Cole Matthews

Points of view are so important in stories. As writers, we have to pretend to be someone else, feel what they feel, and ache with their longings. As an exercise, let's pretend to be something not alive. You can fill the object with whatever you feel or think. The object will become a character, a witness, and your sounding board. #215 - You are a porch swing. You must describe the events that unfold around you, but only during times of great emotion. That's when you awaken. #216 - You are a potato chip bag alongside a city street. You tumble and blow from place to place. What do you see? Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection. If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

Comedy in a story can elevate an interesting tale into one you can't put down. There are several types of humor, but perhaps one of my favorites is the sarcastic retort. Nothing can fuel a character like some witty, and biting, humor. Let's try some examples with a, well, not first line, but first exchange with two main characters. Have fun with it. #209 - "This is the last time I'm going to trust you with being the lookout." "What's my next job? Poison taster?" #210 - "Why is there blood over here?" "Uhhh, I, um, tripped and cut myself." "On the ceiling?" Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection. If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

Ahhh! The lovely idea of an island filled with magic, mystery, and love. In the depths of winter, let's take a journey to a place with tropical drinks, grass huts, and warm breezes. #203 - Use the following words in a story. Daiquiri, husk, oar, coati, sanguine, furtive, umbrella, and turkey. #204 - You get up early in the morning. The sun is just starting to ease upwards with brilliant rays bathing the palm trees and bougainvillea's growing against the seawall. As you make your way down to the ocean, you see something on the beach, waves gently lapping at it. As you near, you realize it's not a bunch of sea grape or driftwood. It's a body. The body of a young man in a white suit, and his chest is stained with red. What happened? Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection. If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

Here is my submission for #193 Tom As he sat at a far table, the middle-aged man lifted the corner of the bread. Underneath the slice of rye bread was the sticky white mayo, a wilting leaf of iceberg lettuce, a slice of bologna, one piece of salami, and American cheese. It was the same combo he made every day, five days a week, fifty weeks a year. The annoying lilt of laughter interrupted his attention. Three women were sitting together at a table in the middle of the room. They were commenting on some other coworker’s choice of sweater. Their jocularity grated on Tom’s nerves. He carefully placed the corner of the bread back down on the sandwich and picked it up. He took a measured bite, chewed slowly, and fingered his bottle of water. Nearby, a container of canned fruit sat forlornly next to his insulated lunch pail. The sad smile of a peach slice greeted him. The door opened, and two men came into the break room. Behind them a pair of women followed, one his boss and the other another coworker. They were chatting excitedly, a pair of matching fast food bags in hand. The room was filling with people having lively conversation. Tom felt himself shrink a bit more, taking another, slightly smaller bite of his sandwich. “Tom, wanna join us?” one of the men asked, plopping a container and a can of soda on a nearby table. Tom barely looked up, certainly not at the man asking him a question. He shook his head, unscrewed his water, and laid the cap on the tabletop. “I’m having a little quiet time,” he muttered. “Suit yourself,” the man said, and he straddled the chair and began talking with his cohorts. Tom felt the usual burn of shame along his neckline. There was the tickle of hollowness in his gut, and it was expanding rapidly. The ache of loneliness, even amongst others, creeped across his chest, filling the hollow sense with even more emptiness. A bubble filled his insides, and pressed upon his heart, compressing it, making it pound harder trying to get blood to his brain, to no avail. The sting of a salty tear prickled the corner of his eye. He took another bite of his sandwich, and chewed. The others no longer could see him, a lone man, sitting alone, at a table, by himself.

