^ I totally agree I may not usually comment but I look forward to the new story Samples. I check in every week for stories to add to my to read list. @mastressalita works so hard on this gem of a thread. I absolutely adore it and I appreciate the work that goes into this and the stories and legacies index
( I really don't know how you do it! )
This is a day sponsored by the National Education Association and held on Dr. Seuss' birthday to celebrate the love of reading. I propose we celebrate Read Across America Day SimLit style!
Also, please check out the Short Story Challenges thread for even more short stories, many of which are not listed with the Stories and Legacies Index! (In fact, right now you can even read and vote on all the fantastic February submissions!)
So often I hear "I just don't have the time to read!" I get it; we all have busy lives. But think about it; isn't it from the joy of reading that most (I daresay all) of us became writers? Isn't it from the joy of those creative worlds that made us want to create our own, too, and share those worlds with others? And without readers... who is there to share those worlds with? So this week, I encourage everyone to take the time to be a reader -- at least a little! -- by reading at least one short story from either the listing above or from the Short Story Challenges thread. Most of these are a mere 1500 words or less and not difficult to fit into even the most hectic of schedule. It's Read Across America Day, so read!
This Sunday during my normal Weekly Reading Roundup, I'll do my write-up on short stories, and I hope others will chime in about the short stories they chose to read!
@mastressalita A huge thank you for mentioning me! I had fun writing all these short stories! I shall take a look at the other stories listed above as well!
Thank you so much for mentioning me in both the short stories, and in the prettacies! Somehow I'd missed this thread!! And it's so amazing!! I love your format, and your little introduction for each story. I'm so bookmarking this! Thank you for doing it!!
@mastressalita Thank you for featuring my Fatima Bachelorette story! I went on hiatus because it's linked to my Going Solo challenge that's also on hiatus >_< I am glad you enjoyed it and it will get finished once I figure out how to reconcile it with the other story :-)
@mastressalita -- Just wanted to thank you for the listing of my short stories! They've gotten quite a few reads this week--and you're to thank! It's always fun to have new people swing by to read.
That's great news @CathyTea ! I'm so glad people are checking out the short stories for Read Across America Day this week! That makes my librarian heart happy. ^_^
After the first Man was created, a little lump of clay was left.
"What do you want me to make you out of this clay?" - God asked the Human.
"Make me some happiness," - the answer was.
That is how the first Cat came to the world.
And such little bit of joy and happiness was found by a girl in For the Love of Furbabies by @mastressalita The girl was getting older and the happiness and the love was growing as well. Till the day came when they had to say goodbye to each other...
I love this story very much. It is so touching! Reading the last lines I was crying.
Awesome story Thank you for sharing @mastressalita
After the first Man was created, a little lump of clay was left.
"What do you want me to make you out of this clay?" - God asked the Human.
"Make me some happiness," - the answer was.
That is how the first Cat came to the world.
And such little bit of joy and happiness was found by a girl in For the Love of Furbabies by @mastressalita The girl was getting older and the happiness and the love was growing as well. Till the day came when they had to say goodbye to each other...
I love this story very much. It is so touching! Reading the last lines I was crying.
Awesome story Thank you for sharing @mastressalita
I totally agree! I too cried reading this story. And not only that...
edit: Thank you, mastress, for mentioning my short stories also I love you for what you do around the forum for us SimLit lovers
Edition #10: Short Story Smorgasbord! Pt. 1 Date: 03/06/16
Welcome to this week's edition of Weekly Reading Roundup, where I sample selections of stories from the Stories and Legacies Index! Normally for the first weekly of a new month I do Legacy Launch-Off, but this month I have switched things up, because March 2nd was a day very dear to my librarian heart: Read Across America Day. This day, sponsored by the National Education Association and held on the great Dr. Seuss' birthday, is all about celebrating a love of reading, and many schools, libraries, day cares, and other institutions jump into the fray to celebrate! And I figured what better way to celebrate than with SimLit?
As Dr. Seuss was masterful with his craft of the short story, for Read Across America Day I'll be foregoing lengthy legacies to look at short stories! Many folks get out of the habit of reading because of a lack of time in their hectic schedule, but these stories are a great example that you can enjoy SimLit in quick, bite-size morsels that are easy to budget into even the most busy schedule! If you find yourself one of those readers that tends to shy away because of length, or falling behind with frequent updates, or not having the time to plow through a story's backlog, these short stories would be great for you! You can enjoy an entire tale without eating away too much time; they are like the Fun Size candy bars of the SimLit world, and oh so tasty, too! And since they are so low on calories, it doesn't hurt to sample several now, does it? ^_~
A Bad Idea @ Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May by @RachelRosebud - This is one of those autobiographical tale featuring a SelfSim that I think a lot of us can relate to! It's very funny, and I absolutely died at the end when @RachelRosebud was only left with one more epic image under the Short Story Challenge guidelines, a struggle I face every month, hahaha! If you are a mischievous Simmer (really now, are any of us not?) then you really must give this a read!
Beary Love by @chealsycat - This short story features characters from @chealsycat 's Goldilocks and Bears: A Sim Fairy Tale. Only this story is from the author's perspective, addressing the issues of Sims that have a mind of their own and tend to go against their player's wishes! This is another story that any Simmer can relate to and is sure to give you a laugh... especially those close-up expressions on that SelfSim's face!
Dalton Anderson Official Website by @cully_c - This site currently features the short story A Fine Time to Lose, about an over-confident doctor experiencing his first loss. I really enjoyed this story; the character of Jackson was so well created in such a small amount of words, I loved the image effects, and it was all just very moving. I really hope @cully_c does more short stories in the future! (And can I just say I love how the website is put together as a portfolio for a Sim that is an actor, as if Dalton Anderson just played the role of Jackson on some TV drama? So clever!)
