Avsnitt

  • The Swallow Who Was a Willow

    The Swallow Who Was a Willow

    · Storyfeather

    A prideful swallow is cursed and changed into the form that she finds most abhorrent, a tree.

    Genre: Fable

    Excerpt:
    The swallow was a happy bird, but also somewhat superior. Nothing brought her joy the way flying did. Slicing through the clouds and flicking the air with the perfect points of her tail. She believed that birds were the supreme creatures of the world. Because they could fly. Some insects could fly as well, of course. But birds could fly higher, faster, and farther than any insect.

    The happy swallow pitied any creature who could not fly.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    EXERCISE: Grab a book off the shelf—any book! Don’t bother searching for anything in particular. Open it at random and begin reading. Write down every idea you get from reading what is on that single page. Now turn to another page and do the same thing. Later, scroll down the aisle, pick another book whose title arouses your curiosity; once again open the book at random, and record any ideas that come to mind.

    Source: The Daily Writer: 366 meditations to cultivate a productive and meaningful writing life. Fred White. Writer’s Digest Books. 2008.

    20 Master Plots and How to Build Them (And How to Build Them). Ronald B. Tobias. Writer’s Digest Books. 1993. I landed on page 151, the chapter on metamorphosis plot.

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn more about it right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “The Swallow Who Was a Willow” Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by JONATHAN SHAW*
    “Checking Inventory”
    “Cold Sanctuary”
    “In Tranquil Spring”
    “Visions of Freedom”
    “A Bitter Hope”
    “Thoughts”
    “Heated Lands”
    “Afternoon Chat”
    “A Dream of First Flight”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Jonathan Shaw licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center a tree that splits off to two main branches close to the base, and splits further out into gnarled bare branches that extend across the top half of the image. Under the right side of the tree is a swallow in flight, seen from the top. The shadowy silhouette of another swallow appears in the background on the left side. Patterned and color-matched borders added at top and bottom to make the rectangular image a square. Watermark of “Storyfeather” at bottom right.

    This is episode #333. Gasp! What does that mean?

  • John's Fellow Passengers

    John's Fellow Passengers

    · Storyfeather

    After a man stuck in the middle seat of a long flight wishes he had more room in his row, his wish comes true: his seatmates start vanishing.

    Genre: Mystery

    Excerpt:
    But saying it out loud, he sounded a little foolish to himself, so he laughed and waved a hand. “I’m probably just being a worrywart for nothing. But I figure better safe than sorry.”

    The flight attendants agreed. And they said they’d look for his missing seatmates, and if they returned in the meantime, they asked if John would come back and let them know. They would be serving the final snacks for the flight in about fifteen minutes. They would check in with him then.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Create a scene in a new environment. Make that environment extreme. Put your characters in unusual positions--working beneath a car or reaching for something while standing on a chair. By placing physical constraints on a character, you increase the dramatic effect of your words.

    Source: The Observation Deck. Naomi Epel. Copyright © 1994. Chronicle Books.

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn more about it right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE



    CREDITS
    Story: “John's Fellow Passengers” Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by LEE ROSEVERE
    “It’s A Mystery”
    “Making A Change”
    “Small Steps”
    “Thoughtful”
    “Gone”
    “Decompress”
    “Betrayal”
    “Going Home”
    “Universe Calling”

    Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.com
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Diagram. Partial view of an airplane, from nose to just behind the wings, displaying the configuration of seats. At top left are two fields. Top field reads, “Welcome, John. D.” Field below it reads, “Time remaining: 1:34.” A key to the right of the nose displays four boxes with text to the right: a purple box labeled “Available: First Class,” an orange box labeled “Available: Business Class,” a green box labeled “Available: Frugal Class,” and a clear box with a slash from top left to bottom right labeled: “Unavailable Reserved.” There is one center aisle. At the front of the plane are three rows of first class seats with four seats to a row. Behind this are five rows of business class seats with six seats to a row. Behind this are frugal class seats at six seats to a row, with rows more closely spaced than business class. The rows of frugal class seats continue to the bottom of image, separated into three visible clusters. One of the seats, third row down, second seat over is highlighted in red, and a line extends from it to a text box at left labeled “11B.” Above this box is a field labeled, “Your seat selection.” Below the seat number is a field with three buttons labeled, “Upgrade $29.99,” “Confirm,” and “Cancel.” Borders at right and left make the original vertical rectangular image into a square. The borders contain faded close-up insets of the main image. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along the side where the right wing connects to the body.

  • Saknas det avsnitt?

    Klicka här för att uppdatera flödet manuellt.

