This Week’s Stories to Share

November 18, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”
― Philip Pullman

Welcome to another segment of, Stories to Share. As writers, we all want to send our stories out into the universe. But, in world filled with writers, sometimes it seems our own work gets lost in the ever-growing sea of words. However, I believe each writer deserves their moment in the sun.

Stories to Share, is my way of shining the spotlight on writers and their work. I hope you’ll enjoy today’s list and encourage you to pay it forward. You’ll find more stories in the magazines and websites, in which, they are featured. Check them out.

First up, Episode 20 at No Extra Words Podcast, The Legend. Two stories make up this episode, “Achilles,” by Charles Rammelkamp, and “What We Talk About When we Talk About Homer,” by Marina Frances Mularz ( a particular favorite). I encourage you to check out the No Extra Words Podcast, meet the producer and editor, Kris Baker Dersch, and submit your own work for consideration. And, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you my story, Life in Repetition, is scheduled for episode 35, in February. I’ll keep you updated.
Duck Man, by Mary Ellen Lives ( a dear friend) is one of my favorite writers. Published in numerous literary magazines, I hope you’ll visit her website to check out the list of her published works. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy her exclusive short story.
And from one of my favorite magazines, Carve, the 2nd place winner of the 2015 Raymond Carver Contest, by Andrea Bobotis, Kudzu.

What did you think of the stories? Do you have a story to share? I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

Stay Calm and Read On

June 30, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

Day 13

Day 13 of the My 500 Words Challenge. “A journal entry, but with a twist: make your day sound interesting.”

Yesterday, day12 of the my500 word challenge, was so much fun. To refresh your memory, here’s the prompt:

“It’s true that honesty is the best policy. It’s just fun to fib now and again. Not in a dirty and deceptive way, but in a way that invokes imagination. Just for today’s challenge, it’s okay to stretch the truth a little. Rewrite history, imagine an alternate reality, or just plain lie.”

I had no desire to “rewrite history,” from my viewpoint, we’ve had enough of rewriting history. Alternate realities are not my thing, although, sometimes I feel as if we’re all living in an alternate reality. But, the last part of the prompt caught my attention, ” just plain lie.”

I have to admit the thought brought a mischievous smile to my face. As Jeff said, “It’s just fun to fib now and again.”

As writer’s we all have plenty of experience with rejections and I’ll admit I turn green with envy when I read of some author achieving instant fame with their very first book. Hearing those stories make me want to toilet paper their house. How in Sam’s hill did they accomplish that? Who did they have to do? Give me a name I’ll call. (Just kidding).

We all want to be recognized, win a contest, or have our work discovered. But, as you know, achieving instant fame is like finding a needle in a haystack or an act of divine Providence.

I don’t want to reveal any spoilers; you can read my prompt by clicking here. The responses I received surprised and delighted me. My sister and fellow writer-in-crime came out of the gate first and called me.

“Omg! That’s wonderful. You have to tell me, who is it?”

Similar responses followed and I dutifully responded to each one. I got a taste, albeit a tiny taste, of what being discovered might feel like, and it was amazing.

Throughout the day, each time my phone pinged, I would find another congrats or “Like” and spent most of the day giggling as if I were a school age girl playing a prank on the teacher. I even received a note from WordPress, “Cow Pasture Chronicles received record Likes today.”

As much fun as I had yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder. What made my post so credible? I’d given all kinds of clues, the biggest being the title and secondly, I restated the prompt at the top of the post. Yet, it went unregistered.

No one questioned the probability of such an occurrence; they accepted my story as truth. I like to think it was the writing. I wrote it so well, so convincingly, you had to believe it to be true (Please, don’t burst my bubble). The truth is, most people skim when they read, and there are numerous studies to support this, “When you add more verbiage to a page, people will only read 18% of it.” You can read more of these studies, here.

I am a stickler for truth and accuracy, but I had a great deal of fun not only fibbing, but experiencing a hint of what I hope is to come. I mean, Mr. King could get wind of my post and call. Stranger things have happened.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood and Twitter @cofcmom.

Photo courtesy of: sarahmaidofalbion.blogspot.com

The Downward Trajectory of Life- How Not to Feel Irrelevant

June 24, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

Thanks Jeff for the prompt. This free-writing exercise for day 7 of my500words, brought out a bit of melancholy.

Photo courtesy of Google & feministcurrent.com

I wished someone had told me, five, ten, or twenty years ago how hard things get when you begin the downward trajectory of life. I will turn 62 in November and in terms of the average life span in the US, 62 is still young.

However, no one prepared me for becoming irrelevant. What I mean is, as we approach this time in our lives, our children are adults, many into mid-life and the grandchildren seem to be maturing faster than the weeds in my garden.

The children you once spoke to daily or weekly are now caught up in their own immediate families. Their schedules packed running one child to dance, the other to sports practice.

While they used to run situations or decisions by you, they no longer need to, having gained a fair amount of life experiences themselves. Now, they are the parent comforting, or giving out advice to a child. Problems once seemed only insurmountable if discussed with mom are now handled with a mature and steady mind.

As a parent, on the one hand, I’m thrilled they can do it themselves. After all, that’s what all the years of parenting were for, making them independent, strong individuals capable of dealing with the ups and downs of life. On the other hand, I miss being needed.

It’s not as if they don’t want my advice (Ok, maybe sometimes), but they don’t need it. I’ve done my job. All that’s left is to sit back and relax. If only it was that easy.

Day 7

Growing old can be very lonely. So, here are a few things I wished I’d known and even though, no one is asking, a little advice. Take it or leave it, but I hope you will at least consider it for the times ahead.

Cultivate a hobby, something you enjoy early on. It will keep your hands and mind busy when the days become longer.
Cultivate friends, many of them, paying special attention to those most loyal.
“Do for others as you would have them do unto you.” It isn’t just a Bible verse; it is a way of life and when honored will reap many rewards.
Be kind, but genuine. In this hectic world where everyone seems to wear their feelings on their sleeves, it is often difficult to stay the course when the road of values divide.
Learn to disagree, agreeably – silence and acquiescence will smother you as quickly as a soft pillow pressed upon your face. There is nothing worse than a disagreeable old person.
Give more than you take in relationships, time, and money. The benefits far out weigh dividends.
Learn to listen. Sometimes, all anyone needs is an ear.
Stay informed don’t lose your voice, it matters.
Stay active and honor your body. The years ahead will present challenges and the better prepared your body is; the better you will weather the storm.
Remember your father and mother. Check on them, call them, and ask the questions you want to ask now. There will come a time, when the answers are lost.

As a nurse, I understood the cycle of life. Much like the 3 act structure in a novel, we are born, live, and die. The second act is where all the exciting things happen. The third act of life brings resolution. Make it exciting all the way to end and have no regrets.

A Glint of Hope

May 22, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 11 Comments

Fred stopped pacing and stared out the window. After three straight days of rain, he watched with growing trepidation, as the sun appeared in a blue sky. Every time it rained three days in a row, something bad happened. “Bad things come in threes,” his mom said. This time he prayed she’d be wrong.

He waited for the doctor to emerge from his wife’s hospital room. “Please God, give me a sign.”

A singular leaf caught his attention. Five clinging drops glinted at him as if in Morse code. Rain. Hearing footsteps, he turned. The doctor was smiling.

Friday Fictioneers (hosted by Rochelle)- 100 words or less, inspired by a weekly photo prompt. Check out all the other entries here and be sure to comment.