J.J. Robbins

Recently I have joined several short story/flash fiction contests. Though the monetary gain is a great motivator, the break from my manuscript for my novel is a breath of fresh air. The deadlines and the prompts are great exercises. It has provided me with feedback, it has shown me where my strengths and are and what my weakness are. It is not unlike going to the gym to work on my weak areas with a "program" to follow. If you want to sharpen your writing skills I highly recommend join a group...

This is my hand at poetry. I thought of it while I wrote "Memories" but couldn't find a place to include it in the narrative. Think of it as the delete scene of that story.

Ina’s Song

The chant in my head, though left for dead.

I could not leave the past behind.

I live eternally on, not sure why.

The stone, black as night, caused my flight

Silver speckled with stars.

To think it was this that caused me to be marred.

This token I claimed as mine

I wandered far and wide,

Never understanding why.

To my...

"What makes you itch to pull out that keyboard and type away? Or to go "old school" and pull out a pen and paper?"

This is question I have been asked and frankly, the answer changes.

My stories can be sparked by a song. Something haunting or just unearthly playing will conjure images of a place or a scene that I must capture. Other times its in nature, first I try to capture it on my camera-I love to take photos but I am a hobbyist at best. For example, Mother Nature has given us not just one...