Discover more from Soaring Twenties
We start the week with a short story by my fellow Substack literary magazine Editor in Chief
(you really should subscribe to his wonderful ‘Stack btw)For this story our man has used the Jack Vettriano painting ‘After Midnight’ as his source of inspiration. And you can see why, as it is a gift to anyone who has that noiry, pulp, lean prose sensibility.
In fact, I would recommend that all of the up and coming writers reading this (and there are bound to be many) borrow this idea and also try and turn a painting you love into prose. This is definitely one of the best exercises to get the pen moving and ideas flowing, as Frank demonstrates below.
Enjoy.
TJB.
He called her ‘babe’. She called him ‘bastard’. Tall tales and white lies were among his chosen trade. Despite this, she came back to him, always hanky in hand to wipe off the running mascara.
If he needed money, she’d cover for him. She'd drink too much, he'd clean her up. Long nights of passion turned to tears. Tears turned to screaming. Screaming turned to heartbreak.
Both knew they were bad for each other.
Morning brought sober minds. She'd shower, he'd dress, and they'd forget each other, forget the night: a distant memory.
By breakfast, they'd return to their spouses.
It's paintings like this that make me wish to take up smoking again. Why is it unhealthy, goddamnit!
Excellent writing.
I have a folder full of art-inspired fiction ... great to imagine the 'noises off', the stories unfolding just off the main stage!