Opening Lines
The monkeys, their muscular backs slick with oil, howled at the boatman. The monkeys, jetpacks strapped tightly to their backs, readied...
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Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jan 13, 2022
- 1 min
30 Second Story Jan. 22
Quasars, lots of them. Nah. You've never seen 'em. The hell I haven't. How many times have you died and come back to life? None, that I...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Aug 13, 2021
- 1 min
30 Second Stories - Vol. 9 (3:45pm-3:51)
The bill was presented on a golden tray. The waiter, if you could call him that, stood above us, his chin raised well beyond what would...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jul 17, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 8 (10:14-10:21am)
Flame Head began his life as a product, designed by a corporate boardroom, coaxed to life by venture capital money and men (and one...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jul 17, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 7 (9:08-9:17am)
The cold was angry and mean; brittle enough to cut through glass and snap the antennas off the roof of the flimsy metal shack Dimitri...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jul 12, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 6 (8:35-8:45am)
Henry's affair began in darkness--never a good place to begin a fresh love. He crept out of the quiet, cold house and scurried to the...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jun 3, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 5 (8:30-8:35am)
Beatrice was known around town as a woman of mild temperament and recalcitrant humor. She made cookies for the bake sale, donated twenty...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jun 2, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 4 (8:35-8:40am)
Don't ever forget Sunshine's eggs. She's like a fighting wildcat if she doesn't get her eggs and they need to be done right. Sloppy in...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jun 1, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 3 (1:07-1:11pm)
Everything on the desk was in its correct position. Elise couldn't tolerate chaos, disorder or her pencils being dulled. The ceramic cup...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- May 31, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 2 (2:40-2:45pm)
Froggy the Fishman wiped the guts and blood on his white apron before he pulled the pocket-size Bible from his rubber boot. He flipped to...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- May 30, 2021
- 1 min
30 Days of Stories - Vol. 1 (7:51-7:58PM)
Puerto Valliant stood in the freezer door, letting the blower run over his bare chest. Consuela chopped the vegetables with a butcher...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Apr 28, 2021
- 1 min
The Journey Continues!
I'm back after a long break. I took time away from the book, from writing, submitting and basically anything that wasn't related to...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Feb 8, 2021
- 1 min
Staying the Course In Rough Waters
I have to take time away from the book. If I don't, I will go crazier than I already am. There is so much pressure to make things happen,...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Jan 9, 2021
- 1 min
The Headspace to Write (3 Minutes)
When I sit down to write, I try to let my brain go and trust that my instincts will guide me. Sometimes that works. Other times, the...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Dec 19, 2020
- 1 min
Free Writing: 2 minutes
Early on, before the waves came, I loved to sit on the pier and watch the gulls dive bomb the water. They took such risks, ramming their...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Nov 27, 2020
- 2 min
30 Second Story: Random Word "Iridescent" (9:19am-9:25am)
The moon hung over the darkened bay like a communion wafer. The black water lapped onto the shore while a dozen men in dirty rubber boots...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Nov 23, 2020
- 1 min
30 Second Story: Random Word - "Jelly" (12:04-:09)
Alice watched Gary spread jelly on his toast and wanted to scream. She wanted to smear the jelly on his face and stuff it into his...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Nov 19, 2020
- 1 min
30 Second Story #4: 1:02pm-1:06pm
Jerry refused to take off his robe after the ceremony ended. I paid for this he said, actually stomping his foot in protest. A week later...
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Nov 16, 2020
- 1 min
30 Second Story #3: 6 Words
Today? Yes. Tomorrow? No. Now? Now.
Justin Robert Jahnke
- Nov 15, 2020
- 1 min
30 Second Story: 12 Word #2
God? Yes? Did you actually respond? Yes. I...didn't think. That's okay.
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