  • Stranded in the Green and Gold

    Stranded in the Green and Gold

    · Storyfeather

    Two passengers find themselves alone just after takeoff, on a plane that seems to be floating in some substance that the passengers can only define as being green and gold.

    Genre: Science Mystery

    Excerpt:
    If we were asleep, and the plane crashed into an ocean with green-and-gold water, and we’re now sinking, and the rest of the passengers managed to get out, then how did they all get a chance to take their luggage? And how did they then close the cabin doors again?

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Prompt: That was the last thing I needed to see in the middle of take-off. And then there was that noise I kept hearing. Was that sound normal on a plane?

    Oops, I’m not sure about the origin of this prompt. Per my notes, this came from an app called “Fictionprompter,” but I don’t remember this app. And couldn’t find it on a casual search.

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn more about it right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE


    CREDITS
    Story: “Stranded in the Green and Gold” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)*
    “Forensic”
    “As it happenned”
    “Prisma”
    “Nightfall”
    “Haunted spaceship”
    “DNA”
    “Experiment 4”
    “Pitch black”
    “Connecting dots”
    “Genetic marker”
    “Between two worlds”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Two women seen from behind fly through a green and yellow substance, leaving streaming wakes behind them, toward an airplane seen from behind at upper right. The woman at left and slightly ahead looks back at and stretches one arm out toward the other figure. The other woman has both arms held to the side and close to the body. Watermark of “Storyfeather” at bottom center. Borders at top and bottom to make the image square contain faint stamps of the figures, plane, and substance.

  • My Food Is Speaking to Me

    My Food Is Speaking to Me

    · Storyfeather

    Do the voices coming from the food in my fridge and pantry want to harm me, help me, or just…be?

    Genre: Science Fiction

    Excerpt:
    “Tell me I’m sane,” I said.

    There was a pause on the other end. And then he finally spoke.

    “I refuse.”

    I sighed. “Freddy, come on.”

    “Give me some context, then.”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Describe each day of the week as food.
    Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (If you want to learn even more, I’ve got info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “My Food Is Speaking to Me” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by LEE ROSEVERE
    “Decompress”
    “Thoughtful”
    “Start the Day”
    “Under Suspicion”
    “It’s A Mystery”
    “Reflections”
    “Slow Lights”
    “Awkward Silences (version a)”
    “We’ll Figure it Out Together”

    Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Vocal effects created with Audacity
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.com
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A fully stocked refrigerator seen from an angle with the door opening out to the left. The top third contains a freezer section. Recognizable items in the door are bottles at bottom, milk cartons, jars, butter (labeled), and at top, ice cream and a bag of chicken nuggets (labeled). Recognizable items in the main compartments include vegetables, a carton of eggs, a covered bowl, and flat cartons labeled “pizza” and “pepperoni.” Text bubbles surround the refrigerator. The three at left read as follows from top to bottom: “On toast? I’m in,” “Time for tacos. Lime for tacos,” and “Saute in me!” The five at right read as follows: “Why wait for Sunday?” and “Scramble me,” “Poach me,” “I want to be a pot pie,” and “Stew us!” (four times).

  • Madeleine Miriam's Pizzapothecarium

    Madeleine Miriam's Pizzapothecarium

    · Storyfeather

    During his first week working at a unique pizzeria, Ronnie encounters some uncanny late-night customers, who place an order for the rarest pizza on the menu.

    Genre: Fantasy

    Excerpt:
    “What…what will this one do?” Ronnie asked as he folded fresh rosemary leaves and parmesan flakes into the dough.

    “It’ll make the customer swoon with pleasure upon first bite is what it will do.” Madeleine Miriam cocked an eyebrow. “And it’ll treat those infected gums on the left side of his jaw.”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Describe your favorite food in no more than five words.
    Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers
    (The five words I wrote were, “Cheesy, chewy, crispy, saucy, zesty.”)


    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (If you want to learn even more, I’ve got info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “Madeleine Miriam's Pizzapothecarium” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)*
    “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart (No Percussion)”
    “Ground Control”
    “March Of The Waking Lights”
    “Cozy Afternoons”
    “Evolving Cities”
    “Forest Bathing”

