Blog

Sheep to slaughter

The sheep have gone on strike / they are demanding better slaughtering conditions. ----Dinos Christianopoulos, poet (b. 20 Mar 1931) from Wordsmith, 3/20/20 <wsmith@wordsmith.org>

March 21, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

Writer's Blog

"Lola, my dear, I'd love to run barefoot through your golden hair." One of the funniest and most ludicrous lines I've ever heard in a movie. From "Bombshell" (1933) spoken to Jean Harlow (at her best) by a supposed upper-crust poet (Franchot Tone) on a moonlight stroll at a desert dude ranch. I just had to share this. Be smart...

March 17, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 11 – Frank & Huckleberry (Hudson School)

Chapter 11 Frank & Huckleberry Frank Forester is carving his initials inside his desk while Mr. Livesey tells us about Mark Twain and Samuel Clements, who may be the same guy. Frank’s hands work under the lid of his desk. The lid moves up and down as he digs the knife. He has a small folding knife...

March 14, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

Thoughts on writing fiction

Why I write (#1)

I retired 20 years ago in order to write stories, i.e., novels and shorter works, which I've wanted to do since college. During my gainfully employed years, I wrote nonfiction books and articles, which frankly requires a competitive mindset as publishers demand that prospective authors tell what, who, and why they are competing with. Fiction, not so much, as here...

March 9, 2020 SK Figlercompetition, creating, nonfiction, ZazenNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 10 – Hudson School

Chapter 10 Father Explains Divorce, Sort Of I’m throwing small stones at a tall pine tree. Father is sitting near Henry on the bench of the picnic table. When Henry climbs up to sit on the table top, he makes sure it isn’t too close. I know my little brother. Father hasn’t told him to climb down and...

March 7, 2020March 7, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 9 – Hudson School

Chapter 9 Dad’s Coming, Really (© 2020 SK Figler) Chaz Rosewall kneels on the grass behind Matty Brams and makes like a table. Frank Forrester stands in front of Matty and shoves his shoulders. Matty tumbles back over Chaz and hits his head on the grass next to the sidewalk. A couple of kids who are in on it...

March 1, 2020March 1, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 8 – Hudson School

Chapter 8 "Snake" (© 2020 SK Figler) Somebody messed up my bed. The hospital corners aren’t pulled tight. The blanket isn’t stretched, and there’s a big lump under it in the middle. I learned how to make a bed at Tall Timbers, where Mother put me and Henry every summer. At inspection every morning after breakfast, Uncle George...

February 21, 2020March 18, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 7 – Hudson School

Chapter 7 Take Him, He’s Yours (© SK Figler, 2020) Henry sat in the lobby of a hotel in New York City. He felt lost in the big dark leather chair. It had soft armrests he couldn’t reach from the middle. Well, he could reach one or the other, but he couldn’t touch both at...

February 15, 2020February 29, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 6 – Hudson School

Chapter 6 Mother & Henry @ Hospital (© SK Figler, 2020) Henry was tired of crying and screaming, but he hadn’t got what he wanted yet, so he forced some more. Miss Thurston stood by his bed, hugging herself tight, scowling down at him. Miss Lenahan hugged herself, too, but over by the window, looking out, tapping a shoe....

February 7, 2020February 29, 2020 SK FiglerNo Comment

"HUDSON SCHOOL"

Chapter 5 – Hudson School

HUDSON SCHOOL BY SK FIGLER (Copyright 2020, SK Figler) Chapter 5 Poison Ivy I have poison ivy. I got it in the woods chasing after Kirk and Mr. Shapiro’s sixth-graders. It itches like crazy and my eyes itch and burn at the same time, but I can’t get to them because they’re covered with pads and tape. Every...

January 31, 2020February 29, 2020 SK Figler2 Comments