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Prompted
Prompted is a book of short stories of various lengths and a multitude of genres.
Why 'Prompted'? Because the stories are written in response to writing prompts. For example, the prompt might be "Speakers, A Raven, Comedy", or, "Set in the Past, Jelly, Something Goes Wrong".
In the book, I also talk about these competitions and the absolute thrill of entering them - a time deadline, the 'will she finish' then knowing for sure that at least the judges will read your story and finally (!) the wonder of receiving feedback. .
Sometimes the stories contain elements of what is happening at the time, for example, Bugexit Means Bugexit is a not-too-subtle nod to Brexit, of course. The prompts were: Political Satire, Hygiene, A Fortune Teller.
Political satire was my absolute dreaded genre and I didn't feel very confident, but Brexit was happening and I decided to write about what would happen if we voted out all the bugs! It was also around the time when the Great British Public decided, in a #NameOurShip online poll, to name the £200 million polar scientific research ship being constructed in the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead for the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC): Boaty McBoatFace, so the time felt right for some gentle lampooning.
My favourite, favourite story of mine is Synaesthete. I've long been interested in people whose senses are muddled up. They hear sounds when they colours, or they smell specific fragrances, when they hear sounds. I'm very proud of that one.
The prompts were: "Memory, Egg and Castle Gates". It is about a man living in the past because his senses have become muddled after an encounter with the Egg of the Gods.
It's not always necessary to have the prompts front and centre. I've read a lot (!) of stories like this, where the prompts are mentioned in passing. For example, someone might have a boiled egg for breakfast and then drive past some castle gates. They just have to be in there somewhere. But I think most of my stories feature the prompts or even focus on them. It's a good hook to start thinking about what to write.
In Where Superheroes Go to Die, (wheelchair, a scenic overview, romance) I suddenly had an image of an old, wheelchair left in a garden, and overgrown with ivy and weeds, where two small kids spend time in imaginative play. I don't feel i'm good at writing romance (at all!) so I had my protagonist have an incurable disease (sorry). The first line is: Joanne Green was dying.
I don't like to thump my readers in the face with my stories. I would love it if someone came to me and said, 'After the second reading, I suddenly realised what this story is really about.'
I'm not going to hold your hand - and I know everyone brings their own take to what they read - or listen to! songs are the same. No matter what the artists think they are singing about, listeners often add layers and layers of their own meaning.
Anyway, I have to go to work now, so this is my book. It's called Prompted because the stories are based on prompts from writing competitions. I really really hope you enjoy readingthese stories. I had a blast, and also moments of agony, lots of blank stares, a few chilly Autumnal walks to clear my head, some missed deadlines (D'Oh!!) and some wins!!! in writing them.
Thank you. And if you loved it or hated it, I would really appreciate a review - a few words go a long way and can help others to find books they might like. I live for your feedback :)
Why 'Prompted'? Because the stories are written in response to writing prompts. For example, the prompt might be "Speakers, A Raven, Comedy", or, "Set in the Past, Jelly, Something Goes Wrong".
In the book, I also talk about these competitions and the absolute thrill of entering them - a time deadline, the 'will she finish' then knowing for sure that at least the judges will read your story and finally (!) the wonder of receiving feedback. .
Sometimes the stories contain elements of what is happening at the time, for example, Bugexit Means Bugexit is a not-too-subtle nod to Brexit, of course. The prompts were: Political Satire, Hygiene, A Fortune Teller.
Political satire was my absolute dreaded genre and I didn't feel very confident, but Brexit was happening and I decided to write about what would happen if we voted out all the bugs! It was also around the time when the Great British Public decided, in a #NameOurShip online poll, to name the £200 million polar scientific research ship being constructed in the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead for the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC): Boaty McBoatFace, so the time felt right for some gentle lampooning.
My favourite, favourite story of mine is Synaesthete. I've long been interested in people whose senses are muddled up. They hear sounds when they colours, or they smell specific fragrances, when they hear sounds. I'm very proud of that one.
The prompts were: "Memory, Egg and Castle Gates". It is about a man living in the past because his senses have become muddled after an encounter with the Egg of the Gods.
It's not always necessary to have the prompts front and centre. I've read a lot (!) of stories like this, where the prompts are mentioned in passing. For example, someone might have a boiled egg for breakfast and then drive past some castle gates. They just have to be in there somewhere. But I think most of my stories feature the prompts or even focus on them. It's a good hook to start thinking about what to write.
In Where Superheroes Go to Die, (wheelchair, a scenic overview, romance) I suddenly had an image of an old, wheelchair left in a garden, and overgrown with ivy and weeds, where two small kids spend time in imaginative play. I don't feel i'm good at writing romance (at all!) so I had my protagonist have an incurable disease (sorry). The first line is: Joanne Green was dying.
I don't like to thump my readers in the face with my stories. I would love it if someone came to me and said, 'After the second reading, I suddenly realised what this story is really about.'
I'm not going to hold your hand - and I know everyone brings their own take to what they read - or listen to! songs are the same. No matter what the artists think they are singing about, listeners often add layers and layers of their own meaning.
Anyway, I have to go to work now, so this is my book. It's called Prompted because the stories are based on prompts from writing competitions. I really really hope you enjoy readingthese stories. I had a blast, and also moments of agony, lots of blank stares, a few chilly Autumnal walks to clear my head, some missed deadlines (D'Oh!!) and some wins!!! in writing them.
Thank you. And if you loved it or hated it, I would really appreciate a review - a few words go a long way and can help others to find books they might like. I live for your feedback :)
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2024
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 25, 2024
Most imaginative writing ever!
Anila Syed is my favorite short story writer ever. Never read a short story collection as extraordinary as this one. Extraordinary in its depth and sensitivity, and yet, able to surprise you with the originality and variety of the
themes and characters. I particularly love Black Kitten, The Drive Home, How to Rob a Candy Store and Where Superheroes Go To Die. It's the third time I read this book and I highly recommend it. I eagerly await a new collection soon!
Anila Syed is my favorite short story writer ever. Never read a short story collection as extraordinary as this one. Extraordinary in its depth and sensitivity, and yet, able to surprise you with the originality and variety of the
themes and characters. I particularly love Black Kitten, The Drive Home, How to Rob a Candy Store and Where Superheroes Go To Die. It's the third time I read this book and I highly recommend it. I eagerly await a new collection soon!
October 17, 2024
Nice short stories
This is a good book of interesting short stories that were enjoyable to read and I think that there are going to be a lot of people who will enjoy reading this book.
This is a good book of interesting short stories that were enjoyable to read and I think that there are going to be a lot of people who will enjoy reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews