Story and Poem of the Week are back! If you want to nominate a piece for this slot then let us know on the Discuss Writing from ABC Forum or by email to tcook@abctales.com.
(17.05.13) The Other Terrence Oblong continues to astound us with his wonderful stories of Happy Island. Two this week! The Election Problem gets the nod:
http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/election-problem
(10.05.13) Vera Clark's 'Fish and Chips' is a wonderful tale of love and loss - and would have shared the prize (they go so well together) with sid's 'I Never Got To Tell You' - but sid took it down. Bah. So Vera gets it on her own:
http://www.abctales.com/story/veraclark/fish-and-chips
(03.05.13) Two great tales that just have to share the prize. ton.car's wistful look back at Roxy Music and alibob's cliche ridden short with a twist are both magnificent:
http://www.abctales.com/story/ton-car/baby-jane-s-acapulco-we-are-flying...
http://www.abctales.com/story/alibob/king-cliche
(26.04.13) I love this teacher's tale from jambeadie. 'Miss Bradshaw' doesn't ry to explain - it's a classic child's eye view of life. Just brilliant:
http://www.abctales.com/story/jambeadie/miss-bradshaw
(19.04.13) Sorry for the absence for a couple of weeks - but this brilliant story about the day Celtic won the leage from oldpesky makes up for it. It's so rare that someone writes well about sport that it makes it all the more appreciated. Even if you hate football, you'll love this:
http://www.abctales.com/story/oldpesky/oh-love-street-rain
(05.04.13) Vera Clark's 'Unexpected Item' is a brilliant tale of the travails of modern living with a supermarket metaphor. It made me laugh and cry:
http://www.abctales.com/story/veraclark/unexpected-item
(29.03.13) Jupiter Moon's extraordinary 'This Also Shall Pass' is a wonderfully evocative and moving account of old age and loneliness. The main character will stay with me for a long time:
http://www.abctales.com/story/jupitermoon/also-shall-pass
(22.03.13) OliviaStJames has put up three great stories this week but 'Basement Baby' is my favourite. She constructs a world where nothing is quite as it should be with brevity and skill. Terrifying and excellent:
http://www.abctales.com/story/oliviastjames/basement-baby
(15.03.13) Not such a fantastic week, but they don't come along often, but still a very worthy winner. Terrence Oblong's Death stories are generally of a high standard - and this one involving the end of a Minor Deity is clever, witty and sharp:
http://www.abctales.com/story/terrence-oblong/death-and-minor-deity
(08.03.13) I'm normally pretty decisive about these awards but it's been a fantastic week for prose so I'm giving the prize to three people this week. ton.car, celticman and alibob have all come up with gems:
http://www.abctales.com/story/ton-car/lost-hollywood
http://www.abctales.com/story/celticman/god-made-me-ugly-reason
http://www.abctales.com/story/alibob/just-way-you-are
(01.03.13) A shared prize this week as the two pieces are so different that I can't judge one against the other. StJimmy's unpunctuated stream of life is plain superb and Florian's snapshot from a longer piece is fascinating and enticing:
http://www.abctales.com/story/stjimmy/only-thing-worse-leaving
http://www.abctales.com/story/florian/waste-living-things
(22.02.13) I think we have all wondered at one time or another about the woman dressed in plastic bags who pushes a shopping trolley as she shuffles along the pavement. Mae's 'Chimera' nails it:
http://www.abctales.com/story/mae/chimera
(15.02.13) A late entrant for this week - but it's knocked my socks off. Speranza's 'The Inconsolable Secret' takes us on a roller coaster ride through most of philosphy, the art of the writer and the black heart of the soul. This is seriously good:
http://www.abctales.com/story/speranza/inconsolable-secret
(08.02.13) jolono's 'The Letter' is a brilliant exposition of how to tell a story in 400 words.
