Sunday, November 24, 2013

A Story


                                        Ghost Writer

“Are you a ghost?”

“No, I am a muse. Can’t you tell the difference?”

“Ah, I suppose I can’t. You look imaginary to me.”

“Mercy fellow, you need a muse. You’ve been sitting at that silent computer for a long while now. All I hear is the click of torn nails on the desk top tapping out Bee Gee hits.”

“So if you are a muse, inspire me.”

“Sure, you want me to do all the work.  I’m here for guidance, not some Tom Sawyer sucker to paint your fence…or write your story that is.”

“I want to write a murder mystery, but I can’t get beyond how the body is found.”

“You have a body then. So how was it killed? Knife, strangulation, gun shot, overzealous sex or what?

“I hadn’t thought of HOW yet!”

“Man, then get going. Tell me, just tell me what you think.”

“Hum, I think he was shot…with a pistol, actually an old Colt revolver…in these dark   thick woods, tall oaks maybe…”

“Wait a minute, so this is a western with an old six shooter, but not in the Old West I know because there aren’t a lot of forests out there.”

“I hadn’t thought about a western. Say, that is a good idea!  In my mind it was in present day

Pennsylvania, but I like your idea better. Maybe he is in a stand of cottonwoods instead... yes,

that’s it.”

“In the back or somewhere else?”

“Pardon me, in back of what?”

“The victim, of course. Is he shot in the back or was he in a duel or was he shot in the head? Makes a difference you know.  If he was shot in the back, he might have been the story’s victim. If shot in the front, maybe he was in an attempted robbery, him being the villain. If he was shot…”

“Yeah, I know. I get the idea and I think he was shot in the back. But I still want him to be the bad guy. So how will I do this…hum…and I need a girl don’t ya think?”

“Depends, you mean a girl left behind, a girl shooter, a girl two men fought over?                What sort of girl exactly?”

“I don’t know, but if you’ll excuse me, I want to start getting some of this down while it is fresh in my mind.”

“Well yes indeed, and you’re welcome.”
“No, I appreciate it, really I do, but I certainly need to get to work.  But wait a minute, will you be back again tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. Do you believe in ghosts?”

7 comments:

Sioux Roslawski said...

Claudia--Could you ask them to stop by my house? I need some help as well...

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

I'm with Sioux. A little ghostly sighting here in Georgia would be awesome!

Linda O'Connell said...

Clever ghostly tale. I have one in my house.

Susan said...

Oh gosh, Bookie, I do believe in ghosts. At times I thought there were some here but thankfully, they haven't bothered us too much. I hope they have disappeared.

Thank you for all your faithful visits. Susan

Anonymous said...

I don't believe in ghosts!!

Marylin Warner said...

Oh, yes, I do believe in "ghost" writing muses, and this post was so much fun...and a good reminder of the thinking and planning that is part of the writing.
I especially liked the reference to Tom Sawyer and getting others to paint the fence!
Good Job!

Lynn said...

Very clever... I need that ghost!