    Music by CHRIS LOGSDON*
    “Level 2”
    “Level 8”
    “Level 1”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Andrea Baroni and Chris Logsdon licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrea Baroni and Chris Logsdon at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Lying on a tabletop at left seen from one corner is a pizza box that’s slightly open to show a pizza with multiple toppings within. The box is labeled “Pizzapothecarium” along the front overlapping edge. The bottom edge reads “Supreme,” “Double Pepperoni,” and “Triple Sparkle.” Each choice has a checkbox in front of it. A fourth option is obscured by a small bottle sitting in front of the box, with a label on a string attached around the neck. The right edge of the box is labeled “Madeleine Miriam’s.” The top of the box, at a steep angle, shows a smiling woman from waist up holding up a pizza at shoulder level in the hand of her bent right arm, and resting her left hand on her hip. At right, four bottles stand on the tabletop: two with caps, one with a cork stopper, and one with a glass stopper. One label reads “Essence T. Aquaticus” with further writing below that is illegible. One bottle is labeled with a number “1,” and another with the number “9.” Words appear above the numbers but only a few letters are visible. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along bottom of pizza box. Top and bottom borders to make the image square contain distorted portions of the main image.

  • Magenta Banana

    Magenta Banana

    · Storyfeather

    Three friends decide to do their science project on a forgotten novelty invention, a self-peeling banana.

    Genre: Science Fiction

    Excerpt:
    “What about dinosaurs?” I said after a few minutes. “We could do our project on how and why they went extinct. That’s exciting.”

    K.D. shook her head. “It might seem too basic. Like something we would have done in the fifth grade.” She loved dinosaurs. She probably didn’t want someone making fun of our project if it was about the thing she loved most. “But maybe you’re on the right track. Animals, but rare ones. What about cryptids?”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Write an ad for a self-peeling banana.
    Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers


    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER
    (If you want to learn even more, I’ve got info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE


    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE



    CREDITS
    Story: “Magenta Banana” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)*
    “Casual Theme #1”
    “Casual Theme #3”
    “Casual Theme #2”
    “Casual Theme #6 (Triumph)”


    Music by LEE ROSEVERE
    “Start the Day”
    “Awkward Silences (version b)”
    “Thoughtful”
    “New Day”
    “The Long Journey”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market
    Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Vocal effects created with Audacity
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.com
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Bottom half, three kids gathered around a laptop monitor, all facing forward, two sitting and one standing behind them. They all look down at the screen. Behind them stands a banana plant bearing bunches of bananas just above the standing child’s head. Some of the bananas in the bottom bunches bear a streak of magenta color along the peel. Watermark of “Storyfeather” on laptop lid.

  • Welcome to Thoughtsburger

    Welcome to Thoughtsburger

    · Storyfeather

    A young journalist follows her latest lead into a quirky fast food place located in her dreams.

    Genre: Mysterious Fantasy

    Excerpt:
    “Welcome to Thoughtsburger, would you like to try our new Weltschmerz platter with a side of Bitterness and Longing?”

    Ria stared at the person who had just addressed her. “Uh, no, thank you.”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Write a menu for a fictional fast-food restaurant.
    Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

    You might also appreciate some definitions:
    Hygge is noun in Danish that means “the feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having good conversations, enjoying food, etc.”

    Weltschmerz is a noun in German that means “sorrow that one feels and accepts as one’s necessary portion in life; sentimental pessimism”
    (reference: dictionary.com)

    Soñadora is Spanish for “dreamer”
    (reference: wordhippo.com and spanishdict.com)

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (If you want to learn even more, I’ve got info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “Welcome to Thoughtsburger” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)*
    “Ground Control”
    “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart”
    “Fast Lanes Light Rain”
    “Forest Bathing”
    “Evolving Cities”
    “March Of The Waking Lights”
    “Night Time”


    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Andrea Baroni licensed from GameDev Market
    Vocal effects created with Audacity
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.


    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrea Baroni at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A woman in left profile, sitting in a booth, looking down at an open laptop. Her left hand rests on the tabletop, right hand perched over the keyboard. A hazy light glows above her head. In background is an empty countertop, above which is a sign or marquee with two sections displaying a menu with illegible characters except for one item, “Weltschmerz Special.” Above the menu is a sign that reads “Welcome to Thoughtsburger.” Watermark of “Storyfeather” along left margin.

  • A Tale of Nine Lemons

    A Tale of Nine Lemons

    · Storyfeather

    To help a young man seek his fortune and his purpose upon leaving home, his parents endow him with a parting gift, a basket of lemons.

