Edgar of all trades

My good friend, Amy Guth, of the Leah Jones gets Edgar’d video, and all around number one Literary Maven and Literary Leader of the Midwest, sparked one of my Year of the Edgar tasks. I wanted to creatively write more.

First, check Amy’s biography for her details. She writes the local literary blog, Chicago Subtext, for the Tribune’s Chicago Now blog network. Check out my Chicago Now profile here. This is integral to my post today, though she does so much more with her time.

Amy recently blogged about a writing challenge to write flash fiction, or postcard fiction.

a micro-flash fiction story, a very, very short story, but a whole story

Please go back and read the entries, they were all very interesting. The challenge was she provided us with a picture of a bottlecap with a message inside, and we needed to somehow use it in a 100-word or less complete story.

What follows is my entry:

“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.” It was the first thing that came to mind as I came to.

As the haze subsided, I took stock of my surroundings. A dark diner. Things strewn about, no windows. What happened? Kitchen’s empty, bathrooms and dining area too.

I headed towards the front door, opened it to a sunset temporarily blinding me and I looked down to see a bottlecap that had, “read Books… not Bottlecaps.”

I thought it odd as I looked up to see a burning city in front of me.

There were many good entries and I was one of four picked, then the audience made it a two-pony race, and I ultimately won.

Amy then posted a second contest. Although I lost, the best part is that I was able to continue my previous story, which was awesome:

No memory of what transpired, I took a step into the burning city. I needed to get my bearings, and fast. No telling what kind of tragedy had transpired.

My first priority was to get back home, it seemed I was several miles north. All of a sudden I remembered. Amy. I was having lunch with Amy.

I crossed street after street wondering where Amy went. Where anyone was. Slowly my memory was returning, and as I turned onto another street, I realized what happened. I saw something.

A road construction sign with the words “BEWARE! ZOMBIES AHEAD.”

Oh crap.

Thanks Amy, I look forward to continuing my story. I wonder what will happen next! Stay tuned!

Oh, by the way, please go to Amy’s posts and add your own flash fiction, using the two items creatively. The two contests are over, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contribute your own fiction. Follow Amy @amyguth on twitter as well for the next flash fiction. Feel free to post them here as well.

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Originally uploaded by methoddetox2008

I was fortunate enough to attend a party with author/writer/awesome person Amy Guth, sponsored by Method and I had a blast! It was partially the fact that I was basically the only man and a handful of beautiful women. That was a plus. Add to that, @TheLiquidMuse running a little alcohol mixer class where we learned how to make several drinks, one of which was an awesome cucumber infused mohito. You can check her blog out at http://theliquidmuse.com. The pictures and the party itself was run by @Syro228. The place was great and the appetizers were divine. @leahjones and @iteachcomputers attended this party as well as others.

Aside the wonderful people I met, the bartending class that happened, some other highlights were the photobooth and gift bag we received at the end of the party. Yes, swag!!! I’ve tried out their non-toxic cleaning products and they smell and handle nicely. I will be converting the family as soon as possible, those chemicals they use when cleaning definitely is not good for us. Seems like their tactics worked on me lol.

This is just another perk of twitter and the contacts I am making on it. Score another point for social media!