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.
…stared at the lines on the blank sheet of paper. He twiddled his biro pen in nervous fingers. Starting a new writing project was always nerve-wracking. He had some ideas but which of these ideas would be best for his next work? His first novel had been published and quite well received. Martin had even appeared on local television discussing his debut novel. He had followed that with a tour of book shops around the…
By Chris Platt
Read More…smiling man in a white suit opened his arms. He had grey hair and a bright warmth in his blue-green eyes. He reminded Adam of a Hollywood actor whose name he couldn't recall. Adam looked around. He was standing in what appeared to be the foyer of a top-end hotel. A grand staircase swept majestically up to the floors beyond. Classical music carried gently on the…
By Chris Platt
Read More…soon as the juke-box kicked in I froze, the glass of beer halfway to my lips. I recognised the tune immediately. It was them. They were his favourite band. I smiled and raised my glass. Pink Floyd. I thought of him. Of Chris. When I first met him I knew little of the prog-rock band apart from the prism on one of their album covers. Chris introduced me to the story and the music of the band he called…
By Chris Platt
Read More…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
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