Pulp City

//LIMITING// A cascade of rain that strikes metal and storm drains. Cars rush down the street, tires colliding with pools of oil slicked water that erupt into waves. It’s all a thunder in my ears as I trudge through the cold night, water splashing on my boots. Phantom neon lights shine in my downcast eyes, reflecting off the dark-wet concrete - the ghost of nearby signs....

Need to Feed – Flash Fiction by Natasha Blackwell-Shire //LIMITING// A cascade of rain that strikes metal and storm drains. Cars rush down the street, tires colliding with pools of oil slicked water that erupt into waves. It’s all a thunder in my ears a…

T minus 5 minutes “What the hell?” The driver yelled, poking his head out of his car to scowl at me as he honked. In the passenger seat, his wife was turned around, hushing their wailing and flailing toddler daughter. God, what I would give right now to crash out like that. “Sorry!” I was not sorry. I’m pretty sure I’ve stepped on a minimum of 8 pairs of feet and violated at least 5 traffic laws....

T-minus – Flash Fiction by Maevince Dorotan T minus 5 minutes “What the hell?” The driver yelled, poking his head out of his car to scowl at me as he honked. In the passenger seat, his wife was turned around, hushing their wailing and flaili…

Running with this opportunity I gathered a bag filled with a change of clothes, money I scavenged that was lying around, and toiletries. With only twenty dollars to my name I knew this was enough to get me on my feet to whatever town the 12 o'clock train was headed to. My mother, who never left the house, had to tend to my aunt's pressing illness which was unfortunately life or death....

Dear Mother – Flash Fiction by Grace Leiper Running with this opportunity I gathered a bag filled with a change of clothes, money I scavenged that was lying around, and toiletries. With only twenty dollars to my name I knew this was enough …

We recently had our Flash Fiction Contest - which we hold every semester. Here are the prompts we use. The contest is closed, but feel free to write from these prompts - and then post your results in a reply... Prompt #1: Interpret this picture in any way you choose… Prompt #2: Your story must have 3 parts to it, and each part must have a title, chapter heading, or something similar....

Flash Fiction Contest! We recently had our Flash Fiction Contest – which we hold every semester. Here are the prompts we use. The contest is closed, but feel free to write from these prompts – and then post y…

Are you an HCC student? If so... here's the online version of our Flash Fiction Contest. You have until 11:59pm on Tuesday, October 15th to write a short piece of fiction using the prompts in the link(s) below... Click on this link to self-enroll in the HCC Creative Writing Canvas page. Then you'll find the contest at this link.

Flash Fiction Contest! Are you an HCC student? If so… here’s the online version of our Flash Fiction Contest. You have until 11:59pm on Tuesday, October 15th to write a short piece of fiction using the prompt…

Stop by our table to pick up a hard copy of Pulp City - and to learn more about Creative Writing at HCC - including the Creative Writing Club... Here's the flyer for more info...

Club Fair – Wednesday, 9.18 in the HCC Courtyard… Stop by our table to pick up a hard copy of Pulp City – and to learn more about Creative Writing at HCC – including the Creative Writing Club… Here’s the flyer for more info…

Auditions for HCC’s Fall, 2024 Mainstage Production…

Auditions for HCC’s Fall, 2024 Mainstage Production… Visit the post for more.

Join the Theatrical Thrill Ride! The Phillips Festival is back! Ready to test your creativity and leave your mark on a 24-hour theatrical marathon? Mark your calendars for PHILLIPS FESTIVAL 2024 - September 27th and 28th, 2024 at Holyoke Community College. This isn't your average playwriting gig. This is pure adrenaline. We will create and stage an evening of original 10-minute masterpieces in just one day....

Calling All Playwrights! Join the Theatrical Thrill Ride! The Phillips Festival is back! Ready to test your creativity and leave your mark on a 24-hour theatrical marathon? Mark your calendars for PHILLIPS FESTIVAL 2024 & #…

Click here to see all the great work from so many HCC students...