http://www.abctales.com/story/jolono/letter
(01.02.13) I can't pick between these this week so these two very different stories will have to share the prize. Camdenreece and Kilb50 have both written gems - I commend them highly to you:
http://www.abctales.com/story/camdenreece/nick-clegg-ate-my-homework
http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/dead-husbands
(25.01.13) Bear says it isn't finished - and in the middle of an arc of other stories - but I think it's pretty wonderful as it is. 'The Laughing Hole' is strange, imaginative and rather different. I commend it very highly to you:
http://www.abctales.com/story/bear/laughing-hole
(18.01.13) This will be very controversial but the sheer power of the writing and the utterly shocking nature of the content makes John Shade's 'Convenience' my choice this week. It does come with a very large warning due to the nature of its content but it does raise some significant issues and is a great piece of prose:
http://www.abctales.com/story/johnshade/convenience
(11.01.13) Brighton Ro's 'Coffee For One' has stayed with me since its first reading some days ago. It twists and turns brilliantly - and the ending is superb:
http://www.abctales.com/story/brighton-ro/coffee-one
(21.12.12) Karl Wiggins's 'Mum and Fish n'Chips' made me laugh - a lot. I love eccentric old women, they have a logic all of their own:
http://www.abctales.com/story/karl-wiggins/mum-and-fish-n-chips
(14.12.12) I think the Happy Island stories of Alan and Jed are my favourites at the moment on ABC - and this one from the other Terrence Oblong sure doesn't disappoint:
http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/immigration-problem
(07.12.12) This Wedding Day story from alex tomlin came in after last week's selection but it's a delight and it just gets the vote this week:
http://www.abctales.com/story/alex-tomlin/my-friends-wedding-day
(30.11.12) 'Casting' is a fine seasonal story with a lovely twist from Alibob:
http://www.abctales.com/story/alibob/casting
(23.11.12) He doesn't turn up for years and then he comes along and bags Story of the Week on his first foray back on our shores. He's just very good - Drew Gummerson's 'Palestine' shows him back on fine form:
http://www.abctales.com/story/drew-gummerson/palestine
(16.11.12) harrietmacmillan's 'The Lake' is a story we can all relate to. It brilliantly gets into the head of the protagonist - a real gem:
http://www.abctales.com/story/harrietmacmillan/lake
(09.11.12) sid's 'The Fear' is one of the finest pieces of descriptive writing I've read in a long while. It carries you along on a lonely and terrifying journey:
http://www.abctales.com/story/sid/fear
(02.11.12) I'm always looking for something that breaks the mould - and celticman's 'blessings' certainly does that. It's an extraordinary piece of writing and deserves reading over and over again:
http://www.abctales.com/story/celticman/blessings
(26.10.12) FTSE100 is a funny fellow and his musings often have me in stitches - but this account of the trip of Msr et Madame Vincent to Angleterre had me roaring. Mad, anarchic and very very funny:
http://www.abctales.com/story/ftse100/vincents-go-angleterre
(19.10.12) Blackjackdavey's The Brightlingsea Boy has all of the hallmarks of the perfect short story. Beautifully constructed, lyrically written, saying far more than its words, hinting at passions and disputes under the surface. Just plain brilliant:
http://www.abctales.com/story/blackjack-davey/brightlingsea-boy
(11.10.12) I love The Other Terrence Oblong's Alun and Jed stories and now he's gone and turned them on their head. Funny, brilliantly constructed, orginal and lovely - you couldn't ask for more:
http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/oblong-problem
(04.10.12) alibob's 'Dream Sequence' is a heartfelt lesson in coming to terms with the pain of illness and eventual loss. It's original and engaging:
http://www.abctales.com/story/alibob/dream-sequence-0
(28.09.12) Mark Say's 'Goya's Dog' just takes you along with it as it explores the fears of a child. It's a great story, very well told:
http://www.abctales.com/story/mark-say/goyas-dog
(21.09.12) Kilb50's 'Avocado For Lunch' gets the nod this week because it is brilliantly understated. The events it describes could have blown into a full scale trauma but they're dealt with so lightly that the wind or real life whistles through it all. Less is often more:
http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/avocado-lunch
(14.09.12) It's not often a whole book gets this slot but mikepyro has just finished posting up his re-write of 'Animal'. It's one of the finest books ever put up on here and if you haven't read it, do. It may be a Western but if you feel that isn't your thing, then don't be put off. It's very, very good indeed. Here's the first chapter. Just click on the author's name to get the others:
http://www.abctales.com/story/mikepyro/animal-chapter-1-2
(07.09.12) This is original, compelling and thought provoking. You can't ask for much more. Black Jack Davey's 'Everyday Acts of Intimacy' is highly commended to you:
http://www.abctales.com/story/blackjack-davey/everyday-acts-intimacy-can...
