This one, in particular, is so relevant. I think a lot of my internal pain comes from this exact place--I have a hard time leaving the trolls behind. You captured them perfectly, too… I feel bad for them, even when I shouldn’t. And yet--there’s an enchanted lake the other way. Maybe it’s time I stop trying to heal the trolls… and just leave them to their bridge.
I feel bad for the trolls, too… but they have to decide that they want to fix their bridge. It’s their business, you know? Tough to walk away from, though!
It is their business… and still, this strikes such a deep chord. You know my troll pain—I’ve rambled at you about it plenty. It’s hard to stop caring, even when I’ve already made it to the lake. Poor trollies... and me... still learning how to walk away. 😉
It wasn’t my first choice either. I was using stock photos for a while but they really didn’t speak to the story. If I repackage these stories later, I’d love to hire an illustrator… but I’m not able to while my fiction is still free 99. :)
im loving reading about their encounters with all of these vastly different but struggling people (or trolls and giants)
So glad to hear it!! I never know quite who they’ll run into next, lol.
This one, in particular, is so relevant. I think a lot of my internal pain comes from this exact place--I have a hard time leaving the trolls behind. You captured them perfectly, too… I feel bad for them, even when I shouldn’t. And yet--there’s an enchanted lake the other way. Maybe it’s time I stop trying to heal the trolls… and just leave them to their bridge.
I feel bad for the trolls, too… but they have to decide that they want to fix their bridge. It’s their business, you know? Tough to walk away from, though!
It is their business… and still, this strikes such a deep chord. You know my troll pain—I’ve rambled at you about it plenty. It’s hard to stop caring, even when I’ve already made it to the lake. Poor trollies... and me... still learning how to walk away. 😉
I totally get that :)
I also wrote a troll story this week, but it was a little bit of social commentary. Thanks for the take your take, it was snappy and refreshing. https://substack.com/@ryansmall1/note/c-98768334?r=5cxmjp&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you Ryan! I appreciate it! Your story’s got good irony in it :)
Beautiful 👌🏾 loved it!!
Thank you Cooki! I so appreciate it!
I love this. Thank you for sharing it.
I appreciate that! Thanks so much for reading!!
That was so refreshing to read.
Where do you get your art? Love how this and the others look.
Thanks so much, Zach! I use Midjourney for my images.
I’m not typically a fan of AI but whatever prompts you put in are doing the job. The horse one from a few posts back is excellent.
It wasn’t my first choice either. I was using stock photos for a while but they really didn’t speak to the story. If I repackage these stories later, I’d love to hire an illustrator… but I’m not able to while my fiction is still free 99. :)
Totally! And plus, they’ll give the illustrator a great jumping off point. Enjoying the format - feels like a fairy tale in the best way.
Yes! Ah, thank you so much!
Beautiful. To be a victim or to be empowered.
Precisely. :) Thank you for reading, James!