Dr. Jasmine's Casebook @ Cathy Tea's SimLit Anthology by @CathyTea - This is a series of loosely interconnected short stories featuring Dr. Jasmine Gooding, a retired psychologist that has recently moved into the suburbs. Seeing the neighborhood filled with far too much angst, she has dedicated herself to making the people around her feel better. The stories here are often very philosophical but also inspiring; I love how often they look at a topic in a different way, and often, in ways I completely and thoroughly relate to! It's hard to pick a favorite, but I really enjoy all the love stories featuring elder Sims, who I find often get overshadowed in SimLit, such as Spring Again for the First Time and its companion piece Lost Dark Matter or Ten Reasons to Leave; One Night and The Apple Pie of Love are both holiday stories that take non-traditional approaches and I personally relate to a lot; Wishing Makes It So has the feel of a modern day fairy tale and is quite touching; Mr. Higgins is a great story about holding onto childhood while growing up that reminds me a lot of the message of one of my favorite movies, Labyrinth! Really you could jump into any of the stories listed and be completely won over by Dr. Jasmine's positive attitude! They are all just so enjoyable!
First Love Countdown @ RebornMonster by @RebornMonster - This story not only is a great tale about the trials and tribulations of first love, but I absolutely adored its realistic take on the complicated emotions dealing with bisexu*lity! It's a bittersweet tale, but incredibly poignant, and the screencaps have this clever way of hinting toward the next scene in the background! You can just tell so much went into this, and it's really great!
Have It Your Way!: A Choose Your Own Ending Story by @Charliimai - Do you remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? If you were one of those people that lived in those as a kid (*raises hand*) then you absolutely must check this out! (And even if you didn't... check this out!) You follow the story of Max, who is being held captive in a stark white room... why is she there? How does she get out? Your choices will determine if she escapes, or how she came to be in her current situation! Like most Choose Your Own Adventure readers, you'll surely feel compelled to start over and pick different choice paths to try to discover all the different endings!
Love at First Sight @ Sim-ply Awesome Stories by @swcheppes - This is an absolutely fantastic story about finding love in the most unlikely of places! I wish I could say more about it here, but that would kind of ruin it! It's one of those "read it once, then read it again!" kind of stories! This one is near and dear to my heart, and if anyone is curious about why exactly, you can find out in my comment on the story page itself... after reading said story, of course. ^_~
My Sims Shorts by @CitizenErased14 - Here you can find many great short stories by @CitizenErased14 ! The First Night is a hilarious story about a paranoid girl spending her first night in a new town, where it seems strange things are going on, but everything has a logical explanation... or does it? This is another one of those short stories that spawned a full-length story, (Para)Normal Neighborhood! The Gift and The Visitors are great choices for fans of the supernatural, and for another "you'll have to read it twice" story, check out the epic showdown between two brothers in Betrayal! Fans of Dust to Dust can also find several short stories related to the popular series: My Immortal, No Matter What, and What You Wish For! (Those happen to be the only ones I haven't read yet, since I'm working through the parent fiction at this moment... I'm about a quarter of the way through, woo!)
Short Stories @ Carewren123 Sim Stories by @Carewren123 - @Carewren123 , hostess of the Short Story Challenge thread, has several of her own short stories available here! I just love the emotions that are evoked in her short stories! As someone who loves stories with a body-positive message, I absolutely lovedHiding No More, and there is an absolutely beautiful in memorium to her grandmother. All the stories here are so beautifully shot and written, be sure to check them out!
Short Stories @ The Krazy Crazy Life of Kassiopeia Fullbright by @AdamsEve1231 - Here you can find X Marks the Spot, a little spin-off of The Krazy Crazy Life of Kassiopeia Fullbright. While Carina Fullbright is on the job as staff for a large party for the Goth family, she collides -- quite literally -- with Alexander Goth, resulting in a cute little love story between the two! I love the characterization and the give-and-take between the two, it's a lot of fun! The imagery is also great; I loved the picture of the wobbly Cari post-collision!
Short Stories @ Framed: Life on Canvas by @DavidMCSessy - There is one short story here, Life on Paper, which is about Ann, an aspiring writer, who becomes obsessed with the lack of commentary on her online publishings... and then one day a comment appears. This is a really touching story, and I really love the final message it gives. Too often I see aspiring authors just starting out in a frenzy to "get readers" and then quickly give up and quit their stories when they don't find overnight fame, and I wish this could somehow be required reading for those folks.
Short Stories @ Julyvee's Sims Stories by @Julyvee94 - @Julyvee94 's first short story, My Sudden Happiness, is a very uplifting piece about finding love again after facing many different forms of heartbreak. Her other two short stories are quite suspenseful, with No Escape featuring a woman trying to escape from an unknown assailant, using some absolutely outstanding imagery and feeling very much like a classic horror film, and The Warning featuring a young man who's time may have run out, unless things on his personal timeline change... It amazes me the broad range of tone and emotion each of these evoke! Read each one and you'll see what I mean!
Short Stories @ MAKPlays by @Pegasus143 - @Pegasus143 has been around the Short Story Challenges since the start, and her stories are always great! You can check out all her entries here, and they are all great, but somehow my favorites tend to be the somewhat melancholy ones... I really enjoyed Hidden Sadness, which described all too well a feeling I think too many of us have felt (at least at some point), and Words Never Heard, which was a beautiful yet all-too-realistic story of unrequited love. But I'm sure everyone is going to have other favorites, so read them all and feel free to share!
Short Stories @ Munterbaconsims by @Munterbacon - Munterbacon has done several short stories for the Short Story Challenge thread, but since there isn't a dedicated section for them on his site, I'll provide direct links to them here! I'd recommend checking out Twisted Addiction and Blight together! This set of stories is a dark supernatural/borderline horror story that tells a tale of murder, seduction, and Death! First Halloween is a fantastic homage to Peggy, Munterbacon's grandma, which actually brought tears to my eyes! It is heartwarming and brought back a lot of personal memories for me (my mom is a Halloween birthday baby, too!) Finally, there is the hysterical Ninjapig and the Foodie Five vs. The Meatball Menagerie, which when I gave it a superlative I said "Story that Would Make the Best New Saturday Morning Superhero TV Show." This is why you always leave comments, folks! Tails of Ninjapig and the Foodie Five has just started as a full-length story! So exciting!
