Skip to content

Morgen 'with an E' Bailey

Author, Tutor, Speaker, Editor, Comp Judge: www.morgenbailey.com

  • Home
  • …Author
    • Collaborations
      • Happily Never After
    • Editing Fiction ~ A Writer’s Guide
    • Novels
      • After Jessica
      • Hitman Sam
      • Oh, Henry (Henry Houdini #1)
      • The Serial Dater’s Shopping List
    • Poetry
    • Short Stories
      • ‘Fifty 5pm Fictions’ Collections
      • April’s Fool (short story)
      • Feeding The Father (monologue)
      • Story A Day May Collections
        • SADM 2011
        • SADM 2012
        • SADM 2013
      • Telling Tales
      • The Dark Side (2ppov short story)
      • The Threadbare Girl (short story)
      • Tuesday Tales
    • Writer’s Block Workbooks
      • 365-Day Writer’s Block Workbook (Vol 1)
      • 365-Day Writer’s Block Workbook (Vol 2)
  • …Editor
    • Morgen’s (Free) Email Critique Group
      • Non-Fiction Critiquers
      • Poetry Critiquers
      • Script Critiquers
  • …Ghostwriter
  • …Mentor
    • Morgen’s Micro Masterclasses
    • Online Courses
      • Student Area
        • Current projects
        • Inspiration
        • Writing courses and events
      • The Parcel Project 2015
    • Podcasts
  • …Speaker
  • 100-word comp
  • 500-word comp
    • BeaconLit Literary Festival
  • Be My Beta Reader
  • Contact Me
  • Information
    • Competitions
      • 2013 Results
      • 2014 Results
      • Be my Writers’ Forum Competitive Edge guest
      • Free to Enter Competitions
      • H.E. Bates Short Story Competition
      • NLG Poetry Competition
      • Tips – an insider’s view
      • Tips – how to enter
    • e-Books
      • How to create an eBook
        • How to create a Table of Contents
        • How to create an eBook cover
        • Tax issues for non-US eBook authors
      • Morgen’s Books
    • Events
    • Links
      • Indies Unlimited
      • Jane Wenham-Jones
        • Wannabe A Writer
      • Other writers’ books
        • Book Groups
        • Children’s & YA
        • Free Books
        • Non-fiction
        • Novels & Novellas
        • Poetry
        • Scriptwriting
        • Short Stories & Flash Fiction
        • Writing-related
      • Other Writing-Related WordPress Blogs
      • Radio Litopia
    • Other goodies
      • 5A.M. FLASHES
      • Archive
      • eNewspapers
      • First Times
      • Fun
      • Marketing
      • NaNoWriMo
        • Camp NaNoWriMo – April 2013
      • Novel Nights In
      • Podcast
        • Podcast ‘Red Pen’ Episodes
        • Podcast interviews & reviews
        • Podcast mixed episodes
        • Podcast Short Stories
      • Publishing
      • Quotes
      • Schedule
      • SSS
      • Videos
      • Writing Groups
        • Online Writing Groups
          • Writing Prompts
      • Writing guides
      • Writing Magazines
    • Submission info.
      • Opportunities on this blog
      • Submissions – children’s
      • Submissions – flash fiction & short stories
        • Submissions – women’s magazines
      • Submissions – non-fiction
        • Online Content Writing
      • Submissions – Novels
      • Submissions – Sci-fi, fantasy, horror etc.
      • Submissions – Scripts
    • Tips
      • 2PPOV
      • Character names
      • Exercises
      • Ideas
      • Pitching to an Agent
      • Sentence starts
      • Writing a synopsis
      • Writing scripts
      • Writing-related books
  • Monthly Newsletter
  • Morgen with an E
    • About Morgen
      • Ask Me
        • Ask the Experts
      • Donate
      • My Blogs
      • My collaborations
      • Photography
  • Reading
    • Flash Fiction
      • 5pm Fiction
        • Micro Fiction
      • 6-word FFFs
      • NLG Flash Fiction Competition
      • Online Short Story Writing Group
    • Guests
      • Author spotlights
      • Contributors
        • Our writing
      • Guest blogs
        • Guest blog topics
      • Interviews
        • Blogspot interview revisits
    • Poetry
      • Online Poetry Writing Group
    • Reviews & Reviewers
      • Book & Story Reviews
      • Reviewers – children’s
      • Reviewers – Crime
      • Reviewers – fantasy, horror, sci-fi
      • Reviewers – flash fiction & short stories
      • Reviewers – Historical
      • Reviewers – Non-Fiction
      • Reviewers – poetry

