dannedmind

FREE SHORT STORY: A CIGARETTE

Dear Potential Reader,

Ever spend time with someone that is so rough, you need something to get you through it? It might just be the promise of a reprieve. It might be a drink or a smoke. For Lauren Pace it is something that has to do with the Hatchback Woman, in A CIGARETTE.

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As mentioned earlier, this is one of the early tales, where I was trying to turn the Lady’s story into something of an investigation with two leads in the same fashion as The X-Files. But the heart of the story has always been how different people handle what they have received. So, while this one complicates the overall narrative with a building of events, it serves as another evaluation of what those in the Hatchback Woman’s vicinity chose to do.

Check in every First Friday of every month for another Tale of the Hatchback Woman.

Hope you enjoy.

All the best,

DAN JIRE

WRITING TIPS: MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE TIME

One of my favorite mantras to remind myself in times when I can’t write is a quote I’ll attribute to Bill Pace. Whether or not he said it first, I don’t know. But for 12 plus years I’ve heard his voice in my head when I remind myself:

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM, IS THEY’RE DOING IT.

Keep that in mind when you get down or are procrastinating. Whether it’s about seeing someone else’s success or wanting to have accomplished something but haven’t yet. You have to do it. If you want it, do it.

Stop talking about it. Do it.

FREE SHORT STORY: THE EGG

Dear Potential Reader,

Some conversations reveal veiled truths. How would you like to know which came first . . . the chicken or the egg? Join two thieves looking to get back one of the Hatchback Woman’s magical objects in THE EGG.

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If you’ve read THIS, then you know the genesis of the tales of the Hatchback Woman was a writing exercise. That’s it. ‘Let me practice.’ So, it only seemed fitting back in 2020 when I was practicing writing ‘dialog only tales’ that I would try my hand at a Hatchback Woman tale in this format. So here it is, warts and all. And take note, this is the first ever publication of this tale, so remember you read it here first.

Check in every First Friday of every month for another Tale of the Hatchback Woman.

Hope you enjoy.

All the best,

DAN JIRE

WRITING TIPS: GO FOR A WALK

Stuck at your keyboard for almost an hour, and you know what you want to write, should write, have to write, but nothing is coming?

The easiest thing to do is get up and get active. Get your brain going by taking a walk outside, or if weather won’t permit, trying tidying something. Something where your mind can wander (not watching TV or surfing the internet).

But set a time to get back to work. Whether you need a timer or just plan to walk a set distance.

Alternatively, setting up a good writing routine is key to any longform writing–like a novel. On occasion, I’ve started writing sessions with a walk around the block first.

I spend this time rehashing what has happened, what will happen, and try to think of the first words that’ll launch me into my writing session.

On days where I plan to write all day, I’ll schedule keyboard time. Every 20-30 minutes of typing, I’ll get up and do something. Whether it’s walking the trash out to the can, fixing hot tea, or walking to the mailbox.

Taking breaks is important.

I’ve always found that just trying to write everything I could all at once always exhausts me and makes it harder to sit down and write the next time.

Plus, you never know when you’ll see something on your walk that’d make a good bit for your story.

FREE STORY: THE FIRE

Dear Potential Reader,

THE FIRE is just the warm story for a scorching hot August day . . . wait . . . did I get this wrong? Probably you would want something cooler to think about. But that’s not in the cards for this tale of the Hatchback Woman. So, get yourself a glass of ice water (or whatever cool beverage you prefer) and join us for the story of an Aunt who means well . . .

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I’m actually not a fan of the smell of smoke and ash. I love sitting out by a fire. But the second I’m done and I come inside the last thing I want to smell is the smoke. Still, the flames themselves have always been captivating. Like watching a wild animal on the verge of breaking out of its cage. We can sit comfortably knowing the fire is contained, but the second it leaps out and begins to spread, then it is the worst kind of animal—because there is no reasoning with fire.

Remember kids, never play with matches, but check back every First Friday of the month for another tale of the Hatchback Woman.

Hope you enjoy.

All the best,

DAN JIRE