Short Stories @ Penguin Entertainment by @Penguinwa101 - Here you can find the short story Waterfowl Water-park, the story of Rebecca Austen's first summer job working at a local water-park. This really evokes those feelings of "everything that can go wrong will go wrong," and who hasn't had days at work like that? But despite the madness, it has a very endearing and uplifting ending!
Short Stories @ A Penguin's Adventure in Simming by @BBQPenguinWings - Here you can find @BBQPenguinWing 's short stories! My First Day is a beautiful tell about the miracle of birth, Evil Comes in Threes, a great Halloween tale with the greatest narrator ever, Baby-P (you can find more Baby-P goodness at Penguin Posse), and a short four-part story about university student Piper Angelo, Piper Goes "Home".
Edition #10: Short Story Smorgasbord! Pt. 2 Date: 03/06/16
Short Stories @ Raerei's Fortress by @ra3rei - @ra3rei is another old hat over at the Short Story Challenge thread! Here you can find all her stories in one convenient location, and they are all incredible! They cover such a broad range -- touching, hysterical, relatable, a clever sense of realism -- you can randomly click on any of them and get pure gold. I'm not sure if I could pick out a favorite, but The Ghost of St. Martin's Hotel and Frozen Memories definitely struck a personal accord with me for various reasons which I describe in my comments on those particular stories. If you want lols, I'd suggest checking out What Happens at Zero? or For the Love of Sims, I found great amusement and laughed out loud during each of those!
Short Stories @ Recovering Stories by @IchigoUsagi - There are two short stories on @IchigoUsagi 's site, and since there isn't a dedicated section for them, I'll link them directly here. A Lost Cause is the story of a teenager coming undone after the loss of her sister, and it has some really lovely imagery and comes full circle really beautifully. All That Buildup is a countdown to the end of the world, that acts as a lovely prologue to an Apocalypse Challenge! The narrator is really intriguing, and again, the imagery is lovely!
Short Stories @ Rin's Bin by @Rinellie - Here you can find the excellent Today, You, an endearing story that follows a lifetime, and has a twist at the end that is incredibly relatable to any reader of SimLit. I really don't want to give too much away from this beautiful emotional journey; it simply must be read and enjoyed for yourself!
Short Stories @ Sim Nation, Sims World, All Things Sims by @Simslover163 - @Simslover163 has a lot of short stories to choose from, and what is notable is none of these are written for the Short Story Challenges thread, so you won't see the same themes (albeit interpretted differently!) as those that are producing short works specifically for that challenge. These focus around particular Sims, and have a very slice-of-life nature to them; I find them very relaxing reads, like visiting with a good friend. Whether it is visiting a new bakery or going on a date or throwing an epic costume party or having an alien baby -- you know, typical life stuff (at least when you are a Sim! ^_~ ) -- these stories have it covered!
Short Stories @ Sim Stories by @mastressalita - Ya, I write them too (the Short Story Challenge thread got me hooked! I just found myself addicted to theme writing!) Here you can find two stories related to The Cat Chronicles, The Stray, about a stray kitten trying to find a witch to serve, and Remembering Earl, a recollection of memories (and lost memories) of a elderly widow about her late husband; Lost in Space, using side characters from The Yandere Diaries, features a teen who has lost her siblings and is looking towards her obsession with aliens for an answer; Resolutions Resolved is the tale of a teen learning to accept her body image from an unlikely source; The Final "Final Countdown" featured a middle-aged collector searching for that last item to complete his collection as he chases a lost memory; and For the Love of Furbabies is about the special love between human and pet.
Short Stories @ Sims Stories by Lizzie by @lizzielilyyyy - This site features the short story Oxford Manor, a supernatural story about a young woman who has recently moved into a large manor house she's inherited out in the Riverview countryside, only to find it may already be inhabited... It has some very striking visuals, with some lovely flashbacks that just really set the tone! It also features First Light, a beautifully written piece filled with a lot of mystery and suspense, as a woman, Serena, is trying to make an escape before the break of dawn.
Short Stories @ Stories by Jes2G by @Jes2G - Here you can find Welcome Home, which features a couple that after years of failing to conceive, decide to adopt a child. This story is incredibly heartwarming, and I loved the visuals with the stark, dark hospital to the brighter, uplifting ending... it all just worked so well! I also think this story has one of my favorite closing lines ever. It really is all quite touching!
Short Stories @ Storytime with Silver by @SilverDaybreak - You can find two short stories at this site, which I'll link to here directly. Countdown to Graduation is from @SilverDaybreak 's Active Woods series which features Andrew Fancey counting down the days until his college graduation. This story is filled to the brim with nostalgia -- both for my college years (*cough cough* yes I'm that old!) and the great use of Sims 2 images! Twas the Week Before Christmas is from the Celtic Heritage series, where a big holiday get-together is thrown for the elderly Eugene Barton; it is filled with much merriment and holiday cheer, and you can really feel the love of friends and family! I also really appreciate how much effort Silver went to in order to make her vanilla Sims 4 game look "Christmasy" lacking seasons, down to trying to find "white concrete" to put down in the backyard. The place looks very merry! (And I must say, @CathyTea 's SimSelf looked great as an elder, with that silver hair, rocking the violin!)
Short Stories @ SummerFalls' Stories by @SummerFalls - Two short stories grace @SummerFalls 's site, a dedication to Harry Potter and J. K. Rowling titled Happee Birthdae Harry, and Revenge of the Lonely Witch, the tale of a witch set on getting revenge against an ex until she comes to realize that going through with the Curse of Loneliness may not be what she really wants, after all. The stories are cute, but I've always really admired @SummerFall 's talent for creating Sims! His Sims always look amazing! (I just thought that witch and fairy in Revenge of the Lonely Witch looked so perfect for their roles!)
