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Drabbles Needed! Authors, have a go.
Obvious really. It's how I got mine! Oh, did I say that out loud? ;)
Wow.A pint of brandy down the pub.
Just wow.
The latest in my Drabble Classics series has been posted in the Indie Book Bargains newsletter (visit www.indie-book-bargains.co.uk to sign up for the daily newsletter and get daily Kindle bargains) and I've copied it below.
The Faust legend is one of the core stories that has been revisited many times and sparked some of the great classics in literature, Goethe's Faust, Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus and Marlowe's The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus being the three that stand out. Of the three Christopher Marlowe's play has always been my favourite and inspired my own novel Faust 2.0.
If you haven't read the rest of the Drabble Classics series then you can do so here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/d...
The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus
Low born, yet studious Faustus earned his fame and his doctorate. Through his wisdom his knowledge became keen and admired, but he wished to know all, to know beyond what mortal man should ever comprehend.
Through the darkest necromancy he agreed a pact for twenty four years of life confirmed and the devil Mephistopheles his to command. Witnessed by Lucifer and with his own blood he signed the deal and the divine warning ignored.
His wisdom now abandoned, he squandered his vast power in trivial concern. One last warning to repent he ignored and his soul tasted flame for evermore.
That's part of the fun with the classics series is finding the old images that go with them.
My Scrooge-like look at Christmas!!The A to Z of Christmas by Jonathan Hill
Aspirin - my head hurts
Broken baubles
Candy canes - teeth rot
Diarrhoea - too much junk
Elf and safety nightmare
Fairy light electrocution
Granddad’s asleep again
Holly - bugger, pricked my finger!
Icy footpaths
Jonathan’s crappy puns
Kindle needs recharging
Lame TV
Mulled wine - ugh!
Novelty socks
Oh god, those socks are really bad
Paperback from gran - already read it
Queen’s rabbiting on about something
Rushing round the shops
Sprout overload
Television that’s lame (it bears repeating)
Ugly snowmen
Virile snowmen (carrot’s in the wrong place)
What? He’s not real?
X-ray - damn icy footpaths
Yule log looks like a turd
Zzzzz after dinner
Oh jeez Jonathan, that's wonderful!Funny, when Dave and I went shopping for the puddings his sis in law requested, I pointed to the Yule Log display and asked Dave if we should bring a nice big festive poo.
Beowulf is the latest in my Drabble Classics series where I take classic pieces of literature and recreate them in drabble form. As always the drabbles are posted first in the Indie Book Bargains newsletter (www.indie-book-bargains.co.uk) which is a great place for a daily drabble and the latest Kindle bargains.
I first read Beowulf when I was in school, it's a good example of Saxon epic poetry and is considered one of the earliest examples of classic English Literature.
You can read the rest of the Drabble Classics series here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/d...
And now, let's enjoy this classic tale in drabble form:
Beowulf
Three great battles are sung of Beowulf’s life, the first in the hall of King Hroðgar where the celebrations angered Grendel who slew many warriors within.
Beowulf wrestled the fell creature and tore off the creature’s arm. This caused his second battle, now against Grendel’s mother. They fought in her lair under the lake and with a magic sword he beheaded her.
King Beowulf’s final battle was against a dragon enraged by a theft from its horde. All but loyal Wiglaf abandoned him and together they slew the dragon, but Beowulf was mortally wounded and buried with the cursed treasure.
Great. I love Beowolf. I think I might be Grendel's mother - but don't tell my kids. They'll fight for who is Grendel!
The latest drabble in the Tales of the Imp series has been posted in the Indie Book Bargains newsletter (you can sign up for the newsletter here: www.indie-book-bargains.co.uk), I've also copied it below.If you haven't read the rest of the Tales of the Imp series then you can find them all here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/t...
The Imp's Christmas Carol
“I am the ghost of Christmas past,” the Imp said and I remembered all too many lonely Christmas days without turkey or gifts.
He nodded, “And now your Christmas present.” My mind passed over the guilt of the murder and settled on the joy of more money and respect in the office.
“I have brought you the good life and now see your Christmas future.” He promised me everything, my book would sell millions, I would marry a lovely woman and all it would cost me is my soul, what every imp wants for Christmas.
I agreed.
Wait a minute!
