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Keep those flash fiction submissions coming. Yes, it’s time to showcase the work of another guest writer.
Hello hello hello, my brother and sister bloggers, writers and Flash Fiction Fanatics. The Old Soldier is here with another edition of the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette, the most dynamic flash fiction publication on the Internet. And what makes this blog so dynamic? Well, one thing that makes it so dynamic is the work of flash fiction writers from all parts of the world.
And don’t forget, every story that is published in The Gazette is automatically entered into the writing contest, which by the way, ends on October 1, 2010. So, you better get your submission in. Just be sure to read and follow the magazine’s guidelines.
Now for our feature presentation.
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Failure
“It has never happened to me before in my life!” He turned on a lamp, sat on his side of the bed and dropped his hands in his lap.
“I know, honey, I know. It’s not your fault.” She slipped from under the covers, moved closer to him and enveloped him in a tight embrace.
“I’ve been doing it for the last 40 years, and never before did I fail…” His voice trailed off.
She leaned her head against his shoulder and held him close. “Darling, you are not a failure, you’re simply tired. You need rest.”
“I could do it when I was tired before. Remember the time when I worked two jobs? But every night when I got home…” He began to sob.
“Yes, of course, I remember. You always amazed me. But, you’re under so much stress now.” She rocked him gently stroking his hair.
“Oh, I don’t know. I never thought it could happen to me! Me of all people!”
“But, honey, you’re not a young boy anymore, things happen.”
“You think I am old?” His sobbing continued.
“No, no, I didn’t mean that, but, you know, you are going through lots of changes.” She found a tissue and handed it to him.
“I feel so ashamed.” He blew his nose and rose from the bed.
“Darling, don’t be ashamed. I am sure it happens more often than you think.” She put on a robe and stood near him as if consoling a child. “With a change of scenery and a little rest you’ll be your old self.”
Grasping at straws, he asked, “Do you think therapy will help?” and looked to her for answers like an insecure child who required adult reassurance.
“You don’t need therapy! You need a break!” Her voice full of compassion, she massaged his shoulders and back. “Please, don’t get so wound up. It happened to Rob.”
“How do you know? He never mentioned it to me.” Surprised he stopped sobbing and searched her face.
“Yes, it did happen to Rob. I was in their kitchen when Helen brought it up and they joked about it.” She faced him and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Even Mike didn’t escape it. I heard it from both of his ex-wives.”
“Don’t tell me Sydney had it. I won’t believe you.” Astounded he didn’t resist when she removed the shirt from both of his arms.
“But of course! Remember when she went abroad for a year? She was cured within a month. And it never came back.”
“Unbelievable! This is the first I’ve heard this! How come you never told me?”
“It never came up until now.” She undid his belt, helped his pants off and dropped her robe to the floor. “You don’t talk to a writer about writer’s block until you absolutely have to.” Her nightgown followed her robe. “Now, let’s find some new material, shall we?”
The End
Bio: Born on Sakhalin Island in the Far East of the USSR, Elina Zismanova, grew up in northern Russia beyond the Arctic Circle. She moved to the US in 1980 and now lives in Highland Park, NJ with her husband and four daughters.
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My Experience Making Money With Online Ghost Writing
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I write for a site called Textbroker. It is free to sign up for and you get paid to ghost write. There are five levels of writers. I have a rating of three. You would think that since I have an MFA in fiction writing I would be higher; but like every organization they have their own parameters of what is good writing. I’m still learning to give them what they want; but being a level three writer means I make a penny a word.
On the site are several categories you can choose your assignment from. I have found that Press Releases, History and News work best for me. The requirements that the clients ask for are simple and I can accept and assignment, go to the original article, re-write it, submit my re-write to the client and make a quick $1.50 in one hour.
Before you laugh, that adds up to $45.00 a month. You may still be laughing but $45.00 a month is still $45.00 a month. Add $45.00 a month to my social security, my pension from Giant Eagle and the military pension that I will become eligible for in October and you see where the Old Soldier is coming from.
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Enough about me. What about you?
Do you like to read flash fiction? Have you ever thought about writing a flash fiction story? Spank my bare bottom and call me a nudist. You have clicked on the right blog to make your writing dreams come true.
I want to publish you. Yes I do. This magazine is the most dynamic flash fiction publication on the internet. If you look around I have no doubt you will agree. Just read the submissions guidelines at the top of the page and send me something.
Keep reading and keep writing.
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Filed under: Commentaries | Tagged: blog, dynamic flash fiction publication, flash fiction, free, History, Internet, MFA in fiction writing, money, news, nudist, online ghost writing, press releases, reading and writing, submissions guidelines, Textbroker, Writers, writing dreams, Writing Flash Fiction | Leave a Comment »