Tag: self-publishing

Guest post: Emotional Truth by John Vorhaus

December 16, 2014December 12, 20142 Comments

Today’s guest blog post, on the topic of the craft of writing, is brought to you by scriptwriter, non-fiction author and ‘sunshine noir’ mystery novelist (amongst many other skills) John Vorhaus.

Emotional Truth

John VorhausWriters often find themselves confronted by the question, “What is emotional truth?” and the further question, “How do I put it on the page?” As someone who has taught and trained writers all over the world – and of course struggled with these questions myself – I find that writers go through predictable stages in their quest to convey authentic emotional meaning in their work.

At first, many writers have no idea that such a thing as emotional truth even exists. They are focused solely on making the plot work, making the jokes funny, or advancing the action from event to event. At this stage, there is little or no thought to a work’s deeper meaning or deeper human truth. Call this the “run and jump” phase of our writing careers, when all we can really see, and all we can adequately convey, are the mechanical aspects of the work; the mysteries of the human heart yet elude us.

As we mature as writers, we become aware that there’s such a thing as emotional truth, but we have no effective means of transmitting this information from brain to page. Our first efforts in this direction often seem awkward, stilted, and self-conscious. We might try to write, “I love you,” only to recoil in horror at the awful, stilted, clichéd obviousness of that thought. We hate or castigate ourselves for writing so artlessly about subjects so important. We haven’t yet made, at least to our satisfaction, the connection between simple human truths and meaningful, effective, evocative presentation on the page.

But we get better. We do. We grow and develop, deepen our awareness of the emotional truths we wish to convey, and also acquire strategies and tactics for doing so in a satisfying way. We discover tools like text and subtext, and bring our writing to the point where one character may say to another, “Would you like a cup of coffee?” and have it understood to mean, “I yearn for you to the bottom of my soul.” We become writers with sufficient insight to detect emotional truth and sufficient toolcraft to capture and preserve it in words. So we’re home and dry, right?

Maybe not. Maybe we’re still afraid.

In conveying emotional truth on the page, writers must make certain leaps of faith. Sooner or later we have to recognize that writing about emotional things will necessarily expose us to the very feelings we’re trying to express – feelings we might not be entirely comfortable with. To write successfully at this stage, we have to become okay with just feeling what we’re feeling. We also have to be ready to accept judgment from others – family and friends, other writers, the audience at large. We have to be ready to take a stand and say, “This! This is what I believe! This is how I think the human condition works!” That’s a big step. Some writers can’t make it – their story absolutely ends here. For fear of confronting their feelings and for fear of others’ opprobrium, they just never find their way to being honest on the page.

Those who do overcome their fear enter a state of maturity in relation to emotional truth: They know it’s out there; they desire to express it; they have the means to do so; and they are not afraid. This, as far as I’m concerned, is the ultimate goal of a writer’s life: To know the truth; to speak the truth; and to be not afraid.

So then we can think of a writer’s journey to emotional truth as a road toward deeper understanding, better toolcraft, and freedom from fear. It’s useful to stop and ponder from time to time where we are on this road. I myself am currently exactly here: I have a pretty good hand on interpersonal truth – how people are with one another – and now I’m trying to tackle philosophical truth and spiritual truth. I’m trying to convey my deepest beliefs without sounding like a dork or a preacher or both. It’s not easy, and I’m not entirely unafraid, for who wants to look like a preachy dork? But I’m soldiering on, because it’s my understanding that this is what living the writer’s life is really all about: going deeper; and having gone deeper, going deeper still.

