  Short Stories
This week: Get Inspired Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week.
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I've been a writer for many years. I get my ideas from various places. Many times stories spring from personal experience, often they're inspired by a photograph, but every once in a while I have to search for that spark of creativity.
In the olden days (pre-internet), writers combed through articles and scanned the evening news hoping something would kindle an idea. Nowadays, writers have a world of knowledge and limitless information at their fingertips. I save interesting and/or useful website addresses for future use, and today I'd like to share a few thought-provoking sites with you.
 Fake Name Generator: Here you can choose whether your protagonist is male or female, their name set (American, Polish, Hobbit, etc.), and what country they're from. Click GENERATE, and voila! Up pops your character's address, occupation, phone number, birthday, age, zodiac sign, email address, height, weight, blood type, favorite color, and make/model of the vehicle they drive. It's an amazing tool, and each time you click GENERATE there's enough information provided to spark an idea.
Urban Legends Online: This one is self-explanatory. Everything from The Jersey Devil to Slenderman, Urban Legends Online has all your favorites as well as many you've probably never heard. You know that email forward about Irena Sendler saving over 2500 Jewish lives during WWII? Yep, ULO's got it. One of my favorites is The Candy Man which was made into a super creepy film (Candyman) in 1992 starring Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd.
Creepypasta: A place for all things ... well, creepy. Here you will find legends, myths, scare encounters, and unsettling paranormal experiences. You'll also find Crappypasta (those stories that didn't quite make the cut). Sometimes reading what others have written generates your own story idea, and the site enables you to share your creation with others anxious to read it.
Goodbye Warden: This site posts the last words of the 540 (and counting) Death Row inmates executed in the state of Texas since 1982. It's unsettling, to say the least. When I originally stumbled upon the site I was toying with the idea of writing a story about a man on death row. I'm not really sure what the purpose of the site is other than to say maybe it brings some peace, some closure, to their own families as well as the families of their victims. After perusing their comments one is left feeling a little haunted: these doomed men were, in fact, someone's son, brother, husband, father. Reading their last words enables the reader to see them as human beings--something other than the monster who committed the heinous acts that defined their lives (and deaths). As writers, we know individuals aren't all good or all bad. Human nature isn't that black and white, and nowhere is that more evident than on this site.
White Enamel: Something about mental illness and the way societies have treated the mentally ill throughout history fascinates me. As a nurse, I believe the resources for and treatment of the mentally ill in America leaves something to be desired, but they are way better than they used to be. In "A History of Madness" I wrote about the history of mental illness and its treatments from an observer's perspective; White Enamel allows you to experience it from a patient's perspective. I guess the best way to describe White Enamel is to say it's an immersive, interactive video tour of an asylum. It's not a horror game, although there are a few parts that will make you jump. It's creepy in another way--contemplative and very well done. The experience itself is called "an online experiment." Twice I tried to complete the seven-part tour, and twice my dogs, who were in the room with me at the time, started barking up a storm.  I'm currently writing a story about a man who is an asylum patient, so I hope this experience gives me a few ideas.
Survive the Outbreak: Zombies are all the rage right now: The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Train to Busan, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, World War Z, 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Sean of the Dead, Quarantine, and Zombieland, just to name a few. Survive the Outbreak, like White Enamel, is another interactive movie that allows you to determine which direction the plot goes. Characters make decisions based on your choices. Will you survive the zombie apocalypse or die trying? Mostly you die, but it presents scenarios that might prove helpful to your characters should you write your own zombie story. (WARNING: as expected with all apocalypse plots, this site contains foul language and gore).
Let's Not Meet: I recently finished re-reading You by Caroline Kepnes and was reminded of how many books I've read (and re-read) about creepy stalkers. My favorite is The Collector, John Fowles' 1963 debut novel. Of course, people enjoy reading and watching scary things because we know they aren't real, but when they are real ... not so much. Have you ever been in a bookstore or the mall and had a distinct feeling that someone was watching you, perhaps even following you? Maybe you even caught the person ogling and spent the next few minutes fumbling for your keys and looking over your shoulder to ensure you weren't being followed to your car. Let's Not Meet is a place where people who have had such experiences share them with others. Unlike Missed Connections, the people who post on Let's Not Meet do NOT want to encounter this person ever again. It's interesting, creepy, and maybe something you find will spark a story idea.
If nothing in this list inspires you, try a contest. WDC has many prompt-based contests that provide a photograph or a quote to get you started. Flip through an old photo album, talk a walk downtown, eavesdrop on a nearby conversation, visit a museum. Ideas surround you; all you have to do is look.
Thank you for reading.
P.S. Every registered author who shares their thoughts and/or creative endeavors relating to or inspired by this week's topic will receive an exclusive trinket. I will retire this month's limited-edition trinket at 11:59 p.m. WDC time on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, when my next short stories newsletter goes live.
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I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. I occasionally feature static items by members who are no longer with us; some have passed away while others simply aren't active members. Their absence doesn't render their work any less relevant, and if it fits the week's topic I will include it.
Thank you, and have a great week!
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I usually don't include one of my own stories, but this one fits the week's topic.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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The following is in response to "Christmahanukwanzaakah" :
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Princess Megan Snow Rose  writes: I did the Black Friday at Kohls and got new sweaters. I went an hour after the doors open and it wasn't so bad. There were no carts but my husband said he would be my cart. Bless him! You are so right. If you don't have Christmas in your heart, you won't find it under a Christmas Tree. Great newsletter. Glad your Black Friday Shopping went well.
