Next meeting:
• Monday, August 9, 2010 6:30 – 9:00 PM
• Assignment: Finish the story:
Terry’s mind was elsewhere as he/she walked toward the lake. Perhaps that’s why he/she didn’t notice the stranger leaning against the maple tree, a lit cigarette in his right hand and a worn metal pail at his feet. The man watched Terry as he/she approached the shore, fully dressed in a pair of jeans, light grey hoodie, and black tennis shoes. Hesitating for just a moment, Terry stood at the water’s edge before reaching into the pocket of her sweatshirt and retrieving something the stranger couldn’t quite make out. He/she seemed to draw the object to his/her lips and kiss it before squatting down and placing it, gently, in the water.
• Add up to 600 words of your best fiction.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
More Publishing News
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette published Patty Gunnett's story about shopping in downtown Pittsburgh when she was a young girl. This is a nostalgic piece for some, while for others it's a glimpse into a different time and different place.
On the same day, the Tribune Review featured Jane Miller's piece on the intricacies of clock repair. Click on the links to be directed to the articles.
So excited to be working with such a group of talented writers!
On the same day, the Tribune Review featured Jane Miller's piece on the intricacies of clock repair. Click on the links to be directed to the articles.
So excited to be working with such a group of talented writers!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Publishing News
Another article in the Post Gazette by our very own Jimmy Dunn. And this one's about Norma's son!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Scarred
Hana Haatainen Caye
WAW June assignment
Ten years. Surely it was no more than, say five or six, right? She looked down at her left hand, brushing the scar lightly with her finger. Where had the years gone?
Ten years earlier
“Do you really have to leave?” Kate asked, reaching across the bed to touch Andrew’s back, attempting seduction with her fingertips.
“Katie, stop. You know I have to get home.” Andrew smiled as he glanced back at her. She continued her seductive fingertip dance across the elastic of his briefs.
“I said, STOP!” This time Andrew’s voice was stern…cold…devoid of intimacy. Kate recoiled, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them as she tucked her head in close to her chest, familiar with his Jekyll/Hyde mood swings. “You know the routine,” he continued, robotically. “This is the way things will always be. You need to remember that, Kate.”
She searched his eyes, looking for the gentle longing she was so familiar with. He was right. She had to remember the routine. The wife. The dog and kids. The minivan and soccer practice.
“You are nothing more than a distraction for him, Kate,” her best friend, Angela, often said.
“I’m sorry.” Her apology was nearly inaudible.
“Excuse me?” Andrew panned as his face contorted into something unrecognizable. “You’re sorry? Miss Katie Always Together Never Wrong is sorry? Well, whatta ya know? Indeed wonders never…”
“I said I was sorry, okay. I know the rules. Just leave, okay?”
“Now she wants me to leave. What if I don’t want to Miss Katie? What if I decide to spend the night? What then?’
“What do you mean?” Kate was clearly confused. She started to tremble as she pulled the sheet up around her naked body.
“It’s about time you covered up. You disgust me,” Andrew spat. “You dis-gust me, do you know that?”
Katie was silent, wrinkling the white bamboo top sheet between her clenched fists.
“I asked you a question, Katie. What are you, deaf and dumb?”
“I heard the question, Andrew. I just don’t know what you want me to say. I’m sorry I disgust you. But it didn’t seem that way a half hour...”
“Bitch!” The back of his left hand made contact with her right cheek.
“Stop,” Kate cried out. “Andrew, stop it right now. I want you to leave.” She was crying now.
“Ahhh, issa baby kwying? Poor wittle Katie.”
“I told you to leave,” she repeated.
“You told me? You told ME? And who the hell do you think you are?”
Andrew grabbed her by the wrists and dragged her off the bed, onto the Berber carpet and across the room. Opening the second story window, he picked her up, attempting to push her through it. Her fingernails dug into his wrist.
“Shit!” he yelled, as he pried her hand away. With one swift move, he hurled her body out the window. A huge bush blocked her fall and she screamed as a leafless branch pierced through her left hand.
“Umm, yeah, I guess I….”
“Hello, Katie. I’m so glad I didn’t miss the blooming of the rhododendron thisyear.” 
WAW June assignment
Ten years. Surely it was no more than, say five or six, right? She looked down at her left hand, brushing the scar lightly with her finger. Where had the years gone?
Ten years earlier
“Do you really have to leave?” Kate asked, reaching across the bed to touch Andrew’s back, attempting seduction with her fingertips.
“Katie, stop. You know I have to get home.” Andrew smiled as he glanced back at her. She continued her seductive fingertip dance across the elastic of his briefs.
“I said, STOP!” This time Andrew’s voice was stern…cold…devoid of intimacy. Kate recoiled, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them as she tucked her head in close to her chest, familiar with his Jekyll/Hyde mood swings. “You know the routine,” he continued, robotically. “This is the way things will always be. You need to remember that, Kate.”
She searched his eyes, looking for the gentle longing she was so familiar with. He was right. She had to remember the routine. The wife. The dog and kids. The minivan and soccer practice.
“You are nothing more than a distraction for him, Kate,” her best friend, Angela, often said.
“I’m sorry.” Her apology was nearly inaudible.
“Excuse me?” Andrew panned as his face contorted into something unrecognizable. “You’re sorry? Miss Katie Always Together Never Wrong is sorry? Well, whatta ya know? Indeed wonders never…”
“I said I was sorry, okay. I know the rules. Just leave, okay?”
“Now she wants me to leave. What if I don’t want to Miss Katie? What if I decide to spend the night? What then?’