Sims 3 Shorties by @SilentWolf101 - Currently you can find the short story The Song of Life here, which is a love story about that deep connection the human soul has for music, and the emptiness life would have without music. This is something that a lot of people can relate to, as music connects people, inspires people, and people have favorite music the way they have favorite foods -- it is completely integral to life!
Short Stories @ Spottydog714 by @Spottydog714 - @Spottydog714 started doing the Short Story Challenges the same month I did! *high five* Here you can find The Vampire of Willow Creek, a suspense story with a positive message; Sofia and the Mystery of the Misplaced Melacoo, an absolutely hysterical "whodunit" mystery parody to find a lost object; We Are Sisters Forever, which fleshes out the Amazon Challenge by providing it with a backstory; Time to Perform, a relatable tale of stage fright and overcoming it with the right support; and List of Love: Mellie's Memoirs, a listing of the different forms of love that exist within a young teenage girl's life. These really range in theme and style and are all quite enjoyable!
Short Stories @ This is UNEQUIVOCALLY us! by @AuroraLockwood - @AuroraLockwood has two short stories: First Time for Anything and Hard Halloween. Both are great love stories featuring lesbian pairings. First Time for Anything was incredibly touching, and really moved me (what? I just got an eyelash in my eye, that's all!), and I really loved the voice in Hard Halloween and how it dealt with dating someone that already has children and the difficulties that can come from that, a topic I don't think I've seen dealt with much but is so pertinent to our society today. Great stories dealing with relationships, check them out!
Short Stories @ Twiggy's Sims Adventures by @Twiggy - Two excellent stories to be had here! And the Winner Is... is a clever tale about making assumptions about people and not really knowing what is going on behind the scenes (and a story I would very much like to see a sequel to someday!) and Pixelated Love is an all-to-relatable love story about finding romance in the Internet age via MMORPGs!
Short Stories @ VanityHigh Stories by @VanityHigh - Here are two short stories, The Bucket List, in which Grant Howett, professional "funeral goer," is living out a mundane existance waiting for his own funeral, when he decides instead to live the remainder of his days to the fullest, and As the Sun Sets, where a grandmother recalls the tell of meeting her husband to her granddaughter. Both of these are filled with so much emotion, my eyes teared up at each one! I also love that they feature elder Sims (which happen to be my favorite ^_~ ). I can't recommend giving these a look enough!
Short Stories @ Virtualee: Randomness and Stuff by @VIRTUALEE - There are currently two short stories available for perusable at @VIRTUALEE 's site! My Girl is a love story that every geek can appreciate, and Yesterday is a new short story for the Short Story Challenges March theme "I knew I had to find it before..." which I'll admit, I'm saving until after I've tackled that theme myself. I always look forward to that binge-read at the end of every month, though!
Short Stories and Challenges @ Distractedly Daydreaming: A Bit of Story by @sabreene - @sabreene is another frequenter of the Short Story Challenges, and has many offerings! They are all so good! Transformation is one of my personal favorites, and it now has a companion piece, Theft, Lies, and Pastries. Two other stories are also companion pieces, For Auld Lang Syne and Major Tom, and the narrative style in these are great, the characters having such a distinct voice! The Taunting of Tabitha Jones is such a perfect example of a classic teen horror story. And Mishandling Misinformation on Mondays is a hilarious case against the spreading of gossip, and the main character reminds me sooo much of my own sister, who just can't keep a secret for the life of her! Any of these are thoroughly enjoyable!
Short Story Collections by MarkHarris17 by @MarkHarris17 - This site features Layla's Lost, which has a very surreal, Alice in Wonderland-esque "Down the Rabbithole" feel as Layla finds herself lost in a strange world and trying to escape back to normality again.
Simming Through the Story Hour by @putacece4lyfe - Here you can find three short story submissions from @putacece4lyfe: Affliction, a dark but strikingly beautiful piece about self-destructive behaviors, First Grade, a heartwarming story about Olivia Love, the cutest little first-grader around, and A Christmas Change, a story focused around Mrs. Claus wanting to be helpful at Christmas time, with some absolutely gorgeous imagery!
simsimseree: Short Sim Stories by @luimistelija - This site has several short stories for your enjoyment! None of these were for the Short Story Challenges thread themes, and typically are slice-of-life stories that focus on life situations like relationships, domestic life, death, fishing, and strawberry monsters. The stories also sometimes interconnect, with characters or locations making reappearances. My favorite was The Clueless Husband, which has a great twist! I also found the unlikely friendship in The Salmon absolutely adorable!
Still Waters @ In the Valley of the Sun by @MedleyMisty - This short story is an excellent supernatural tale that will leave you wanting more! It features a young female narrator, who is warned about creatures that live in the water, but she doesn't heed the warnings... It has a very Brothers Grimm fairy tale feel to it, and I loved the reveal of watery inhabitant! The voice of the narrator is also written in such a captivating way! An excellent choice for fans of darker fairy tales!
supernatural103 Short Stories by @supernatural103 - Currently you can find the truly heartwarming story about a troubled teen dealing with abuse but trying to make the best of his life regardless, Aiden's Freedom, on @supernatural103 's site. It is just so endearing and so easy to become attached to this character in such a short time... but Aiden fans rejoice! He'll be reappearing in @supernatural103 's other story, Isaacs Sisters!
That's it for this installment of Weekly Reading Roundup! If you enjoyed any of these short stories for Read Across America Day, by all means, feel free to share your experiences! Next week I'll be back to my normal format, and taking a look at Amazon Challenges in celebration of Women's History Month! Exciting!
You are so awesome @mastressalita ! I'm always amazed by the time and effort you put into this Thank you for featuring my short stories this week along with everyone else's wonderful stories (And take your time with D2D! I am really excited to hear that you are reading! I got a little nervous you'd forgotten, but I should have known you didn't! )
Thank you so much for my mention, @mastressalita! I am hoping to do more short stories with Dalton in the future! (My Millionaire story is taking up a lot of my free time!) But watch this space for Dalton!
Thank you for doing this thread, its great to be able to find all these wonderful reads in one place! The time you put in is amazing!!
