Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Insecure Writer's Support Group: True Character



Alex J. Cavanaugh  is hosting the first Wednesday edition of  2012.  Be sure to check out the many talented authors and bloggers who continue to offer their best advice, as well as their strongest shoulders. 

True Character

Len and Ken knew each other their entire lives, yet they were as different as night and day. While Len was quiet and unassuming, Ken was loud and braggadocios. Len worked hard and was a natural athlete. Ken befriended the other athletes by inviting them to parties, and driving them around in his flashy car. Len kept to himself and spent most of his free time working after school and on weekends.
Their paths seldom crossed until college

They both attended the same prestigious university; Len was on a journalism scholarship, while Ken's family had connections in all the right places. Though Ken had no experience, he worked under Len as a writer for the school paper.  Len worked very hard to become editor, and was pressured to hire Ken, as his parents were contributors to the university. Len patiently took Ken under his wing until he was eventually able to become an alternate sports reporter. Ken was thrilled to have access to all of the sporting events and activities that followed, while Len was doing double duty making sense out of his stories.

After graduation, Ken landed a job as a sports reporter for a local television station. Len worked as a high school English teacher, and was writing a novel in his spare time. They ran into each other when Ken was covering a championship basketball game at the high school. Len politely introduced him to his beautiful fiancee who was also a teacher. The next day she broke off their engagement.

After Len completed his novel, he was invited to appear on Ken's news program. where he was filling in for the weekend anchor. Since the story took place in their college town, Ken intimated that he was the inspiration for his novel. Somehow he received an early edition and recited quotes as if they were his own. This caused quite a scandal at the high school, resulting in Len's dismissal. Eventually, a legal team was able to clear things up, but it left Len bankrupt in the process.  

While Ken's star was rising, Len worked as a handyman and a tutor to get by. After completing a rigorous job, he was rushed to the hospital when a pipe burst. He quickly recovered from surgery, but was sent to a rehab facility for extensive physical therapy. There he would visit other patients to read them poetry or short stories. He became very close with an older man who lost his sight. One day he asked him who wrote the wonderful stories, and was amazed that Len was the author.

The blind gentleman told Len to bring him everything he had ever written. When Len obliged, he set up a meeting with the editor -in-chief of a renowned publishing empire. The man was thrilled to help Len, as he felt closer to him than his own grandson who never came to visit. The editor-in-chief offered him the position of associate editor, with large stock options in the company. Len couldn't thank his friend enough, and continued to see him as often as possible. He didn't realize his connection with the publishing empire, until he received his first paycheck. The kind and generous billionaire was none other then Ken's maternal grandfather.


-Julie Kemp Pick

35 comments:

  1. Loved the story also the twist at the end.

    Yvonne.

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  2. Great writing. It is nice meeting you.

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  3. Fantastic story, Julie! Loved it.

    Happy New Year to you and yours. Keep on writing and keep on keeping on!

    Best~~

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  4. What a riviting series of twists and turns. Nice to see the good guy win in the end.

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  5. I loved how this turned out. I was hoping for a twist in poor Len's favor and I'm glad I got my wish. I can't deny I was totally hating Ken as I was reading. :D

    Great story, Julie!

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  6. Great feel-good story. Just the inspiration we all need to keep on writing!
    Emma

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  7. Great happy ending. Thanks for sharing - new follower :)

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  8. Thanks so much Yvonne!

    Murees - Nice meeting you too, and thanks for following me!

    Bryce - Happy New Year to you and yours! Hope you're enjoying your new home!

    Delores - I always like when good triumphs over evil, especially in blogland! Thanks Delores!

    Thanks Tonja and happy New Year!

    LG - Thanks for all of your support and I'm glad you're not a "sorehead!"

    Julie - I knew you'd root for the good guy, because you're such a good person! Though some well-written bad boys are still good to their mothers! Thanks Julie!

    Emma - Glad to meet you and thanks for following me Emma!

    Susan - I'm still laughing at your last post! Thanks Susan!

    Tasha - Thanks for following me, and I hope to see more of you!

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  9. I was getting worried as I read this, but what a nice ending to the story. Nice guys do finish first!

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  10. What a nice story. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

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  11. Alex - Thanks for keeping the group going! I know you speak from experience!

    Thanks for the kind words Mary!

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  12. This was really a beautiful tale. I was hooked right away and it shows you should always be kind and never forget people. Thanks for sharing this. :)

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  13. Great story. Goes to show you just never know and to keep going. Thanks for sharing it, Julie.

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  14. This is a very clever and meaningful spin for your Insecure Writer's Group posting. I love that character trumps lineage in this story, as it should and often does. Very nicely written, Julie.
    xoRobyn

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  15. Fantastic! You have to love it when karma gets it right. Happy New year, and may the nice guy always finish first.

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  16. Ha! Of course! That's karma for ya! Thanks for the happy ending, Julie.

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  17. Melissa - I also believe that acts of kindness reap rewards! Thanks Melissa, and you will shine in 2012!

    Thanks Mary, and never give up on your dreams!

    Robyn - "Character trumps lineage," has a nice ring to it! Thanks for all of your support Robyn!

    Julie - Happy New Year to you and your family! I'm still thinking about your incredible poem. Thanks Julie!

    Nancy - Thank YOU for your inspiring Mother Knows Best story!

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  18. This was very good. I really enjoyed this post and look forward to reading more. Hope you have a wonderful day.

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  19. I do love a happy ending. Karma can work for you or against you. Have a great 2012!

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  20. KD - Nice to meet you and thanks for following me!

    Stephen - With all of your good deeds, I know that 2012 will be a great year for you! Thanks Stephen!

    Carol - I also believe that, so it's nice to be around people who have trouble remembering things! Julie

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  21. Love the twist at the end!

    I found you from Alex's blog and am now your newest follower. Nice to "meet" you!

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  22. Loved your story! I love a tale that comes around in a circle and has a good twist at the end :) And it's nice when the nice guy eventually benefits from all his good deeds!

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  23. Wow, what a great story! Through it all, my heart went out to Len, and I wanted to rap Ken on the head and tell him to get with it. What a fitting ending. It's great to see the nice guy finish first!

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  24. Nicole - Nice to see you too! Congratulations on being so close to 1000 followers! I'm sure you'll meet your goal over the weekend. Thanks Nicole!

    Susanna - I only wish that happened more in real life, but even small acts of kindness can be rewarding. Thanks Susanna!

    Lynn - I always root for the underdog too! Thanks Lynn! Julie

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  25. Fantastic story Julie. I know too many people like Ken. Great ending.

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  26. Rhonda - We may even know some of the same people. Thanks Rhonda!

    Melissa - Thank you and I appreciate having you as a follower! Hope to see more of you! Julie

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  27. What a great story, Julie - and another fantastic ending.

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  28. Yay for the good guys! Thanks for the story.

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  29. Talli - Welcome back and thanks for stopping by!

    Lee - Thank YOU for being so supportive!

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