The first paragraph really grabs you, especially that initial sentence. The rest gets a little confusing because of the switch in tenses between paragraphs - the order of events is not entirely clear - but it is something that begs reading and I look forward to the next installment.
Excellent descriptions. The second line really captured my attention and I would like to see something akin to that in the first line—more than just being awakened by the crying. Really make that first line grab your reader. (You said you desired criticism, so there it is!) The jacuzzi and sauna lines were funny. Excellent work. The last line really shows how parenting can be all about deciphering language!
LOL. I can’t read “Barney” in a story with kids without thinking of a big purple dinosaur. I like Rachel’s reasoning about how he needed the “M” to say certain words, that is parenting to a “T”. ;-)
MEH, the story is left up to your interpretation. I never reveal just what the mother is cutting. I enjoy ambiguity in stories, letting the reader come to their own conclusions. In “Child’s Play” many commented on how the son needed to be pushed, yet I envisioned the push as being wrong and selfish. You never know what a reader will take away from a story.
Hey, that’s OK! It’s tough to write in these small chunks and continue a series only to realize you need to edit something several stories back. Revision is a necessary part of writing. Take your time and repost!
That’s what makes writing real life events in fiction so difficult-you have everything understood so clearly in your mind that sometimes in the translation to paper small details are skipped and the reader can get confused. Pronouns always get tricky with characters of the same gender! Keep writing! If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t comment. ;)
I like this story of two mischievious brothers and want to see more.
Constructive comments:”His mom had brought him early” is a bit confusing—I don’t know to whom “his” and “him” is referring, Brandon or Skyler, and to where he was brought early (until I read a few times to sort it out). And I thought Skyler was on the bus, only to be grabbed by the farmer. What’s a “monster flower thing”? Again the “he” at the end is a bit confusing because of the two boy characters.
Whomever she is, I certainly feel for her, pregnant with “loser junior.” A lot of interesting imagery in this piece.
Constructive comments: What about the Chinese take-away is scary? (Dim lights, greasy windows, image of dragon in flickering neon?) If people are delaying hibernation for another night, should the time of the story be later than 9:12? I like the second sentence with “and” instead of “but” which makes more sense in the context of the weather.
A lot of the entries were hysterical one-liners and not necessarily stories…and if that’s the judging criteria, a story rather than a punchline…I have to vote for Saint Chuck’s entry. But that’s just my interpretation of the challenge!
There is a certain satisfaction to writing with pen and paper that a keyboard can’t match. If you’ve read Natalie Goldberg, she insists that the physical motion of writing longhand connects to your creativity in ways computers can’t. You aren’t as inclined to edit when you write on paper and ideas can flow more freely without the constant lure of the delete key. So I agree, sometimes pen in hand is best.
Her activities in this particular piece don’t appear to be abnormal for a shy three year-old. I want to know why she is being observed—and if the other childrens are also being watched for behavior problems. Time to reveal the watcher! Keep going!
OK, I am here to comment and also to challenge you. I think the first line gives too much away. I want to finish reading this and then make that conclusion for myself. I like where you start in the second paragraph better. Let’s hear more about Lucy!
You certainly have been reading! I must thank you for reading and commenting on all of my stories. You are very kind and I was pleased to add you as a contact. Keep writing and I will keep reading. Cheers and Happy New Year!
Yes, I wrote stories like this once upon a time when I was a teen myself; coming back to it is refreshing and different than the things I usually produce. I noticed that there are a lot of teens on Ficlets, however, so this story was written with them in mind. ;-)
Ficlets is an excellent venue for daily writing practice, a discipline every writer needs. I do this for fun, with the hope that my Ficlets will inspire longer works.
Constructive Criticism I strive to leave constructive criticism, and I welcome it as well—no one ever became a better writer by getting a pat on the back.
Prequel & Sequel Please feel free to sequel or prequel anything I write. It is interesting to see what roads my characters take when let loose.
N1t3W4tchr Series with T.F. Torrey http://ficlets.com/stories/16132
On N1t3W4tchr (P4rt V):
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On Reaching Out From Beyond:
posted 6 months ago
On Schlenky's house:
posted 6 months ago
On On A Snowy Evening:
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On The Inversion:
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On The Inversion:
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On Let's Get a Cab:
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On The worries of a child:
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On Parenting is such fun:
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On Little Brother gets a Bird's Eye View:
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On Paper Cuts:
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On Ficlets Series Removed :
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On The Greasy Bandage Man:
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On Little Brother gets a Bird's Eye View:
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On Little Brother gets a Bird's Eye View:
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On Little Brother gets a Bird's Eye View:
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On 9:12 p.m.:
posted 6 months ago
On Pens Poses a CHALLENGE!:
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On Lucy's Watcher:
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On Exact minimum length ficlet [And the winner is . .]:
posted 6 months ago
On Lucy's Watcher:
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On Falling Hard:
posted 6 months ago
On Lucy's Watcher:
posted 6 months ago
On Sequelitis:
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On Something Quirky About Me [pens challenge]:
posted 6 months ago
On Observing Lucy:
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On Lucy:
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On Oreos and Milk:
posted 6 months ago
On Lucy:
posted 6 months ago
On A Resolution, A promise, A wish, A Rant:
posted 6 months ago
On Sam & Friends: The Distinguished Guest: A Tribute to Kermit The Frog:
posted 6 months ago
On Elsha's sock challenge!:
posted 6 months ago
On How to Be Broken:
posted 6 months ago
On Lunchroom Love:
posted 6 months ago
On Delayed:
posted 7 months ago
On Last Minute [Min. Word Challenge]:
posted 7 months ago
On Paper Cuts:
posted 7 months ago
On Sweet Carolina, Part I:
posted 7 months ago
On The Fabrication (Part III):
posted 7 months ago
On Slide Away:
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On The Not-So-Great Detective {Minimum Length Challenge}:
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On DIE NOW:
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On Watching her Fly:
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On Enemies of the Library:
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On The Black And Churning Sea:
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On Waiting:
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On N1t3W4tchr:
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