Friday Flash Fiction
  • Home
    • About Friday Flash Fiction
  • 100-Word Stories
  • Longer Stories
  • Poetry
  • Authors
    • A-C
    • D-F
    • G-I
    • J-L
    • M-O
    • P-R
    • S-V
    • W-Z
  • Submissions
    • 100-Word Submissions
    • 500-Word Submissions
    • Poetry Submissions
    • How to complete the Entry Form
    • Writing Good Flash Fiction
    • Contact FFF
    • Appeals/Feedback Request
    • Technical Stuff >
      • Terms & Conditions
      • GDPR Compliance
      • Duotrope

Edited Out, by Gordon Lawrie

2/10/2020

 
The editor fumed. Week in, week out, the same author sent in short stories that broke the house rules: not original; the wrong length; several at once or – most common of all – simply on an incorrectly completed form.
 
The editor didn't want to discourage, or to seem patronising. All he wanted to do was to scream. There wasn't much else he could do, anyway.
 
Apart from one thing.
 
After carefully wrapping a few items together in brown paper, he sent the package to the author's address. Next day, an enormous explosion simultaneously edited out the author and the editor's problems.

Swapan k Banerjee
2/10/2020 09:34:52 am

Marvellous way to kill two birds with one stone!

Ed N.White
2/10/2020 09:43:26 am

Yikes!!!

Sandra James
2/10/2020 10:19:02 am

Yes, you have us all quaking in our boots now, Gordon :)
A wonderful 'wake up' for the guilty and a reminder for everyone else!

Mary Wallace
2/10/2020 11:11:19 am

Please tell me it wasn't my name on the package.

Marjan sierhuis
2/10/2020 12:14:18 pm

Oh my goodness.

Bobby Warner
2/10/2020 01:25:34 pm

If you find it necessary to reject my stuff, Gordon, please be more gentle! Good Lord. Did I break any rules on my last submission? I had better alert the mail carrier right away! Just joking. We know you would never do that, Gordon. Or would you...

Susan Reid
2/10/2020 02:04:43 pm

Shocking ending. I've worked for some abusive editors, but luckily, none of them went that far.

Krystyna
2/10/2020 03:13:48 pm

Thank you, Gordon, for your patience. No intention to break your rules. But as the song goes, “I’m only human after all”.
As for the “enormous explosion”, it’s the stuff of nightmares.

Janice Siderius
2/10/2020 04:06:32 pm

LOL....I so wish I could deal with life's frustrations in a similar manner.

Gordon Lawrie
2/10/2020 05:11:46 pm

The people you need to worry about are the ones who DON'T comment here...

Sankar Chatterjee
2/10/2020 05:59:21 pm

Just when I thought you're the best editor I ever dealt with!!

Best regards,
Sankar

Don Tassone
2/10/2020 06:17:52 pm

Note to self: follow the FFF submission guidelines scrupulously. 😳

Pamela Kennedy
2/10/2020 10:13:02 pm

Oh, Dear! I hope it's not me...

Sue Clayton
3/10/2020 05:39:23 am

Oh dear, Gordon. Wouldn't have believed you could be capable of such lethal frustration. If I'm an FFF offender hopefully you'll bless me and forgive my sin.

Peggy Gerber
3/10/2020 02:43:15 pm

As authors, we rarely take into account the editor’s feelings. This was a cute way to show that editors are people too.

Paritosh Chandra Dugar
4/10/2020 07:33:13 pm

Everything has a limit. You can't be cruel to your editor. The message is no less louder than an explosion.


Comments are closed.

    "Classic"
    100-Word
    Stories

    Since Friday Flash Fiction began in September 2013, 100-word stories have remained its 'beating heart'.

    Normally, 100-word stories are scheduled for 07.00 BST (GMT in the winter) on the following Friday. However, where a large number of stories (more than 25) are due to be published on the same day, we publish a second batch around 10.30am.

    Each week we pick a story or (occasionally) a poem as 'Editor's Choice'.
    It's a personal favourite, no more. Do you agree?
    Editor's Choice

    NEW: we have a FACEBOOK PAGE where regular contributors can share ideas and discuss stories. Why not join in?

    We occasionally send out little newsletters running competitions – and subscribers are also our voting panel. If you'd like to join us, please click the Subscribe to newsletter button below.
    Subscribe to Newsletter
    No spam, we promise!

    Friday Flash Fiction
    Rules
    Kinda obvious, really...
    • Fiction only
    • Stories of 75-100 words only
    • Don't be nasty or cheat
    • Include your name and a story title

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013


Picture
Website by Platform 36

Photos used under Creative Commons from YLegrand, Tony Webster