    Genre: Fairy Tale

    Excerpt:
    The couple had thirteen children by the time they were finished siring. One by one, as each child came of age, they were sent out into the world to seek their fortunes and their purposes for themselves. To each child their parents gave one gift to help them on their way. And upon receiving their gifts, each child proclaimed their grand aims.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Finish this sentence in three alternate and original ways: “When life gives you lemons…”
    Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.
    (I actually ended up using the other results for another story in a future year)

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER
    (If you want to learn even more, I’ve got info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “A Tale of Nine Lemons” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)*
    “Adventure Track #1 (looped)”
    “Medieval Track #1”
    “Lyric Voices #5”
    “Casual Theme #1”
    “Magic Within”
    “Ice and Fire (peaceful part)”
    “Medieval Track #2”
    “Lyric Voices #2”
    “Peace in My World (final theme)”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A lemon tree full of lemons. At bottom right corner, a person holds a baby over their shoulder. The baby’s head is facing forward and obscuring the other person’s head. The baby’s own head rests on the shoulder, arms loosely curled around the shoulder. The baby’s eyes, partly open, look down and to the side, and each contains a burst of soft light. Watermark of “Storyfeather” at bottom right.

  • The Juggling Ghost Crab

    The Juggling Ghost Crab

    · Storyfeather

    To save her friends and herself from being eaten, a ghost crab enters a juggling contest with a devious and possibly unbeatable opponent.

    Genre: Fable


    Excerpt:
    Four unlikely friends were frolicking in the ocean one day. They were the Ghost Crab, the Blue Marlin, the Jellyfish, and the Nautilus. The crab and the marlin splashed about on the surface, and dove back down, while the jelly and the mollusk bobbed gently under the surface.

    Overhead, there passed the shadow of the Seagull, who watched the friends with great interest, a great interest born of a keen hunger. Here she saw a variety of sweet and juicy treats for her to feast on.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Not a prompt, but a challenge to write a story that’s between 2500 to 3500 words. Aim for as short as possible without going below (or too much below). I chose a genre, fable. And at some point, I had the words “crab” and “juggling” written down. So…what was the crab juggling?

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (If you want to learn even more, I’ve got info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “The Juggling Ghost Crab” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by JONATHAN SHAW*
    “Afternoon Chat”
    “Midnight Creeping”
    “Cold Sanctuary”
    “Spinning Tavern”
    “Thoughts”
    “Encounter of Misdeeds”
    “Lingering Evil”
    “Showdown of Misdeeds”
    “Checking Inventory”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Jonathan Shaw licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Vocal effects made in Audacity
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk and at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Standing on sand facing forward is a ghost crab with the left claw held up. Above the crab from left to right are a pine cone, a wedge of watermelon, and a saucer and cup of tea with tea spilling out over one edge. A bright and speckled circle of energy arcs over the objects and below the crab. Water of “Storyfeather” at bottom right. Border at top and bottom to make the image square displays a starfish pattern in colors that match the drawing.

  • They Linger in the Deep

    They Linger in the Deep

    · Storyfeather

    When a young man sees his reflection in a pool as he has never seen it before, he is both mesmerized and suspicious.

    Genre: Mythology

    Excerpt:
    One day, he had an enticing thought. Then he chastised himself and told himself it was a silly and foolish thought. He shook his head as if shaking off the thought, but it was a sticky thought. It would not be forgotten.

    And so, he leaned down closer to his reflection, closer and closer, until his lips touched the surface of the water, and the lips of his reflection.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    The prompt was a screen capture I took of someone looking down a deep well. It was meant to be a reference image, but I ended up using it as a prompt as well. And the first thought that came to mind was reflections and mermaids. Like what if someone looked down into the waters of a lake and thought they were seeing their own reflection, but just under the surface, there really is another person... Inspired by the story of Echo and Narcissus.

    Faster Fictioneer
    Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. If you’ve got 40 minutes, I can teach you an abbreviated version of that method, right here: FASTER FICTIONEER
    (If you want to learn even more, there's info about my online course on that page too.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “They Linger in the Deep” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)*
    “Sirens”
    “Secret water”
    “Experiment 6”
    “Runes”
    “In the shadow”
    “Between two worlds”

    Music by ROZKOL
    “Ambiet I-IV”
    “Fever Dream”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market
    Music by ROZKOL is licensed under CC BY 3.0

    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Vocal effects made in Audacity
    Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more music by ROZKOL at bandcamp.com
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. View from below the surface of a pool looking up at a young man in a short sleeve tunic seen from waist up at a diagonal. He is gazing down. His face is reflected on the stone surface visible along the left and bottom edges. Stray water weeds cling to the rocky walls of the pool.

  • The Ogre and the Elf Go To Honeymoon City

    The Ogre and the Elf Go To Honeymoon City

    · Storyfeather

    Longtime lovers the ogre and the elf each recall the first few days of their honeymoon a bit differently.

    Genre: Fairy Tale

    Excerpt:
    The ogre snapped her fingers and furrowed her warty brow. “What was the name of the place where we stayed…was it…the Twilight Twinklings Inn?”

