Short Story Revise

 The local library was full of avid fans eagerly awaiting to meet Kyle Stevens the author of the latest Crimson Blade Novel Series. The line weaved out and around the library's entrance. As Kyle sat there staring at the line he awaited the next fan to approach his little desk.

Mr. Stevens this book is by far my favorite, the cliffhanger at the end of chapter twenty three made me not want to stop! The scrawny teenage girl pushed up her glasses with a single slender finger as Kyle opened the front cover.

So who should I make this out to? He readied his pen awaiting her response.

I don't know just Kimberly Wills I guess.

Kyle signed yet another name, at this point if he wasn't already, he was now a pro at signing his name. As the next few fans came and left he couldn't help but wonder to himself.

(Was this it? Was all my time in college, my numerous classes that all cost me a fortune, and my career as a writer, was all this the only thing I have to show for it? I know making a name and making money is good an all but is this it?)

The next fan came up to him, Kyle I am so glad to have finally meet you.

(Kyle, so we're on a first name basis huh?)

I have read all of your books even the ones that aren't that good –

(jeez thanks)

– and even the short stories and poems that were posted in the paper. I just have to say even though the first Crimson Blade was the best this one was still a great installment!

Well I'm glad I could deliver, so who should I make this one out to?

To your number one fan, Craig Higgins.

(Number one huh?) that was about the fiftieth “Number One Fan” he had signed that day alone.

The line died down and the library's staff were removing the desk, cardboard cut outs and other promotional objects. Kyle was ready to go and as he was about to leave a man entered the library.

Kyle hey so how was the signing?

Hey Nelson, it was you know, the same old same old.

Nelson was a childhood friend he met in elementary school. It was tradition for them to get coffee at the local coffee shop after a signing.

You ready?

Yeah I'll meet ya there.

The two were sitting at their usual table, So you get your usual?Nelson took another sip of his coffee.

You know me, I have a usual at every place we go.

So you have anymore on the next novel done?

Not really, nothing has come to me yet.

Hitting one of those ruts again?

Yeah I've been hitting those a lot lately huh?

Well I hope it doesn't affect ya too much.

Later that night Kyle was in his studio trying to get working on his book again. Anything, a page even a paragraph would be nice at this point.

(Damn it this is getting ridiculous, what is it that makes me feel this way? Being uncreative is one thing but it's this gut wrenching feeling I keep feeling, and no matter what it won't go away).

A loud song began to play and it took Kyle a few seconds to realize it was his cell phone before he fumbled through the clutter on his desk to retrieve his phone.

Yellow!

Don't address me so rudely say it right.

Grandma it's you, I'm sorry, hello how are you?

I'm doing fine I was calling to see how your book signing went that and you never call me.

Sorry Grandma you know I'm usually pretty –

I know I know, busy right? But too busy to call your dear ol' Grandmother?

I know I'm sorry, well the signing went ok, it was the usual.

You doing ok?

Yeah, Kyle sighed not really meaning what he said.

What's wrong?

Nothing why do you think something is wrong?

Cause I may not be your mother but I am a mother and I know what it sounds like when you aren't telling me the truth.

Well I sort of been getting in these odd ruts lately.

Like with your book?

Well not just with the book but with life and whatnot.

Well you know you wouldn't be in those ruts if you'd just find a good woman and settle down already.

I know Grandma, some day maybe. He said knowing full well it wasn't going to happen.

Well you know I'm just lookin' out for you.

I know, you always have, and I appreciate it.

Well I got to go I'll talk to you later, love you.

Love you too Grandma, bye.

Kyle hung up the phone and just sat there, what is this feeling? What is it that's missing in my life? I got a good family, good friends a nice career, so what is it?

Kyle abandoned his work, he had sunk too far into his rut. He got on the internet and Googled “Something missing in my life.” Let's see, “Something Missing meet the right person today.” I think the internet is in cahoots with my Grandma. He joked and continued to look at the following results. “Is there something missing in your life, fill that void in your life with God.” God huh, well I know that's not it.

After a plethora of Google results, none really calling out to him, Kyle decided to check his e-mail. Hmmm 1,000 e-mails let's see, crazy fan junk, do you need birth control spam, Kyle I'm your true love junk, how dare you kill off... junk, junk, junk and yep another one junk mail. One after another he sent one message after the other to the trash bin. Alright let's see this one ju– wait. Something about the next e-mail caught him, he didn't know why but he opened it and read the e-mail.

Dear Mr. Stevens,

My name is Chad Winters and I am a big fan of your work. I recently began to read your latest novel and I have to say it is the best so far. However, this isn't the reason I am mailing you, the reason is this; I would rather wish to meet you. I am a writer myself but never got the nerve to publish any of my works. I was wondering if you could read over a few of my works and see if they were worthy of publishing.

Your Fan, Chad Winters

Short Story Protagonist

My protagonist is a 31 year old man by the name of Kyle Stevens. he was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was given up for adoption at birth and adopted by Lori and David Stevens. He had no adopted siblings but has a twin brother, Chad Winters, who was seperated from him at birth, whom he doesn't know. He graduated at Bulter University with a MFA in Creative Writing. He was a good student but was often lazy and didn't get started on assignments until a few days before they were due from lack of motivation. He loves writing and loved any class having to do with writing. His parents were Lori and David, his mother was 20 and his father was 25 when he was adopted. They both died in a tragic car wreck when Kyle was 15, they passed at the age of 35 and 40. They both passed away one week after the wreck which occurred on Christmas Eve. This caused Kyle to doubt God and to waver away from his religion. He loves anything Italian and even likes to cook on occasion. His friends and remaining family is all he has and keeps in contact as often as possible. He is single and doesn't mind it, actually prefers it that way due to the stressful and busy life as a writer. He occasionally drinks here and there but mainly during a celebratory or special event.

Short Story Goal

This is my first attempt at a Short Story piece. I have written numerous drafts of longer novels but the Short Story formula is new and difficult for me. I also have a tendency to tell my stories instead of show what is happening. This is what I plan on getting accomplished, I hope to write a story that not only shows the reader with vivid detail but also gets them into the life and mind of the character(s). I have a lot of revising ahead of me but I hope I can give my reader a story worth reading and following until the end and not just a chronological tale of one moment to the next.

Things I'm Proud Of

1 I have never smoked
2 I have never done any drugs
3 I have never gotten drunk
4 I have a job
5 I work for my money
6 I am no longer a free loader
7 I got accepted into college
8 I passed my advanced standing for my Art Degree
9 I graduated High School
10 I have finished the first book in my novel series
11 I have got a substantial amount done on the second book
12 I still have an apartment
13 I am getting descent grades this semester
14 I have passed all my classes at Northwest so far with a C or higher
15 I never gave up on school
16 I never gave up on my family (even if they drive me crazy sometimes)
17 I have been with my girlfriend for three years
18 My future Sister-in-law turning her life around
19 Her trying to be in her daughter's lives
20 I finished two years at Maple Woods Community College
21 I got my Highschool Diploma
22 I walked at my Graduation
23 I tried out for my high school's Theatre Department's Shorts during my Senior Year
24 I got picked for two short plays for Shorts
25 I performed in Shorts
26 I still have a relationship with my mother
27 My sister got married two years ago
28 I have passed all my Art Classes with a C or above
29 Most of those classes were passed with a B or above
30 I didn't have to take a drawing class at Northwest because I passed an equivalent back at Maple Woods
31 Getting my drivers permit at age 15
32 Getting my drivers license
33 My new kitty Spaz
34 My close friends and roommates getting engaged
35 My mom getting an apartment after selling the house
36 My Sister graduating college
37 My sister getting a teaching job
38 Getting an apartment
39 Keeping up rent and staying in our apartment
40 Staying in contact with my friends (even though I wish I could do it more often)
41 Visiting my family more often due to a new work schedule
42 Not quitting my not so amazing job
43 Making more hours due to the new schedule
44 My dearly departed dog Midnight
45 Me passing my Lifeguard certification three years in a row
46 Keeping my Lifeguard job back in Kansas City for three consecutive summers
47 Keeping my job at the BP gas station back in Kansas City for two years before it closed down
48 Keeping up my new work out schedule
49 Cutting back on soda
50 All of the creative writing I have done in the past and currently done

Nature Walk Poem

Life of a Shrub

by Seth Johnson

The solitary shrub,

its lonely,

it cries out:

“Where am I”

The Shrub stands alone in a scene of death

the cold stones along with the old wooden fence

block the people of the parking lot from the view of the street.

The gnarly weeds wrap around the rocks consuming everything in their path,

they corrupt and kill leaving nothing but the shrub alive.

The old withered trees bend over from age

and give their final bow as they leave this world.

The shrub is the only sign of life amongst the death around itself.

“Why?” the shrub asks.

“Why must I be all alone?”

Alone is the shrub, and alone it will be until the day it

Dies.

Writing Schedule

To be honest no I have not been keeping up with my writing schedule lately. Time, as always, is not on my side, among the classes I have, lunch, dinner, homework, studying and oh yeah sleep, writing has been the last thing on my mind. This depresses me, I wish I had the time, writing does help me and even sometimes it calms me. It does what nothing else, other than my art which I also haven't found time for, can, it gives me the feeling of creating something my own. I hope one day soon I can somehow find time to write again so I may create once more.

Praise the Macaroni

I Praise the Macaroni & Cheese,
it is praised because for countless meals and countless nights,
it was there.
It recalls nights of me and my Mother watching our favorite shows eating the golden gooey goodness.

Praise my Mother for never having the stomach for seconds,
allowing me to have seconds, thirds and even left overs.

Praise the Left Overs that gave me countless reheatable meals for lunch,
for school,
summer days when I was home alone,
or for the early collage days when days ended before noon.

I Praise the Macaroni & Cheese not only for my past,
but because even now it blesses me with a simple but tasty meal that is ever so cheap.

I Praise the Macaroni & Cheese because,
it has always been there to make my belly,
a happy one.