Short Story: Goblin by J F Capps

Performed by Michelle Alexander

October 2016 Winning Short Story

Goblin  by J F  Capps

Get to know the winning writer:

What is your short story about?

It’s about waking up in the middle of the night to an inexplicable sight that culminates in something that horrifies every parent on the planet; the loss of a child.

What genres would you say this story story is in?

Horror

How would you describe this story in two words?

Flash Horror

What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Probably “Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (1974)”. I was obsessed with this movie as a child.

How long have you been working on this story?

It just kind of came to me when I saw the ad for the short story competition. I wrote and edited it in about two hours.

Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

Yes! Richard Matheson’s “I Am Legend”. It’s been my favorite book since I was 15.

What motivated you to write this story?

I just like to write, and when I get an idea I want to get some part of it on paper. The concept itself was so short I just did the entire thing in one sitting.

What artist would you love to have dinner with?

Wow, what a broad question. Really, I don’t know. I’ve been pretty caught up in the “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” series lately (yes, the originals from 1981), so Stephen Gammell comes to mind immediately.

Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

My family, horticulture, and designing my own card and board games.

What influenced you to enter the 1pg. Short Story contest?

I’ve been writing since I was 9 years old, and I’ve always wanted to publish something, anything really, so I saw my opportunity for one of my stories to be read/heard, so I jumped at it. I guess I’m a “go getter”.

Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Well, it’s cliche but…read a lot and write a lot. Work what you can into your schedule every day and try to be consistent with your minimum amount. It also doesn’t hurt to read some of those advise books from published authors like Stephen King’s “On Writing” or Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style”, but just remember that you don’t have to follow their formula precisely. Find what works for you as long as you’re not breaking the rules of grammar. Be true to your own style.