Continue reading →

Guest post: Self-publishing can be a great experience, but authors need to watch the details by Marianne Curtis (and giveaway)

December 11, 2014December 10, 20144 Comments

giveaway-graphicToday’s guest blog post is brought to you by non-fiction author, poet and novelist Marianne Curtis.

Scroll down for details of Marianne’s rafflecopter.com giveaway. Marianne has also kindly offered to provide a free eBook to five people (at her discretion) commenting or leaving a question for her within the comment section below. So, do leave a comment or question for Marianne and I shall forward them on.

Self-publishing can be a great experience, but authors need to watch the details.

I find myself writing this post after receiving a book to review for my blog, Moondust and Madness. I’ve been excited to see this particular book, ever since I heard it was released. It was a self-published book by a local author, consisting of a collection of poetry and short stories about her life after escaping domestic violence. I was thrilled and very proud for her. It takes guts to share a story like that (I know).

The first thing I did was crack it open. Unfortunately, my next reaction was to gasp. I was confronted by page after page of white-space. There was writing at the top, nothing for the rest of the page, followed by several pages of stories, without a single indent. I was shocked it was actually justified. The writing was good – the layout was horrendous.

Before doing the review, I Googled her publisher. It was a well-known name in the business. I read page after page of mixed reviews; most were from authors complaining they did not get what they’d paid for. Being curious, I decided to investigate further. I was an author, I had manuscripts – let’s see what happens if I send one in.

I submitted my finished, self-published memoir Finding Gloria for their consideration. Within 48 hours I received an email saying the company wanted to publish it, and within another 48 hours, they were calling my home number. I got excited – briefly. Then reality hit – how many authors do not second-guess this stuff? Based on the twelve-page contract they sent me, I had to send them over $4,000 and they made a list of promises. I could get that money back, IF I sold over 1,000 copies. I have already sold over 30,000 copies after self-publishing. I was not confident they could do better. Yet, I was hopeful (like any author staring at an email from a ‘legit’ publishing company with an attached contract). The fact was I refused to pay $4,000 for someone else to do what I have already done – even though it meant a new marketing plan for a two-year-old book. Basically, it is a scam – NEVER pay a publisher for their services!!! If they ask you for money, RUN!

Back to this particular book ~ I am not one to give bad feedback; you never know if someone is going to take it badly. However, I feel horrible – this poor author was ripped off and I think that she should know. Using Createspace.com, through Amazon, she could have created the exact same book (with much better layout because obviously this company prints what you send them, and does not copy edit or address any layout issues) for about $2 a book. No need to invest $4,000 – which based on the little I know about her, must have been difficult for her to raise. Unfortunately, many readers are going to pick up this little paperback and put it back down; unless they are looking for an extra note pad (you could write another book within the blank pages).

Continue reading →

Author Spotlight no.389 – mystery novelist and poet John J Hohn

November 29, 2014October 31, 20172 Comments

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and eighty-ninth, is of mystery novelist John J Hohn. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

John

John J. Hohn is the author of two five-star literary mysteries, Deadly Portfolio: A Killing in Hedge Funds, 2011 and a sequel, Breached, 2014. As I Was Passing By, a collection of poems, was published in 2000. His prize-winning poetry appears frequently on his web site along with articles on a variety of subjects. He plans to publish a book of selected works later in 2017.

BreachedHe contributes to various web sites dedicated to writing and publishing. His own website, www.jjhohn.com, features articles on a wide range of topics including book and drama reviews, autobiographical sketches, financial planning, and civil rights.

Born and raised in Yankton, South Dakota, USA, John graduated from St. John’s University in 1961 with a degree in English.

He is the father of four sons and a daughter, a stepfather to a son, and has resided in North Carolina since 1978.

He and his wife Melinda divide their time each year between their home in Winston-Salem, NC and a cabin near West Jefferson, NC.

