A to Z: Short Beginnings O

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your O word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.\

Sorry, life happened last week, and prevented me from visiting blogs and keeping up with my shorts each day. If you did donate words, the beginnings for each day have been updated now.

N Story:

The noisy sound of nothingness surrounded Nancy like static in her ears after a loud concert.

A to Z Short Beginnings N

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your N word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

M story:
Michael leafed through the motorsports magazine, watching the scrawny, mangy-looking twenty-something satisfying his craving for munchies. He could see the outline of a pistol in the waistband of his too-tight-for-comfort jeans as he approached the cashier

A to Z: Short Beginnings M

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your M word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

L Story:

Lucy lurked in the laboratory, waiting for Dr. Link to leave so she could examine the results of their latest experiment for herself. She knew what he'd told her was a lie. The man was a lunatic. How any man could end the life of another in such a cruel way was unbelievable.

A to Z: Short Beginnings L

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your L word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

K Story - brought to you by the words: exhaustion and utter nonsense

Katherine slipped into her kevlar vest and patted her thigh to make reassure herself that her knife was there and ready should she need it. She turned to her partner. "You ready for this?"

"I am." Kippers flexed her giant feet and patted her pouch. She grinned and turned to face the knoll where the kiwi stood.

The kiwi leered. "You'll never take me in."

"You're going back to Kenya where you came from," decreed Kippers.

"Australia. I came from Australia." The kiwi looked to Katherine. "I can't believe the police resorted to hiring kangaroos."

JKatherine got her cuffs ready. "Show him why, Kippers."

Kippers took a single step and landed on top of the kiwi. She reached into her pouch and whipped out a koala. She flung the koala at the kiwi. "Take that!"

A to Z: Short Beginnings K

2016 THEME: Short Stories - at least the beginnings thereof.

YOUR PART: Throw out names, themes, random words or situations using the letter of the day and I'll pick some of them to include in the opening paragraphs of a short story.
WHY: I'm most inspired when there's a challenge involved. Usually that means an opening line or a theme. This month: your words.

My creative blender awaits your K word suggestions in the comments section. Stop by tomorrow's post to read the story you inspired.

Looking for more great blogs? Check out the massive list of A to Z Challenge participants.

J story:

Jenna circled the jaguar with her six knives in hand. Giant golden eyes watched her with the same interest. Interest that might indicate the cat was ready to leap for her jugular at any moment.

"I don't think this is a good idea," she said for the third time since she'd met the cat ten minutes ago.

"Quit being such a baby," said Harold. "Just stay steady and don't make any sudden moves."

She knew the handler would know if one of the circus cats was truly posed a threat to her, but she couldn't help but sweat as she did the lap around the ring again. The cat kept pace with her, his steps much more fluid and graceful than hers. His teeth were much longer too.

"Isn't, you know, the whole juggling thing full of sudden moves?" she asked.

"Relax, I've seen you perform a hundred times. Your routine is very rhythmic. The only sudden move is the first one."

Jenna shifted the knives in her hand. She took a deep breath, kept an eye on the cat and tossed the first knife into the air.