"Writer's Block," by Ed Ridgley, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, July/August 2023.
Each issue of AHMM features a contest called the Mysterious Photograph. To enter you have to write a crime story of no more than 250 words based on the picture.
In the thirteen years I have been reviewing short stories I have covered perhaps a dozen pieces of flash fiction but I think this is the first time one of these contest winners has been my pick of the week.
Here it is, Writer's Block. This is where all the writers go when they can't think of a word to say...
So what we have here is a metaphor, a parable if you wish. I happen to love parables (Kafta, Borges, LuGuin, all greats).
Until, at the end, the story makes a turn so sharp you could cut yourself.
And I'll stop there so as to stay shorter than Mr. Ridgley's tale.