 

*

And now from the author himself:

Continue reading →

Author Spotlight no.369 – novelist Jane Davis

May 24, 20143 Comments

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and sixty-ninth, is of novelist Jane Davis. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

JD Red TBWJane Davis lives in Carshalton, Surrey with her Formula 1 obsessed, star-gazing, beer-brewing partner, surrounded by growing piles of paperbacks, CDs and general chaos. She spent her twenties and the first part of her thirties chasing promotions, but when Jane achieved what he had set out to do, although the money was nice, she discovered that it was not what she had wanted after all. Seeking a creative outlet, she turned to writing fiction, but cites the disciplines learnt in the business world as what helps her finish a 120,000-word novel.

Her first, Half-truths and White Lies, won the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was described by Joanne Harris as ‘A story of secrets, lies, grief and, ultimately, redemption, charmingly handled by this very promising new writer.’ She was hailed by The Bookseller as ‘One to Watch.’ Four self-published novels followed: I Stopped Time, These Fragile Things, A Funeral for an Owl and An Unchoreographed Life. Of her writing, Compulsion Reads wrote, ‘Davis is a phenomenal writer, whose ability to create well rounded characters that are easy to relate to feels effortless.’ Jane’s favourite description of fiction is that it is ‘made-up truth.’

*

Jane describes her journey in self-publishing… Continue reading →

Author Spotlight no.344 – Kenna McKinnon

November 21, 2013November 27, 2013Leave a comment

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and forty-fourth, is of young adult/MG, sci-fi/fantasy, poetry, short stories, mystery, nonfiction author, poet and interviewee Kenna McKinnon. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

1. KennaKenna McKinnon is a Canadian freelance writer and self-employed medical transcriptionist, occasional runner, volunteer, sporadic student of hatha yoga, karate and kickboxing, and frequent walker.

She lives in a high rise bachelor suite in the trendy neighborhood of Oliver in the City of Edmonton.

SpaceHive_Front_Cover avatarHer most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she amazingly graduated with a degree in Anthropology (1975).

She has lived successfully with schizophrenia for many years and is now a senior woman, member of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta and the Canadian Authors Association.

She had three wonderful children and three grandsons.

DISCOVERY_-_An_Antho_Cover_for_KindleKenna is the author of SpaceHive, a middle grade sci-fi / fantasy novel traditionally published by Imajin Books; The Insanity Machine, a self-published memoir with co-author Austin Mardon, PhD, CM, including the latest research available at the time of writing; and DISCOVERY – A Collection of Poetry, all released in 2012.

Her books are available in eBook and paperback worldwide on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and selected bookstores and public libraries.

Kenna’s newest MG/YA novel, BIGFOOT BOY: Lost on Earth, was released on November 18th 2013 by Mockingbird Lane Press, a traditional small press and is available via Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk etc.

*

And now from the author herself:

Continue reading →

Author Spotlight no.340 – Lou Honderich

November 7, 2013December 14, 20133 Comments

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and forty-first, is of children’s author Lou Honderich. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

Lou HonderichLou Honderich is a former teacher and life-long horsewoman. During her teaching career she taught Kindergarten, first grade and elementary PE. Her hearing loss as an adult led her to the deaf community, sign language, and a new direction in teaching. She began to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing students in self-contained classrooms, mainstream situations, in summer camps and therapeutic horseback riding programs.

Lou and her husband live on a small farm in northwest Arkansas with their horses, dogs, cats and chickens.  They have five children and seven grandchildren.  Lou Honderich continues to enjoy riding as well as writing, and is currently at work on her next book.

*

And now from the author herself:

Continue reading →

Author Spotlight no.337 – Jim Sellers

October 19, 2013October 25, 20137 Comments

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and thirty-seventh, is of multi-genre author and interviewee Jim Sellers. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

Jim Sellers smile CU cropJim Sellers is the author of the newly released YA book “Jacky the Brave”. Although he had written works in most genres, he was surprised and happy to see his first publishing success was in YA. His writing in that genre is based mostly on events in his own life with some inspiration from friends and other family members. “Jacky the Brave” is just such a collection of his experiences.

