Telling Tales

The ingredients, not the formula for a short story.

When I write a story,

which could be verse or prose.

It might be sweet or gory,

from opening scene it goes …

Characters I use,

perhaps no more than two.

Their lives and plot I fuse,

then see what they will do.

An opening line should hook,

a reader straight away.

They feel they have to look,

inquisitive, they'll stay.

Action then compels,

with dialogue now too.

Descriptions making smells,

as real as me and you.

Right from the very start,

reader's interest I awaken.

By the mind and heart,

along they must be taken.

Location, sense of place,

is important to the tale.

What characters must face,

might make them pass or fail.

So if the story's strong,

compelling words to read.

The plot will tear along,

from it's early seed.

My blog contains examples,

of different types of tale.

It's through these varied samples,

I will succeed or fail.

Publicity required,

for writer's, any age.

It's why I felt inspired,

blog's on my Starlite 'page'.

Should you feel the need,

to read a little fiction.

Please go and have a read,

perhaps get an addiction …

* * *

Author's Note

All of my poetry, (in excess of 670) is featured at : http://www.thestarlitecafe.com/myhome.php?user=tomfoollery
My pen-name there is Tomfoollery
I know it's not much but I've only been writing poetry since December 2007.

Reviews

[Christina May Shanaberg]

I will be 55 years old on August 2nd and won my first poetry contest at age 8. However, I have to say this poem has the rhyme and story telling ability of Robert Frost written all over it. Great job! I'm impressed and will try to get to more of your writing, soon!!

[anne p. murray- LadeeAn..]

Tom,
You write and rhyme so well. Your flow is always precise and rhythmic. I'll check out your blog