@mastressalita First Warmth and Hidden Sadness were a couple of my favorite ones to write, so I'm glad you liked them! This month's story will be similar and will use another character that appears in those two, so I hope you enjoy that one as well.
@mastressalita - what loving and thoughtful reviews! It takes such dedication to read all the stories--AND to then write insightful, inspiring synopses of them! Wow! Thank you! And, it is incredible all the fantastic stories that are available to us. Thank you writers, and thank you @Carewren123 for continuing @enkeli63 's Short Story Challenge!
Comments
^ I totally agree I may not usually comment but I look forward to the new story Samples. I check in every week for stories to add to my to read list. @mastressalita works so hard on this gem of a thread. I absolutely adore it and I appreciate the work that goes into this and the stories and legacies index
( I really don't know how you do it!
Read my Legacy story's or atttempt one of my Sims 4 challenges.
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This is a day sponsored by the National Education Association and held on Dr. Seuss' birthday to celebrate the love of reading. I propose we celebrate Read Across America Day SimLit style!
Here is a listing of all sites listed with the Stories and Legacies Index that feature short stories:
Also, please check out the Short Story Challenges thread for even more short stories, many of which are not listed with the Stories and Legacies Index! (In fact, right now you can even read and vote on all the fantastic February submissions!)
So often I hear "I just don't have the time to read!" I get it; we all have busy lives. But think about it; isn't it from the joy of reading that most (I daresay all) of us became writers? Isn't it from the joy of those creative worlds that made us want to create our own, too, and share those worlds with others? And without readers... who is there to share those worlds with? So this week, I encourage everyone to take the time to be a reader -- at least a little! -- by reading at least one short story from either the listing above or from the Short Story Challenges thread. Most of these are a mere 1500 words or less and not difficult to fit into even the most hectic of schedule. It's Read Across America Day, so read!
This Sunday during my normal Weekly Reading Roundup, I'll do my write-up on short stories, and I hope others will chime in about the short stories they chose to read!
Have a Sim story site? Please submit your link to the Stories and Legacies Index!
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Read All of my Latest stories all in one place.
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My Simlit Discussion/Updates | The Fringe | Short Story Challenges
And such little bit of joy and happiness was found by a girl in For the Love of Furbabies by @mastressalita The girl was getting older and the happiness and the love was growing as well. Till the day came when they had to say goodbye to each other...
I love this story very much. It is so touching! Reading the last lines I was crying.
Awesome story
I totally agree! I too cried reading this story. And not only that...
edit: Thank you, mastress, for mentioning my short stories also
Totally agree. Also many thanks to @CathyTea
Date: 03/06/16
Welcome to this week's edition of Weekly Reading Roundup, where I sample selections of stories from the Stories and Legacies Index! Normally for the first weekly of a new month I do Legacy Launch-Off, but this month I have switched things up, because March 2nd was a day very dear to my librarian heart: Read Across America Day. This day, sponsored by the National Education Association and held on the great Dr. Seuss' birthday, is all about celebrating a love of reading, and many schools, libraries, day cares, and other institutions jump into the fray to celebrate! And I figured what better way to celebrate than with SimLit?
As Dr. Seuss was masterful with his craft of the short story, for Read Across America Day I'll be foregoing lengthy legacies to look at short stories! Many folks get out of the habit of reading because of a lack of time in their hectic schedule, but these stories are a great example that you can enjoy SimLit in quick, bite-size morsels that are easy to budget into even the most busy schedule! If you find yourself one of those readers that tends to shy away because of length, or falling behind with frequent updates, or not having the time to plow through a story's backlog, these short stories would be great for you! You can enjoy an entire tale without eating away too much time; they are like the Fun Size candy bars of the SimLit world, and oh so tasty, too! And since they are so low on calories, it doesn't hurt to sample several now, does it? ^_~
Ad Vitam Aeternam ~To Eternal Life~ @ The Madness of Mr. Goth by @ValoisFulcanelli - If you enjoyed the fantasy samplings from last week's Weekly Reading Roundup, be sure to check this one out! This is a lovely prelude to @ValoisFulcanelli 's main series, The Madness of Mr. Goth, but it is done in such a way that if you aren't familiar with the main story yet, it won't really give away any spoilers... instead it cleverly invites readers to turn the page and start to delve into that tale for themselves. The period set design and costuming is gorgeous!
A Bad Idea @ Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May by @RachelRosebud - This is one of those autobiographical tale featuring a SelfSim that I think a lot of us can relate to! It's very funny, and I absolutely died at the end when @RachelRosebud was only left with one more epic image under the Short Story Challenge guidelines, a struggle I face every month, hahaha! If you are a mischievous Simmer (really now, are any of us not?) then you really must give this a read!
Beary Love by @chealsycat - This short story features characters from @chealsycat 's Goldilocks and Bears: A Sim Fairy Tale. Only this story is from the author's perspective, addressing the issues of Sims that have a mind of their own and tend to go against their player's wishes! This is another story that any Simmer can relate to and is sure to give you a laugh... especially those close-up expressions on that SelfSim's face!
Dalton Anderson Official Website by @cully_c - This site currently features the short story A Fine Time to Lose, about an over-confident doctor experiencing his first loss. I really enjoyed this story; the character of Jackson was so well created in such a small amount of words, I loved the image effects, and it was all just very moving. I really hope @cully_c does more short stories in the future! (And can I just say I love how the website is put together as a portfolio for a Sim that is an actor, as if Dalton Anderson just played the role of Jackson on some TV drama? So clever!)
