Well, last week I promised examples of the short story cliffhanger writing style, and here they are. These are my two best (of like four). First, the very first of these I wrote for that prompt, “Stone”:
“Mom!” I complained as she turned Leroy to a useless pile of rocks. “He was gonna keep our secret! I made him promise!”
“Honestly Dear, how many times have I told you not to bring people here?”
“A….” I stopped.
“Well? I’m waiting!”
“A….” I started again, then shook my head and walked away. Behind me I heard her take a sledgehammer to Leroy’s statue. That’s my mother. Always paranoid. That’s because people are afraid of her ability to turn them to stone. Have you guessed who she is? That’s right, my mother is none other than Medusa. I know what you’re thinking: If she’s your mom, than who’s your dad? His name is Perseus.
The second one was on the prompt “Breathing,” which I followed much more loosely. (“Stone” was just too easy to work with, “Breathing” is a harder one to interest a tween, as I was when I wrote these.)
I ran fast to where Kirby lay. My heart was pounding in my ears, desperate to find comfort. Please, I thought, let him not be dead. I quickly put my ear to his chest. Yes, I thought, relieved. He’s still breathing. I sat next to him for a moment, then realized he was still dying and picked him up. I grunted, then started walking, wobbly under his weight. I’m not sure what enabled me to carry my brother that day, but it saved his life. I got him to my parents and they called an ambulance. I’m the only one that knows what almost killed him, and I’ll never tell.
