Storytelling Blog
#68 – Principle
A stubby finger pushed a pawn across the board, cigar ash falling around the piece in a halo of smoking debris. Churchill growled and smiled.
“There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare,” the Britain stated, leaning back into his leather armchair.
A rook slid across the board to threaten the pawn. Churchill frowned.
A finger tapped against the board, sweeping away the cigar ash with disdain.
“That is why this war will be short,” came a replay from across the table.
“No, Adolf.”
Churchill slipped a knight to checkmate his opponent’s king.
“But it will be won.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Nguyen Pham on Unsplash
I’ve no idea why but the first image I had for this word was Churchill sat drinking with Hitler pleasantly. It adapted in the writing but,… what an extraordinary idea,…. I mean, what would they talk about?! There’s a hell of a book in that,….
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See you tomorrow for “Manifesto”.
#67 – Attic
“Hey, there’s still stuff up here!”
Peter’s head was poking through the loft hatch, his hand tugging at the light chord.
“What was that, honey?”
“There’s stuff! Boxes.”
Liza watched as her husband lifted himself into the attic.
She sipped her coffee. “Any antiques?”
Peter laughed.
“For your Pop to sell for beer money?”
“I was thinking of renovations.”
Something fell down and clattered at Liza’s feet – a child’s doll, its face smudged with soot. Dead glass eyes stared up and she choked at the sudden smell of smoke.
“Honey,…” Liza’s voice was a hoarse whisper.
“We need to go.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash.
Today’s word was suggested by Bristolian and avid supporter of the OWOS project “Orignal Tracey”. You can follow her on Twitter @sunsetbeachbabe.
Tracey suggested her word by sending me a tweet – you can too! Tweet me @timaustin2k with the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a 100 word story just for you!
Don’t forget to vote for the story you want to become an Audio Reading. Click Here to cast your vote now.
See you tomorrow for “Principle”.
#65 – Threatened
Spit was raining over the bald man’s chin, his mouth a snarling mask of fury as he waved his banner high.
Katie watched as the man passed, the police cordon holding she and her brother from creeping closer. Her wide eyes marvelled at the sight, flinching as the mob screamed their hate.
The bald man caught sight of her brother’s uniform and stopped.
“Iraq?”
Katie’s brother nodded.
Though no more than a twisted joke, Katie watched as the two men raised their fists.
When the condolence letter arrived two weeks later, Katie rose her fist too.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo Image by Benjamin Faust via Unsplash.
Continuing the story of Katie, first seen in the tale “Tea” – dedicated to the wonderful Devika Fernando. Click here for each part of the story so far.
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Suggest your own One Word Story by popping it in the comments or tweeting it to me @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
#64 – Poet
Joel closed his eyes and took a breath, his hands rising and reaching out into the sun-dappled air. His chin rose as he felt the words spring from his chest and force themselves from his lips.
Worlds swirled in his imagination. Wild realities and lost loves poured from his soul, forming into crude reality with each flick of his tongue. His heart ached at each new phrase, tears fell as he knitted verse to verse.
A roll of distant thunder greeted the finale. It was perfect.
The Eight year old boy watching him coughed.
“Mister,…. why didn’t it Rhyme?”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Curtis Mac Newton via Unsplash.
Suggest your own one word story title – it’s easy! Pop your word in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a story just for you!
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#61 – Prime
The Silverback watched from the the undergrowth, his slab-like fists balled into the black earth. The valley was his.
Around the Silverback, the forest chirped and chittered to the sound of a billion insects. High in the treetops, Chimps swung to perch, gazing down at the Gorilla with nervous curiosity. One swipe of his arm would crush them. One charge of his thundering bulk and they would be no more.
Yet it was not the Silverback they feared.
The upright ape was there. The clothed beast, sawing at the arms of the Gorilla’s mate.
The Silverback watched from the undergrowth.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Jorge Illich-Gejo via Unsplash.
Suggest your own one word story title – it’s easy! Pop your word in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a story just for you!
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#60 – Pleasure
Hannah’s breath caught in her chest, stilled for a moment as she trembled in the darkness.
