Andrew couldn’t believe how lucky he was to be bedding this beautiful woman. She hadn’t told him about her praying mantis fetish.
Tag: surprise
#quikfic 121
“Kyle, I’m leaving you for another man.” Kyle pondered. “I hope his name isn’t Wyatt, because he’s the guy I’m leaving you for.”
#quikfic 48
“You want my body?” she asked. “God, yes!” he said. “Good. I want yours.” She drew her gun and fired. “At the bottom of a lake.”
Quotable 135
The real joy of writing comes from surprising oneself.
– Alfred Kazin
#quikfic 31
My gasoline bomb hit the big snake on the altar of the ruined church. Fire for the devil. I turned. The devil always has friends.
Quotable 105
The only good writing is intuitive writing. It would be a big bore if you knew where it was going. It has to be exciting, instantaneous and it has to be a surprise. Then it all comes blurting out and it’s beautiful. I’ve had a sign by my typewriter for 25 years now which reads, “DON’T THINK!”
– Ray Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012)
Pen to Paper: Really Listening to ‘High Fidelity’
I’m not a big fan of the cinema, but occasionally I’ll latch onto a movie and not turn it loose until I’ve wrung it dry of its secrets. I have to know why I like it so much; I want to know what makes it tick.
One such movie is High Fidelity, directed by Stephen Frears from Nick Hornby’s wonderful book and starring John Cusack in a world-class performance. I’ve studied that movie and learned some valuable things about plotting. One of the keys to this story is the use of surprise. This is where I learned how crucial surprise can be in fiction.
Hideous, terrible spoilers begin here for those who haven’t viewed the movie. Do as you like, but you’ve been warned.
Continue reading “Pen to Paper: Really Listening to ‘High Fidelity’”
Fiction: Accept Our Condolences
Marla started working her way through the pile of mail that the girls had been stacking up on the end table. It was mostly sympathy cards, of course. The electric bill, punctual as always. A reminder from her dentist that it was time for her checkup – as if she cared about her teeth after losing the man she’d loved. And an envelope bearing the name of a local law firm. She opened it.
“Dear Mrs. Furst:
“Please accept our condolences on the sudden death of your husband, Jacob. He was quite pleasant to know and we were pleased to have done some work for him shortly before his death.
“Enclosed is a bill for services we rendered before his untimely demise, in the matter of the divorce proceedings he was about to initiate. Needless to say, these arrangements had not been completed, nor had he finalized his new will to include his son, Samuel, by Ms. Torie Champel, whom he was planning to marry at a later date. She has retained our services and you may expect to hear from us again regarding that matter and Samuel’s share in the estate.
“All payments are due 30 days after the date on the invoice.
“Again, we are sorry for your loss.
“Sincerely…”