Friyay! My story "Cryptid Car Rental" is free to read

I wrote a thing and it got published!

This story grew out of two writing prompts we were given at Viable Paradise: 1) a tchotchke I was given on our first night which, for me, was a hot wheels car, and 2) the name of a fake anthology for which we were writing our story: Traveling with Monsters.

I immediately knew my story had to be about a car rental gone sideways. But the more I tried to write a Christine knock-off, the more I lost interest. I had this other idea — it seemed a little goofy, but it sparkled. But did I have the writing chops to write humor? I asked my instructors: should I write this scary or funny? And they said: which would be more challenging? Do that.

I like to believe I have a good sense of humor. But I don’t often let it lose in my fiction. But once I decided I was just going to have fun, it came easily. I didn’t take it too seriously (that’s the point!) and just did my thing.

And people loved it. When we were given time to go around and read one another’s stories, I kept hearing people dying with laughter on the other side of the room. “Who ever wrote that story is killing it,” a classmate whispered to me. Me. It was my story.

I’m still shocked and amazed that other people get it, that the humor speaks to them, that me, writing humorously and joyously, can still get me taken seriously. Every new way I do this work of storytelling surprises me.

A huge thanks to Trollbreath Magazine for taking a chance on me, as well as Viable Paradise and all it’s instructors, staff, and my generous classmates. If you’re wondering if you should write that odd little thing that’s been sitting in the back of your mind, the answer is yes. Do it. I can’t wait to read it.

Happy Friday y’all.

~Allison