Writing Challenge : The Devil is in the Details
Posted by Simon on 2013/01/21
I know I’ve already posted a piece of fiction today, but I couldn’t resist this challenge… “Your challenge this week is to practice your powers of observation. Take any person, place, or event, and write three paragraphs describing your subject in great detail.”
The field, fenced with weather-worn posts and barbed wire, was blanketed in snow. Beautiful in its pure white covering, it was also desolate and cold. Years-old trees were seen in the distance, a small wood home to many creatures hibernating the winter away. The sky was a uniform grey, pregnant with the promise of more snow. There is no movement in the foreground or in the distance. The vista is cold, empty, quiet.
In the middle of this snowy wasteland lies a body. It is the body of a middle-aged man, lying on its back, as still and unmoving as the snow that surrounds it. The left leg is bent inwards, the other stretched out straight. The right arm is draped across the man’s chest, the other out to the side, the same way as the head is turned. The eyes are closed.
The man is not dressed for the surrounding environment – he wears jeans and trainers (dirty, scuffed, with a layer of mud coating the bottom). His top is clothed in a t-shirt and nothing more. Wherever this man has come from, he arrived there unprepared for the weather.
There is a dark, port coloured stain around the neck and head of this man. Closer inspection reveals a large, straight gash across his throat, the two sides of the cut open like a grin with no teeth. It is so cold that there is a small, ghostly flow of steam escaping from the wound, giving evidence that whatever happened to this man happened recently. The dark red stain of blood slowly soaks into the snow beneath the man’s head, producing tiny individual crystals of pink coloured snow around and about his short dark hair. In the distance, amongst the trees where who knows what creatures pass away this winter time in deep slumber, sounds a long, clear scream of pain and terror.
mikefitzjohn said
wow!Okay, I would love to play.
Jules Lucton said
What a brilliant closing sentence!
Simon said
Once again your kind words make me blush. Thank you
Writing Challenge: the Devil is in the Details « Code For Confession said
[...] Writing Challenge: the Devil is in the Details (Experimental Fiction) [...]
fortyoneteen said
Ok, I got the mental image loud and clear! Awesome piece.
Simon said
Thank you for reading AND taking the time to comment
Connie T said
You are good and descriptive. I tried this but you do it great. Nice post.
Simon said
That’s such a nice thing to say, thank you. And thank you for taking the time to read and comment on the post
Margie Brizzolari said
Yes! This is what good writing is. I can see the scene, feel the tension.
Simon said
That’s very kind, thank you, and thank you for taking the time to read & respond.
Margie Brizzolari said
By the way, thank you for liking my post. You have encouraged me greatly.
Simon said
Not at all, it’s a really good post and you obviously have a wonderful way with words…
Margie Brizzolari said
Thank you. : )
teeceecounsel said
Lovely details and good fiction. I couldn’t resist the challenge either: http://teeceecounsel.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/short-fiction-our-table-and-the-entrance/
Simon said
Thank you for reading AND commenting.
mightwar said
This sounds like a great opening to a who dunnit. Is there more?
Simon said
Unfortunately not – this was written purely for the Writing Challenge. I have a few other short stories on my blog, so feel free to read those. And who knows, maybe I’ll come back and revisit this one. Thanks for reading, and for taking the time to post such a nice comment.