Dr. Jasmine's Casebook @ Cathy Tea's SimLit Anthology by @CathyTea - This is a series of loosely interconnected short stories featuring Dr. Jasmine Gooding, a retired psychologist that has recently moved into the suburbs. Seeing the neighborhood filled with far too much angst, she has dedicated herself to making the people around her feel better. The stories here are often very philosophical but also inspiring; I love how often they look at a topic in a different way, and often, in ways I completely and thoroughly relate to! It's hard to pick a favorite, but I really enjoy all the love stories featuring elder Sims, who I find often get overshadowed in SimLit, such as Spring Again for the First Time and its companion piece Lost Dark Matter or Ten Reasons to Leave; One Night and The Apple Pie of Love are both holiday stories that take non-traditional approaches and I personally relate to a lot; Wishing Makes It So has the feel of a modern day fairy tale and is quite touching; Mr. Higgins is a great story about holding onto childhood while growing up that reminds me a lot of the message of one of my favorite movies, Labyrinth! Really you could jump into any of the stories listed and be completely won over by Dr. Jasmine's positive attitude! They are all just so enjoyable!
First Light @ Lilliana Moonchild: A Legacy of Fame by @lizzielilyyyy - This is a beautifully written piece filled with a lot of mystery and suspense, as a woman, Serena, is trying to make an escape before the break of dawn.
First Love Countdown @ RebornMonster by @RebornMonster - This story not only is a great tale about the trials and tribulations of first love, but I absolutely adored its realistic take on the complicated emotions dealing with bisexu*lity! It's a bittersweet tale, but incredibly poignant, and the screencaps have this clever way of hinting toward the next scene in the background! You can just tell so much went into this, and it's really great!
Have It Your Way!: A Choose Your Own Ending Story by @Charliimai - Do you remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? If you were one of those people that lived in those as a kid (*raises hand*) then you absolutely must check this out! (And even if you didn't... check this out!) You follow the story of Max, who is being held captive in a stark white room... why is she there? How does she get out? Your choices will determine if she escapes, or how she came to be in her current situation! Like most Choose Your Own Adventure readers, you'll surely feel compelled to start over and pick different choice paths to try to discover all the different endings!
Lorraine's Lovebirds @ Silver's Simming Snippets by @SilverDaybreak - Elderly Lorraine from @SilverDaybreak 's Valley Venues series has still got it! With five lovebirds to keep track of, the week of Valentine's Day will be busy, as she decides to schedule a date with each one!
Love at First Sight @ Sim-ply Awesome Stories by @swcheppes - This is an absolutely fantastic story about finding love in the most unlikely of places! I wish I could say more about it here, but that would kind of ruin it! It's one of those "read it once, then read it again!" kind of stories! This one is near and dear to my heart, and if anyone is curious about why exactly, you can find out in my comment on the story page itself... after reading said story, of course. ^_~
My Sims Shorts by @CitizenErased14 - Here you can find many great short stories by @CitizenErased14 ! The First Night is a hilarious story about a paranoid girl spending her first night in a new town, where it seems strange things are going on, but everything has a logical explanation... or does it? This is another one of those short stories that spawned a full-length story, (Para)Normal Neighborhood! The Gift and The Visitors are great choices for fans of the supernatural, and for another "you'll have to read it twice" story, check out the epic showdown between two brothers in Betrayal! Fans of Dust to Dust can also find several short stories related to the popular series: My Immortal, No Matter What, and What You Wish For! (Those happen to be the only ones I haven't read yet, since I'm working through the parent fiction at this moment... I'm about a quarter of the way through, woo!)
Short Stories @ Carewren123 Sim Stories by @Carewren123 - @Carewren123 , hostess of the Short Story Challenge thread, has several of her own short stories available here! I just love the emotions that are evoked in her short stories! As someone who loves stories with a body-positive message, I absolutely loved Hiding No More, and there is an absolutely beautiful in memorium to her grandmother. All the stories here are so beautifully shot and written, be sure to check them out!
Short Stories @ The Krazy Crazy Life of Kassiopeia Fullbright by @AdamsEve1231 - Here you can find X Marks the Spot, a little spin-off of The Krazy Crazy Life of Kassiopeia Fullbright. While Carina Fullbright is on the job as staff for a large party for the Goth family, she collides -- quite literally -- with Alexander Goth, resulting in a cute little love story between the two! I love the characterization and the give-and-take between the two, it's a lot of fun! The imagery is also great; I loved the picture of the wobbly Cari post-collision!
Short Stories @ Framed: Life on Canvas by @DavidMCSessy - There is one short story here, Life on Paper, which is about Ann, an aspiring writer, who becomes obsessed with the lack of commentary on her online publishings... and then one day a comment appears. This is a really touching story, and I really love the final message it gives. Too often I see aspiring authors just starting out in a frenzy to "get readers" and then quickly give up and quit their stories when they don't find overnight fame, and I wish this could somehow be required reading for those folks.
Short Stories @ Julyvee's Sims Stories by @Julyvee94 - @Julyvee94 's first short story, My Sudden Happiness, is a very uplifting piece about finding love again after facing many different forms of heartbreak. Her other two short stories are quite suspenseful, with No Escape featuring a woman trying to escape from an unknown assailant, using some absolutely outstanding imagery and feeling very much like a classic horror film, and The Warning featuring a young man who's time may have run out, unless things on his personal timeline change... It amazes me the broad range of tone and emotion each of these evoke! Read each one and you'll see what I mean!
Short Stories @ MAKPlays by @Pegasus143 - @Pegasus143 has been around the Short Story Challenges since the start, and her stories are always great! You can check out all her entries here, and they are all great, but somehow my favorites tend to be the somewhat melancholy ones... I really enjoyed Hidden Sadness, which described all too well a feeling I think too many of us have felt (at least at some point), and Words Never Heard, which was a beautiful yet all-too-realistic story of unrequited love. But I'm sure everyone is going to have other favorites, so read them all and feel free to share!
Short Stories @ Munterbaconsims by @Munterbacon - Munterbacon has done several short stories for the Short Story Challenge thread, but since there isn't a dedicated section for them on his site, I'll provide direct links to them here! I'd recommend checking out Twisted Addiction and Blight together! This set of stories is a dark supernatural/borderline horror story that tells a tale of murder, seduction, and Death! First Halloween is a fantastic homage to Peggy, Munterbacon's grandma, which actually brought tears to my eyes! It is heartwarming and brought back a lot of personal memories for me (my mom is a Halloween birthday baby, too!) Finally, there is the hysterical Ninjapig and the Foodie Five vs. The Meatball Menagerie, which when I gave it a superlative I said "Story that Would Make the Best New Saturday Morning Superhero TV Show." This is why you always leave comments, folks! Tails of Ninjapig and the Foodie Five has just started as a full-length story! So exciting!