    “No darling, that was for our first anniversary, when we went up north to see the lights.”

    The ogre brought her fist down on the table, making the forks jump. “Might of the Mermaid! That’s the place.”

    The elf nodded, then chuckled as a memory arose. “First mishap, our missing luggage…”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Write about a couple who have a very different perspective on a shared memory.
    Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE



    CREDITS
    Story: “The Ogre and the Elf Go to Honeymoon City” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)*
    “Locations_Medieval Tavern Song”
    “Locations_Happy Village (loop)”
    “Humorous_Exploration (loop)”
    “Exploration_Forest Of Magic”
    “Exploration_Cave (loop)”
    “Battle_1_normal (loop)”

    Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)*
    “Joy”
    “Desert dance”
    “A band in the inn”
    “Sand of time (bonus track)”
    “Donjon monster”
    “The bard”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Albert Fernandez and Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Vocal effects made in Audacity

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. An elf man at left and an ogre woman at right sit across from each other at a small round table, barely perched on their seats, their bodies facing forward, gazing at each other. Both have long pointed ears. The ogre has two sharp teeth curving up at the corners of the mouth, and two short horns extending from the front crown of the head. The elf rests his left elbow on the table and the right hand on the left wrist. A stein sits on the table before the elf. The ogre rests her right elbow on the table, holding up a stein, left hand propped on her lap. A plate with food and a fork and knife lie on the table. Above their heads and between them hangs a chandelier with lit candles casting down a soft light.

  • The Incident at Soruquenty Beach

    The Incident at Soruquenty Beach

    · Storyfeather

    An urban legend about a haunting phenomenon occurring in a little beach town becomes a news story when escalating incidents lead to the beaching of what appears to be a telepathic whale.

    Genre: Science Mystery

    Excerpt:

    “You’re looking for a story.”

    “Yes.”

    “My story.”

    “That’s right. What’s your story? Where did you come from? How did you get inside that whale?”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    You’re barefoot in the sand on a beach, and the waves runs over your toes. Describe what you’re feeling.
    Source: Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    Here’s the other episode on whales that I mention in the outro: The Watchers of the Whale

    CREDITS
    Story: “The Incident at Soruquenty Beach” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)*
    “Monochromatic stain”
    “Prisma”
    “Secret agent”
    “Whispers”
    “Cold case”
    “Mindhunter”
    “Profiler”
    “As it happenned”
    “Unclassified”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market
    Vocal effects made in Audacity

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A woman seen from shoulders up, looking down with eyes closed. Her index fingers are pressed to her temples. Above her forehead is the depiction of a sperm whale in left profile. Concentric circles of bright spiky energy emanate from the middle of the whale’s body. The woman’s left wrist bears a hospital band with unintelligible characters written on it.

  • Jukebox Time Portal

    Jukebox Time Portal

    · Storyfeather

    The inventor of a working time machine takes her closest friend on what was meant to be a quick trip to the near future.

    Genre: Science Fantasy

    Excerpt:
    I didn’t panic right away when Violeta said she had succeeded in building a working time machine.

    All of her inventions worked. All of them. But all her other inventions were a lot less…ambitious.

    I mean, a time machine. That’s the ultimate invention, isn’t it?

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Drawing challenge: Psychedelic portal
    Drawing challenge: Jukebox
    I’m combining them.
    Source: Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “Jukebox Time Portal” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by TAO & SOUND*
    “80s Synth Ambient 01 C"
    “80s Synth Ambient 02 E”
    “U Never Had To Exist – (B) Melody Loop”
    “Cry No More – Intro”
    “Cry No More – (A) Melody Loop”
    “Cry No More – Outro (long)”
    “Cry No More – (A) Drums & Bass Loop”
    “I Never Gave Up – Intro”
    “U Never Had To Exist – Intro”
    “U Never Had To Exist”
    “U Never Had To Exist– (A) Drums & Bass Loop”
    “I Never Gave Up – (A) Melody Loop”

    Music by Lee Rosevere
    “4th Ave. Walkup”
    “Try Anything Once”
    “Tech Toys”
    “As I Was Saying”
    “Southside”
    “Max Flashback”
    “Betrayal”
    “I Bet You Wonder Why”
    “Awkward Silences (version b)”
    “Going Home”
    “Glass Android”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Tao & Sound licensed from GameDev Market
    Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Tao & Sound at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.com
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. A woman seen from knees up, stands facing and looking forward, leaning against a multicolored jukebox at right. Her right thumb is hooked in her belt, which is hung with a few tools and devices, and her left elbow rests on the jukebox, arm bent. One brow and the corner of her mouth are raised. In the background are splashes of color that match the jukebox’s colors.

