When you start writing a story, it’s important to have a sense of who your characters are, especially your main characters. Who they are, what they want, what their voice sounds like: all of these are important qualities that can make or break a story if you don’t have answers for those sorts of questions.My … Continue reading How I Develop Characters (with bonus short story!)
a short story by Jacob Ryckman The helicopter flew low over the corn fields, the wind from the rotors bending the stalks down to the cold, hard earth. The sun hung low over the horizon, slowly descending the world into darkness. The captain’s breath fogged in front of him, the icy temperatures forcing him and … Continue reading The Hunter
a short story by Jacob Ryckman “Hello?” the girl asked, slowly walking through the abandoned hallway. “Is anyone there?” A light flickered a way’s away, but offered no response. She had gone to use the bathroom when the power went out at school. It wasn’t anything unusual, though; the school was old, and power outages … Continue reading Infestation
A short story by Jacob Ryckman The senator was walking through the town square when he was struck. The protestor had intended the tomato to smash against his face, hoping that it would cause him great disgrace and humiliation, but miscalculated his throw, and so the vegetable merely splattered against the senator’s briefcase. The senator’s … Continue reading On the Way to the Senate
Jacob Ryckman 