The first stage of the NYC Midnight 2010 Short Story Challenge came to an end at 11:59 pm edt on Saturday. I turned in my story well early and am more than half pleased with it. I decided to go humorously blue with it. My wife urged me not to, but I figured what better way to test where the edges are than to push, right?
The story dealt with a lead character who went by a shortened version of his last name Cochran and who boasted a "inordinately large" male presence. The action ensues when he is out at a bar and the first of the English impressment gangs enter to forcibly recruit (press) drunks and the homeless into service in the Royal Navy. Press gangs were a real and unwelcome entity from 1665 to the day Napoleon was defeated in the early 19th century. The gangs most commonly consisted of sailors themselves, so that's the route I went in telling the story.
Cochran has built up a reputation for bedding nearly all the women in town. In so doing, he has become a skilled escape artist, able to extract himself from the stickiest escapes from the townswomen's husbands, brothers and fathers. So when the press gang comes knocking, he's the only one to make it out of the bar.
He's nearly caught when the townswomen themselves, pleased with his presence (see above) in town, join together to insure Cochran's escape is successful.
In the spirit of the time and subject matter, I've added the highly disturbing video you see below. It is a forced animation on a vintage still photo of a woman. She is reciting an old Irish poem about the threat of the press gangs. Enjoy if that's possible:
For the writing contest, entrants had eight days to complete the first stage and will have only one for the second leg in March. I'm looking forward to getting the feedback on this first story than I am in engaging in the second phase, to be honest.
For those who have not attempted a short-term contest like those held regularly by NYC Midnight, I'd suggest trying it. For me, entering the occasional contest is good for keeping my writing fresh. I dedicate some small or large time to writing every day and I find that trudging through the same long work day after day can get a little old. I can afford to take 24 hours out every now and then to visit characters and setting far removed from those with whom I spend so much time.
