Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 65: Sweet Dreams

This is the 65th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Sweet Dreams, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 4th February 2013

Word count: 873

The story:
“Your lives are over. I don’t care that you have families, I don’t care about your sports events,” thundered the maniacal Carl Blacksmith , “You want those things? Then you get this done!”

The meeting room full of normally cool confident executives withered in the face of Carl’s vitriol.

Foolishly the Sales and Marketing executive piped up, “What if it can’t be done?”

No one warned him to shut up, everyone just averted their gaze and prayed the bloodbath would be contained.

“I know that’s a fear we all face,” Carl said softly, “It’s understandable,” everyone braced themselves the boss was being too nice. The Sales and Marketing executive took a deep breath, believing himself to have gotten away with it.

Carl walked round the room and over to the meeting room door, which he opened.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 64: AVC

This is the 64th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

AVC, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 3rd February 2013

Word count: 552

The story:

“Analysis complete,” the computerised voice read out.

The gaggle of scientists in  the seating area of the lab rushed back to the computer. A young scientist called Hugo Cliff reached the computer first and nabbed the seat in front of the mouse and keyboard.

There was a bit of kerfuffle as four people all tried to take control at the same time.

“What’s the result,” one of the scientists at the back of the group demanded eagerly.

“Give me a moment,” Hugo said having gained sole control, “the results are coming out now.”

“Come on, come on!” another scientist said.

There was an intake of breath from those that could see the screen. “Shit,” Hugo said, first to break the silence.

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Splendid isolation in Yorkshire: A creative writing course in the shadow of Sylvia Plath

Once money’s sorted out, I’d like to go on holiday here. It’s a retreat for, and a course in creative writing, which seems pretty interesting. This flagged up in my news alerts, and now I just want to go.

Lumb Bank, Hebden Bridge

I’ve got days left to book on my annual leave, even with a couple of weeks booked off for my walk from Ilkley to Windermere in August. It sounds wonderful, and now I’m writing consistently I’d like to learn to write well, and be more focused. If not before August then definitely after the Science Festival in Newcastle in September. Around Christmas I’m intending on having a few days on the coast to get some more writing done. Busy year all told, but I really want to fit this writers retreat in. I’ll find room somewhere, if not this year, then next.

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/splendid-isolation-in-yorkshire-a-creative-writing-course-in-the-shadow-of-sylvia-plath-8473754.html

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 63: Evolved

This is the 63rd a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Evolved, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 2nd February 2013

Word count: 1000

The story:

“His strength,” the soldier struggled for words, “Well it was amazing. He was strong before, but out there… I can’t even describe it.”

“It’s okay soldier, that’s what combat footage is for,”  the doctor said as he dressed the soldier’s wound.

“Thanks Doc,” the soldier said flexing his arm with a wince, “These silver bullets are a real bitch.”

“Get on with you, I’m not interested in a soldier’s complaints,” Doc said gesturing to the door. The soldier left, passing a General who came into the room.

“So, you hear the reports? Your little science experiment has yielded a fine fruit,” the pale skinned General said.

“So I keep hearing, I’m looking forward to getting him back in here,” the Doctor said packing away his things.

“I’m afraid that’s where there’s a problem Luke,” the General said, “Just got the call from command, they want him over there, to see their doctors and scientists.”

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10 Movies That Make Writing Look Incredibly Dangerous – Flavorwire

There are lots of films about writers, probably something to do with deadlines and writers block – you need to do what you know sometimes. Of course I don’t believe in the adage “Write what you know”, because I’ve never travelled in spaceship, or murdered anyone, (though judging from the films in the link, I just might not remember). I just prefer to write what I can imagine, and research the rest. Anyway that’s lucky – because otherwise I would be terrified of becoming a writer, if these represent what the screenwriters knew… http://www.flavorwire.com/367051/10-movies-that-make-writing-look-incredibly-dangerous/

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 62: The Magical Pen

This is the 62nd in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Magical Pen, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 1st February 2013

Word count: 625

The Story:

“This my friend is the most amazing pen in the world,” the old man said fetching down a battered old box. “They say it can write whole worlds into being.”

