about the details of my work—with rare exception—with anyone outside of the organization. No details meant no criticism from my…beloved family. But you can't always be sure from just a description. I tried not to get too excited.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Write a transcript for a job interview where the interviewer keeps pausing to take personal phone calls. Source: A Writer's Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "A Most Discourteous Interview" Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)* "Fugue For One Synthetic Heart" "Night Time" "Slightly Across" "The Tech Show" "Fast Lanes Light Rain" "March of the Waking Lights" "Evolving Cities" "The Tech Show Short3(loop)(126)" "Fugue For One Synthetic Heart (No Percussion)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrea Baroni licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket Vocal effects created with Audacity

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Andrea Baroni at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. Center left, a woman seen from waist up, facing forward, with forearms resting on a table surface, right hand over left. Brows raised, she looks over at a device, partially visible lying on the surface at right. Motion lines appear around the device. Faint shadows appear on the wall behind the person: a solid circle inside an open circle, tendrils, and the top half of a humanoid figure. Watermark of the "Storyfeather" along surface at left.

A man seeks the help of a psychic after he experiences an unusual haunting from an automated phone line.

Genre: Mysterious Fantasy

Excerpt: "My life is still following the path he laid out for me."

Madame Granya frowned. "Who?"

I stared at her. I wasn't really struggling with whether or not I should tell her. I was just not telling her. I had nothing on my mind in that moment. I was…stuck, maybe. And then I spoke.

"Me," I said. I laughed, a self-mocking laugh. "Him. The voice…on the phone. The voice of me."

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Imagine what someone—a real person or a fictional character—might be carrying in his wallet or hiding in her underwear drawer. Make a list of the items you've imagined, then write a page inspired by one of them. Source: The Observation Deck. Naomi Epel. Copyright © 1994. Chronicle Books.

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITS

Story: "The Automated Fortune Line" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel

Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by CHRIS LOGSDON* "Level 1" "Level 8" "Level 6" "Level 2"

Music by FICUSPROSOUND* "No Way Out (Full Version)" "The Jigsaw (Full Version)" "Following Clues (Full Version)"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Chris Logsdon and FicusProsound licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Chris Logsdon and FicusProsound at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Black silhouette of two figures in profile sitting across from each other at a small table. The figures both have their arms extended. The shorter figure, at right, holds the hand of the taller figure. They are seen through the translucent drawn back curtains of a window. Rain falls past the window at an angle from top right to bottom left. Above the top fringe of the curtain is a glowing neon sign that reads "Psychic" at top, above the words "Palm Aura," which both flank a hand, and below that the word "Reader."

Sammy receives an unusual birthday gift, a smart device with a face, a set life span, and an unrelenting imperative to help.

Genre: Science Fiction

Excerpt: The figurine suddenly collapsed, then sprung up, wheeled her arms around, stretched them out, then up, then bopped up and down by bending at the knees.

She gazed up at Sammy. "Hello there!" she said. "Are you the one who needs help?"

Sammy said nothing. The figurine's movements were smooth and graceful and quiet. She made no jerking motions, emitted no mechanical sounds of motors or gears. She blinked, and she breathed. She moved as if she were a living creature.

What's the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?Ills, Pills, and Bills, Explore the subject of illness. Discover how one of your characters handles it. Or, select a moment from a personal experience of being sick or being a caregiver. Notice your perspective: is the incident humorous? poignant? clinical? dark? What means did you choose for writing: description? dialogue? narration of the event?

Source: Room to Write: Daily Invitations to a Writer's Life. Bonni Goldberg. Copyright © 1996. TarcherPerigee.

Faster FictioneerI held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called "Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks."

You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

(You can also buy the course there.)

Follow my Fictioneering MischiefThe Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

Storyfeather-themed merchandiseT-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

CREDITSStory: "Roxie's Wake-up Call" Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

Music: "Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background" by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)* "Fugue for One Synthetic Heart (No Percussion)" "Forest Bathing" "Night Time (No Percussion)" "Evolving Cities" "Ground Control" "You Were Always in the Right Place (No Percussion)"

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* "Casual Theme #1" "Casual Theme #3" "Medieval Theme #5" "Medieval Theme #2"

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market Vocal effects created with Audacity

Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.netFind more music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a left and right border to make the format square. A humanoid figure standing with crossed arms, looking upward, and facing forward in front of a corkboard. The figure has right foot propped on the heel at the side, wears a satchel across the body, hanging from the right shoulder, and wears pants, a turtleneck, and a small-brimmed hat. Pinned to the corkboard to the figure's left is a sticky note labeled "Return Cathy's Call (see email for #)," and to the right is a cluster of push pins.