Fictional Short Stories
When I began re-approaching ideas around theology, it took some new imagination, the permeable boundaries of which I gained through reading, thinking, hiking, and, yes, writing fictional short stories.
For my money, fiction is more challenging to write than non-fiction, but with the help of editors and the voices inside my own head, I keep after it. Little by little, as I write, I’ve been able to gain more expansive ideas. I published a few of these stories in a little book called The Hope and Melvin of Humanity and Other Surprising Short Stories, but recently thought, hey, why don’t I start including them here on my substack page for paid folks?
Some of these stories are about sacrifice, others about hell, some about mimetic desire, or relational theology, and some include elements of all the fun stuff above. I don’t expressly mention the topics because, well, it’s fiction; I’m trying to let the issues contract and expand all natural and story-like. So, the reader will have to be the interpreter, but that’s what’s happening here!
It’s for paid member folks but the good news is … you can become a paid member and access all these titles with a free 7-day trial. Hopefully you won’t just download and then cancel, but that is a possibility … a bummer, yes, but a possibility.
THE HOPE AND MELVIN OF HUMANITY
Complete or Ongoing: Complete
Genre: Short Story, Theological, Fiction
Free or Paid: Paid
Format: Text (Audio coming)
Summary: Hope must consider what she believes for herself and her little family as she uncovers common denominators between the powers of big business and big religion. It's a story that might offer a more expansive image of love, a more interesting picture of God, and a better way to be human.
GOLDEN POINT
Complete or Ongoing: Complete
Genre: Short Story, Theological, Fiction
Format: Text (Audio coming)
Free or Paid: Paid
Summary: King Theogad inherits a kingdom built upon surrogate victimization. Will he play the game and extend his power, or attempt to set a new standard?
THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Complete or Ongoing: Complete
Genre: Short Story, Theological, Fiction
Format: Text (Audio coming)
Free or Paid: Paid
Summary: After an unexpected visit from the father of the young man she is dating, LaDasia finds herself in the absurd position of choosing between two very different endings.