Authentic “So, no cruise then?” “Ugh, they’re just so artificial. Now, this medieval experience. That’s authentic.” “Like, how authentic?” “Oh, the whole deal. Straw mattresses, pigs and chickens staying in the same room, even real fleas and lice!” “Real? Not robots?” “Nope. They breed them specially. Plus, there are daily excursions out to the fields…
Author: David Stewart
I am a writer of anything quirky and weird. I love most genres of fiction and in each there are stories that I would consider "my kind of story".
Muse on Monday – November 11, 2024
There is one aspect of writing which many people try and many people, including famous writers, do badly. This is writing child characters, and the younger the age, the harder it is to do well. This is because although it’s tempting to write children as small adults, the world of children is much smaller, both…
The Horror of Knowing
The Horror of Knowing We found the object sticking out of the beach after the hurricane, exposed by the storm. It looked like obsidian. * * * “We did tests. It’s bone.” “Bone? But it’s black. And 6 feet tall.” “At least.” “So it’s from a whale?” “No. Based on the DNA, it’s human-ish.” “Ish?”…
Muse on Monday – October 28, 2024
It is the last week of October, which means Halloween is just a few days away. I have never done much for Halloween, even when I was a kid, but I do like creepy stories and the season when it is getting darker and colder is a great time for that. Story Prompt: October 28,…
Muse on Monday – October 21, 2024
Well, I’m finally back from my travels overseas. I meant to post while I was gone but it was a work trip, meaning that there was almost no time between my travel, events and trying to keep up on work back at the office. Travel is the best and worst part of my job since…
Ad Astra…bucks
Ad Astra…bucks Sara hadn’t had a customer in two months, which was a-okay. Her cafe on the Harmonie asteroid was the only one within a million miles, so she could afford to charge $1000 for a coffee and pastry if anyone came. If not, she had time to read. * * * Sara watched the…
Muse on Monday – September 16, 2024
It’s getting into the fall when I usually start traveling for work again. This week, I thought I would look back and take a picture from one of my trips to Mongolia a few years ago. This is from the Chinggis Khan museum near his birthplace. Story Prompt: September 16, 2024 Write a story based…
The Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion I had just moved in. My books were finally unpacked. The next morning, they were back in boxes. Ghosts, I assumed. That night, I sat in darkness to see what would happen. The window creaked, then opened. I flipped the lights. A boy stood there, frozen. “Hey,” I said. Nothing. “Did you…?”…
Muse on Monday – September 9, 2024
Normally for Muse on Monday, we give you a general topic or challenge to write a story around. However, this week’s prompt is what I call a super-specific one. Story Prompt: September 9, 2024 Write a story where the main character is running a business whose only employees are monkeys. It’s kind of a silly…
Muse on Monday – September 2, 2024
A few years ago, one of the Muse on Monday story prompts was to write a story that was nothing but dialogue. Today’s is similar but it is combative dialogue: an argument, a fight of words, an attempted persuasion, perhaps. With this kind of dialogue, the conflict is obvious. It is like a fencing match…
The Green-Walled Treehouse 