So earlier this evening I was talking with a gentlemen who basically made me realise that despite having been on this site for 18 months or so I have never really posted a piece of my writing which got me to thinking that I hadn't really seen many other's writings either. So here is the thread to do so. Throw a small sample in...it doesn't need to be complete, it can be on any subject but it should be sufficiently large enough to give a taste of your style. Think of it as a way to demonstrate your ability and advertise yourself in a public forum filled with people ready to cut you to shreds on the smallest typo. By way of demonstration here is an opening of mine to a piece I am currently working on
THE DRAGON'S SCALE
In the hours of loneliest night
I set down these words by the lamp’s light
For I wish to record a most wonderful tale
Of a prince and a princess and the dragon’s scale
It all began on a cold winter’s night
When a little village awoke in fright
At the horrible sound of some beast’s roar
Then all fell silent and they slept once more
It wasn’t till dawn when they found they horse
Half eaten up that they knew the source
The manner of beast which in the night did wail
For lying on the ground was a dragon’s scale
It was large as a cartwheel and made of gold
And when it was lifted took three men to hold
Laughter broke out and they all capered around
But amidst the excitement an old man frowned
Stop this foolishness the man cried to the crowd
Waiting for silence before speaking out loud
‘Tis an evil gift evil indeed
For dragon’s gold fills a heart with greed
You all know the legends and what they tell
Look not at the gold or deeper the spell
We must take it away before we are lost
And only evil into our hearts has crossed
I fear not this spell spoke a stranger from the side
I fear nothing at all ‘cept my soon-to-be bride
And if you allow me I would buy your scale
For it pleases me with its yellow so pale
The crowd turned as the stranger’s voice spoke
And saw a young man in threadbare cloak
Who are you asked the old man his eyes ablaze
That treads forward a fool where a wise man stays
Who am I you ask in a voice that demands
Why I’m Prince Kiranon from far distant lands
Searching the world for the one I’ll marry
Going on where a wise man would tarry
Then Kiranon removed his threadbare cloak
Causing the old man to near have a stroke
For revealed to all was armour and sword
Of such quality befitting a lord
“You said night twice.”
“What?”
“You ended with night twice. It’s right at the beginning and it breaks the story straight away.”
“You do realise my young prince, and not withstanding that it is way past your bed time, that writing is either best done in solitude or in collaboration with other writers and never...ever with a critic peering down in judgement over one’s shoulder right at the moment of its creation?”
“But isn’t it better to fix up your mistakes straight away to avoid repeating them?”
“Mistakes! Get out! Get out before I call the guards to return you to your bed.”
The young prince pulled back to the doorway. “You also ended with ‘cloak’ twice” and closed the door.
“Guards!”
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Hope you liked it and I look forward to others who also step in with submissions