Short Stories @ Penguin Entertainment by @Penguinwa101 - Here you can find the short story Waterfowl Water-park, the story of Rebecca Austen's first summer job working at a local water-park. This really evokes those feelings of "everything that can go wrong will go wrong," and who hasn't had days at work like that? But despite the madness, it has a very endearing and uplifting ending!
Short Stories @ A Penguin's Adventure in Simming by @BBQPenguinWings - Here you can find @BBQPenguinWing 's short stories! My First Day is a beautiful tell about the miracle of birth, Evil Comes in Threes, a great Halloween tale with the greatest narrator ever, Baby-P (you can find more Baby-P goodness at Penguin Posse), and a short four-part story about university student Piper Angelo, Piper Goes "Home".
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Date: 03/06/16
Short Stories @ Raerei's Fortress by @ra3rei - @ra3rei is another old hat over at the Short Story Challenge thread! Here you can find all her stories in one convenient location, and they are all incredible! They cover such a broad range -- touching, hysterical, relatable, a clever sense of realism -- you can randomly click on any of them and get pure gold. I'm not sure if I could pick out a favorite, but The Ghost of St. Martin's Hotel and Frozen Memories definitely struck a personal accord with me for various reasons which I describe in my comments on those particular stories. If you want lols, I'd suggest checking out What Happens at Zero? or For the Love of Sims, I found great amusement and laughed out loud during each of those!
Short Stories @ Recovering Stories by @IchigoUsagi - There are two short stories on @IchigoUsagi 's site, and since there isn't a dedicated section for them, I'll link them directly here. A Lost Cause is the story of a teenager coming undone after the loss of her sister, and it has some really lovely imagery and comes full circle really beautifully. All That Buildup is a countdown to the end of the world, that acts as a lovely prologue to an Apocalypse Challenge! The narrator is really intriguing, and again, the imagery is lovely!
Short Stories @ Rin's Bin by @Rinellie - Here you can find the excellent Today, You, an endearing story that follows a lifetime, and has a twist at the end that is incredibly relatable to any reader of SimLit. I really don't want to give too much away from this beautiful emotional journey; it simply must be read and enjoyed for yourself!
Short Stories @ Sim Nation, Sims World, All Things Sims by @Simslover163 - @Simslover163 has a lot of short stories to choose from, and what is notable is none of these are written for the Short Story Challenges thread, so you won't see the same themes (albeit interpretted differently!) as those that are producing short works specifically for that challenge. These focus around particular Sims, and have a very slice-of-life nature to them; I find them very relaxing reads, like visiting with a good friend. Whether it is visiting a new bakery or going on a date or throwing an epic costume party or having an alien baby -- you know, typical life stuff (at least when you are a Sim! ^_~ ) -- these stories have it covered!
Short Stories @ Sim Stories by @mastressalita - Ya, I write them too (the Short Story Challenge thread got me hooked! I just found myself addicted to theme writing!) Here you can find two stories related to The Cat Chronicles, The Stray, about a stray kitten trying to find a witch to serve, and Remembering Earl, a recollection of memories (and lost memories) of a elderly widow about her late husband; Lost in Space, using side characters from The Yandere Diaries, features a teen who has lost her siblings and is looking towards her obsession with aliens for an answer; Resolutions Resolved is the tale of a teen learning to accept her body image from an unlikely source; The Final "Final Countdown" featured a middle-aged collector searching for that last item to complete his collection as he chases a lost memory; and For the Love of Furbabies is about the special love between human and pet.
Short Stories @ Sims Stories by Lizzie by @lizzielilyyyy - This site features the short story Oxford Manor, a supernatural story about a young woman who has recently moved into a large manor house she's inherited out in the Riverview countryside, only to find it may already be inhabited... It has some very striking visuals, with some lovely flashbacks that just really set the tone! It also features First Light, a beautifully written piece filled with a lot of mystery and suspense, as a woman, Serena, is trying to make an escape before the break of dawn.
Short Stories @ Stories by Jes2G by @Jes2G - Here you can find Welcome Home, which features a couple that after years of failing to conceive, decide to adopt a child. This story is incredibly heartwarming, and I loved the visuals with the stark, dark hospital to the brighter, uplifting ending... it all just worked so well! I also think this story has one of my favorite closing lines ever. It really is all quite touching!
Short Stories @ Storytime with Silver by @SilverDaybreak - You can find two short stories at this site, which I'll link to here directly. Countdown to Graduation is from @SilverDaybreak 's Active Woods series which features Andrew Fancey counting down the days until his college graduation. This story is filled to the brim with nostalgia -- both for my college years (*cough cough* yes I'm that old!) and the great use of Sims 2 images! Twas the Week Before Christmas is from the Celtic Heritage series, where a big holiday get-together is thrown for the elderly Eugene Barton; it is filled with much merriment and holiday cheer, and you can really feel the love of friends and family! I also really appreciate how much effort Silver went to in order to make her vanilla Sims 4 game look "Christmasy" lacking seasons, down to trying to find "white concrete" to put down in the backyard. The place looks very merry! (And I must say, @CathyTea 's SimSelf looked great as an elder, with that silver hair, rocking the violin!)
Short Stories @ SummerFalls' Stories by @SummerFalls - Two short stories grace @SummerFalls 's site, a dedication to Harry Potter and J. K. Rowling titled Happee Birthdae Harry, and Revenge of the Lonely Witch, the tale of a witch set on getting revenge against an ex until she comes to realize that going through with the Curse of Loneliness may not be what she really wants, after all. The stories are cute, but I've always really admired @SummerFall 's talent for creating Sims! His Sims always look amazing! (I just thought that witch and fairy in Revenge of the Lonely Witch looked so perfect for their roles!)
Sims 3 Shorties by @SilentWolf101 - Currently you can find the short story The Song of Life here, which is a love story about that deep connection the human soul has for music, and the emptiness life would have without music. This is something that a lot of people can relate to, as music connects people, inspires people, and people have favorite music the way they have favorite foods -- it is completely integral to life!
Short Stories @ Spottydog714 by @Spottydog714 - @Spottydog714 started doing the Short Story Challenges the same month I did! *high five* Here you can find The Vampire of Willow Creek, a suspense story with a positive message; Sofia and the Mystery of the Misplaced Melacoo, an absolutely hysterical "whodunit" mystery parody to find a lost object; We Are Sisters Forever, which fleshes out the Amazon Challenge by providing it with a backstory; Time to Perform, a relatable tale of stage fright and overcoming it with the right support; and List of Love: Mellie's Memoirs, a listing of the different forms of love that exist within a young teenage girl's life. These really range in theme and style and are all quite enjoyable!
Short Stories @ This is UNEQUIVOCALLY us! by @AuroraLockwood - @AuroraLockwood has two short stories: First Time for Anything and Hard Halloween. Both are great love stories featuring lesbian pairings. First Time for Anything was incredibly touching, and really moved me (what? I just got an eyelash in my eye, that's all!), and I really loved the voice in Hard Halloween and how it dealt with dating someone that already has children and the difficulties that can come from that, a topic I don't think I've seen dealt with much but is so pertinent to our society today. Great stories dealing with relationships, check them out!
Short Stories @ Twiggy's Sims Adventures by @Twiggy - Two excellent stories to be had here! And the Winner Is... is a clever tale about making assumptions about people and not really knowing what is going on behind the scenes (and a story I would very much like to see a sequel to someday!) and Pixelated Love is an all-to-relatable love story about finding romance in the Internet age via MMORPGs!
Short Stories @ VanityHigh Stories by @VanityHigh - Here are two short stories, The Bucket List, in which Grant Howett, professional "funeral goer," is living out a mundane existance waiting for his own funeral, when he decides instead to live the remainder of his days to the fullest, and As the Sun Sets, where a grandmother recalls the tell of meeting her husband to her granddaughter. Both of these are filled with so much emotion, my eyes teared up at each one! I also love that they feature elder Sims (which happen to be my favorite ^_~ ). I can't recommend giving these a look enough!
Short Stories @ Virtualee: Randomness and Stuff by @VIRTUALEE - There are currently two short stories available for perusable at @VIRTUALEE 's site! My Girl is a love story that every geek can appreciate, and Yesterday is a new short story for the Short Story Challenges March theme "I knew I had to find it before..." which I'll admit, I'm saving until after I've tackled that theme myself. I always look forward to that binge-read at the end of every month, though!
Short Stories and Challenges @ Distractedly Daydreaming: A Bit of Story by @sabreene - @sabreene is another frequenter of the Short Story Challenges, and has many offerings! They are all so good! Transformation is one of my personal favorites, and it now has a companion piece, Theft, Lies, and Pastries. Two other stories are also companion pieces, For Auld Lang Syne and Major Tom, and the narrative style in these are great, the characters having such a distinct voice! The Taunting of Tabitha Jones is such a perfect example of a classic teen horror story. And Mishandling Misinformation on Mondays is a hilarious case against the spreading of gossip, and the main character reminds me sooo much of my own sister, who just can't keep a secret for the life of her! Any of these are thoroughly enjoyable!
Short Story Collections by MarkHarris17 by @MarkHarris17 - This site features Layla's Lost, which has a very surreal, Alice in Wonderland-esque "Down the Rabbithole" feel as Layla finds herself lost in a strange world and trying to escape back to normality again.
Simming Through the Story Hour by @putacece4lyfe - Here you can find three short story submissions from @putacece4lyfe: Affliction, a dark but strikingly beautiful piece about self-destructive behaviors, First Grade, a heartwarming story about Olivia Love, the cutest little first-grader around, and A Christmas Change, a story focused around Mrs. Claus wanting to be helpful at Christmas time, with some absolutely gorgeous imagery!
simsimseree: Short Sim Stories by @luimistelija - This site has several short stories for your enjoyment! None of these were for the Short Story Challenges thread themes, and typically are slice-of-life stories that focus on life situations like relationships, domestic life, death, fishing, and strawberry monsters. The stories also sometimes interconnect, with characters or locations making reappearances. My favorite was The Clueless Husband, which has a great twist! I also found the unlikely friendship in The Salmon absolutely adorable!
Still Waters @ In the Valley of the Sun by @MedleyMisty - This short story is an excellent supernatural tale that will leave you wanting more! It features a young female narrator, who is warned about creatures that live in the water, but she doesn't heed the warnings... It has a very Brothers Grimm fairy tale feel to it, and I loved the reveal of watery inhabitant! The voice of the narrator is also written in such a captivating way! An excellent choice for fans of darker fairy tales!
supernatural103 Short Stories by @supernatural103 - Currently you can find the truly heartwarming story about a troubled teen dealing with abuse but trying to make the best of his life regardless, Aiden's Freedom, on @supernatural103 's site. It is just so endearing and so easy to become attached to this character in such a short time... but Aiden fans rejoice! He'll be reappearing in @supernatural103 's other story, Isaacs Sisters!
That's it for this installment of Weekly Reading Roundup! If you enjoyed any of these short stories for Read Across America Day, by all means, feel free to share your experiences! Next week I'll be back to my normal format, and taking a look at Amazon Challenges in celebration of Women's History Month! Exciting!
Have a Sim story site? Please submit your link to the Stories and Legacies Index!
Check out my Simlit at Sim Stories: Hijinks from the World of Sims 3!
My Simlit Discussion/Updates | The Fringe | Short Story Challenges
Thank you for doing this thread, its great to be able to find all these wonderful reads in one place! The time you put in is amazing!!
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