Short Stories
I’ve always had a soft spot for shorter fiction - stories that can be read in one sitting, while retaining all the power, character and lasting impression that an epic novel can. There’s a certain craft to great short story writing, and, though I’m no Raymond Carver, here are a few of my efforts from over the years.
Poetry
I once won a poetry competition at the age of 14 for a poem I wrote about the shape of an oak leaf, following it up with some wild verse about a tsunami that swamps an entire city. Those two pieces set the tone for my love of poetry - so much so that I wrote one as a best man’s speech for a good friend’s wedding. Here’s a selection of my poems for your reading pain/pleasure!
Handclaps + Bellslaps
‘Handclaps + Bellslaps’ is a comedy erotic novelette that came about as I was practicing how to write convincingly in the female voice. Beginning as a few rough paragraphs, it soon turned into a longer form piece with a bona-fide story - a beginning, middle and end, character arcs, scene setting and a little mise-en-scene thrown in for good measure.
So, I polished up the text, sent out a few manuscripts to fellow writers for feedback, had a graphic design professional create a cover, and slapped it on Amazon.
Don’t let ‘Handclaps’ seemingly tawdry genre put you off - it’s more a laidback, fun exercise that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It isn’t great art, but it is great fun!
(And of course, I had to come up with a nom-de-plume when I sent the book out into the wild. Can’t have potential clients/bosses and the like knowing that I’ve written such filth).