The kid looked upon the box with wonder. He was thirteen years old and had a new life’s ambition, become a famous author. He’d gotten fifty pounds for his birthday, and rather than a new game, he decided to invest in things for writing, so he found old Alexander’s shop looking at pens.

“Some of the most famous writers in history have held this pen, and wielded their mighty words with it,” Alexander the shop proprietor, and only employee in over twenty years, ramped up the desire.

“Like who?” the kid asked in wonder.

“Well some say Earnest Hemingway  others say Huxley, Wodehouse, Kipling, the list goes on. They even say that the pen occasionally has magical powers, both to inspire and sometimes even to create what it writes. Who knows, it might even be true.”

“Really?” the boy said looking on in wonder.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 61: The Surprise

This is the 61st in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Surprise, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 31st January 2012

Word count: 899

The Story:

“Shhh! He’s coming,” Jack Lee said,gesturing, though in total blackness none of them could see, he felt more comfortable doing it.

“Are you sure?” a voice behind him whispered.

“Shh!” Jack whispered again.

“This feels daft,” a voice beside him whispered quietly.

“Will you shush,” Jack said exasperated.

“Gee,” the voice whispered.

The wait was torturous, but slowly the sound of footsteps, that Jack had heard, grew louder. As the rest of the people in the room head the footsteps, the tension became palpable.The room full of people was silent, no one even breathed.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 59: Honest Hero

This is the 59th a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

Honest Hero, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 29th January 2012

Word count: 852

The Story:

“You’re a hero,” the young woman said as she wrapped her arms round his neck and planted a warm wry kiss in his cheek.

“Erm,” the Yorkshireman struggled to get his bearings, “It was nothing.”

“Let me shake the hand of the finest man on this island, if not the world,” the brash American said in his Hawaiian shirt.

It was all kind of comical really, the Yorkshireman hasn’t actually done much at all. Not really, yes he’d stood in front of the would be kidnapper almost instinctively, but he was still no threat to the kidnapper. Someone else from out of no where floored the guy.

The police arrived, they arrested the still unconscious kidnapper, spoke to the boy he’d tried to take, and they were asking questions of bystanders , and people would point at the Yorkshireman.

“So you saved the boy?”the policeman finally asked in heavily accented English.

“No honestly, I just stepped out in front,” the Yorkshireman, preferring honesty.

“You must be like wall,” the policeman said conspiratorily.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 60: The Big Rig Charity

This is the 60th a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

The Big Rig Charity, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 30th January 2012

Word count: 592

The story:

“When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut!” little Henry had shouted in nursery when asked.

So obviously he’d become a truck driver. It was a good life though, he loved the open road, the checks and scorecards, miles per hour, per gallon and per tonne satisfied his OCD, and he wrote songs as he drove, kept himself entertained and alert.

Henry enjoyed his work. His personal life not so much, twice divorced, currently single, no kids. His brother looked down on him for some reason. His parents had both died while he and his brother were in their twenties, his brother was his only family, aside from two ex-wives, but he was only on speaking terms with one of them.

Still it wasn’t so bad, he spent the better part of fifty hours a week on the road, which was ample distraction from all these worries.

That’s a big part of the reason why he volunteered for the mission. That and he genuinely cared about the cause.

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Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 58: How to Kill Demons from Another Dimension

This is the 58th a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.

How to Kill Demons from Another Dimension, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 28th January 2012

Word count: 546

The story:
When it happens, it always happens fast. If you want to survive, it doesn’t come down to chance, it’s preparedness, if you’re not prepared, you die.

Trust me, I’ve been doing this a lot longer than everyone else.

I got sucked into their dimension years ago, I only got back when they’d already invaded. It’s easier to survive here than it is there. There, they have nearly nothing we would call food. Here there are still homes and shops with food in them.

If you’re hearing me, you must have survived too, you already know this. What you probably don’t know is, I can kill them.

First thing you need to know is, it’s no good once they’re hunting you, when they hunt they are extremely alert,, and even the best weapons won’t harm them. I found this out in their world, I was being hunted and I decided to fight back. I had a rudimentary blade, and as it struck I tried to stab it.

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