Once again her lips were parted by cool flesh, a berry gliding between and tracing against her teeth. She opened her mouth: a begging acceptance. The cold of the fruit mixed with sudden hot breath against her neck. Her eyelids fluttered.
There was a gentle smack against her naked thigh.
“No, Hannah. Eyes closed.” His voice was a low purr.
A shiver ran through her flesh, her mind swimming, her senses swamped by sensation.
“Now, Hannah,…”
The fruit was pulled away.
“Open you legs.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Roksolana Zasiadko via Unsplash.
Okay, this one probably counts as NSFW!
The first erotic short story on the One Word One Story blog. I had actually written one for “Breath” but it was a bit,… much. Enjoy!
Suggest your own one word story title – it’s easy! Pop your word in the comments or tweet it to @timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory and I’ll write a story just for you!
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#57 – Recovery
Amber lights flicked, cutting through the darkness and splashing against the grass of the verge. The tow-truck driver sucked his lip, his hands balled at his waist.
The car was there. It was running. There seemed to be nothing wrong with it except the absence of a driver.
“Hello!?”
The driver called into the treeline, his voice struggling over the thundering roar of traffic.
“You called for a tow?”
There was a rustle in the grass. The driver looked down.
Laying at his feet was a smartphone. A video was playing on the screen.
“Oh god,…. they’ve come for me again,…..”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Sergey Zolkin via Unsplash.
Today’s One Word title was suggested and donated by composer and violinist Adisha Kariyawasam – his second suggestion for the OWOS project (yes, you can suggest more than one word!)
You can read “Violin”, the first story that he suggested, by clicking here.
YOU can suggest your own word: just pop it into the comments or tweet it to me @timaustin2k.
If you’re enjoying the stories, make sure you’re sharing the joy 🙂 I’ll see you tomorrow for “God”.
#56 – Trapdoor
The wooden boards above creaked, curtains of dust sluicing down and stinging Benedict’s eyes. He blinked it away and looked at his watch. Two minutes.
He couldn’t hear the argument above but he knew what it was about. It was the same night after night. One girl, one guy, a star-crossed love affair turning sour due to the machinations of a Stage Magician.
It really wasn’t a good play.
Benedict looked at his watch again. 2 minutes.
He tapped it. Nothing happened. There was silence above.
Scrambling up the ladder, he peeked through the trapdoor.
Damn.
The Stage Magician was late.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Lloyd Dirks via Unsplash.
Today’s one-word story title was suggested by Fionn Grant of lionaroundwriting.com. He’s not wrong about the castles and the whisky: I’ve visited. You can follow him on twitter (if that’s your bag) @FionnGrant.
If you’d like me to write you a story based on a word of your choice, pop your word in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
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See you tomorrow for “Recovery”.
#54 – Conceived
The blueprint dimpled as Joseph poked his finger against the paper. That was the point of entry. That was the place the explosives needed to be set.
The four men looked at each other and nodded in silence before quietly unlatching the van door and filing out into the harsh, cold night.
Beside them, the jewellery repository rose through the street light, its towering brick walls disappearing into the gloom above. Three of the men were already creeping across to the alleyway behind. The fourth kept lookout.
He saw a cop watching from the shadows.
He smiled. He turned away. He waited.
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Promo image by Matthew Skinner via Unsplash.
If you’d like me to write you a story based on a word of your choice, pop your word in the comments section below or tweet it to me @timaustin2k using the hastag #onewordonestory.
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#48 – Jobseeker
A pencil skimmed against paper, cutting a jagged grove as the point marked a square around the advertisement.
“Pool Cleaner”
Days spent slowly skimming debris from the two-dozen pools of the water park? All those toned girls in their sodden bikinis, swarming around the water in the sun? As jobs went, it was a good one. There was only one problem.
“It’s off season in February.”
He went to cross a line through the ad but a crash from the living room stopped his cigarette-burnt hand. Trembling, he reached for the phone.
“Dad needs the money.”
(c) Tim Austin 2016. Photo by Jon Sailer on Unsplash
If you too would like to donate a word, pop it in the comments section below or Tweet it to me@timaustin2k using the hashtag #onewordonestory.
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