I’m starting to struggle to find words that begin these posts. I am humbled, proud, happy, overwhelmed and shocked at least once month. So i’m starting this post with an apology for being repetitive. I am working on my word base and will try to improve!
For now though, I am, once again, shocked and overwhelmed to have had work shortlisted again.
Back to the Tortive Theatre Flash 101 competition, a monthly tournament asking for a piece of fiction, EXACTLY 101 words in length (excluding the title) and using the prompt provided.
For September the prompt was “Your character opens their eyes and sees nothing”. This was the hardest prompt i’ve worked with so far, but I managed to draft a few stories that I liked and could do the job in just 101 words.
Below is the piece I wrote that was shortlisted – Her Own Virtual Reality. I have to say, this piece has the worst title and I wish I’d come up with something a little more suggestive or sarcastic. So I apologise it’s not the usual play on words I try to deliver.
Anyway, here is the piece. You can find details of the Flash101 competition on the Tortive Theatre website here https://www.tortivetheatre.com/flash101
Confirmation of my shortlisting can be seen here https://www.tortivetheatre.com/post/her-own-virtual-reality
I hope you like it!
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Her Own Virtual Reality
It was 2am.
She was awake and lonely.
With few friends in the real world, the internet seemed her only opportunity to speak with anyone other than her cat.
She closed her eyes and hoped there would be someone online to talk to.
But when she opened her eyes, she saw nothing. An empty chat room with a lonely, single soul inside.
Her.
“When will I get to speak? When will someone sit in this stupid virtual room with me?”
Ping!
A new person entered the room, username MrsWhiskerson.
She blinked in disbelief.
Back to talking to a cat, I guess.
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Creative Steph 