Born in Edmonton in north-west Canada, Jim spent a lot of time reading and imagining exciting adventures as a kid. That was the favourite pastime of boys who didn’t play hockey and lived before the age of video games. Like most writers, he has been creating stories since his teen years and found the pen and paper to be a regular companion on long trips and quiet days. He also doubted that any of his work would be published – it seemed unlikely after watching other writers he knew trying so hard. So he set his sights on film and TV. During his 20 years in that business he learned the process of writing screenplays for drama and documentaries as well as advertising and corporate communications before retiring from that industry. For the last 10 years he has been working in communications management for non-profits groups and universities.

Jacky_CoverHe continued to write screenplays as show pilots or spec film scripts, most ending up in the rejection files. It was after he decided to get his Bachelor’s degree (at 50) that he learned to appreciate the sheer joy and freedom of writing fiction. It was this appreciation for fictional writing that caused him to re-evaluate all the abandoned stories he had filed away and all the adventures he had logged in his notes. In 2004, he made a project of writing a series of YA stories based on his previous writing. Each of these stories (4 in all) received different levels of interest from publishers and agents, with results ranging from boilerplate rejections to requests for full manuscripts (followed eventually by rejections). During this time he established a variety of websites about writing, posted his short stories and wrote a serial novel.

After repeated rewrites and editing, his first Young Adult novel was accepted for publication in 2013. He is working on a sequel for the book, a short story collection and a novel.

*

And now from the author himself:

Continue reading →

5PM Fiction 285: The photo that no-one else can get

October 18, 2013October 28, 20132 Comments

Welcome to the two hundred and eighty-fifth in this series that is ‘5pm Fiction’.

Late April 2011 I discovered StoryADay.org and the project that is to write 31 stories in 31 days. Anyone who knows me or follows this blog, knows how passionate I am about short stories so my clichéd eyes lit up at this new marvel. And just a few days later there I was, breathing life into new characters. This went on to become (with some editing of course) my 31-story collection eBook Story A Day May 2011. I have since published (as eBooks) the 2012 and 2013 collections, detailed on https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/books-mine/short-stories/story-a-day-may.

I was nearing completion of the 2012 project when I decided that I didn’t want to stop at the end of May so 5PM Fiction was born. I put a load of prompts on the 5PM Fiction page and today’s was to write a story in second person-viewpoint from the keyword prompt of ‘chase’. Here is my 356-worder.

The photo that no-one else can get

285 photographer 213059You’ve been chasing her for days, to get the photo that no-one else can get. She knows you’re there. There’s always someone there.

It’s a lifestyle she’s had to become accustomed to, only you don’t think she ever will. It’s not one you’d want, except she’s become your job, your life.

When she emerges out of the building, you reach over to your camera, on its dashboard tripod, and set it to continuous.

You follow her car through narrow streets, wide streets – her executive to your jalopy, the only thing you could get at short notice. You’re used to this place, she’s been here a lot.

Most of the shots are of the back of her head but you know she could look round. She has before.

As her car gathers speed so does yours. It complains but it’s not yours so you’re not bothered.

As she heads into the tunnel, she edges forward and you floor the accelerator, a little too close for comfort but you decide to go alongside, get level, no other cars in sight, so you swivel round your camera in anticipation, a momentary lapse in concentration.

Continue reading →

Flash Fiction Friday 109: Watcher by Angela Sturm

October 18, 2013October 11, 20134 Comments

Welcome to Flash Fiction Friday and the one hundred and ninth piece in this series. This week’s is a 467-worder by freelance writer, blogger and book reviewer Angela Sturm. This story will be podcasted in episode 34 (with two other stories and some 6-worders) on Sunday 1st December.

Watcher

I can see him making his way up the stairs. No one else appeared to notice. I called to him and he smiled. I took his outstretched hand and in an instant we were walking through the cornfield, talking laughing, knowing. I suspect this will be our last outing together. I want to cry but for some reason I can’t. I am strangely happy, content to say nothing.

