Some writing resourses.

Here are a couple of things that have helped my writing recently:

The Snowflake Method – This is pretty much the way I write now, because it’s how I think. It is geared for writing novels, but the concepts can be used for many things.
Writing the Perfect Scene – A good article on writing scenes that keep the reader into your story.
Lester Dent Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot – How to write a story just like the creator of Doc Savage did. This is good stuff.

Pulp, Jr.

Here's a short story I wrote for a contest a few years ago. It took third place.
Scared of You
by Bryce Beattie

Billy and Jeff darted out of the woods to the edge of the field. Although parents had chosen Warren and Albert, these boys’ middle name was trouble. Now, they never did anything really mean spirited, but they seemed to find pleasure in mischief, in so much that by the ripe old age of 13, they each had a rap sheet as long as a hot Texas summer’s pregnancy.

On this particular evening, the daring duo decided to kick up controversy by creating some crop circles in one of Farmer Jackson’s fields. Now Farmer Jackson was not actually a farmer by trade. He was principally a real estate magnate, owning a good chunk of the town. As a hobby, he owned a couple hundred acres upon which he attempted to grow crops.

Short pieces of rope fastened boards to the boys’ feet. The plan was simple, pat down a couple of shapes in the field, then hustle to the knoll in the fairgrounds on the other side of town, where the festival was being held, and make themselves seen, and provide an alibi. With no time to waste, the hooligans set out to make their first circle. Within a half hour or so, they stamped down two circles, and were on to the larger donut shape that was to be the pinnacle of their prank. Out of breath and ecstatic, they worked on. (more…)

This is the beginning of something special, or at least something.

This will be a place for me to blog about storytelling, writing, pulp stories, and like everyone else in the blog world, anything I feel like.
Just to start things off, here's a little essay I wrote a while ago. It's based on a conversation I had with a friend, after which she asked me, "We weren't really talking about strawberries, where we?"

Not a story, but at least I still find it amusing.

On Eating Strawberries
by Bryce Beattie

In order to have a truly enjoyable experience, clearly the selection of the strawberry is of paramount importance. Now, there are few un-rotted strawberries that could still be considered bad. However, there is a special certain class of strawberry that can define the goal experience. The ideal strawberry must be plucked fresh from the plant by the eater. It is firm. It is the perfect shade of red. It is plump and juicy to the point that it appears to be ready to burst its skin.

Upon choosing an ideal strawberry, it is torn or cut from the plant, leaving all less than exemplar fruit behind, for imperfect strawberries may become perfect over time. The strawberry is raised casually to the lips. It is brought to rest gently between the teeth. In the instant before the first bite is preformed, the tip of the tongue is placed on the tip of the strawberry, preparing itself for the inevitable rush ahead. The slightly rough texture is swiftly fondled and the flavorless skin is savored for a brief moment of increasingly sweet anticipation.

This anticipation lasts only half an instant, but is still quite unbearable. And so it happens.

The initial bite issues a fine burst, a tiny wave of flavor, striking first the sensitive, waiting point of the tongue. The gentle sweetness awakens the dormant taste buds. If this glimpse of a taste was all this little fruit had to offer, it would be enough. Fortunately, and to our great pleasure, it does not stop there.

As this bitten piece is moved to the side of the mouth a trail of nectar is left on the tongue, exciting every instant more taste buds. The full sweetness is finally at hand. As mastication commences, all firmness and form of the strawberry are sacrificed to envelop the tongue in a blanket of juicy ecstasy. The delicious taste is at last accessible to the entire mouth.

Each successive bite hails a new wave of enjoyment, building upon the power of the last, pleasure and excitement expanding, until the mouth is encased in rapture.

Then altogether too quickly, the strawberry is gone, and the leafy green top is cast aside. After all, it is only a strawberry. That perfect taste lingers momentarily, however, with no sticky film, no unwanted residue, soon fading to the tenderest whisper of taste.

Although the strawberry is now gone, the lips can almost still feel its weight and texture. The tongue can almost still taste it. The ultra-sensory experience hangs on the very verge of reality, pleading to be encountered, to be indulged in, again, and again. Every time another strawberry is seen or even thought about, this memory comes close to actuality, and the event is craved afresh. Having once been known, how can the fruit be resisted?

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs2.5 License.