Tag: The Art of Writing

by: Simon Kurt Unsworth 

So I offered to do this blog about me and my writing, because I figured it’d be easy (because I’m optimistic) and because all writing is ultimately about ourselves anyway (so I’m told) and it’s about my favourite subject (according to my detractors). And then the deadline is upon me and the Mac’s screen is showing me a lovely white page and I have no idea what to write.

Literally no idea.

I’ve incentivised myself – no pizza or beer until after I’ve finished – which should get my creative juices flowing, but while we wait for that to start I’d better tell you the boring stuff. I’ve been a published author for just under 10 years, have three collections of short stories under my belt (Lost Places, Quiet Houses and Strange Gateways) so far with a fourth (Diseases of the Teeth)…

By Wordbylynda

I saw her eyes … just like mine;
she had a scar … (just like mine)
Body numb, face lifeless …

They pulled her out as the water drew her final breath
The crowd gathered to observe the tearful wreck,
oh what tears the water held on that sunny day,
as the sunny rays made the river water sparkle

I remembered driving down the road, sun on my skin,
beautifully burning my skin
Now I could no longer feel that burn,
could no longer feel a thing

Last I remembered was cool water breeze,
as it drew my life out of me.

Tales from The Lake: Volume 4 Submission Guidelines

By Editor Ben Eads

 What we are looking for:

Non-themed short horror stories that arrests readers and leave them haunted for months to come. Stories must be original. We are not accepting reprints.

Since horror is the only genre of fiction defined by an emotion, your story must have the following:

• Believable, three-dimensional characters just as real as your friends and neighbors. A real world—hitting all the senses—these characters inhabit.
• Originality is just as important—we don’t want your version of someone else’s story from yesteryear.
• Although our arms are wide open, we’re more interested in fiction that reflects the modern. Joe Hill, and Mercedes M. Yardley are prime examples of current dark fiction writers encapsulating the above in their work.
• Quality of the work must be top notch! The following authors have appeared in previous Tales from The Lake anthologies: Jack Ketchum, Ramsey…

The American Rangers who were tasked with freeing 500 American POWs from a camp in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, were flanked by a large group of Filipino guerrillas who escorted the Rangers to the camp and back. On pp. 112 – 113 of Ghost Soldiers, there is a section on moving through a field of native grass (cogon) at night.

TRIGGER WARNING: Horror

A lot of the Filipinos believed the cogon fields were haunted places at night, and the Rangers could tell some of them were a bit spooked . . . Their devout Spanish Catholicism coexisted with a smattering of older ingidenous beliefs. Among other things, they believed in a certain demon called the aswang. An aswang was a person like anyone else during the day, but at night he shed his legs and sprouted wings and gadded around like a vampire, settling old scores and…

By FiftyShadesofGrease

“Did you cut your hair, Nikolas?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, I don’t like it.”

The teapot was lifted daintily, and poured in a similar fashion so as to not spill a drop.

“Hopefully this new man replacing you will know a thing or two about appearances.”

“Indeed, sir.”

The china cup was handed over, and he brought it to his lips.

“This is bitter Nikolas. You messed this up, too.”

“No, sir. It is a different brew, made especially for you.”

A second sip entered between his pursed lips.

“What is in it, then?”

“Rat poison, sir.”