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Jeff  writes: I used to work retail (at a bookstore) when I was in college and, man, I do not miss it at all. Especially during the holidays! Crowds can be completely insane; and even worse than holiday crowds were the dreaded Harry Potter release days! 
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NaNoNette  writes: I often have to keep myself from using people's real names when I put them into my stories. Most of the people who make it into my stories have behaved more like jackasses than displayed examples of good behavior, so it's important I find names that won't make them recognizable. Once, I used a friend's first name and state of origin in an adult story. That one was actually fun. I still think I'm going to change that name at some point.
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Dartagnan  writes: First off, I was surprised to see my last piece added to this newsletter. Thanks for adding it.
Christmas time brings out the good in a lot of people but also can bring out the bad. There are a lot of Scrooges out there and they can really make for a bad day.
Years ago, my wife and I had been Christmas shopping. I had bought my wife a wonderful present and had put it in a bag where I thought she would be sure not to see it. I guess because I was putting it down in another bag, security thought I was shoplifting. As we exited the store they stopped us. They then proceeded to remove everything from our bags revealing the gift I had gotten her.
When they were satisfied that I was not a crook they handed me my stuff back and walked away quickly leaving me there with all my stuff out of bags. It was all my wife could do to keep me from punching them. I have never been that mad in my life.
So Christmas brings out all kinds.
I wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
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Rhoswen - Relentless Victory  writes: I love the idea of an app for Character prompts! It seems like a great way to bring characters to life.
I also had to laugh at your story of the woman in line at the register - I agree...if someone is going to write about you, make sure it's something memorable - other than showing your tail end!
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Beacon's Anchor  writes: This Newsletter is has great information and I will learn how to write a novel but its the outline I have to get.I like the ideas you come up with and you put them on your newsletter. Thanks for sharing.
Could I have the trinket please!
Thanks again for the newsletter. Keep on writing.
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eyestar~* writes: LOL. Oh my gosh. That is too funny! I am not a fan of shopping most days. Guess the lesson not shop on Black Friday will get through. I like how you relate it writing! Good advice!
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Legendary❤️Mask  writes: Merry Christmas Shannon, I do have to say that your newsletter on Character Studies is alot of help for me. Being a Newbie writer, I've learned alot from reading the newsletters and among other tools on WDC. This one I'm printing out to keep as a reference for future stories. Thank you so much for sharing your husband's Black Trip. Question will he ever shop on Black Friday again?
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Osirantinous  writes: Unfortunately, my two Christmas items here are both horror stories. Probably don't need to share those. Worse, you know.... on Boxing Day (that's the 26th) I nearly called the cops on my neighbour because she was having an absolute screaming match with her mother (?) (who, if I heard the yelling correctly) is also her landlord. I say 'mother' but I don't know for sure; definitely a family member because there was a lot of shrieking about not coming over for dinner on Christmas Day and I say 'landlord' because there was a lot of shrieking about how 48 hours was supposed to be given before a site visit ( and 'how can you drop by now when you didn't come for Christmas lunch'). And now I have a story idea running around in my head, and I really don't want to let it out!! PS your husband and son reacted so well. Big hugs to them for just going with the flow and not joining the ranks of the crazy at Christmas!
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Lilli 🧿 ☕  writes: What a great title for this newsletter! A tongue twister, for sure, but fun!
Your family, Del and Kyle, are far nicer than I would have been to that cranky rude woman!
Thanks for another great newsletter, tickled the funny bone!
Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours!
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Quick-Quill  writes: I cried at your video post. What a great story. For the last 3 years hubby and I have gone shopping late Thanksgiving night or very early Friday morning. Each time we have purchased an appliance at a ridiculously low price. This year we upgraded our espresso machine. A few years ago I upgraded and put a picture of the old one on FB for my friends to know it was for sale. Sold it in a few hours. The next upgrade the same thing. Hubby bought a bigger mixer and I posted my older one and a young mother has a gently used Kitchenaid for Christmas. Her happy smile when I delivered it was worth the low price. It went to a good home to be used for many more years. I love Christmas.
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Jeannie  writes: First of all, I loved the Christmas Polish commercial that made me smile, and
your newsletters are always interesting to read.
Around Christmas time, usually people are pleasant enough, trying to find that certain someone a gift. Some get a little pushy, but this woman you wrote about was way out of line and should be ashamed of herself.
My favorite part of Christmas is the snow, walking along the street with the snow falling down. When it doesn't snow, then I watch Santa with the little ones, and it makes me smile. It puts me in the Christmas mood every time.
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BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  writes: Got plenty of Christmas items in my portfolio.
Got some useful things for my garden, although I need to wait a bit before I use some gift cards.
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dragonwoman writes: I believe whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year, is fodder for writing, either fiction or non-fiction. One of the favorite stories of mine that I have written is called Christmas In A Box. It's sad, tragic and some would say not festive, but to me it reflects a side of Christmas that is not often brought out in fiction. Happy New Year and may the ideas flow, WDC'ers
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Elfin Dragon-finally published writes: I just loved the video you shared for the Christmas/New Year's. I was wondering throughout it why he was learning English. It was so heartwarming to see him say "I'm your grandfather". We all do things for a purpose and our characters must have a purpose as well.
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Short Stories: January 24, 2018 Issue [#8689]
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