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Night Terrors, a short story by Suzanne Parrott
Night Terrors, a short story

Night Terrors, a short story

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Night Terrors, a short story by Suzanne Parrott 1905 Chapter 1 The train rattled southward, windows framing an endless, shifting tableau of fertile valleys and farmland bordered by the distant, snow-tipped Wasatch Mountains. Soon, the greenery faded into the stark white emptiness of the salt flats, a glimmering mirage stretching to the horizon. Jagged peaks and arid basins pierced the landscape, painting the earth in shades of ochre and gray. As the sun slipped toward the western horizon, stark silhouettes…

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Night Terrors, the behind the scenes
The Story Behind “Night Terrors”

The Story Behind “Night Terrors”

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Why Did I Write “Night Terrors?” First, there was a short story contest—and I wanted to enter. Second, I had been having night terrors for over a year. These weren’t just bad dreams. I hadn’t watched any scary movies or eaten pizza at midnight. They just… started. Sure, I’ve had vivid dreams before, but I always knew they were dreams. These experiences were different—terrifying in a way that felt real. I began reviewing my daily routine to figure out what…

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Does Your Novel have Flavor?

Does Your Novel have Flavor?

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If you start with substandard ingredients your broth will be clear and your soup unflavorful and disgusting. You wouldn’t serve cold french fries and stale bread to your in-laws would you? (OK, don’t answer that!) Every stew begins with individual ingredients: stock, veggies, meat, herbs and seasonings, flour for thickening. These ingredients are similar to preparing your story: characters, location, conflict. It is the type of ingredients we choose and how they are combined that determines the quality of final…

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Writers Guide Series
“Show, Don’t Tell” by Sandra Gerth (Writers’ Guide Series)

“Show, Don’t Tell” by Sandra Gerth (Writers’ Guide Series)

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RECOMMENDED READING One of the hardest concepts to grasp for some writers is “Show, Don’t Tell.” A phrase heard but not necessarily understood. “Show, Don’t Tell: How to write vivid descriptions, handle backstory, and describe your characters’ emotions (Writers’ Guide Series) by Sandra Gerth is perfect for writers struggling to understand the concept. “Show, Don’t Tell” is succinct, to the point and easy to digest, covering only one part of the writing process. Showing puts the reader IN the action; allows the…

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A Writer is Like a Gardener

A Writer is Like a Gardener

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There is a lot of preparation required before planting: tilling the soil, pulling weeds, fertilizing. Once the groundwork is done (outline, research), then comes the planting of seeds — a lot of seeds — more than are needed for a healthy garden. I know that not all seeds I plant will take root. Some will be healthy, others weak and thin. And I can’t just stare at it every day, waiting and watching for the plants to grow. Instead, I walk…

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