Just Get It Out There

By Steel City Writers

An Anthology of Creative Writing from the Steel City Writers

The South Yorkshire based writing quintet bring you their collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steel City Writers
• Release date: Mar 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301125876

Book preview

Just Get It Out There

An Anthology of Creative Writing

from the Steel City Writers

Published by the Steel City Writers at Smashwords

Copyright © 2012 Steel City Writers

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Woman with the Tombstone Teeth (Flash Fiction)

3. Crossing the Yangtze (Short story)

4. Mouse (Flash Fiction)

5. Billy (Short story)

6. Ice (Poem)

7. Night Journey (Poem)

8. Birthday Surprise (Flash Fiction)

9. Memories in Sepia (Short story)

10. A Poem About Writing A Poem (Poem)

11. Excruciating Itching (Poem)

12. Past Glory (Flash Fiction)

13. The Forbidden Room (Short story)

14. Aunty Lil (Poem)

15. Father's father (Poem)

16. A Late Call (Flash Fiction)

17. Walk a Mile (Short story)

References

About the Authors

Just get it out there – introduction

I've taught across a number of different disciplines, from English as a foreign Language to English Literature, Journalism, and Creative Writing. By far, the most engaging experience for me has been teaching Creative Writing students. In addition to that, some of the most interesting work I've come across has been produced by students with non-traditional educational backgrounds. The Open University has a lot to do with that. Recently, working on a project in Blackburn confirmed that for me, when a reading by a contributor to our anthology who had never written before, got such a tremendous response from the audience. Perhaps there isn't a book in everyone, but everyone does have a story to tell. In the same way that we can all learn to drive, to cook, to play virtual tennis with a plastic back, we can all find ways to tell our stories. The writers you will see here have all started that process and have decided to share some of their findings with us here.

It was a nice surprise to hear from a group of past students. I always want to keep in touch with previous Creative Writing students but it doesn't always happen – life is hectic, people move on or worry about keeping in touch. When you come across students with a real passion and drive for writing, a reason behind their enrolment on the course, a unique investment in words and stories, you cannot help but want to go the extra mile. To maintain that contact, to take an interest in their progression, and hope you at least had some part to play in that.

I was touched to receive an email from a previous student, Craig Hallam, representing the group of writers you will see showcased here. Did I want to write an introduction? Of course. Did I want to contribute a story? Of course I did. It's my pleasure to introduce a selection of stories from 'Yorkshire's newest writers', who also happen to be some thoroughly lovely people with a real passion for storytelling. I hope you enjoy their collection.

Dr Sarah Dobbs

Woman with the Tombstone Teeth

By Dr Sarah Dobbs

She’s the woman you hate talking to in work. The one with the once-blonde hair that can't be described as anything else but balding. You can see her skin, shining, through her hair. She criticises your work in that knowing, deep-throated sort of way. She smells slightly vinegary. She’s saddled with menopausal girth, caked in fat, huffing about, banging on about the mousy girl on the second floor who isn't 'doing herself any favours'. She makes you wince when she rips into that sausage roll and bacon sarnie combo, brown sauce oozing and pastry flaking over morgue-marbled skin. You wonder if it's cold to touch. She talks in conspiratorial whispers about her sexual adventures in London hotels, making you fork about with the sweetcorn on your plate.

And then she pats her nose with powder and you notice how nice her nails are, long and lovingly planed, the colour the inside-of-shells pink. She raises a tentative eyebrow as she peers into her Clinique compact. A hopeful question, like a young girl checking they're still pretty. Click, the compact shuts and her lips are tight. It wasn't the answer you wanted. You feel the pinch of regret, doused in a hot-cold flash of fear. One day, you'll be looking in that mirror, picking flaky pastry out of your tombstone teeth.

Crossing the Yangtze

By Andy Stratton

He’d missed the ferry.

Ian threw a pebble into the Yangtze mud.

It made a sucking sound.

He spotted a large dark bird flying low over