A challenge from Patti!A cookie to the first writer to use at least three of these words in a Drabble!
http://mentalfloss.com/article/51150/...
I'll have a go! :-)Amid all the hue and din, the Faerie paced to and fro before her troops.
"Today is the day." she announced proudly "Today is OUR day. "
The assembled crowd cheered and whooped and she raised her arms, trying to eke out the adulation.
"We will ride roughshod over our opponents and only allow them time for a short shrift before we win."
She took a long bow, allowing her wings to spread behind her in technicolour glory. She then turned to her handmaiden selected her weapon of choice and brandished a paintbrush.
"Today, we win the annual flower painting competition."
CLAIRE!!!!!Forget the cookie!
You may have my last chocolate!
For a banker, that's actually pretty impressive.
Thank you :-) Oohh, yum, chocolate, thank you very much Patti!That was my first go at a drabble, I think I should go back to my NaNoWriMo story when I'm just in from work rather than my days off! :)
I am dead impressed, young lady.Yes, you need to spend more time writing.
Iggy, your pointy stick, if you please.
Patti (baconater) wrote: "I am dead impressed, young lady.Yes, you need to spend more time writing.
Iggy, your pointy stick, if you please."
Thank you very much :)
The latest in the Murder Drabbles series has been posted in today's Indie Book Bargains newsletter (visit www.indie-book-bargains.co.uk to sign up for a daily drabble and Kindle bargains).If you'd like to read the other drabbles in this series you can do so here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/m...
Knock at the Door
I felt rather pleased with myself, sure I’d given into my impulse, but I’d thought my way through it. Every morning and every evening I watched the local news, waiting for the discovery of her body. For two weeks they reported nothing and every evening I dreamed of my hands around her throat.
Pleasant visions every night but the memory faded all too quickly. The memory no longer satisfied, I wanted something new. Someone to share that last tender moment with and I already had someone special in mind.
That pleasant thought was interrupted by a knock on my door.
The latest in the Murder Drabbles series has been posted in the Indie Book Bargains newsletter (check out www.indie-book-bargains.co.uk to sign up for their newsletter) and is copied below.If you're looking for other short and flash fiction then come on by the Facebook group set up for fans of writers of those forms:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/short...
The rest of the Murder Drabbles series can be found here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/m...
Keeping Cool
My heart stopped when I saw the two officers standing on my doorstep. I faltered for a moment; I almost succumbed to the urge to flee, but that calm voice deep within me counselled against making any rash decisions.
I listened to it, but my hand still trembled a little as I opened the door. They greeted me with officious politeness and asked if they could come in. In a voice that wasn’t my own I asked them why.
Nothing to worry about, just some routine enquiries, a few minutes of my time and they would be gone.
They lied.
The latest Tales of the Imp drabble has been posted (Thanks Rosen - check out her Indie Book Bargains site for a daily drabble and Kindle Bargains - www.indie-book-bargains.co.uk), for more drabble fun check out the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/drabbles
If you haven'tread the rest of the Tales of the Imp series or want to give them another look!) then you will find them all here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/t...
A Drink and a Dance
The Imp is a charming fellow when he wants to be. I don’t know how he’d set the date up but he’d chosen well, Lorraine was funny and smart and the girl of my dreams, literally in this case.
I joked, I reminisced and I charmed her with wit I didn’t possess. The evening wore on and a piano played slow numbers for lovers to dance the night away to.
The Imp has some moves on him too and I followed his moves to dance like I’d never danced before.
But in the back of my mind I wondered, why?
He's getting sinister now. Might cover up my ankles !;)
It's no good covering them up, he knows they're there :-)
Well, I'm not chopping them off - I'll fall over! ;)
Well you don't do it while you're standing up!
I've written two drabbles for a competition! The first one can be found here: New Year's Resolution.If you enjoy, please do consider voting for my story, as the competition will be judged based on the number of positive reader votes for each piece.
Andrew wrote: "I've written two drabbles for a competition! The first one can be found here: New Year's Resolution.If you enjoy, please do consider voting for my story, as the competition will be judged based o..."
Voted!
Cheers Michael! I saw you tweeted as well - many thanks!
The second of my New Year Resolution drabbles (and also my favourite, I think) can be found here: New Year's Resolution 2.0.Again, please do consider voting if you enjoy the story.
