Tales from the Raven

The Hotel gleamed in pristine balconies and gold-gilt doors.  The cluster of valets hovered just outside the marble foyer.  As each car pulled up, they stepped forward with a broad smile.  The Lexus pulled away, then the Mercedes, the Infinity.  The rumble of an approaching car caught a valet’s ear.  He turned.  His jaw dropped.  Pulling [...]

Semorl swung from the back of his horse and strode through the inner courtyard of the keep.  He paused to let his eyes adjust to the darkness in the hall.  “Master Semorl!” His aged aunt fell at his feet.  “You’ve arrived too late.  The babe is long dead, and your lady soon to join him.  All is [...]

Anna dropped to her knees on the mat and placed her fists, first two knuckles only, just out from her shoulder width.  She crossed her ankles and raised herself on just the toes of her bottom foot into push-up position. One, two, three, four, five, six . . . she pumped them off quickly, including her [...]

Sharan jumped down the stairs, two at a time, and dodged out the broad front doors.  She slowed her pace as she skimmed through the crowd of students, then broke into a trot.  If she could just hurry, if the 3:06 bus could be a little late, she would still make it.  She swung round the corner of a [...]

Ms. Locken felt a light touch on her shoulder.  The soft voice of the flight attendant penetrated her sleepy thoughts. “Hmm?”  She asked. “We’ll be landing soon.”  The attendant sounded slightly anxious.  “You asked that we wake you. . . can I get you anything?” Ms. Locken rolled to her side, then into a sitting position.  “No, [...]

” . . . and now, on behalf of the KIP foundation, we’d like to announce the Grand Prize winner–Jane Sowers!” Jane leaped from her seat and clambored up the stairs to the dias.  She turned to face the audience, her face flushed and eyes bright. “Oh, wow–wow,” she said.  “Thanks, everybody, but especially the truly important ones [...]

Tuppin dropped her broom at the door and hurried to the stove.  She needed to get the cauldron on now or it wouldn’t reach the rich simmering point before conclave tonight.  She popped the toads’ eggs into the oven, flipped on a burner, grabbed her biggest pot and began filling it with hot water. “Merowrr!”  Her new black [...]

Peter shifted in his seat.  His stomach felt knotted and empty, and his legs were restless from their long confinement. He kept his eyes on Ms. Watson, at the head of the class, but in his fingers the pencil moved swiftly over the paper.  An image of a hotdog took shape.  A slice of pizza, complete [...]

This is a collection of Craft pieces as assigned by myself or my writing group, and is updated regularly.  The jist is we give ourselves a prompt (which I show in the title) then we write a short and snappy scene from the prompt.  The motto is show, don’t tell, so the words of the prompt should not be used. I [...]

Elisa hesitated in front of the door.  She shouldn’t go back to the bar- she should let the guys be, and leave quietly.  She would do that. The door opened and Tina poked her head in- spotted Elisa. “There you are-” she said.  “Ron sent me to find you.  Said he was afraid you’d gotten [...]