Sentenced to Writing

Recently I joined a website called Reedsy. Every week they have a short story competition. They give several prompt options, you write 1,000 - 3,000 words, and then you submit it to possibly win $50.  This last week I finally decided to participate and the prompt I chose to use was:  Start your story with two characters watching a sunrise and end it with one of them seeing the moon reflecting off a lake. Check out my submission here:  Changed in the Dark

Prompt: Write about a person who meets with the ghost of an old friend for tea every so often. Shep hiked his rucksack further up his back and started the five mile walk to the abandoned cabin, set deep in the Briscoln Wood. He couldn't remember when he'd first come upon the cabin, which was more like a glorified shack, held together by sheer force of nature. He did remember how shocked he'd felt when he'd found out it was haunted though. He reached his destination just as the sun sunk below the tree line, giving the cabin a foreboding air. He wasn't worried though. The cabin may have been haunted, but he knew the haunter and how much they disliked the "others" disturbing their guests. The cabin was in shambles and squirrels darted out of their hidey-holes as Shep made himself comfortable. The only set of furniture that was usable was a little table with two rickety chairs. He busied himself with setting the table with the battered tea set from his rucksac

Once upon a time there were two knights, Sir Gabriel and Sir Jerry. They were knights of honor, always willing to assist a town in distress. One day they were riding on their horses through the countryside, enjoying the scenery and the gentle breeze that cooled off their heavy sets of armor.  From over the next hill, they heard a ruckus. Several people were yelling and crying, their actual words unintelligible. They rode over to investigate. What they found broke their very hearts. A town was in splinters. Every house was shattered, the wooden boards scattered across the square. People were injured and children were crying. Two young lad saw the gallant knights and ran up to them. "Help us, Sir Knights! Help us!" The knights looked at each other before responding. "What is it we can do for you?" asked Sir Gabriel. The lads turned towards their broken town. "A dragon has come and destroyed our town. It's taken off with all our precious things, and left us wi

Sometimes we should try something outside of our comfort zone. Poetry is that something for me. I get so caught up on it being perfect, that I tend to forget the purpose of poetry: to illicit an emotion. What emotions do you feel as you read my poem? Once upon a time In a land far from here Dwelt a king and a queen And their daughter, so dear.  The child was delightful, Fair and so pure. A blessed ruler she would make, Of this they were sure.  Time passed along  As time often will And the princess grew up And developed a skill.  Her magic was smokey, A dark, clingy mist, And death did it bring To all that it kissed.  Her parents met An unseemly demise As they grew most decrepit  Right before her eyes.  The princess, she ruled Amidst death and despair But for the cries of her people She had not the slightest care.  Her enemies lay In mounds of pale bone The horrors they suffered Will never be known.  For the princess lay waste To all of the earth  And sits all alone A wraith with a curs

Prompt: Her skin was carved with scars that someone else earned. The crowd watched breathlessly. The princess held the sword easily in her grip. The worthy soldier kneeling before her bowed his head respectfully. With only a slight hesitation she began to speak the words of the ritual. "With this sword and with my power I proclaim thee a Guardian of the realm." Her voice grew louder and the sword began to glow a fierce white. "From this day hence you shall protect our royal person, til death takes us both." A hint of orange began to color the light from the sword. "Should you betray the trust bestowed upon you," the sword's light change to an impenetrable darkness, "the only life that shall be forfeit is your own." As she tapped the sword to both of his shoulders, the sword ceased glowing, and the princess' voice returned to her normal volume. "Rise my Guardian and take your rightful place at my side." The new Guardian r

Prompt: Your character hears a language they’ve never heard before now, yet they speak it fluently. Turns out, they’re not from where they think. Kayla walked home from school with her identical twin, Marci, by her side. They walked perfectly in sync, feeling comfort in each other’s presence. Junior year had been hard enough being in all separate classes, but now their parents were going to send them to different summer camps. As they neared their home, Marci broke the silence. “You’ve still got that burner phone, right? The one Tracy snuck from her dad’s store?” Kayla rolled her eyes. “Of course I do. If I left it at home Mom would sniff it out in like three minutes.” “Good, I don’t think I’d survive all summer not getting to talk to you.” “Where’d you get a phone from?” Kayla asked. They’d been figuring out this communication plan for weeks. Their parent monitored everything they did, and some things teenage girls didn’t want their parents to know about. “John’s going to give me one