jswelch.pens ... a story cycle
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jswelch-pens.bsky.social
jswelch.pens ... a story cycle
@jswelch-pens.bsky.social
54 followers 43 following 530 posts
J. S. Welch is a writer from Seattle, Washington. The posts on this account come from his recently published short story collection, The Prospector's Dreams. Previously, he published a book of poetry.
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jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Cover photo: LOC Photo Dept., photographer; Library of Congress, Public Domain Worldwide
Theme Song: Poor Places by Wilco

#writersofbluesky #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #latenight #drive #amradio #midwest #ev
Cover photo: LOC Photo Dept., photographer; Library of Congress, Public Domain Worldwide Theme Song: Poor Places by Wilco
August 19, 2025 at 12:07 AM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Once the car was back on the highway, it looked in the rearview to see the sunrise filling the dark sky with happy colors that meant nothing to him.
#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #showdown #fatefulmoment #plasticman
Once the car was back on the highway, it looked in the rearview to see the sunrise filling the dark sky with happy colors that meant nothing to him.
August 10, 2025 at 11:12 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Moments later, “The Package” was back in the trunk and Horace’s plastic-looking face showed itself in the rearview mirror with blood not yet wiped off.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #showdown #fatefulmoment #plasticman
Moments later, “The Package” was back in the trunk and Horace’s plastic-looking face showed itself in the rearview mirror with blood not yet wiped off.
August 10, 2025 at 11:11 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Horace stopped and faced him with the gun at his side. He flicked off the safety.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #showdown #highnoon #fatefulmoment #plasticman
Horace stopped and faced him with the gun at his side. He flicked off the safety.
August 10, 2025 at 11:09 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
The humanoid, still wearing Horace’s face, came out and stood at the ready blocking the station door.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #showdown #highnoon #fatefulmoment #plasticman
The humanoid, still wearing Horace’s face, came out and stood at the ready blocking the station door.
August 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Only a pistol was found, but it was enough. He moved toward the station ready for his life’s defining moment.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #showdown #highnoon #fatefulmoment #plasticman
Only a pistol was found, but it was enough. He moved toward the station ready for his life’s defining moment.
August 10, 2025 at 4:41 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Horace moved to the car’s broken trunk and searched “The Package” for another weapon.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #showdown #highnoon #fatefulmoment #plasticman
Horace moved to the car’s broken trunk and searched “The Package” for another weapon.
August 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
“I’m not a machine. I won’t have my fate dictated to me,” he spoke into the world, moving to action.⁣⁣⁣
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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣⁣⁣
“I’m not a machine. I won’t have my fate dictated to me,” he spoke into the world, moving to action.⁣⁣⁣
August 10, 2025 at 1:55 AM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Just like the humanoid, didn’t Horace already know what he was going to do?⁣⁣⁣
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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣⁣⁣
Just like the humanoid, didn’t Horace already know what he was going to do?⁣⁣⁣
August 10, 2025 at 1:54 AM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Horace had reached his moment—but wasn’t it already decided?

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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣⁣⁣
Horace had reached his moment—but wasn’t it already decided?
August 10, 2025 at 1:54 AM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. ⁣⁣
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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣⁣
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. ⁣⁣
August 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
It took him a second to realize what was happening.⁣⁣

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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣⁣
It took him a second to realize what was happening.⁣⁣
August 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Horace woke in his car soon after the radio went silent.
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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣
Horace woke in his car soon after the radio went silent.
August 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
The g*nshots were heard on-air, interspersed with the coded message continuing underneath before the broadcast shorted out and went dead.

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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣
August 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
The kids had no chance.⁣
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#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #gunshot #fate #onair #fatefulmoment #humanoid⁣
The kids had no chance.⁣
August 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Bez was the first to hear a noise. He was moving in the direction of the station door when he saw the dead-eyed plastic man enter, armed.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #amradio #broadcast #bizarre #plasticman
He was moving in the direction of the station door when he saw the dead-eyed plastic man enter, armed.
August 8, 2025 at 9:12 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Bez was the first to hear a noise.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #amradio #broadcast #bizarre #plasticman
Bez was the first to hear a noise.
August 8, 2025 at 9:12 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Inside, Zuck and Bez had begun talking up the bizarre broadcast, but instead of their usual silly banter, the comments were forced and guarded.
#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #amradio #broadcast #bizarre #plasticman
Inside, Zuck and Bez had begun talking up the bizarre broadcast, but instead of their usual silly banter, the comments were forced and guarded.
August 8, 2025 at 9:11 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
It walked toward the station, following through on its orders—not for money, duty, or honor, but because that’s what it was programmed to do.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #amradio #broadcast #bizarre #plasticman
It walked toward the station, following through on its orders—not for money, duty, or honor, but because that’s what it was programmed to do.
August 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
It went to the destroyed trunk and opened “The Package”, pulling a semi-automatic out and scattering the other items.
#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #package #amradio #broadcast #bizarre #plasticman
It went to the destroyed trunk and opened “The Package”, pulling a semi-automatic out and scattering the other items.
August 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
The humanoid stood back up, reached into the car, and kn*cked Horace out.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #desparate #humanoid #struggle #assassin #plasticman
The humanoid stood back up, reached into the car, and kn*cked Horace out.
August 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
He wheeled around and kicked hard against the door. It was enough to knock the humanoid down, but it was a momentary delay.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #desparate #humanoid #struggle #assassin #plasticman
He wheeled around and kicked hard against the door. It was enough to knock the humanoid down, but it was a momentary delay.
August 7, 2025 at 10:35 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Horace leaned hard on the door with Superman results. The blow broke the humanoid’s grip around his th roat.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #desparate #humanoid #struggle #assassin #plasticman
Horace leaned hard on the door with Superman results. The blow broke the humanoid’s grip around his throat.
August 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
Desperate fear filled his veins.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #desparate #humanoid #struggle #assassin #plasticman
Desperate fear filled his veins.
August 7, 2025 at 7:09 PM
jswelch-pens.bsky.social
The humanoid grabbed him around the throat, squeezing the l*fe out of him.

#writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #jswelch #shortstory #storycycle #flashfiction #theprospectorsdreams #amradiolatenightemptyroad #desparate #humanoid #struggle #assassin #plasticman
The humanoid grabbed him around the throat, squeezing the life out of him.
August 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM