Sharry Miller

Compulsions

Complusion psychological force: a psychological and usually irrational force that makes somebody do something, often unwillingly. Synonyms: urge, impulse, desire, craving, force, need (Bing online dictionary) Have you ever felt a compulsion to do something? Come on, you know you have. You ate too much chocolate over Christmas, or stuffed yourself with turkey, or bought a new outfit you didn't really need. We all have times during which we can't seem to control ourselves and... Read more →

Happy Holidays!

As often happens, this holiday season has been a bit crazy. Between going to Wasilla to spend Christmas with family and having guests for the New Year, I decided the best I was going to be able to do was a mid-season blog post. I don't think I'm even going to manage to write a few words for this week's Visual Dare and Five Sentence Fiction challenges (the links, however, will take you to my... Read more →

Five Sentence Fiction - Vision

I can tell it's Friday - I'm tired and my imagination is fried. It was an effort of will to write just five sentences in reaction to Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction challenge prompt this week: vision. For some reason, however, I feel like I've made some unstated committment to keep participating in these challenges, so here you go. Please go to Lillie's site to read others' stories. Thanks. Project Failure photo source “Houston, we... Read more →

Bad Santa Fiction

As I was clicking through my favorite's list this morning, I came across a flash fiction challenge at Sweet Banana Ink. The ladies over there have a flash fiction challenge running to determine who can write the best Bad Santa story. I couldn't resist the urge, but be warned: this isn't a story you'll want to share with your kids. Enjoy, and then check out the other stories written for this challenge. (By the way,... Read more →

Visual Dare - The Kiss

Oy, every once in a while Angela at Anonymous Legacy comes up with a Visual Dare challenge that really does challenge me. My imagination required a great deal of stretching to react to today's photo. As always, you can follow the links posted on Angela's blog to read more stories written in reponse to this photo. Robot Love The hardwiring and programming were complete, but the bodies were not quite ready for the heads. Once... Read more →

Snowshoe Poling Experiment

Cre-e-ak. Cre-e-ak. My ski poles added overtones of haunted house to the crunch of my snowshoes. Tears trickled down my cheeks and my nose ran incessantly thanks to the 18 degree temperature. As the wind tried to instantly freeze the tears on my cheeks, I wondered if it would be possible to lose layers of skin when the frozen tears were scrubbed off. I made sure to wipe mine off with my mittens before that... Read more →

Five Sentence Fiction - Devotion

I have written many bits of flash fiction in the past few months which I have thought would be fun to develop into longer stories, but so far I haven't gotten around to it. This week, however, I was inspired to continue from last week's Five Sentence Fiction prompt, time. You can read my story from last week here. Be sure to visit Lillie McFerrin's blog to see how other people reacted to this week's... Read more →

Visual Dare - Timing

I almost missed today's Visual Dare challenge at Anonymous Legacy. I've been doing this just long enough to feel a little guilty if I miss a week. Here's my offering for the week, more in response to the photo than the word. Don't forget to check out everyone else's stories at Anonymous Legacy. At the Wrong Time They said they were going to take us to a camp where we’d be safe, but before we... Read more →

Beautiful Bodies

The human body is a marvel. Simple yet complex, vulnerable yet resilient, it is built to move, to reach, to strive. -from the Body Worlds Vital/Anchorage Museum poster Thane, Rowan, and I had the opportunity this weekend to visit the Anchorage Museum. Our intent (I was later informed that it was only my intent) was to see the Body Worlds Vital display. I'd read about this display of plastinated human bodies, and thought it would... Read more →

Five Sentence Fiction - Time

Lillie McFerrin's Five Sentence Fiction prompt this week, time (and the photo below), took me in a melancholy direction. To see where it took other writers, follow the link to Lillie's blog and read their stories. Memories photo source He sat slumped in his wheelchair, jaw slack, staring out of the small window. His white hair stood on end and his blue eyes were cloudy, but in the window he saw reflected a dapper young... Read more →