Mini Stories

"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder"

Alfred Hitchcock

Sometimes the same can be said of a story. Most of us have at least a novel or two lying around that we know will be a great read, but do not start it for lack of time. Enter the mini story.

Mini stories are great. They can pack much of the thrill and excitement, along with the twists and turns of a normal length short story in a very small package. They are especially practical for those lazy Sundays - you know, when you want to finish the last stretch of that novel you've been tackling, but you'd rather hit the couch with the remote instead.

Well, don't feel guilty, because I'm about to do the same thing today. But before you dive into your favorite movie channel, may I suggest a quick mini story first? They are usually less than 1,000 words and may even make you chuckle or give you a healthy laugh.

Beginning today, we will be posting a mini story on our web site, under "Mini Stories," every Sunday through the end of 2009. (The mystery web site that is at .net - see www.ctmartinauthor.net/mini_stories) If you like them, please drop a comment here on the blog. Who knows? Maybe we'll continue during 2010.

Mini Story for October 24, 2009: The Vulture Affair

Well, in honor of the mini story and out of consideration for your bladder - that's all for now!

Have a great read,

CT

What Are You Reading Right Now?

Okay folks, is it just me or has it become evident that our society is slowly if not rapidly, withdrawing from reading? By reading, I do not mean perusing news on the internet, the latest celebrity gossip, or sports updates. When it comes to truly doing some serious reading whether fiction or non-fiction, does it take a college professor or employer to force Americans to read?

Ten years ago the question, "What are you reading right now?" still begged to be answered, at work, school, the bar, parent/teacher conferences, etc. However now it seems that when returning to work on Monday, no one dares brag about a weekend filled with reading the latest James Patterson novel or a textbook about orthographic projection. Have video game consols and the internet taken over our communities? Some surveys say that the average age of serious gamers is 30. Thirty, as in years old? Yep. (Girls, take guess at what that second job your boyfriend took really is).

What about digital reading devices? Will they forever cast aside the value of the printed page? I hope not, but their use does make me wonder if we are becoming more efficient or just more like automatons. Okay, okay, pessimistic comments aside, I will revert to being the eternal optimist and dare to ask everyone out there, what are you reading right now?

CT

P.S. I'm reading: Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell; The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown