It is time for another installment of Mondays Finish the Story, which is a flash fiction challenge that provides a photo prompt and the opening sentence to a story. The rules indicate that the story you come up with must be between 100-150 words, not including the opening line… Are you ready for my story?
Underwood #4 – Photo by Barbara W. Beacham
The old typewriter had a mind of its own. The odd thing is that whoever owned this typewriter had bestselling books. Let’s look at some past owners.
In 1926, the first owner was Ernest Hemingway. After a night of heavy drinking, he awoke one morning to find “The Sun Also Rises” stacked neatly next to the typewriter. He did not remember writing this book which became a bestseller that year.
Margaret Mitchell owned it too. No matter what keys she struck, it typed something else. When she was done, “Gone with the Wind” was in her hands. It became the 1936 bestselling book!
This unique device found its way to George Orwell. His fingers flew over the keys, his mind whirling with a story. The typewriter produced two books for him. Both were quite different from what he had in mind. “1984” and “Animal Farm” made the bestsellers list in the 40’s.
The typewriter is now mine. 🙂
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I hope that you enjoyed my entry into the Mondays Finish the Story challenge!
If you wish to join in on this challenge, well, then just click HERE!
Thanks for dropping by today! Have one heck of an amazing week! Be well… ^..^
Life in the Foothills 
I loved your story, especially the part about sleeping with it. 🙂
Thank you Susan! 🙂
Oh! Who wouldn’t want such a typewriter. The story was an enjoyable read.
Norma, I have a typewriter for sale. Interested? 🙂
I think it will be too much for me to handle a typewriter that has “a mind of its own”. 😉
And, I don’t want to get in the middle of a fight between my laptop and a typewriter.
I would not wish to be in the middle of that either! Be well Norma! ^..^
Enjoy the weekend! 🙂
Thank you Norma! You too! 🙂
I’ve had to stop writing my stories for a while as my husband will need to go to the hospital for tests, but hope to continue later on. Thank you for understanding. 🙂 — Suzanne
Suzanne – I hope that everything goes well with the tests! I do understand! Wishing you both well! {{{HUGS}}} ^..^
I loved that story, Barb. A lot of people would just love to own that typewriter. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thank you! I’m sure a lot would! 🙂
So, which is the bestseller for 2015? Love the story.
Thank you! There is still plenty of time for me to get my books published!
That would handy! 🙂 But I’m not sure I’d want to end up with a book not of my own creation – even if it did make the best sellers list. 🙂
The best way to get your book written is to type away. Start with a sentence then just keep going.
It would be! And, yes, the best way is to keep on writing on your own typewriter!
I wonder whatever happened to Shakespeare’s quill pen? Maybe that is the answer to who wrote the plays~ A lovely story Babs I will be a buyer of your book ~ 🙂
🙂 Thank you John! Who knows what happened to the pen!
Nice ending! We can all dream of owning such a typewriter!
Thank you! We shall see if it works!
I look forward to the bestseller it helps you to produce! Add me to the list of people who want to borrow it when you’re done. 🙂
I do have to just pass it along to someone…maybe we should do a lottery drawing? 🙂
Your best-seller will be hitting the shelves soon! We went in similar directions this week I think. Everyone should have such a clever typewriter.
Maybe! I love my clever typewriter! 🙂
Excellent.
Thank you YS!
I wait with baited breath Babs…
Thanks!
The last line is something! You are rich!!!
So cool! I want the typewriter too 🙂
May I borrow it please after you have your bestsellers? 🙂
Thank you! I can pass this on as this seems to be tradition with this typewriter!
Start of small. Get to know the typewriter and see where the typos lead you… A fun story 😀
Start small is good advice! Thanks!
Glad you own this typewriter it will help to complete the story in progress!
Thanks Scrapydo!
Oh, I loved it! What a twist! Hope you enjoy your typewriter. 🙂
I am taking a ream of paper and planning on sitting with it tonight. Maybe the best selling book of 2015 will be born! 🙂
Now Barb the question is what famous tome are you responsible for?
Just a bit of trivia I think Margaret Mitchell hand wrote Gone with the Wind in exercise books on her kitchen table, so maybe the typewriter saved her employing a typist.
The answer to the question is “Dreamland.” Hoping this typewriter will help me finish this story in 2015…My husband thinks its a bit odd that I need to sleep with the typewriter. There has to be something funny in that, isn’t there? 😐 I did not know that she wrote that at her kitchen table, but if one does not know, it does work for the story, don’t you think? After all it is fiction! 🙂 I was going to do a photo from the 1930’s that had to do with the Jumping Frog Jubilee held in Calaveras County, which is where Mark Twain heard the story and wrote about it….What say you?
Sounds good to me.
The only issue with sleeping with the typewriter comes when roll over to cuddle your husband and discover the typewriter has moved in between you. Plus it’s sharp edges can be intrusive to say the least.
LOL! It would be Undie and Maddie between the two of us…Hmmm…Sharp edges everywhere! 🙂
I shall look out for Dreamland in 2016.
Maybe sooner! We shall see what the Underwood #4 does for me! 🙂
I think any writer would crave a type writer like that! But at the same time, I would rather the words come from myself rather than a machine.
Nevertheless, a great story and intriguing because what if it is true?!
Thank you! I don’t know, but I think we will find out once I slip a sheet of paper into it…Another story for another time, maybe…I might be the next best-selling author! 😀
Lucky you – it sure would be nice to have!
Have it! Lucky!
poor Ms Mitchell should have held onto it longer…. Maybe Hemingway should have given it up sooner before the typewriter drove him to end it all
Mitchell had it way after Hemingway…Thank you for the comment Kate!
Good luck with that… next best seller 🙂
Jules – It could happen! It could, really! I just had to move the slinky out of the way…In order for this statement to make sense, please check out this post: Novelist Blues, by Eric…After reading this tale, I just had to move that piece of history…
Excellent! I can hardly wait to find out what it types for you. I’m already waiting and ready to go buy and read your bestseller. 🙂 Great story. I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you Joy! I have been working on one particular book for about 10 years now. I hope that it will become a Best Seller as all of writers hope! Thanks again!
I hope it is too Barb! Best wishes!
Thank you Joy! 🙂
Oooh, I’m looking forward to the next bestseller 🙂
Good job!
Thanks Sonya! Keeping my fingers crossed that Underwood #4 has it in him!
Good luck with that thing! My dad used to repair typewriters. I’d say this one is ready to be “cleaned, oiled, and adjusted.” Back in the 60s he’d do it for $22.50.
Keeping my fingers crossed! Have hit the point while waiting for my blood to be drawn today where the gal wiped out the caulkling on the the boat…A good read! 🙂
She tries so hard!
She does indeed! 🙂
I’d like to own that typewriter!
I will will it to you when I am done! 🙂
Can’t wait for the book to come out!
Me neither! It seems to be stuck on the opening page!