(31.08.12) A really tough call this week - so many great stories to choose from. I've gone for a newcomer to the site, pjmerrigan, because this one stuck in my head more than the others:
http://www.abctales.com/story/pjmerrigan/little-dancer-aged-nineteen
(24.08.12) It's not often that the start of a book takes this spot - but the first two chapters of Mike Alfred's 'Justice' are so good that they walk in. Start here - and keep following the tale. It promises to be very good indeed:
http://www.abctales.com/story/mike-alfred/justice
http://www.abctales.com/story/mike-alfred/justice-chapter-two
(17.08.12) ton.car's The Art of Falling Apart is a real tour de force. Writing from the viewpoint of an aggressive handicapped person is a major challenge to take on - but it's done with understanding and panache:
http://www.abctales.com/story/ton-car/art-falling-apart
(10.08.12) Another great week for stories - but this one pips the rest due to the lyricism of its story-telling. It's not easy to tell a sweet and tender tale without dissolving into the sickly, but this is just plain lovely:
http://www.abctales.com/story/larkin-williamson/happy-birthday
(03.08.12) In the best week for stories for many a month I've a bit bonkers and awarded the prize to Not All There's 'Real Horoscopes' because it's just so much fun and so original:
http://www.abctales.com/story/not-all-there/real-horoscopes
(27.07.12) That other Terrence Oblong sure can write a funny tale - and this one's a gem, even by his high standards:
http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/mary-beard-problem
(20.07.12) Hudsonmoon's 'Tasty Tale' has an original format and a great storyline. Not a word out of place:
http://www.abctales.com/story/hudsonmoon/tasty-tale
(13.07.12) Alibob's 'The Reveal' says everything I've ever thought about its subject - but I won't reveal it as that would be telling:
http://www.abctales.com/story/alibob/reveal
(06.07.12) Stan's back on his very best form with 'Last Things'. It's a memorial to a wonderful man - and it's very, very well told:
http://www.abctales.com/story/stan/last-things
(29.06.12) Persevere with this one - it is not what it seems. Sooz's 'Mourning Glory' will stay with you for a long time:
http://www.abctales.com/story/sooz006/mourning-glory
(22.06.12) So we're back - and this week's Story is poetic, clever and beautiful. A great one from gingeresque:
http://www.abctales.com/story/gingeresque/look-what-youve-done
(25.05.12) sid has posted the first two parts of her latest story - and they are very good indeed. I await more but until then, get started on these:
http://www.abctales.com/story/sid/lost-marble-1
http://www.abctales.com/story/sid/lost-marble-2
(18.05.12) Two share it this week - they are so different but both are excellent in their own way. Congrats go to FTSE100 and Parson Thru
http://www.abctales.com/story/ftse100/my-invisible-friend
http://www.abctales.com/story/parson-thru/dreaming-my-dad
(11.05.12) It's the old, old story of those magical dancing shoes but it's given a neat twist here by JupiterMoon:
http://www.abctales.com/story/jupitermoon/small-shingle-tide
(04.05.12) An excellent snapshot of a life less lived. Stan the Man's take on middle aged angst is very good indeed:
http://www.abctales.com/story/stantheman/8-beginning-new-beginning
(27.04.12) It's no literary classic but it is very, very funny - and that's not easy to do. Footsie's Interview with a Roman is one of his best:
http://www.abctales.com/story/ftse100/interview-roman
(20.04.12) Two great stories from Brighton_Ro this week but this one just gets the prize for the brilliance of its construction and characterisation. A real gem:
http://www.abctales.com/story/brighton-ro/inheritance
(13.04.12) Batteriesfeelincluded hasn't been around for a while but he's back with this belter - short, neat, not a word out of place, funny and original. Well worth it's place here:
http://www.abctales.com/story/batteriesfeelincluded/future-suspended-ani...
