The Writer's Workout

Bursting Free by Michelle Dornish First Place Why can’t they see beyond this mask? I sit at the dinner table, poking my limp green beans with my fork. My body seems to be vibrating in my skin, the skin which has never felt totally comfortable –or right. I am focused on my plate because my eyes are tired from holding back tears. I know if I meet my mother’s eyes, it will all come pouring out of me. I do not want to flood her with my truth. I want to calmly speak the words.

What the Body Refuses by Aneisha Gupta First Place The first time my throat tightened at the temple, I thought it was God. I was ten years old, standing barefoot on the cool stone floor of our local Hindu temple, waiting for my offerings, waiting for my prashad. As far back as I can remember, my birthdays always began with prayers at the temple alongside my family. Incense curled toward the ceiling, blurring the golden edges of the deities. The priest’s voice rose and fell

Twenty-Five Yards to Life by Deidra Whitt Lovegren First Place That’s my name and my number, but it’s not me. With a flick of my thumb, I pop open a black umbrella and square up behind a rusty chain-link fence. Fresh cut grass takes me back to the start of my own NFL career—before the chronic pain, relentless lawsuits, and crazy carousel of ex-wives ruined my life. Did it always rain like hell during training camp? The players don’t seem to notice the wet jerseys stick

Teacher's Pet by Thomas Second Place Everybody hated Colin O’Dowd. He was a snake, a stool pigeon, a rat. We didn’t have much to amuse ourselves at Bede Middle, but one thing we did like was making soggy moggys– wetting toilet paper and throwing it at the ceiling. Stevie Allen had it down to a fine art. He said some of his pieces had been on the ceiling since the first term. I liked to imagine that in 3000 years, some archaeologists excavating our school would loo

Hi! I'm S.E. Reed, an award-winning multi-genre Indie Author and volunteer at The Writer's Workout. I want to welcome you to the second...

Goose Chase by Danielle Ice Second Place Cindy stared hard out the window of her bedroom and into the driveway, inspecting the cars...

I did make an attempt last week. I attempt to write most weeks; I usually fail brilliantly on the execution so for weeks like last week,...