The Abstract Art Gallery
A writing gallery created by writers from around the world. From poetry to song lyrics, from essays to entire novels and short stories.
…hotel on the outskirts of York was exactly as Colin Doyle was expecting. It was the kind of place that was long past its heyday but you could still kind of see the glory it once had. It needed a massive refurb job but was still a grand place. His friends were staying in a low budget chain hotel in the city centre, but, being on the last-minute as always, Colin hadn’t been able to get in the same…
By Chris Platt
Read More…couldn’t believe it was 2020. The recent centenaries of the First World War years had sparked an interest in the happenings of a century ago and the anniversaries as they came up. He couldn’t explain why or how, but he felt strangely connected to the period a hundred years earlier. To be living in this new decade was special. He decided to refer to this new period as the…
By Chris Platt
Read More…people of the village ran, terrified, into the hills—the Outcast, Fremqul, walked down the steep path from his hideout in the hills.
The people had been warned about the HydraWoman approaching the village—Fremqul didn’t have a…
By Alexander Zoltai
Read MoreGrandfather keeps grandchildren safe in a bad storm
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…sat down to start the planning for the St Michael's Harvest Festival. As usual, a small amount of family chit chat proceeded the actual organizational tasks.
Shirley asked Marge about her two sons, Max and Alex, and their current…
By Robert Nelis
Read More…woke up and rolled over in bed. It took him a moment to figure out what day it was. Saturday? Yep, pretty sure it was Saturday. Excellent. After a particularly gruelling week at work, a couple of days away from the office was just what he needed. A lazy day, pottering about, walking his black Labrador, Dingo, then a film and a take-away later on, that sounded just ideal. He tossed back the duvet and shrugged…
By Chris Platt
Read MoreThis is an excerpt from Little Tea.
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…aren't shy when they’re born to this world. Shyness evolves in increments from cause and effect until it morphs into an ingrained personality trait earned the hard way. It’s a cornerstone of wariness from which one engages with the world, a hesitancy toward humanity that colors self-esteem. I was ten…
By Claire Fullerton
Read More…up from his computer screen. His colleague Callum hovered by his desk, slurping tea from a chipped Manchester City mug. It took Phil a second to recall what was happening on Friday. Their colleague, Mike, was turning thirty so a night out had been arranged. The birthday night out had been excitedly talked about in the fortnight…
By Chris Platt
Read More…almost magical,” Ray thought as he watched the gently falling snow reflecting off the neon signs and streetlights. Any other time Ray would have appreciated the beauty of the scene, but not tonight. “What the hell am I going to do now?” he thought as he turned and faced his brother from the passenger seat of the…
By Lawson Wallace
Read MoreYoung boy and family fend off Valentine's Vampires
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…is here again at the old Comet Mall. Hey, howdy, chill to see y’all again for the returning Comet Mall shoppers. And welcome to all those who pulled off the interstate for lunch or that damn car light that needs a new bulb. Remember a Comet Shopper never…
By Alex Almeida
Read MoreSometimes it takes a dead man to make life worth living again.
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…like nothing else. Okay, maybe second only to the soul-sucking presence of my fifteen-year old son. Caleb's only communication skills consisted of the ever-present smartphone. He certainly wasn't texting me. We moseyed up and down the aisles at Bullseye. Hunting for school supplies. Each…
By Steven Roisum
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