The Refinery – #55WordChallenge

Below is my entry for Lisa McCourt Hollar’s 55 Word Challenge Week 42. Check out all the stories here.

This is based on a picture of an oil refinery – these is more that intend to do with piece so check back later to see what I add.

Take a photograph, and the oil refinery is captured revealing thousands of lights shimmering and sparkling under a darkening blue sky.

A picture to fire the imagination with images of steampunk inventiveness, and charm.

But photographs lie.

Those living under the refinery’s shadow witness the truth as the monster belches flame and devours the stars.

55 words
@EJHillson

The city – FridayFictioneers

This is my 100 word story based a the photograph provided by Lora Mitchell for the Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.

Red, blue, pink and white; colour burst against the night sky. All along the river explosion thundered after explosion as a cacophony of noise and light chased away the darkness, and the regrets of failed hopes and dreams.

Over the fireworks and laughter the bells rang in the New Year, and for a moment the city stood balanced; caught between one year and the next. Past, present and future met, and for a minute silence fell before the crowd roared out their blessings for the year to come.

For that moment alone the city stood united and celebrated its survival.

100words

©EHillson

The Raven Cries Three Times – #55wordchallenge entry

Below is my entry for Lisa McCourt Hollar’s 55 Word Challenge Week 40. You can find Lisa @jezri1

This particular entry forms part of a larger work in progress. So here goes:

The raven cried, and a door between the worlds opened.

His second cry pierced the battle-slain corpses, and their warrior souls rose up; a rolling wave of mist weaving through the leafless branches, straining for the raven’s warmth and life.

He cried again, summoning a storm that swept them through.

The door slammed shut.

55words
©EHillson

Ashes to ashes – for 55 word challenge

This is my entry for Lisa McCourt Hollar’s 55 Word Challenge Week 39.  You can find Lisa @jezri1

For centuries he drifted, poised between sleeping and waking.  The blast of the last shuttle take-off finally shattered his dreams.

Roaring, he ripped through the earth and once more a great dragon bathed the world in fire.

Firemen stood helpless as buildings collapsed beneath the dancing flames.

The world ended.  Swept clean.  Ashes to ashes…

55 words.    ©EHillson

Decontructing Dracula 1

As part of the Radio Drama Writing course I have to de-construct a radio play, and as a horror fan I decided to listen to Dracula. As the play isn’t currently running on the radio I had to get it on CD.

The afternoon was gloomy. The house was silent except for the odd creaks any old building makes. Rain was lashing against the windows, and the cats were curled up beside me on the sofa as the play started. All very atmospheric, and I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed the production

That was yesterday. Today the hard work begins as I now have to listen to the play over and over again while splitting it into it’s component parts; looking at things like:

  • scene setting
  • atmosphere
  • introducing character
  • pace
  • dialogue
  • sound effects
  • music
  • etc.

There’s a 2500 essay due on this, and it might just help my own radio script, so I’d better get on with it.

Wish me luck.