I know what he is doing and why he’s doing it. He loves me. He wants me to be the first to know. I can hear crying in the background and people talking in hushed tones, moving about, but I can’t see anyone. “Can you see them?” I ask. “Yes, I can,” he said. You will see them soon enough.”

We continued to walk and although our lips weren’t moving, our conversation carried on. I am having trouble remembering much of anything said, I only know how peaceful this is and I never want to leave. I held tightly to his hand. Memories of early morning fishing expeditions, milk toast and that awful smell of head cheese he loved to make, filled my mind and made us both laugh. I remember him clothing and feeding the homeless and that silly dance he did every morning while singing the wake up song, pulling at his hair and making it stick up. I was laughing so hard I barely noticed that we’ve stopped walking. He is looking at me now, time standing still. He looks so serious, gently placing his hands on my cheeks, searching deep into my eyes. I think I saw a tear trickle down his face. I have only ever seen him cry once, and it was when he told me stories about the war and how no man should have to endure what he witnessed. War killed his spirit. I can feel my tears now. Our journey has come to an end.

The fields have disappeared. He’s not holding my face anymore. Desperate, I call out his name. “I am right here princess, do not be afraid.” I can barely see him. I call out again, “Why are you so far away?” “It is time,” he said. “I am going home.” Then a soft white light… well, more like a white cloud, appeared. He drew closer and smiled at me for the last time, then disappeared into the white fog.

A door opened somewhere, more crying. I hear my name. Something has my shoulder. “Ava, Ava, wake up, honey.” I turn to look at the clock. It’s after midnight. “Dad and I need to talk to you.” My room is filled with family. They are staring at me. “Grandpa died in his sleep,” they said, “in heaven now,” but I already knew this.

I watched him go.

*

I asked Angela what prompted this piece and she said…

My grandfather and I were very close. I remember like it was yesterday when he passed. I was sixteen, eating a tuna sandwich watching the wheel of fortune. My grandma called and simply said, “I think Grandpa is dead. Can I talk to your dad please?” Calm as could be. I know now she was in shock, but back then, I kept wondering how she remained so composed.

The flash fiction piece I wrote is based on actual events, but fictionalized. I miss my grandpa as much today as I did those many years ago when he died. I think about him often, the impact he had, and continues to have, on me, so I decided to memorialize him. “Watcher” was written with him in mind.

**

Thank you, Angela. It was very moving, and having lost my father September 2001, I feel just the same.

AngelaAngela Sturm is a freelance writer, blogger and book reviewer currently working on a novel.

Angela lives in Minnesota, is mother to three children and one grandchild, and blogs at http://insideasanemind.com.

***

If you’d like to submit your 6-word or 500-word max. stories for consideration for Flash Fiction Friday take a look here, or up to 1,000 words for critique on my Online Short Story Writing Group (links below).

** NEW!! You can now subscribe to this blog on your Kindle / Kindle app via Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com **

Cover montage 2You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything. You can contact me and find me on the internet, view my Books (including my debut novel The Serial Dater’s Shopping List, various short story collections and writer’s block workbooks) and I also have a blog creation / maintenance service especially for, but not limited to, writers. If you like this blog, you can help me keep it running by donating and choose an optional free eBook.

For writers / readers willing to give feedback and / or writers wanting feedback, take a look at this blog’s Feedback page.

As I post a spotlight or interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do. If there’s anything you’d like to take part in, take a look at Opportunities on this blog.

I welcome items for critique directly (see Editing & Critique) or for posting on the online writing groups listed below:

Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group

  • nonfictionwritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/335526669896374

Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group

  • novelwritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/508696639153189

Morgen’s Online Poetry Writing Group

  • poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/388850977875934

Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group

  • scriptwritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/319941328108017

Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group

  • shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/544072635605445

We look forward to reading your comments.

5PM Fiction 284: Once A Month

October 17, 2013October 5, 2013Leave a comment

Welcome to the two hundred and eighty-fourth in this series that is ‘5pm Fiction’.

