Sharing Your Writing (short story) by Leanne Dyck

When I started to write I wanted to share my stories with everyone but...

photo by ldyck

Jim West cut the last row of grass, climbed off his ride-on lawnmower, found the rack, gathered a pile of grass clippings and took it to the compost box. When he turned around his wife was standing in front of him with a piece of paper in her hands.

"Want to hear what I just wrote?"

Some may have been naive enough to believe that they had a choice, but not Jim.

She read:  I found Sally sitting on her kitchen floor. Her knees were drawn to her chest as she slowly rocked back and forth. Prone on the floor in front of her, a body I recognized as her husband--a large knife embedded in his back. She struggled for words and between sobs I heard, "What...do...I...do...now?"

Some husbands may have been worried about the message behind the story, but not Jim. He knew his wife became inspired by a book, TV show, movie or what she'd overheard at the supermarket. By bending, breaking or blending, she created something new. It was as simple--and as complicated--as that.

She stood there, waiting. He knew she wanted a commented and he searched for something to say. He settled on, "Interesting."

Appeased, she returned to her computer and Jim returned to his yard work.

Save Jim from this awkward situation, share your writing... 

-on a blog

-in a writer's group

-with a beta (first) reader

-at a writers' workshop

-in a creative writing course

More...

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