Outside Sources

 

                                         Outside Sources 

I’m sure that you’ve heard of this idea before, but what about reading old newspapers?  Our newspaper prints news from 100 to 25 years ago every Sunday. It’s wonderful read about someone who was lost in a snowstorm or a poor sot who was caught stealing a piece of fruit from the market. However, there was a story that was about a murder which was never solved seventy-five years ago. That gave me a start after reading the left-behind-clues. 

          Here is a link to old newspaper clippings and stories.

                https://www.newspapers.com/clippings/?

Then there’s the story about the snowball fights and broken windows or cats that go missing. A barn fire and the men from the village who gather with buckets to try and put it out. Watching an old movie, I see the smoke in a house from the fireplace and the neighborhood boys gathering snowballs to throw into the fire.

                                                 Getty image

Short story ideas can be gathered together from many outside sources. The key to fighting off writer’s block is to keep an open mind!

 

Have a great time writing and reading! 

 

Barb

                  Barbs Books         

New ending to an old classic. Little Women

 

          New extended ending to a favorite novel, Little Women.

                                                                               Little Women extended version

     Did you ever wonder what would've happened if Jo March hadn't been able to catch up to her beloved Professor Baer? I always have so I went ahead and rewrote the ending.

      I reread the beloved book since it's right on the bookshelf. It's an older copy from when I was young, but we won't get into how young I was at the time of the first read. Now, I'm seventy-two and still absolutely in love with the book.

       About ten years ago, my husband and I traveled out to Boston and one of the first places we visited was The Orchard House. It's just as grand as suspected. Louisa Mae Alcott's writing desk was right where it was left. The dolls were lined up on the beds. The furniture was the same and I pictured the girls piling on them for the evening and curling up with a blanket. A few of Amy's pictures are displayed. 

     We walked the grounds and left for a nearby site to tour. I pictured the walkway where Jo hurried to her Professor. At that moment, it occurred to me that Jo had many more adventures to explore and journey's to conquer. It was a wonderful experience. 

     Finally, a time to rewrite the ending. My imagination brought me to the moment when Jo was told that someone left the manuscript at her sister Meg's house. She flew over there as if on angel's wings, only to rush to meet up with her beloved, but he'd already escaped from her clasp. Her heart was broken but did it stop her from publication or promoting her book? You'll have to read the new ending and don't forget to leave a review!

      Thank you!  Barb Schlichting

Little Women extended version.      website