Late April 2011 I discovered StoryADay.org and the project that is to write 31 stories in 31 days. Anyone who knows me or follows this blog, knows how passionate I am about short stories so my clichéd eyes lit up at this new marvel. And just a few days later there I was, breathing life into new characters. This went on to become (with some editing of course) my 31-story collection eBook Story A Day May 2011. I have since published (as eBooks) the 2012 and 2013 collections, detailed on https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/books-mine/short-stories/story-a-day-may.

I was nearing completion of the 2012 project when I decided that I didn’t want to stop at the end of May so 5PM Fiction was born. I put a load of prompts on the 5PM Fiction page and today’s was to write a story from the one-word prompt of ‘yellow’. Here is my 163-worder.

Once A Month

284 yellow brooch 660626She’d been on before. Dan recognised her brooch, yellow like the bus, but it wasn’t until she handed over the £2 coin, that he spotted the bandages round each wrist.

He handed over the change. He wasn’t supposed to – the rules were exact money only and it was only 40p, but it gave him an excuse to speak. “I like your sunflower,” he said, but felt it a lame thing to say.

“Thanks,” she said, looking down at the coins and blushing.

“Nice to see you again,” he continued.

“You remembered?”

Dan nodded.

“Once a month,” she said, tears forming.

Unsure of what to say, Dan felt as if he’d been let into a secret.

A man behind the woman coughed and as she put the change into her purse, Dan was sure he spotted a hint of a smile.

He watched her walk towards the back of the bus and hoped he didn’t have to wait another month before they spoke again.

***

Photograph above courtesy of morguefile.com.

** NEW!! You can now subscribe to this blog on your Kindle / Kindle app via Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com **

Cover montage 2You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything. You can contact me and find me on the internet, view my Books (including my debut novel The Serial Dater’s Shopping List, various short story collections and writer’s block workbooks) and I also have a blog creation / maintenance service especially for, but not limited to, writers. If you like this blog, you can help me keep it running by donating and choose an optional free eBook.

For writers / readers willing to give feedback and / or writers wanting feedback, take a look at this blog’s Feedback page.

As I post a spotlight or interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do. If there’s anything you’d like to take part in, take a look at Opportunities on this blog.

I welcome items for critique directly (see Editing & Critique) or for posting on the online writing groups listed below:

Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group

  • nonfictionwritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/335526669896374

Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group

  • novelwritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/508696639153189

Morgen’s Online Poetry Writing Group

  • poetrywritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/388850977875934

Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group

  • scriptwritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/319941328108017

Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group

  • shortstorywritinggroup.wordpress.com
  • facebook.com/groups/544072635605445

We look forward to reading your comments.

Posts navigation

Older posts

Newsletter (with freebies!)

100-word comp

going to campMarch 31, 2021
28 days to go.

The ideal gift!

Just £40 for <2,000 words

Online Courses

two free courses - see 'Mentor' above.December 31, 2021
10 months to go.

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Facebook

Facebook

Search this site

Click picture for the…

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 7,939 other followers

Be my guest!

Like this site?

Listen to my podcast

Recent Posts

  • Results of Morgen’s 100-word competition: January 2021 (finally!)
  • Word Count Wednesday 3 Mar
  • The free 100-word comp is open for March (Jan results coming soon!)
  • Fiction Fodder Fridays – Fri 26 Feb
  • Word Count Wednesday 24 Feb

Visits since 31.3.11

  • 549,601 hits

1,310 subscribers

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

Contact me

  • Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter
  • PinterestYouTubeGoogle+ Instagram
  • Goodreads LinkedIn Tumblr about.me
  • RSS feed Flickr
  • Amazon
  • Smashwords
  • Copyright

    © Morgen Bailey and Bailey's Writing Tips, 2011-2019. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Morgen Bailey and/or Bailey's Writing Tips with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All guest content remains the property of the appropriate author - any reproduction is strictly prohibited without their prior written approval.
    Blog at WordPress.com.
    Morgen 'with an E' Bailey
    Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
    Cancel

     
    Loading Comments...
    Comment
      ×
      Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
      To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy