Seize the Dave is a little bit about a lot of stuff: writing, calligraphy, poetry, origami, books, music, role-playing games, the occasional cocktail recipe, and anything else that comes to mind.
Well, that’s a wrap for the competitive fiction pieces from the 2004 tournament. Next week, I’ll present the stories from the 2007 tournament that I ended up winning. I hope you’ll stick around for those.
Also, stay tuned Friday for a flash fiction story from 2007 that I also found in my archives.
Thanks to all for reading!
Captain Chrysanthemum was never a particularly important superhero. He was not part of the team that stopped Dr. Colossal from destroying the city, nor was he among the coalition members that sent the Beryllians running back to their home world with their tails between their tentacles. No, for the past thirty years he had spent most of his days in the park, entangling pickpockets and politely asking passers-by not to trample the flowers.
Dear Charles,
I write to you this evening, in the hope that, once you regain the use of your faculties, you will be able to verify my account of the dreadful circumstances surrounding the loss of our expeditionary party. As the only other survivor of the voyage, you are in a unique position to confirm the veracity of events that, in any other circumstance, would be considered the work of one of those dreadful pulp authors that are so popular these days.
Today through Wednesday, I’ll be sharing three stories from a writing tournament that I competed in during 2004. I made it to the semifinals before being defeated, but I didn’t go down without a fight.
Each pair of competitors was given a selection of images, and the challenge was to create a cohesive story around them. Then a panel of judges critiqued and selected the winner of each pair.
I believe that each of the stories still holds up without the original prompts, so I’ve decided to share them here.
Kat watched the smoke rise through the hazy air, curling and swirling in on itself to form strange little loops. Gordian knots tied and unraveled themselves within the span of a breath, as ripples of air passed by. She pursed her lips and blew, clearing the canvas that hung in front of her, then waited for Beth to light another cigarette.
“I still can’t believe they made me black…” Sharon said, staring at her arms.
The door is locked,
My egress blocked –
From here, there’s no escape.
But where is there?
The walls of air
Refuse to take a shape.
There’s only light,
No stair in sight,
As mist gives way to mist.
I’ve found no key,
No hope for me
Is certain to exist.
“Who’s there?” I cry;
Out there I spy
A figure moving round.
The man I see
Then, suddenly,
Fades out without a sound.
Rating: 2.0
July 7, 2010
The Dot Grid Journal is part of Behance’s Action Method product line – a set of paper products designed to support their Action Method project methodology. They’ve got a wide range of products, from pre-printed loose sheets to spiral bound notebooks, to stickers – the goal of which is to focus the user on action items. This journal, however, can easily be used without any reference to the Action Method.
The 12th Carnival of Pen, Pencil, and Paper is being hosted at the Goldspot Pens blog. My review of J. Herbin Orange Indien is featured in the Ink section. Go and check it out!
“I am here,” the night breeze whispers
As she slips o’er the windowsill
And gently caresses my skin
Loneliness sets in
When I turn off the lights
And all I have for company
Are the shadows
