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Where Words Matter

Where storytellers meet readers.

Read, write, and explore. Connecting writers with a new audience, and readers with new short stories.

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The Mystery of the Grave-Yard or “A Dead Man’s Revenge”

Joseph Burns was dead, and the people greatly regretted his death. After the funeral services, a man with black hair and side whiskers asked to see Miss Dobson. At 3.20 o'clock in the morning, Mr...

6 min read · Rating: G · Read story

A Country Christmas

Three weeks ago I came up here to Vermont to visit my old aunt and decide whether I will marry a millionnaire and become Aunt Bring. Saul wanted to get out the double sleigh and span, but Sophie...

56 min read · Rating: PG · Read story

Lu-san, Daughter of Heaven

Lu-san went to bed without any supper, dressed herself, and climbed the ladder leading to the deck to save herself. A tiny soapstone image of the goddess Kwan-yin was found by Lu-san, who hated the...

15 min read · Rating: G · Read story

The Battle of Life

A fierce battle was fought upon a long summer day when the waving grass was green. Nature soon recovered Her serenity and smiled upon the guilty battle - ground. Doctor Jeddler was a great...

152 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

Amy Foster

A young girl falls in love with a mysterious stranger, shipwrecked in the bay near her village.

63 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

The Strange Adventures of a Private Secretary in New York

Jim Shorthouse's private secretaryship was never clear to me. Mr. Jonas B. Sidebotham watched him narrowly and struck a match. The two men talked in low voices for another hour, and then the silent...

65 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

A Case Of Displacement

An investigator is put on the case when a mad philologist steals a new weapon.

14 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

Past One At Rodney's

A tough gang member wanted for murder meets a lady in a bar.

24 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

Gentlemen and Players

The master criminal Raffles sets his sights on a priceless collection of jewels. Crime story in which the villain is the hero.

34 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

Red Nasturtium

Why should suffering suffuse us with shame? Ecstasy if seen as the red nasturtium hidden deep under round leaves. Blush turned outward, we could also unfold.

< 1 min read · Rating: G · Read story

Vain Girl

Vain girl Honey neglects chores, leads to tragic drowning due to vanity.

9 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story

The Reckoning

A couple are in agreement on the ethics of marriage but personal feelings, inevitably, intrude.

40 min read · Rating: PG-13 · Read story