"Bits and pieces put together, to present a semblance of a whole" - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN I've always been intrigued by the ideas suggested in this quotation. It suggests, quite correctly, that art and artifice are simply representations, and parts of a story. Narratives necessarily pick and choose the elements they want to reveal in order to make a coherent story. The artist decides what things are presented to a consumer of their art and what things to leave out. For example, there isn't much reason to give a detailed description for every time a character uses the bathroom or watches a social media post UNLESS it drives the story. Repeated trips to the toilet could be used to show a character is sick or has a kind of quirky attribute. Sometimes these details can be useful in storytelling. So, we are going to try some very mundane ideas, and with it create a tale using very ordinary parts of life. #193 - Your character is eating a meal in a lunch room all alone. It's the same thing he eats almost everyday. Why does he do so and what does it mean? #194 - Your character is reading his horoscope and it says, "Be as direct as you can and see what happens." What happens next? Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

I've never been a writer who enjoyed using much description. I never thought the color of the carpet, the shadows on the flocked wallpaper or the nuances of a woman's dress did much to drive a story. At least, that's what I used to think. Lately I've been reading more gothic short stories where the effect of the light on objects, the influence of color on mood, and the idea of space shapes impressions of the scene. As a result, I've been trying to use a bit more description in my writing. It's quite powerful when done judiciously, and so I'm going to give you a couple of practice rounds telling us in two different ways. Keep in mind, description can be quite objective, and even more interestingly, it can be very subjective. Try using both ideas, with a simple explanation of what you see and how it makes you feel. #185 - Go to a window. Write about five things you see outside. #186 - Describe your favorite athlete. Look at a picture or a video, and really tell the reader what you see, and how it makes you feel. Remember, try first using simple facts, then turn them into an experience. Have fun!!! Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

Thank you! What a lovely treat!

Have you ever started digging through an old box and found something you had forgotten about? Is there a scrap of paper with a name of an old lover, and it makes you sigh? The memories start flooding back into you as you rifle through ticket stubs and T-shirts at the bottom of your closet. Things are so good at prompting our personal histories, and so let these prompts give your characters some thoughts about events from their past. Let the remembrances flow!!!! Prompt #181 - After Thanksgiving, you are putting the cornucopia filled with wax fruit, the big turkey wall hanging, and the orange and brown candles into your attic space. Since it's the day after the holiday, it's time to put up Christmas decorations. You grab the tree, a couple of boxes of ornaments, and a bag with the front door wreath. Way behind these is another box. It's covered in dust. You drag it to the opening, and take it downstairs. After a good vacuuming, you take out some table decorations of your grandmother's and a couple of ceramic lighted Christmas houses you forgot about. As you peer into the box, you see something wedged in the corner, with just an edge peeking out. After you grasp it and pull, you find a folded and stained photograph. On the back of this photograph, it has the name "Mary." Tell us the story of this photograph, which conjures up a flood of memories. Prompt #182 - You got a flat tire, and when you were pulling out the spare, you see a glint of gold. Picking it up, you see an earring. You recognize it. Who did it belong to and what does it mean to you? Have fun remembering! Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here: https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/

I like the subtle interplay between empathy and neediness that suggests the necessary bonding to make the whole. These two men become much more as a sprouting pair than they do as guardian and subject. There is a kind of elasticity to the balance they are experiencing, and need to perfect. That is the story in my humble opinion. How do they achieve harmony and resonance with their differences and needs. Great job Myr!

At first I thought it was so dark, but you conjured up such defiance and bravery and guts until the darkness became hope. Great job!

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Al is certainly more than just a curmudgeon. He's a special kind of character. I appreciate the comment!

Now, I love the phrase, 'flung the wig off the choir leader' so much and have never heard it before. Very awesome and picturesque phrase. That's the exact sentiment I was hoping to capture. Thank you for the wonderful comments. Greatly appreciated!!!!!!

That's not demented. That's just one of many possibilities!!! However, we do know that Todd's body was found and identified, so ostensibly his head was still there. See, I got where your mind was going!!! Thanks for the awesome comments!!

Thank you for the wonderful comment. I'm glad you liked it!!!

Thank you! I’m glad it worked. Al is a character who certainly surprises. I appreciate the kind words!