The Fall, 2024 online edition of Pulp City is here! Click here to see all the great work from so many HCC students…

I am from new growth and old, Made of bud and sprout, and those who have fallen to blight. I am from bright birdsong and howling wolf, from the cry of new life Made of wind sighing through the trees, the slow creak of branches. I am from the fresh blooms of spring, in their vibrant hue, And in the dark dank places of fungi, with their sallow skin…...

Gaia – poem by Matthew Barrows I am from new growth and old,  Made of bud and sprout, and those who have fallen to blight. I am from bright birdsong and howling wolf, from the cry of new life Made of wind sighing through th…

Salem witches, eye twitches. Flames you can see from miles. Time glitches, thirteen stitches. Salem Witch Trials! Townspeople holding torches, the red fire scorches. A bright orange moon, they say witches went out in fumes, There were men and children too, as the speculation grew. More than 200 souls accused, and sent early to their tombs, in the year ninety sixty-two.

Salem Witch Trials – poem by Saleena Supersad Salem witches, eye twitches. Flames you can see from miles. Time glitches, thirteen stitches. Salem Witch Trials! Townspeople holding torches, the red fire scorches. A bright orange moon, they say …

I remember our pleasant, nightly drives on the way back from the movies I remember the salty taste of popcorn, the sweet taste of chocolate, and the sour taste of soda on my tongue I remember the lack of confidence I had in my driving, thanking the Lord that nobody was on the roads I remember the robotic, inhuman voice of the GPS, and how I asked you to keep track of when I had to turn…...

I Remember – poem by Finn Mateus I remember our pleasant, nightly drives on the way back from the movies I remember the salty taste of popcorn, the sweet taste of chocolate, and the sour taste of soda on my tongue I remember the l…

Jasper is my dog Dog is black and very soft Sleeping beside me January cold Dark and gloomy icy snow Spring please hurry quick Dog see flowers grow Jasper is very happy Summer is coming

Haikus – Orlando Morales Jasper is my dog Dog is black and very soft Sleeping beside me January cold Dark and gloomy icy snow Spring please hurry quick Dog see flowers grow Jasper is very happy Summer is coming

Picking fights And yelling matches, Dirty looks And shouldering, Fits of anger And frustration, just to show he misses him. Unknown words Cannot be spoken, So impulses Take control. The only way To fix this trend, Is to return from the road again. “I want” I want this thing, I want that too. The sight of tears Or threats of screams,...

An Absent Father – poem by Aura Suarez Oviedo Picking fights And yelling matches,  Dirty looks   And shouldering,   Fits of anger  And frustration,   just to show he misses him.   Unknown words…

Standing there watching the flames, Ren was drawn in by their beauty. Dancing, twirling, shooting upwards, flaring out and collapsing inward, the fire was entirely unpredictable. He could guess what was going to happen, and sometimes he was right, but more often he was wrong. Fire was random, chaotic - but more captivating than any painting ever painted. Ren went to the galleries often, enthralled by the idea of capturing an idea that one visualizes on a canvas for all to see....

Ren – short fiction by Matthew Barrows Standing there watching the flames, Ren was drawn in by their beauty. Dancing, twirling, shooting upwards, flaring out and collapsing inward, the fire was entirely unpredictable. He could guess wha…

Rain rain go away Come back another day If I fall before that day Just remember I tried to stay I wish i might I wish I may That they'll always be that way I close my eyes I squeeze and pray Pray pray I make it to that day That day that day Rain rain down to stay Please never forget how to play Rain rain go away Come back another day

Rain Rain Go Away – poem by Maelene Zavala Rain rain go away Come back another day If I fall before that day  Just remember I tried to stay  I wish i might I wish I may  That they’ll always be that way I close my eyes I…

Customers walk throughIsles while buzzing like beesTo finish one task People wait on planesFor their vacation to startWith clouds passing by Party favors closeFriends are around to have funWatching the clock tick

Haikus – by Alissa McKinney Customers walk throughIsles while buzzing like beesTo finish one task People wait on planesFor their vacation to startWith clouds passing by Party favors closeFriends are around to have funWatching…

Trace a path in the condensation. The water is cool on your finger, as it is on mine, left behind in the evaporation-mist which collects finely upon the desk. Summer has never been your favorite month. Too hot, too muggy, the sun swallowing each fiber of the air surrounding us, puffing open-mouthed warmth against the back of your neck. It wants…...

