of Stardust and the Beasts

Poetry, prose, stories, and other creative writing experiments.

 

the Six Sentence Café & Bistro #8 | Returning Home

This is my weekly entry for the Six Sentence Story writing prompt hosted by Denise . I also wrote another entry this week that’s a little different from this one. You can read all the contributions from the other participating authors at the link-up . the Six Sentence Café & Bistro #8 If there was one thing that our Nervous Poet loved as much as wine and poetry, it was coffee and cake, and just as she was licking her chocolate-stained spoon, her phone lit up with a notification: “I think that’s enough of lollygagging for now; you have work to do.” Aurelia stared at the very reminder she had set up herself in her time-management app to combat her disruptive procrastination habits—meaning scrolling on social media instead of writing—and let out an audible sigh before telling Denise, “I…

dVerse PROSERY #1 | I Know What You Are

And this week I learned that even if I try to write prose, it doesn’t resemble conventional prose. Eugh. But the dVerse Prosery prompt gave me an idea, so I just went with the creative flow… thanks dVerse… for giving me the juices on this rainy day. All the other participants’ entries can be read at the link-up. The line I had to use in my prose (up to 144 words) was “I am the creature who smells your darkest thoughts” from Jaguar Song. The entire piece can be accessed here. I Know What You Are As you lie there motionless with limbs of stone, praying to the gods that went deaf after you spilled your guts… I am the presence that listens, the one that spits back, the thing that stayed… the vengeful echo of your innermost secrets… Oh yes, my dear, I am the creature who smells your…

Ten Thing of Thankful #13 | Writing, Poetry & Music

Showing my gratitude weekly has become something of an enjoyable routine for me. The Ten Thing of Thankful blog hop has this mood-lifting effect, both from trying to find your own ten grats’ for the list and from reading everyone else’s. You can find all the other participants or chose to link-up yourself at the link-up . Ten Thing of Thankful #13 First — I was very productive in the area of writing this week. And editing, too. I am proud of myself because I think I wrote some really cool things this time, and they’re all a bit different. I removed one passage from the SSC&B story that described Aurelia’s building. I actually liked it, but it slowed the story down a bit… For those…

Short Story | Goddess in Disguise

In this short story, “Goddess in Disguise,” Ella loves fiercely and obsessively, pouring herself into every relationship. She worships her lovers, hoping they’ll stay, but learns a new kind of love from a man who doesn’t fall for her usual charms. This story was also written as a journey of discovering another type of writer in me, before this blog and the Six-Sentence Stories I used to write only poetry. I did dabble in horror and romanticism in my teens, but I never really wrote stories. While reading other blog-hoppers’ weekly additions, I felt that my stories didn’t quite fit, because they never had a strong plot and always leaned toward poetry. Now, however, after returning in 2026, I think it’s not a bad thing to be different from other writers. Perhaps that’s why I stopped trying…

Poetry On the margins of the First Draft #18 | Digging her own Grave

Part of my poetry collection, Margins of the First Draft — this was actually a newer thought or poem that incorporated into this one. I remember the line originated from the Dead Poet thing I had going on and it was supposed to be a part of the Six-Sentence Story but I couldn’t connect the thought well enough. (Authors Note) Digging her own Grave ” Yes, writing poems about him… was a luxury… I couldn’t afford” Poetry on the Margins #18 I wish Sometimes I wish my writing was more of apunch to the gut,because I amviolent like that. Yet, I feel it’s always eithertoo sador too mushy There’s more of my work: All of the six-sentence stories . The Nervous Poet Entries for the SSC&B ….

Poetry On the margins of the Second Draft #1 | Existential Crisis

I haven’t been actively posting poetry or anything for a while—partly because of time, but mostly because I haven’t been getting along with my imagination lately. Too many of my poems were directed at people in my life, and I felt it was better to stay quiet on the blog, as that kind of writing can be disruptive. I had some past traumas I was healing from, and being a poet can sometimes leave you vulnerable if the work is too honest. I truly felt it was too honest to share—unlike the rest of my blog—and that it could have hurt people in my circle. But I feel like I’ve found that spark again, creating from a place that makes my stories feel as if they are deeply personal while still being…

dVerse OLN #5 | My Ars Poetica

I originally wanted to submit this for the last dVerse Poetica submission…. But I was late to the link-up because life got in my way… I still wanted to use this prompt, so I linked it up at the OLN. Entries of all the participants can be found here . My Ars…

a POEM IN SIX #1 | Prompt Word: BALLOON

This poem is written in six sentences for the prompt word provided to us by Denise . All the other participants in the six sentence challenge with their stories and/or poetry can be found at this week’s link-up . Balloon It’s not a secret:my youth was violently torn…