“What do you mean?” Kate was clearly confused. She started to tremble as she pulled the sheet up around her naked body.
“It’s about time you covered up. You disgust me,” Andrew spat. “You dis-gust me, do you know that?”
Katie was silent, wrinkling the white bamboo top sheet between her clenched fists.
“I asked you a question, Katie. What are you, deaf and dumb?”
“I heard the question, Andrew. I just don’t know what you want me to say. I’m sorry I disgust you. But it didn’t seem that way a half hour...”
“Bitch!” The back of his left hand made contact with her right cheek.
“Stop,” Kate cried out. “Andrew, stop it right now. I want you to leave.” She was crying now.
“Ahhh, issa baby kwying? Poor wittle Katie.”
“I told you to leave,” she repeated.
“You told me? You told ME? And who the hell do you think you are?”
Andrew grabbed her by the wrists and dragged her off the bed, onto the Berber carpet and across the room. Opening the second story window, he picked her up, attempting to push her through it. Her fingernails dug into his wrist.
“Shit!” he yelled, as he pried her hand away. With one swift move, he hurled her body out the window. A huge bush blocked her fall and she screamed as a leafless branch pierced through her left hand.
“Oh I hate that stupid rhododendron,” was the last thing she heard her once gentle lover say, as she faded away into a blackout.
***
Kate stopped rubbing her scar when her cell phone started to chirp.
“Yeah?” It was Angela.
“Just checking to make sure you’re okay.” The concern in her friend’s voice was apparent. “I talked to Gerry at the station this morning.”
“Yeah,” Katie repeated, this time as a statement.
"I can’t believe that pig is getting out today… Are you scared?”
“Umm, yeah, I guess I….”
She felt the thrust of a fist pounding into her spine as she went hurling across the room.
“Hello, Katie. I’m so glad I didn’t miss the blooming of the rhododendron this
Next meeting:
Monday, July 12, 2010 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Assignment: The Post Gazette is looking for more stories! Based on the success of the last PG assignment, here’s another one:
Igloo Memories - your most notable experience at the Civic Arena, Mellon Arena, Igloo or whatever you prefer to call it.
Baseball Lore - Write about your connection to the 1960 World Series, the Pirates or baseball generally.
Raves - Sing the praises of some present-day, Pittsburgh-area setting or activity you want others to know about. (avoid commercial endorsements)
Biography - If a person you know or knew lived an interesting life worth others reading about, let them know as correctly as possible.
Out-of-Towners - Non-Pittsburgers' impressions of the city. A memorable visit or encounter.
Storytelling - Something meaningful - an event, location, job, etc. that has a Pittsburgh connection.
Local Dispatch - A catch-all category of good writing on a variety of topics related to Western PA.
Now, if you don’t want to write a non-fiction article for possible publication in the PG, do a fictional one, just for fun!
Additional option: The Trib is looking for stories too:
They're looking for articles for their "Great Dates" weekly series "to help you maximize your free time with your kids, your buds, your gal pals -- or your love interest."
If this appeals to you more than the topics for the PG, go for it for this month's assignment. They didn't post a word count limit, but generally, we're looking at less than 750 words.
See you Monday! Stay cool!!
Hana
Monday, July 12, 2010 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Assignment: The Post Gazette is looking for more stories! Based on the success of the last PG assignment, here’s another one:
Igloo Memories - your most notable experience at the Civic Arena, Mellon Arena, Igloo or whatever you prefer to call it.
Baseball Lore - Write about your connection to the 1960 World Series, the Pirates or baseball generally.
Raves - Sing the praises of some present-day, Pittsburgh-area setting or activity you want others to know about. (avoid commercial endorsements)
Biography - If a person you know or knew lived an interesting life worth others reading about, let them know as correctly as possible.
Out-of-Towners - Non-Pittsburgers' impressions of the city. A memorable visit or encounter.
Storytelling - Something meaningful - an event, location, job, etc. that has a Pittsburgh connection.
Local Dispatch - A catch-all category of good writing on a variety of topics related to Western PA.
Now, if you don’t want to write a non-fiction article for possible publication in the PG, do a fictional one, just for fun!
Additional option: The Trib is looking for stories too:
They're looking for articles for their "Great Dates" weekly series "to help you maximize your free time with your kids, your buds, your gal pals -- or your love interest."
If this appeals to you more than the topics for the PG, go for it for this month's assignment. They didn't post a word count limit, but generally, we're looking at less than 750 words.
See you Monday! Stay cool!!
Hana
Short Fiction Contest!
Here's your chance to show off your short fiction...and win $$$!
http://writersdigest.com/short
Good luck!
Hana
http://writersdigest.com/short
Good luck!
Hana
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Glimmer Train Very Short Fiction Contest
Upcoming deadline:
The July Very Short Fiction closes July 31. This category is open to original, unpublished stories of all subjects and themes. We welcome yours!
See guidelines.
Entries should not exceed 3,000 words. (Any shorter lengths are welcome.) First place wins $1,200 and publication in Issue 81 of Glimmer Train Stories. Second- and third-place winners receive $500/$300 (or, if chosen for publication, $700).
Editors' Take on Very Short Fiction Submissions.
The July Very Short Fiction closes July 31. This category is open to original, unpublished stories of all subjects and themes. We welcome yours!
See guidelines.
Entries should not exceed 3,000 words. (Any shorter lengths are welcome.) First place wins $1,200 and publication in Issue 81 of Glimmer Train Stories. Second- and third-place winners receive $500/$300 (or, if chosen for publication, $700).
Editors' Take on Very Short Fiction Submissions.
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