I shall go on and cast a few votes later today, Andrew. After the flurry of excitement yesterday, I might be able to settle my head to writing my own N Y drabble. :)
Gosh, thanks! I look forward to reading both your drabble and Ravenfold!
Dracula by Bram Stoker is one of the classic vampire stories, although most people will be familiar with the character from the numerous films (my favourite being Gary Oldman's portrayal). Although on the surface it's a horror novel (and for it's time quite a risque one) it is at heart a love story (and nothing wrong with that!). For modern readers it can hard work to read, but it's impact on horror and in particular vampire stories in the past century or so cannot be overstated.
To celebrate this classic novel I have written a drabble based on its plot, if you've not read the rest of the Drabble Classics serie sthen you can do so here:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/d...
Dracula
To Count Dracula’s castle Jonathan Harker travelled where he advised the Count and was then condemned to the company of his undead brides.
In London the Count arrived and stalked Jonathan’s fiancée Mina and her friend Lucy whom he turned into a vampire. The learned Van Helsing revealed the secrets of nosferatu and with their friends decapitated Lucy thus ending her curse.
Jonathan escaped and after marrying Mina returned to London and joined with their friends. Eventually they faced Dracula at the gates of his castle. After a desperate battle they slew the vampire and freed Mina from his bondage.
Great!These remind me of The National Theatre of Brent who used to do The Zulu Wars with a cast of two and a co-operative audience!
I found Dracula a pretty straightforward read (aged about 13), compared to many other 19th Century novels - and especially compared to Frankenstein, with which it's so often 'lumped in'.
Can I offer up a drabble?"Our Father"
Behold my teenage son there. The putto. As might be represented by Lucien Freud rather than Donatello. With halo having become sullied and slipped down from above his crown so as to cincture his features in the form of a hood. The monk with his vow of silence. The black friar stewing in his own tormenting juices. Angelic features framing a demonic countenance. And yet my wife constantly counsels me not to make him break his vow. Thereby he flagellates and scourges me even without removing his hands sheathed in the pouch in his hoodie. Our father who art in Hell...
I've succumbed, so produced a fairy story. I assume the title is not part of the 100 words.Tiny tales for tiny people
My tale is of ‘Neither’, a place just south of the 'Arc of Confusion'. Here maidens, giggling girlishly, chattering and sharing the endearments whispered to them the previous evening; wear silk gowns as they sweep the dew off the morning flowers. This they take and sell to the wee folk who use it for brewing exotic laxatives and for distilling into charms, specific against palsy, gastroenteritis and economists.
But most noteworthy amongst their customers is ill-favoured Twang, darkly cunning, who treats their boils with a poultice of horse dung and clay, heated on the slow, low-banked fires of his lust.
I could ring you on your mobile. Wistfully admire the reflex with which you scrabble to consult it, anticipating some friend on the other end. In full contrast to me being ten foot away from you. Passing me over with alacrity. Rubbing it in my face. I suppose that’s rather presuming you have my number actually listed in caller ID.Paging my son to talk to his Mum. The only way to get through to you, being down some fibre optics, bouncing signals off a distant mast. Even you would have to infer that as a farcical way to relate.
And a birthday treat for you. Here is a character I created perhaps twenty years ago for my daughter, because small girls need bedtime stories.Tiny tales for tiny people II
He picks irritably at his buskins, made from nettles (of course) that he retted himself. His supper a hunk of bread, softened by dunking in the homemade potato whiskey he distils by moonlight. He drinks it from a silver mounted vole’s skull. He slew (valiantly) the beast, stabbing it with a sword made from three pins, cold welded by the wheels of the ‘oh six forty-eight’, under the sign which reads ‘Preston and Beyond.’ He scowls down at the exquisite revels below him; flower fairies, simpering, whimsical, coquettish. Rejected, Nettles the weed fairy, who couldn’t be winsome for a pension.
Those are both excellent, Marc and Jim!Jim, were the nettles dew-retted? Makes all the difference, you know! :)
Oh course, and spun, widdershins, into thread
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Books mentioned in this topic
Lost Innocence: The Accused (other topics)Azazel (other topics)
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Andrew K. Lawston (other topics)Andrew K. Lawston (other topics)
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