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The Rookie
Every game played with your child has the potential to become a lifelong memory.
The Rookie is a flash fiction piece (just over 500 words) based on a childhood memory.
The Rookie is a flash fiction piece (just over 500 words) based on a childhood memory.
2 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Kirkus MacGowan
8 books671 followersKirkus MacGowan wrote his first book at age eight about traveling to Mars to find the cure for cancer. He put his writing dreams on hold for twenty-five years and focused his energies on playing baseball. He moved on when he found playing softball with his friends more enjoyable than his pipe dream.
Since then, he graduated with a B.S. in Psychology, married a woman too good to be true, and moved back to his hometown. He gave up an amazing career waiting tables and now stays at home with his two crazy children. He spends his time writing thrillers and fantasy, playing softball with friends, enjoying the occasional computer game, and wrestling with his kids.
Since then, he graduated with a B.S. in Psychology, married a woman too good to be true, and moved back to his hometown. He gave up an amazing career waiting tables and now stays at home with his two crazy children. He spends his time writing thrillers and fantasy, playing softball with friends, enjoying the occasional computer game, and wrestling with his kids.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 21, 2012
Let me first remind everyone that this was a very short piece of fiction. It’s clearly labeled flash fiction. It took me only a few minutes to get through the roughly “just over 500 words,” which made it perfect to read just before bed. It also makes it great to read, and come back and re-read every now and then.
Being a fan of baseball since an early age, The Rookie touched me. It’s a simple story but it brought back my own childhood memories of playing ball in my yard or Little League. I was in the main character’s shoes as he stepped up to the plate, the whole game riding on his shoulders.
I’m leave anything else I want to say out of this. It’s difficult to not give too much away for a 500 word piece. It was definitely worth me picking up and reading. I haven’t read many flash fiction pieces because I normally stick to at least at least a “short story” length (whatever that actually means, haha). But in the pieces I’ve read, this one is beautifully crafted, short, and to the point. MacGowan took a limited amount of words and didn’t waste any of them.
Being a fan of baseball since an early age, The Rookie touched me. It’s a simple story but it brought back my own childhood memories of playing ball in my yard or Little League. I was in the main character’s shoes as he stepped up to the plate, the whole game riding on his shoulders.
I’m leave anything else I want to say out of this. It’s difficult to not give too much away for a 500 word piece. It was definitely worth me picking up and reading. I haven’t read many flash fiction pieces because I normally stick to at least at least a “short story” length (whatever that actually means, haha). But in the pieces I’ve read, this one is beautifully crafted, short, and to the point. MacGowan took a limited amount of words and didn’t waste any of them.
October 15, 2015
Feel like I am in the batter's box
This is a fresh little work of flash fiction with a surprise at the end. The author uses a staccato style of writing that perfectly fits the concentration of our batter facing down two out. Lots of rich baseball lingo too.
If you have fond memories of sandlot days or are steeped in baseball lore, you will probably like this one.
This is a fresh little work of flash fiction with a surprise at the end. The author uses a staccato style of writing that perfectly fits the concentration of our batter facing down two out. Lots of rich baseball lingo too.
If you have fond memories of sandlot days or are steeped in baseball lore, you will probably like this one.
December 9, 2012
I am a Huge Kirkus MacGowan fan and this story is a perfect example of why. You can smell the ball park and hear the crowds cheering. So believable! Great story!
December 22, 2012
The Rookie is a short story that kept my attention throughout and took me back to my own baseball playing days. A trip down memory lane that I wouldn't have missed for the world. An adventure!
May 29, 2013
Review
Flash fiction is always tricky to write as a complete story must be told in so few words. Kirkus McGowan does a very good job of doing that in “The Rookie.” The story is short and about the type of situation that anyone who has picked up a bat has played out in his or her dreams.
Bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth inning of game seven of the World Series. The story is told through the eyes of the batter and what he is going to do in this moment with everything on the line. No spoiler here, so I won’t give away the finish. But I will say that if you invest the 10 to 15 minutes it will take to read this piece, you will not be disappointed.
Did I skim?
No
Did I feel connected to the characters?
Yes. Not only will the reader be drawn into the batter’s feelings and actions, he will also know what the other players on the field are doing as well.
Pace of the story:
Quick. Like most good flash fiction pieces, there are no wasted words here.
Positives:
The reader won’t know who is really telling the story until the very end. That made the story even better
Negatives:
While I like flash fiction pieces that can tell a complete story, this particular story would be even better as a short story or novella.
Do I recommend?
Yes
Flash fiction is always tricky to write as a complete story must be told in so few words. Kirkus McGowan does a very good job of doing that in “The Rookie.” The story is short and about the type of situation that anyone who has picked up a bat has played out in his or her dreams.
Bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth inning of game seven of the World Series. The story is told through the eyes of the batter and what he is going to do in this moment with everything on the line. No spoiler here, so I won’t give away the finish. But I will say that if you invest the 10 to 15 minutes it will take to read this piece, you will not be disappointed.
Did I skim?
No
Did I feel connected to the characters?
Yes. Not only will the reader be drawn into the batter’s feelings and actions, he will also know what the other players on the field are doing as well.
Pace of the story:
Quick. Like most good flash fiction pieces, there are no wasted words here.
Positives:
The reader won’t know who is really telling the story until the very end. That made the story even better
Negatives:
While I like flash fiction pieces that can tell a complete story, this particular story would be even better as a short story or novella.
Do I recommend?
Yes
March 28, 2014
Baseball and heart.
It's short and paints a picture well. Not bad I gave three stars but I love the baseball imagery. I would encourage the author to keep writing.
It's short and paints a picture well. Not bad I gave three stars but I love the baseball imagery. I would encourage the author to keep writing.
May 28, 2014
Charming Little Tale
This is a really fun heart warming little tale. It's about one of the things that makes life great and worthwhile. Check it out for sure.
This is a really fun heart warming little tale. It's about one of the things that makes life great and worthwhile. Check it out for sure.
July 19, 2016
A nice good quick read!!!
June 20, 2014
It was. Good
It was. Good
it tall is about baseball so this kid was at the nationwide and social he pictures pick and he hit the ball
It was. Good
it tall is about baseball so this kid was at the nationwide and social he pictures pick and he hit the ball
February 25, 2015
Too short story about the imaginative mind of a child while he plays baseball with his Dad. Brought back some great memories of my own childhood.
June 12, 2015
Great
Love this story, my had me read almost every night. A true taste of America's favorite pastime, baseball. Very good read.
Love this story, my had me read almost every night. A true taste of America's favorite pastime, baseball. Very good read.
August 9, 2015
Amazing 3 page book discussion on the words
Awesomecoolyfcbv f2f chichi h bbbbbvvv g :-/ v g g hubbub bjbgyhyvvh v by by bub Nunn Bibb. I uhh Hugh
Awesomecoolyfcbv f2f chichi h bbbbbvvv g :-/ v g g hubbub bjbgyhyvvh v by by bub Nunn Bibb. I uhh Hugh
December 30, 2015
Cute story. Really sets the scene then changes it.
March 17, 2016
A very good reading for old and new kids in life.
May 15, 2016
Ok
Ok. Could not get to open. It was about three pages and kept stopping. I am very very upset. Good start though.
Ok. Could not get to open. It was about three pages and kept stopping. I am very very upset. Good start though.
March 6, 2015
It's a little short, but an awsome wording. It does not have a plot!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews