Shawn's Monthly Stories

October Story: It’s What Makes a Man

She’d not get away with it this time—oh no—not this time. Morton Klift smiled his gap-toothed grin knowing he had her. Finally—after all these years—he’d expose the widow Borth for what she was. He’d be laughed at no more—oh no—not after this night.

From the center of his garden, one hundred yards from the hill at. . .

About August’s Story

“Eulogy for a Mime” was sparked by two things: an image and a dream. I have no recollection which came first—the image or the dream, but I know they set my brain’s wheels in motion. The dream is vague, but it had a mime—with a red beret not a black one—and that’s all I remember. The image was a line drawing. . .

August Story: Eulogy for a Mime

Afterthoughts It can’t be said with certainty the mime’s life would have been saved had the snow storm been on time, but it’s the conclusion to which most rationale people would come. The flurry was to have hit at precisely noon; however, it arrived at half-past the hour, and it wasn’t until then that the patrons at the Robust Café realized something was wrong with Boyd Robertson (the mime). From inside the warmth of the Robust, the clientele began to see the mime really was trapped in a box. . .

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May Story: In the End

Something awakened Patrick Granger. Instinctively, he pulled his arms and legs into his body, careful not to topple over his makeshift throne. Registering the twilight of his surroundings, a wave of terror spread over him. Oh God, no. The fire. I’ve let the fire go out. Patrick strained to see the floor below, but the semi-darkness cast menacing shadows everywhere. Reaching into his shirt pocket for one of several penlights, Patrick moved the slim beam first left and then right searching the. . .

About May’s Story

I wrote the first draft of “In the End” about one year ago. It all began with this picture. . .

About April’s Story

“Love Letter” began as a contest entry. The contest asked participants to respond to the following situation: “A 20-something man sits in a taxi in front of his parents’ house, trying to find the strength to tell them that he (fill in the blank).”
When I started writing the story, all I had in my head was. . .

Reader Poll

Here are three ideas I'm working on for the next story:

#1: A story about Hell freezing over. #2: A story about a girl who enters an abandoned house on a dare. #3: A story about a small-town diner where the food cures people.

Tell me what you think: Click HERE to vote.

April Story: Love Letter

The darkness spread just outside the cab’s window. It crept up the walk and nuzzled the front door of the Fenter home. Jason looked through it as a familiar silhouette framed by the window pane moved behind drawn shades.
His mother serving dinner.
Jason offered the driver a grand (half now and half later) to ensure he’d wait curb-side. The cabbie took the money and said something, but Jason wasn’t listening. He got out of the taxi—he in the darkness as the still-moving. . .

About March’s Story

“Book Marked” is one of my favorites: it was a blast to get really creative, and it was inspired by several things writing-related.
Writers are big readers, and for big readers, there’s nothing more exciting than. . .