Book Illustration by Nikolai Kochergin, 1974 (source)
WRITE and LINK
is a new link-up party here, on In The Writer's Closet, and it is all about writing short stories.
It is not a fashion/style link-up! It is up to you whether you post text only or illustrate your text with images of your choice.
I invite you to create a short work of fiction (1000 words or so) in the genre of your choice.
I do encourage you to write fiction, but if you are inspired to write a personal essay (non-fiction), I won't mind. The most important is to have fun writing - play with it! The button for reading other stories and adding yours can be found at the end of my story. My story came to me in the form of flash drama - about 1500 words. Enjoy reading, and I am really looking forward to reading your stories!
The next link up will start on June 26, 2015.
Use the June's opening phrase as an inspiration for your story
(you may change it to fit your story better, just make sure that you keep the essence):
"...When suddenly I saw..."
Hehehe, I liked this modern interpretation of the old Russian fairy tale, Natalia. It was fun to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this one, Olga! :) Thank you for reading!
DeleteI love this fairy tale! So many layers and a healthy dose of humor too. You know a good story when you want to keep reading to find out more. Love how you went from tsar to star and painted such a contrasting picture of the two characters. You obviously had an image in your head for this. I felt like I was in the barrel with them!
ReplyDeleteThis is so much fun. I'll post my story tonight and link back to here!!
I'm touched that you felt like you were in the barrel with them, Joni! It's such a high praise to me. :) I definitely felt my characters, you're right!
DeleteI'm so glad that we're starting this - I can't wait for your story!
I agree, Joni. I was right there, hanging on every word the characters said.
DeleteGreat story. It's really interesting to read and I like the fairytale reference. I could actually see Yemelya and Liz talking. I have my favorite dialog:
ReplyDelete'And I fell in love with you… because of a fish?' - Hehe, this is great!:))) Liz is in a dark barrel, with a boy she doesn't know, carried by water and of it all she seems most moved by the fact that her heart got conquered thanks to a fish...well...a magic one but still:D This makes the whole thing even more surreal and dream like. Awesome!
I'm happy you shared this magical story.
When I was a kid I loved a fairy tale book by Brothers Grimm and also the tale The Fisherman and His Wife. I don't really know По-щучьему веленью. The one russian fairy tale that sunk deep into my brain is Конёк-Горбуно́к. Before I could read I would just go through the book pictures. I had this one: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1254593092l/6936699.jpg extremely beautifully ilustrated so I could spend hours on it. When I could finally read it, I got totally carried away into the imaginary world. That was a trip!
I'm looking forward reading the next story of yours Natalia. You are very talented.
xxxx
Thank you, my dear! Fairy tales are essential to me, I adore them. Brothers Grimm's stories, of course! I remember my aunt took me to a library when I was 6 or 7, and I picked Sleeping Beauty - I was transferred to a different world! The castle, the costumes, the fairies, everything was so magical. I'll always remember that book. Your illustrated Конек-горбунок is wonderful! And I know what you mean about going through illustrations, absorbing them... I still remember those sensations from my childhood too. :)
DeleteI'm happy that we're doing this - I'm going to read your story now!
absolutely brilliant! I love modern interpretations of the fairy tales and this one was so much fun to read. Yemelya and Liz are great characters and their dialogue sounds very natural.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ivana, you're so kind! I'm glad you had fun reading - that's what it's all about. I am so looking forward to your story, my friend!
DeleteOMG!!!! thats sooo gorgeous bizarr and wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteculture clash! love it! soooo muuuuch! i had to laugh a lot and i´m totally moved. i really love that dry humor.
a barrel full of hugses for you is on the way over the oceans ;-)
xxxxxxx
:))) A barrel full of smiles and hugses back to you, my lovely friend! Sooo happy that I made you laugh! You got my point - great! :)
DeleteNatalia, if you like Herman Hesse I have an excellent collection of Fairy Tales I can lend you. If I remember I will bring it on Thursday. Ooops, I hope nobody sees this. ;)
ReplyDeleteI came back here to reread the story while sitting at work. Dont' tell, but it sure is fun!
Thank you, Joni! I'd like to see Hesse's fairy tales. We read his work at university - ages ago, and I read a little bit of his novel Steppenwolf just recently - he is an insightful author, but so, so deeply sad. I wonder if there is another side of him that I don't know of.
