stories – Mike Bergman

Psyche’s Prison (full poem)

An unrelenting blizzardUpon evidence’s mountainA single witness screamingDetailing all accounts andDrowning me with fearBefore the scowling judgeAs I await the verdictAnd a sentence to begrudgeIn Psyche’s crumbling prison In Psyche’s crumbling prisonI scrawl dreams upon the wallsLost sanity and freedom whileSilence slices through the hallsNo visitors, no guardsThe solitude consumes meVoices whisper from the darknessAContinue reading “Psyche’s Prison (full poem)”

Very Short Story (VSS) Roundup 5/23/21-5/29/21

Here’s a collection of very short stories and poems (tweet-length) I did based on prompts from vss365today.com over this past week. I’ve found these prompts are a fun way to keep the creative juices flowing and also are seeds for potential future stories. The prompt is the word next to each date. I hope youContinue reading “Very Short Story (VSS) Roundup 5/23/21-5/29/21”

Very Short Story (VSS) Roundup 5/2/21-5/8/21

Very Short Story (VSS) Roundup 4/18/21-4/24/21

Very Short Story (VSS) Roundup 4/5/21-4/11/21

Here’s a collection of very short stories (tweet-length) I did based on prompts from vss365today.com over this past week. I’ve found these prompts are a fun way to keep the creative juices flowing and also are seeds for potential future stories. The prompt is the word next to each date. I hope you enjoy! 4/5/21Continue reading “Very Short Story (VSS) Roundup 4/5/21-4/11/21”

The Devil Went Back Down to Georgia (Writing Prompt Wednesday)

Today’s prompt is courtesy of: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/mfmn0j/wp_the_devil_did_go_down_to_georgia_and_there_he/ Here’s my story, enjoy! Somewhere in Floyd County, Georgia I watched from the bar as the short, slender man strolled through the door. He had yellow eyes, an oddity for sure, that gazed toward the stage. Thursday nights were Billy’s nights, and the young man, not even old enoughContinue reading “The Devil Went Back Down to Georgia (Writing Prompt Wednesday)”

Writing Prompt Wednesday (Characters in a Crunch)

Today’s writing prompt comes from Writers’ Digest. Click on over and join the discussion there: https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/characters-in-a-crunch Here’s my contribution: “Oh, my gosh, Dad! What did you do?” James stopped chewing mid-crunch and glanced up from his phone. His eyes were wide as Kole and Katie, still in their pajamas, stared at him. “What?” Katie heldContinue reading “Writing Prompt Wednesday (Characters in a Crunch)”

Cultivate Future Readers

Want to cultivate future readers, writers, and other creatives? Read, read, and read to you children. It’s a near daily thing in our house. We read about five or six books at the start of the day. Usually, as he grabs them, runs up, and shouts, “Bookie!” as he holds it high. Yes, my wifeContinue reading “Cultivate Future Readers”

A First Christmas (a Christmas short story)

Today’s Christmas story: “Mmmm.” My eyes slowly opened. I could smell the bacon on the stove. I glanced over the side of the bunk. Stevie’s mattress was empty and his sheets in a tangled clump. I slowly lowered myself to the floor and yipped as my bare feet touched cold hardwood before I could findContinue reading “A First Christmas (a Christmas short story)”

A Matter of Presents (Christmas Short Story)

Set up: Don’t mess with a girl’s Magic Rainbow Pony Giraffe dreams! “Andrew! Carla! What on earth?” Dad stood in the living room, having just woken up. My sister and I sleepily stirred from our rooms. My hair was a mess, I’m sure. It always was. Carla rubbed her eyes and carried her teddy bear.Continue reading “A Matter of Presents (Christmas Short Story)”