  • The Hippocampus and the Menagerie

    The Hippocampus and the Menagerie

    · Storyfeather

    A fearful and captive servant, who tends a menagerie of unique and captive creatures, is dazzled by the arrival of a most magnificent creature known as a hippocampus.

    Genre: Fantasy

    Excerpt:
    At the center of my memory is the image of a horse, a horse the color of orange cream, rearing up, and glancing at me, with an oceanic glint in her eye. She has wings. She has fins. She is fast. I remember. She was fast. Slicing through the water like a ray of sunlight.

    So I don’t know how it could have happened. But I have to do something.

    I must free the hippocampus.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Write a story based on the image you draw of a…sea horse.
    No source noted. This prompt was marked “idea,” so I think it may have been my idea.

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    I’ve Got Issues For You
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more that I send by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE



    CREDITS
    Story: “The Hippocampus and the Menagerie” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)

    Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)*
    “The ocean takes it all”
    “Compass”
    “Experiment 7”
    “In the shadows”
    “Winter guild”
    “Fallen leaves”
    “Rage”
    “The plan”
    “Into wild lands”
    “Northern dusk”
    “Ancien stones”
    “Dark secret”
    “Wide place”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Within a glass globe, whose edges are partly visible in frame, there floats a creature in left profile with the front half of a rearing horse and the bottom half of a sea dragon. A finlike wing extends from the creature’s back. Branching frills and ruffles of fins extend from the bottom half. The body is striped. The ruffled fins bear patches and spots of color. Glowing bubbles rise up around the creature. The globe rests on a base that’s decorated with tube-shaped coral and coiled snail shells.

  • The Obsidian Tusks

    The Obsidian Tusks

    · Storyfeather

    In life and beyond, the elephant king seeks only one aim, to protect his people from despair.

    Genre: Fable

    Excerpt:
    As the elephant king lay dying, struck silent by his pain, able only to breathe shattered breaths, his mind thought its last thoughts.

    He could forgive the ones who had killed him. But forgiveness would do his people no good.

    He could lay a curse upon the ones who had killed him, villains and villagers alike. He was a king. The ghosts of his ancestors would answer his summons and grant him his last wish. But curses were dangerous, not just to those who were cursed, but to those who did the cursing.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    EXERCISE: Grab a book off the shelf—any book! Don’t bother searching for anything in particular. Open it at random and begin reading. Write down every idea you get from reading what is on that single page. Now turn to another page and do the same thing. Later, scroll down the aisle, pick another book whose title arouses your curiosity; once again open the book at random, and record any ideas that come to mind.

    Source: The Daily Writer: 366 meditations to cultivate a productive and meaningful writing life. Fred White. Writer’s Digest Books. 2008.

    The book I grabbed was a writing a book. 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them (And How to Build Them). Ronald B. Tobias. Writer’s Digest Books. 1993. I randomly turned to page 65 in the chapter about quest plots. So at first, the story was a quest about the elephant king seeking to recover his stolen tusks.

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    Follow my Fictioneering Mischief
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “The Obsidian Tusks” Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)*
    “Song Mistery”
    “Song Visiting Her Forest”
    “Song Painful Memories (Loop)”
    “Atmosphere Persecution Danger (Loop)”
    “Exploration Mystery (loop)”
    “Cue Nature”
    “Exploration Cave (loop)”
    “Exploration Forest of Magic”
    “Location Medieval Tavern Song”
    “Exploration Mystical Place (loop 2)”
    “Holy Hymn (loop)”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Albert Fernandez licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket


    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Albert Fernandez at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, an adult elephant stands facing forward, the left flank visible. Long shiny black tusks extend down around the trunk. The elephant looks down at the body of a baby elephant lying horizontally in front. The baby’s skin appears patched with dirt and the remnant of a broken white tusk. The hazy outlines and silhouettes of trees and a leafy canopy appear behind and around the elephants. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along flank.

  • A Most Discourteous Interview

    A Most Discourteous Interview

    · Storyfeather

    A nervous young job-seeker’s interview is constantly interrupted by what seem to be personal phone calls to the interviewer, but from different callers.