DeleteI love Russian Fairy Tales and a modern spin on one, in a style that reminds me of Tom Robbins whom I love, was lots of fun to read. Bravo, Natalia! Now I am off to put mine onto my blog and link here. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, my dearest friend! I'm going to read very soon! :)
DeleteI joined in as no.3:)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ivana! I changed the settings a bit - easier to see just names perhaps? (I assumed that they would be the names of your stories, but it's up to you to decide of course). I'm going to read soon!
DeleteYes-the name of the story makes sense only I automatically typed in my own name without thinking-lol.
DeleteWe are learning as we go. :) I just think that someone might be inspired to link two or more stories - I had at least three ideas to write about... for such cases, the unique name would be essential. Or maybe something like "Lillian by Shawna" in the field "Name"?
DeleteI also automatically typed in my name:)
DeleteYou are welcome to join in, Ray!
ReplyDeleteAs well as short stories, maybe you should consider script writing, Natalia? That would make a fabulous radio play!
ReplyDeleteWell done to all the brave contributors, it takes courage to put your work out there. xxx
Thank you for your support, Curtise! :)
DeleteThose evenings are the theatre weren't just for pleasure. I can see a playwright in you, Natalia! x
ReplyDeleteVery observant of you, Vix! :)
DeleteOh I like it, Natalia. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina!
DeleteLet me know if you decide to try the fabric paints, they can be a lot if fun, I just remembered that I painted a few tshirts with my nephew, so maybe your daughter would enjoy such a project too.
ReplyDeleteI know my daughter used fabric markers (she is quite an artist and very expressive, like you :) - but I don't know whether she tried paints. I sure will ask for your advice if we decide to do it!
DeleteWhat a beautiful story, Natalia. I came back to re-read it. It warmed my heart. Such a pleasure to read toward the end of the day. I think to myself...what on earth would this world be like without artist? I don't ever want to find out. Thank you for this link-up. A perfect example of the depth we women have.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your warm words, Glenda! You sure intrigued me with your title - I had good fun finding out about the affair with Kate. ;) Glad we are doing this - here is to many more stories!
DeleteOh Natalia, what a delightful tale. Very whimsical and light of heart. I have written a small piece but realized I can't link up without a blog?!
ReplyDeleteDiana, thank you so much for your kind words! You made me happy!
DeleteHmm, what to do? Can you open a blog JUST for your writing? It's really easy to do. Do you have other places where you can post it (Facebook, Google Plus...)? Let me know please! I'd love to read your story!
OMG I did it Natalia, now I am so nervous its out there.
DeleteYay! I'm so glad you did it! I know, it's scary, isn't it? But so, so liberating!!! Thank you so much for sharing your story - I thoroughly enjoyed it!
DeleteNatalia, sorry this is a little late but I wanted the time to read properly and take in the wonder of your writing. I so enjoyed your characters and the humorous banter between them , I felt I was taken along on their journey. A total delight.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for reading, Jill, and for your heartfelt comment - it means so much to me! Hope you will be inspired to write your own stories as well. :)
DeleteI loved your tail. I like the radio play suggestion- it wpuld be fun to listen to this being read.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sam! I can hear their voices, and I think a radio play as well as an experimental stage play would be great! I'm up to that - where are producers? :)
DeleteNatalia,
ReplyDeleteI read this last week after a tough afternoon. It was a nice day outside , so i sat at an outdoor care for an early dinner and a glass of wine...and read this. I was so captivated by the story, found the dialogue so engaging, and thoroughly
enjoyed myself! I will read it again, tonight btw!
xx, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com
I'm so glad that you read - and that you described how you read it in a outside cafe, I just can see it! Thank you, Elle, I'm touched!
DeleteLovely story Natalia! Like other comments: This is ready for the radio! Well done Dear :-)
ReplyDeleteI've read the other entries - all very good too. Thank you for bringing so much entertainment to the rest of us, and for making the space for the authors to publish their work!
Thank you so much, Tine! I'm so glad we did this - I find a lot of inspiration and heart in all of the stories here. I'm looking forward to the round 2! I've written my story already. :)
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