(06.04.12) A strange and complex piece from Raventongue takes the prize this week. It's compelling, different and well worth more than one read:
http://www.abctales.com/story/raventongue/j-m-gardner-goes-hell-part-1
(30.03.12) The Other Terrence Oblong is on great form with his island stories - and this one about the Sea Monster is a classic:
http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/monster-problem
(23.03.12) A really good twist always gets me - and this one by rask-balavoine is charming and delicious as well:
http://www.abctales.com/story/rask-balavoine/portrait
(16.03.12) A late entry - but a darn good one that takes the prize this week. I love its flow, its originality and its joie de vivre. Hurrah for hudsonmoon's 'The Ghosts of Marylebone Station':
http://www.abctales.com/story/hudsonmoon/ghosts-abbey-road
(09.03.12) Two great pieces on caring for the edlerly this week but Kilb50 just pips Blighter's Rock for the prize:
http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/last-time-he-saw-her
(02.03.12) The honesty and the poetic language of this fine piece of writing make it something special. Mistaken Magic is on a roll (no pun intended):
http://www.abctales.com/story/mistakenmagic/secret-life-dragonflies
(24.02.12) The other Terrence Oblong's bits of nonsense often disguise a deeper, darker meaning - and this one is no exception. It's clever, funny and very good:
http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/war
(17.02.12) I couldn't resist Denzella's 'Names and their Importance in Literature'. As a massive fan of Victorian literature this rings so true - mockingly affectionate, it will give you a good laugh as well:
http://www.abctales.com/story/denzella/names-and-their-importance-litera...
(10.02.12) She's back - and in fine form. This is a brilliant piece of descriptive writing from insertponceyfrenchnamehere in the midst of what is clearly a very difficult situation:
http://www.abctales.com/story/insertponceyfrenchnamehere/scrabble
(03.02.12) In a great week for stories this one stood out above the rest - with a great twist at the end. Congratulations go to Dear Ale... for In Love & Death:
http://www.abctales.com/story/dear-ale/love-death
(27.01.12) Stan the Man's Hunting for Duck is up to part 3 - and there's more to come but it's far away the best bit of prose this week so catch up with it now!:
http://www.abctales.com/story/stantheman/hunting-duck-part-1
http://www.abctales.com/story/stantheman/hunting-duck-part-2
http://www.abctales.com/story/stantheman/hunting-duck-part-3
(20.01.12) JupiterMoon got the Poem of the Week last week and now moves over to this slot. The sheer originality and the poetic language make it a bit of a gem:
http://www.abctales.com/story/jupitermoon/hold-me-til-concrete-warm
(13.01.12) An evocative tale of deception and Buddhism in an Asian gaol. This keeps me thinking and that's no bad thing:
http://www.abctales.com/story/mark-say/duck-bottle
(06.01.12) A fine tale of seeing the obvious too late from Larkin Williamson to start the New Year:
http://www.abctales.com/story/larkin-williamson/woman-0
(30.12.11) Alessandro's touching little story of a boy whose Dad has gone to war hits all the right notes:
http://www.abctales.com/story/alessandro/laundry-basket
(23.12.11) Wow - wha