    Genre: Fairy Tale

    Excerpt:
    I was nervous. Okay…yes, obviously. Obviously I was nervous. This one, I really, really wanted. Based on the description. Field investigation and research. Constant travel, mostly domestic, but some international travel might be required. Opportunities to advance, to earn further education, to earn money. But best of all, I would not be able to talk about the details of my work—with rare exception—with anyone outside of the organization. No details meant no criticism from my…beloved family. But you can’t always be sure from just a description. I tried not to get too excited.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Write a transcript for a job interview where the interviewer keeps pausing to take personal phone calls.
    Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    Follow my Fictioneering Mischief
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “A Most Discourteous Interview” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)*
    “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart”
    “Night Time”
    “Slightly Across”
    “The Tech Show”
    “Fast Lanes Light Rain”
    “March of the Waking Lights”
    “Evolving Cities”
    “The Tech Show Short3(loop)(126)”
    “Fugue For One Synthetic Heart (No Percussion)”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Andrea Baroni licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
    Vocal effects created with Audacity

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrea Baroni at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. Center left, a woman seen from waist up, facing forward, with forearms resting on a table surface, right hand over left. Brows raised, she looks over at a device, partially visible lying on the surface at right. Motion lines appear around the device. Faint shadows appear on the wall behind the person: a solid circle inside an open circle, tendrils, and the top half of a humanoid figure. Watermark of the “Storyfeather” along surface at left.

  • The Automated Fortune Line

    The Automated Fortune Line

    · Storyfeather

    A man seeks the help of a psychic after he experiences an unusual haunting from an automated phone line.

    Genre: Mysterious Fantasy

    Excerpt:
    “My life is still following the path he laid out for me.”

    Madame Granya frowned. “Who?”

    I stared at her. I wasn’t really struggling with whether or not I should tell her. I was just not telling her. I had nothing on my mind in that moment. I was…stuck, maybe. And then I spoke.

    “Me,” I said. I laughed, a self-mocking laugh. “Him. The voice…on the phone. The voice of me.”

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Imagine what someone—a real person or a fictional character—might be carrying in his wallet or hiding in her underwear drawer. Make a list of the items you’ve imagined, then write a page inspired by one of them.
    Source: The Observation Deck. Naomi Epel. Copyright © 1994. Chronicle Books.

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    Follow my Fictioneering Mischief
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS

    Story: “The Automated Fortune Line” Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel

    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel

    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by CHRIS LOGSDON*
    “Level 1”
    “Level 8”
    “Level 6”
    “Level 2”

    Music by FICUSPROSOUND*
    “No Way Out (Full Version)”
    “The Jigsaw (Full Version)”
    “Following Clues (Full Version)”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Chris Logsdon and FicusProsound licensed from GameDev Market
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket


    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Chris Logsdon and FicusProsound at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Black silhouette of two figures in profile sitting across from each other at a small table. The figures both have their arms extended. The shorter figure, at right, holds the hand of the taller figure. They are seen through the translucent drawn back curtains of a window. Rain falls past the window at an angle from top right to bottom left. Above the top fringe of the curtain is a glowing neon sign that reads “Psychic” at top, above the words “Palm Aura,” which both flank a hand, and below that the word “Reader.”

  • Roxie's Wake-up Call

    Roxie's Wake-up Call

    · Storyfeather

    Sammy receives an unusual birthday gift, a smart device with a face, a set life span, and an unrelenting imperative to help.

    Genre: Science Fiction

    Excerpt:
    The figurine suddenly collapsed, then sprung up, wheeled her arms around, stretched them out, then up, then bopped up and down by bending at the knees.

    She gazed up at Sammy. “Hello there!” she said. “Are you the one who needs help?”

    Sammy said nothing. The figurine’s movements were smooth and graceful and quiet. She made no jerking motions, emitted no mechanical sounds of motors or gears. She blinked, and she breathed. She moved as if she were a living creature.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    Ills, Pills, and Bills, Explore the subject of illness. Discover how one of your characters handles it. Or, select a moment from a personal experience of being sick or being a caregiver. Notice your perspective: is the incident humorous? poignant? clinical? dark? What means did you choose for writing: description? dialogue? narration of the event?

    Source: Room to Write: Daily Invitations to a Writer’s Life. Bonni Goldberg. Copyright © 1996. TarcherPerigee.

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    Follow my Fictioneering Mischief
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “Roxie's Wake-up Call” Copyright © 2019 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by ANDREA BARONI (Cyberleaf)*
    “Fugue for One Synthetic Heart (No Percussion)”
    “Forest Bathing”
    “Night Time (No Percussion)”
    “Evolving Cities”
    “Ground Control”
    “You Were Always in the Right Place (No Percussion)”


    Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)*
    “Casual Theme #1”
    “Casual Theme #3”
    “Medieval Theme #5”
    “Medieval Theme #2”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market
    Vocal effects created with Audacity

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrea Baroni and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a left and right border to make the format square. A humanoid figure standing with crossed arms, looking upward, and facing forward in front of a corkboard. The figure has right foot propped on the heel at the side, wears a satchel across the body, hanging from the right shoulder, and wears pants, a turtleneck, and a small-brimmed hat. Pinned to the corkboard to the figure’s left is a sticky note labeled “Return Cathy’s Call (see email for #),” and to the right is a cluster of push pins.

