Winged, With Sharp Teeth: Short Fiction Lab, #1

By Peter M. Ball

Fiction writers are taught to show, not tell. In each Short Fiction Lab, award-winning short fiction writer Peter M. Ball presents an original story and an accompanying essay showcasing a particular aspect of the craft or business of writing inspired by the creative work.

The Story: Winged, With Sharp Teeth

There have always been lands not mapped out in an atlas, and those lands have always needed heroes. Once, Steve had that chance to visit another world, but he stayed and grow older, finding contentment in his friends and his job as council librarian. In Winged, With Sharp Teeth, Steve learns his new boyfriend had a similar opportunity… and the winged crocodile determined to tempt Duke into becoming a hero hasn't abandoned the quest just because Duke's an adult.

The Essay: Two Hundred Copies or Bust

In Two Hundred Copies or Bust, Peter M. Ball asks what success really looks like for a writer, whether they're traditionally published, self-published, or just starting out. From the expectations of other people to the secret ambitions that drive the writer, Ball explores the tensions that wear on a writer's ambitions and shift our perceptions of whether a story is good, great, or disastrous.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eclectic Projects
• Release date: Aug 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781922479570

Peter M. Ball

Peter M Ball is the author of more than fifty short stories and six novellas, along with essays, RPG material, articles, and poetry. His short stories and non-fiction have appeared in venues such as Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, Shimmer, Dragon Magazine, Writing Queensland, and Apex Magazine, and has been included in several Year’s Best anthologies. He’s previously taught creative writing at Griffith University and the Queensland Writers Centre, spent five years as the manager of the Australian Writers Marketplace, and convenes the biennial GenreCon writing conference in Brisbane, Australia.

Book preview

Winged, With Sharp Teeth

THANK YOU!

I’d like to extend my thanks to the following incredible people who supported Eclectic Projects via Patreon. Their support is a big reason this book exists.

Margaret Ball

Jodi

Nicole Strickland

Meg Vann

Sally Ball

Jennifer White

Maggie Slater

Tansy Rayner Roberts

Dave Versace

Mark Webb

Catherine Caine

Kathleen Jennings

Lois Spangler

Thank you all!

WINGED, WITH SHARP TEETH

SHORT FICTION LAB #1

PETER M BALL

Eclectic Projects

CONTENTS

Winged, With Sharp Teeth

Two Hundred Copies or Bust

About the Author

Also By Peter M. Ball

Join the Eclectic Projects Patreon

WINGED, WITH SHARP TEETH

The rain draped over Brisbane like a wet sheet, bringing with it a chill and sharp gusts of wind. Not the kind of weather you hoped for when planning a first date, but Steve wasn’t complaining. They were huddled together in the Siam Palace on Sandgate Road, seated beneath the watchful eye of a giant golden Buddha. They ate Pad Thai, traded stories about their lives: the events of the week, where they worked, what they studied at university. Wait staff hustled between the tables, delivering drinks and plates of fragrant curry. The wind chased new patrons through the front door, tugging at candle flames dancing atop the tea light decorations. Their own lanky, blond waitress brought a fresh beer as Duke finished telling Steve about the crocodile.

I know it’s not the sort of thing you confess right up, Duke said. "It’s just … look, it’s been a thing, with other guys, before this. I know it’s been a thing. They tell you it’s not, but it is."

He blushed as he said it, and focused on his Pad Thai. Used his fork to push a stray cashew through the other remnants of his meal.

Duke was a big, good-looking guy and Steve found his sudden flush of shyness endearing. He attempted a reassuring smile and said, I get it. Really. And I’m glad you told me.

Duke’s eyes lifted from his plate, caught between pleased and wary. His eyes were wide and very, very blue. Steve eased back in his chair and sipped his beer, refusing to get caught in that stare, not yet. I won’t tell you it’s never going to be a thing, he said, but right now, I get it. I’m totally cool with it. And you.

Duke fought to keep himself from smiling, but the smile won.

Then, Steve said, how often does it come?

Two, three nights a week, Duke said.

That many? Steve said.

That many.

You ever been tempted to go?

Nah.

No?

Duke screwed his face to the left, as if pondering the question seriously for the first time. As a kid, sure, you think about it. Why wouldn’t you, when life gets hard? He stopped and brought out that smile again, turned it on Steve full force "But as