Touch Diary – prose-poem by Luca Sieber Trace a path in the condensation. The water is cool on your finger, as it is on mine, left behind in the evaporation-mist which collects finely upon the desk. Summer has never been your favorite mo…

Cawing madly in Righteous Outrage Where are my seeds, he exclaims

CROW – poem by Gabryelle Fullen Cawing madly in Righteous Outrage Where are my seeds, he exclaims

Dearest, Catch me out back, where the flowers grow overnight and a serene silence overtakes. Sweet and simple, like a wingback treasure, is what negative space indicates. Within these shelves of wisdom, dusted burgundy leather spines stand tall. There’s more to the ink printed on the page; trust is my downfall. Stating truths I will not accept; telling anecdotes I’ll assume are falsely told....

The Amble Inn – poem by Makayla Nelson Dearest, Catch me out back,  where the flowers grow overnight  and a serene silence overtakes. Sweet and simple,  like a wingback treasure,  is what negative space indicates. Wi…

Idle, he waitedDone with mud and done with cutsDone with all the boiling potsDone with it all—all the filthDone with all that shat and tilthDone with smoke and done with flamesDone with all the prattled painsDone with it all—all the goreDone with the scarlet commodoreDone with ire and done with pride…...

Done In Time – poem by Caleb Labonte Idle, he waitedDone with mud and done with cutsDone with all the boiling potsDone with it all—all the filthDone with all that shat and tilthDone with smoke and done with flamesDone with all the pra…

Half-lit street corners where shadows dance A dirty canvas of tales, addiction's trance I glimpse into lives, so diverse and raw Voices unheard, whispers of flaws A quiet girl, just fifteen years Homeless and lost, drowning in her fears Prescription pills, the cruelest embrace Betraying one's own for a desperate chase In Northern California's wealthy air A couple tattooed, a life no value…...

Fabric of Life – poem by Ray Rivera Half-lit street corners where shadows dance A dirty canvas of tales, addiction’s trance I glimpse into lives, so diverse and raw Voices unheard, whispers of flaws A quiet girl, just fifteen y…

My exhaustion has become prominent Dinner is done and plates prepared. You bow your head, thank God, and begin eating, leaving your usual mess behind. I hope my devotion to you never wavers. The evidence of my years old epidural aches throughout my back as I get you dressed for bed. Your bed already made from this morning, You simply grab teddy and murmur your usual…...

When You Lose a Friend – poem by Aiquacha Powell My exhaustion has become prominent  Dinner is done and plates prepared.  You bow your head, thank God, and begin eating, leaving your usual mess behind.  I hope my devotion to you ne…

Anticipation upon arrival, the instinct is survival. Rocks everywhere as far as the eye can see. A strong formation eyes wide, yet mentality mean. Sky is bright, even at night. Look up for stars, instead, mental scars. Look left, look right! Iron extension gripped so tight. Carbon in the air, carbon in my hair. This would be a dream, If only freedom was free.

Leatherneck – poem by Saleena Supersad Anticipation upon arrival, the instinct is survival. Rocks everywhere as far as the eye can see. A strong formation eyes wide, yet mentality mean. Sky is bright, even at night. Look up for stars, i…

A villain's tale, a heart so impure Memories echoes, silent lure A kid, a rose with thorns concealed Darkness has grown, unrevealed Whispers are loud, a fate surreal Among us, a serpent's hiss Innocence cloaked in abyss Dreams haunted with a snake’s kiss Playground ruined by twisted play Villain's heart the shades of gray “My childhood innocence led astray”

A Bitter Turn – poem by Gavin Sawabi A villain’s tale, a heart so impure   Memories echoes, silent lure   A kid, a rose with thorns concealed   Darkness has grown, unrevealed   Whispers ar…