To Cut A Long Story Short

This weeks story is from only five or so years ago; To Cut A Long Story Short. [1258 words]

The idea for this one came from those classic conversations people always have about movies where they say "Why didn't he just do that?" and the response is always, "because it would make a really short film!" I figured that was pretty much a definition of a short story. So I thought I'd set up a classic survival/disaster plot but then simply not have it happen, have the person do the thing you want them to do. 

I decided on the people-trapped-in-a-lift scenario and it was pretty easy to write. As I got to the end I had a bit of a flash of inspiration and put in a whole 'flashback in a moment' type thing to make it more satisfying- reading it back last month I think this is what really makes the story, without it it would just be some slightly pretentious joke but that part really makes it a story.

As always, feedback is much appreciated,

B A Jones 31/03/2014

Goodbye Cruel World

This weeks' story is another old one, Goodbye Cruel World. [5169 words]

I wrote this during the same period as Old Dog, New Tricks, where I was trying to learn how to write by getting down to it. As I said previously, I set myself rules for each story, but for this one I honestly can't remember the rule... It was a long time ago (10 years!) but I have a feeling it was to not mention the main character's name or mention the name of the setting. I know that doesn't sound very challenging but back then I didn't have any experience and I discovered it gave it a fable-like quality by making it non-descript or vague- it could be anyone or from any time.

The idea came from the 'Second Iraq War', or when they bombed Baghdad in 2003. I watched it all live on TV and remembered clearly the 10-minute strategic bombing of the city as seen from the media balcony of the hotel. Then the next morning that crazy Iraqi propaganda minister would claim they'd hit schools and hospitals and the american (Colin Powell) would disagree. They showed aerial video of the city and you could see cars driving up and down the motorway and city streets and that had a big effect on me; people were still living there and going to work whilst bombs were falling!

I had two ideas for stories; this one, about someone running away from a city being destroyed around him and his normal, western life falling to pieces, and another one about someone carrying on as if nothing was happening. I wrote this, the short one and was very happy with it, and still am today.

The other idea I expanded on and when I quit Wetherspoons (yay!) I had three weeks off with no obligations and decided to work on it- I had the idea of writing a detective novel where the character has to solve a crime in a city being bombed; what's the point if their all gonna die anyway? that was my main theme. I wrote five chapters in five days, 20,000 words, and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, like a lot of my work that's as far as I ever got. Maybe one day I'll return to it, of all my unfinished projects that one was my favourite.

The title is also my favourite title of all my stories. I gave it to both projects since they're connected and it just seemed so fitting- I love the dark connotation of the phrase as a suicide cliche, a classic futile expression of turning your back on something, but meaning the world, ie not just your life but your whole world being destroyed.

Any feedback is always welcome,

B A Jones 24/03/2014

Old Dog, New Tricks

This weeks' story is my oldest one: Old Dog, New Tricks. [652 words]

I wrote it 10 years ago, in 2004, when I was living in Exeter after I'd graduated. I'd decided to become a writer and, stupidly, ignored ALL advise and charged straight into writing a novel. 

It didn't work out at all, I got increasingly annoyed with it and it was obvious I didn't know what I was doing... I was working 50+ hours at a horrible kitchen and would stay up late after getting home to write and because it wasn't going well I was getting very depressed. A friend of mine (a girl) had really annoyed me and I went out for a walk at about 2 in the morning and argued with her in my mind and came up with this story idea, a really short one, about being in a relationship with someone that you hate and acting maliciously instead of being honest. I got home and immediately bashed it out and in the 10 years since haven't had to change a single word of it!

Obviously, it's very short. I wrote it like that because I wanted to get the idea out quickly whilst I was angry and when I read it back through I really liked how short it was. I came up with an idea- I couldn't write, that was obvious, I didn't know how. I needed to learn. So I decided to begin writing short stories to teach myself the skill- each story would have a rule that had to be followed; write only in the first person, tell a story all in someones thoughts, write something entirely in speech marks, etc. 

In the end I wrote 20 stories and several of those will be made available over the coming weeks. They taught me a huge amount about writing, even if I thought no one would read them. I dumped my novel I had been trying and started something new and it was a completely different experience to write...

So I hope you enjoy this one, remember that it ISN'T autobiographical in any way, and please feel free to feedback as you like!

B A Jones 17/03/2014