It All Started With a Seagull:
a novelette
When your dreams fly out the window
​Life is picture-perfect for Detroit newlyweds Tristan and Mallory as they enjoy a glamorous honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. All of that happiness, however, gets turned on its head when a rogue seagull sneaks into their hotel room and starts a chain reaction of panic, destruction, and chaos that throws the lovebirds' vacation and lives into disarray.
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I'm getting back into the dark crime comedy with this three-part novelette. Come along for the ride as I explore the randomness of fate and the ways we can be corrupted by the world around us. Parts 1, 2, and 3 are all up now!
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The Middle, a short story (Out of the Bassline prequel)​​
​It just takes some time
Between bombing his basketball tryout, being unable to speak to girls, and getting caught doing the unthinkable by his parents, eighth-grader Dexter Byrd can't catch a break. The halls of Burton Middle School are roamed by a cast of cruel, crude, and immature adolescent boys who make Dexter's life a living hell at every turn. When it all comes to a head, will Dexter have what it takes to fight back, put the bullies in their place, and most importantly, earn respect?
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Like a more rough-around-the-edges Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Middle paints a raw and realistic portrait of the middle-school world. It follows the protagonist of my upcoming debut novel, Out of the Bassline, during an earlier and even more trying time in his life. The start of Dexter's journey is split into Parts 1 and 2.
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Disclaimer: The language in this story will not be for everyone, and the characters saying the worst words are not people you want to emulate.
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Welfare Bros
An Epic Odyssey of Degeneracy
A completely insane short story I managed to dig up from my college days, originally written in 2019 for a creative writing class and now posted here for shits and giggles. Absurdist doesn't even begin to describe it. Largely inspired by It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, it tells the story of Kyle and Bill, two homeless gentlemen who will do anything they can to make a quick buck. 2019 Ben wasn't quite as strong a writer, but I dusted it off and spruced it up a little. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Hell Center: an interactive novelette
You can't handle this 9-to-5
A darkly comedic short novel with a first for me: a choose-your-own-ending feature! Four employees of a cutthroat call center see their lives take a turn for the worse when their sadistic boss holds them hostage in the office. When faced with a mob of unruly clients, it must be decided which actions they take --- and they may learn some things about themselves in the process.
Miss Fire
When Simping Goes Too Far
An absurdist black comedy chronicling the lives of an e-girl and her number-one simp, who are at the center of some explosive events in the Hollywood Hills. Inspired by multiple true stories involving streamers and fire. Shoutout to MoistCr1tikal for making me aware of these very messed-up events through his videos so I could put a twist on them :)
Gangs of Ohio
A Tale of the Columbus Underworld
An over-the-top, darkly comedic tale of small-time criminals in Columbus, Ohio. All the characters except one are based on exaggerated versions of myself and my friends. If I have the time and resources someday, I'd love to turn us all into actors and make it a short film. (I may or may not have already written the screenplay). ;)
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