  • Seven Signs of Impossible Times

    Seven Signs of Impossible Times

    · Storyfeather

    A reporter and camera operator expect to uncover a hoax when they investigate sightings of flying pigs, but soon find themselves on the path of a much stranger story.

    Genre: Fantastic Mystery

    Excerpt:
    “The boss wants us to relate it to the flying pigs story,” Quentin said.

    They were driving out to another farm, within the county this time. And this time, it was a commercial farm where the workers had reported that the chickens had begun growing teeth.

    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    “Draw: When pigs fly” (I didn’t actually draw a flying pig…not for this story anyway.)
    Source: 500 Creative Prompts. Copyright © 2019 Piccadilly (USA) Inc.
    Additional inspiration from the following source.
    https://omniglot.com/language/idioms/flyingpigs.php
    Idioms that mean something that is highly unlikely to happen

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there.)

    Follow my Fictioneering Mischief
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE

    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “Seven Signs of Impossible Times” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by LEE ROSEVERE
    “Awkward Silences (version a)”
    “Not My Problem”
    “Knowing the Truth”
    “Slow Lights”
    “Betrayal”
    “Awkward Silences (version b)”

    Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)*
    “Hidden Fear”
    “Mystical House (Short Loop)”
    “Story at Night”
    “Scary Theme #5”
    “Scary Theme #3”
    “Scary Theme #4 (Version 2)”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.


    Music by Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market
    Music by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org and bandcamp.com
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. At center, two figures seen from mid-thigh up standing in front of a massive gate that is halfway open. The man at left faces forward. He holds a microphone up to his mouth with his right hand and gestures to the gate with his left. The woman at right holds a professional camera over her right shoulder. The camera is pointed toward the man. On either side of the frame in foreground are towers of gladiolus flowers. Snow appears to be blowing down and out from the open gate. A plaque on the left side of the gate reads “Pandemonium.”

  • The Galactic Analyst

    The Galactic Analyst

    · Storyfeather

    When unexpectedly asked about their profession, a person accustomed to remaining unnoticed until needed debates about how to tell the truth—spectacularly, or mundanely.

    Genre: Science Fantasy

    Excerpt:
    I noticed him seeming to notice me, and I found that so unlikely that I almost frowned. I was extremely skilled at remaining unnoticed. The Queen of the Hollow Yellow Moon had once proclaimed that I had the power to turn invisible. Of course, there’s no such thing. At least, I haven’t come across any such thing in my work so far.


    What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
    “A stranger asks what you do. How do you reply?”
    Source: A Writer’s Year: 365 Creative Writing Prompts. Text by Emma Bastow. Copyright © 2019 HarperCollins Publishers

    Faster Fictioneer
    I held my first free writing workshop over Zoom to teach my method of writing short stories (an abbreviated version) on 11/8/2023. The workshop is based on my course, called “Faster Fictioneer: A Doable Method to Write a Short Story from Start to Finish in Five Weeks.”

    You can watch a replay of the workshop here: FASTER FICTIONEER

    (You can also buy the course there, for yourself, or as a gift.)

    Follow my Fictioneering Mischief
    The Storyfeather Gazette is a monthly round-up of my recent podcast episodes, short stories, trailers, news, recommendations, and more sent by email. Follow the link to look through old issues and to Sign Up: STORYFEATHER GAZETTE


    Storyfeather-themed merchandise
    T-shirts, mugs, stickers, notebooks, baby onesies, and more featuring artwork from stories and art challenges
    STORYFEATHER TEEPUBLIC STORE

    CREDITS
    Story: “The Galactic Analyst” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
    Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel


    Music:
    “Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)


    Music by JONATHAN SHAW*
    “A Tale of Peace”
    “Thoughts”
    “Midnight Creeping”
    “A Tale of Water”


    Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)*
    “Stars Talk”
    “Dark Side”
    “Last Moments of Peace”
    “Space Discoveries”
    “Another World”
    “A Long Way”

    *These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

    Music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov licensed from GameDev Market

    Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
    Find more music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net
    Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.uk
    Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

    Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Central image with a top and bottom border to make the format square. Bottom left, black silhouettes of two people facing each other, seen from waist up. Behind them is a starry expanse. Above their heads are bright colored gases. At top right is a sphere, encircled by rings in symmetrical orbits. Watermark of “Storyfeather” at bottom right.

  • Visa fler